Laeton Hardy says Hardys Haulage benefits greatly in terms of lower parts inventory from running single brands of equipment including Kenworth trucks and Hendrickson trailer suspensions. Read more
Transition From Managing Two-Wheelers to 22-Wheelers
You might think that many years of professional dirt bike racing and managing Motocross and Supercross teams at the top echelon would be a tough gig to follow, but Troy Carroll has made the transition from managing two-wheelers to 22-wheelers like a duck to water, reckons, Paul Matthei. Read more
Linfox’s Real World Electric Truck Experience
After over seven months, 6,000km and more than 5,200kWh, this video is part of the first news published about Linfox’s real world electric truck experience. Read more
Always Dreamed of Driving a Peterbilt
For as long as she can remember Corrina Riley had always dreamed of driving a Peterbilt. Now, thanks to the opportunity given her by Andrew and Cassie Gafney who own an impressive black 388 model Pete, that dream has been realised, writes Paul Matthei. Read more
The Next Generation Running the Show
Ross Hardy and his son Laeton, along with other family members own and operate bulk transporter Hardy’s Haulage, as the business transitions across to the next generation running the show. Ross is now 75 and remains actively involved in the business on a part-time basis. Ross was inducted into the Road Transport Hall of Fame at Alice Springs in 2012. Read more
Luxurious, Big and Comfortable European Cab
“I wanted a luxurious, big and comfortable European cab, and that’s exactly what I have with this new truck,” says Gabriel Badea. “It’s really like spending my day in a mobile office, which is what I wanted. Read more
The Trucks Are ‘a Screwdriver’
Gary Watson is the owner and operator of Mid Coast Windows, and in his kind of business the truck fleet are just one aspect of the operation, one of the tools of the trade, as Gary characterises it, the trucks are ‘a screwdriver’, just one of the tools needed to make the whole process work. Of course, it’s a screwdriver you have got to have, the product has to get to the customer, where it is needed.
Gary has been involved in the business for 22 years. It is a family business and his sister and Gary now run it, having taken over from their parents. The business currently employs around 100 staff, all up. They are made up of manufacturing, sales people, as well as the team of distribution staff.
The operation has six trucks, with Hino trucks handling the lighter local delivery tasks and and a selection of brands handling the larger runs of the full loads out to the delivery hubs. The trucks are built with large flatbed custom designed bodies to the same specifications to ensure compatibility with the A-frames used to carry the windows.
Getting the Right Staff
“It’s not easy to find the right drivers for our trucks,” says Gary. “The people are very important in our business. The drivers delivering direct to site are our front line and point of contact with customers.
“The work is not easy and the drivers have to have the experience to deal with issues. Some sites are very steep, some days it is very windy and on other days it rains, it’s never easy. Some sites are helpful, but with others it can be really hard. On the whole, however, we have a pretty good relationship with our delivery sites.”
“It’s not rocket science, you buy trucks and then you keep them for four or five years, and then you move on,” says Gary. “The trucks probably do around 100,000km per year. We are not running 24 hour shifts.
“There are no bad trucks these days, looking around the market. When I look at the Hino truck we buy, I look at the competing brands and they have just about the same specification. They are that close.
“The choice then comes down to the person you are dealing with, the service and back-up is very important. You build relationships with your supplier. I deal with the Mavin Truck Centre in Kempsey and they are nice people.”
Kenworths of Various Models and Ages
In 2022, Hardy’s Haulage operates 29 prime movers, mostly Cummins powered Kenworths of various models and ages, along with 58 tipping trailers. Ross Hardy and his son Laeton, along with other family members own and operate the bulk transport operation. Read more
8×2 Configuration is Not a Popular Choice in Australia
Although the 8×2 configuration is not a popular choice in Australia, Gabriel Badea says he’s sold on it because it provides the best payload capacity along with remarkably good fuel economy. What’s more, he doesn’t buy the ‘conventional wisdom’ that suggests a bogie-drive truck is essential for his line of work. Read more
Always Dreamed of Driving a Peterbilt
For as long as she can remember Corrina Riley had always dreamed of driving a Peterbilt. Now, thanks to the opportunity given her by Andrew and Cassie Gafney who own an impressive black 388 model Pete, that dream has been realised, writes Paul Matthei. Read more