• About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • List Stock
Sunday, July 20, 2025
Newsletter
SUBSCRIBE
MARKETPLACE
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Showcase
  • Video
  • Operators
  • Trucks
    • DAF
    • Fuso
    • Freightliner
    • Hino
    • International
    • Isuzu
    • Iveco
    • Kenworth
    • MAN
    • Mack
    • Mercedes Benz
    • Scania
    • TIC
    • UD Trucks
    • Volvo
    • Western Star
No Results
View All Results
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Showcase
  • Video
  • Operators
  • Trucks
    • DAF
    • Fuso
    • Freightliner
    • Hino
    • International
    • Isuzu
    • Iveco
    • Kenworth
    • MAN
    • Mack
    • Mercedes Benz
    • Scania
    • TIC
    • UD Trucks
    • Volvo
    • Western Star
No Results
View All Results
Home Operators

Getting the Right Dimensions is Absolutely Essential

by pcm_admin
July 20, 2022
in Operators
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
getting the right dimensions is absolutely essential
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

When it comes to designing a combination for the car hauling sector, getting the right truck for the job is essential and getting the right dimensions is absolutely essential. 

With a height limit of 4.6 metres allowed for car carriers, and the height of cars, means the cab height has to be as low as possible. This has been achieved on the latest Mack Anthem prime movers which have been integrated into the fleet by using low profile tyres, a lower suspension and lowering the cabin roof. It is all about a few millimetres here and a few millimetres there. 

“Car carrying is very unique when it comes to specs,” says Goran Koviloski, Fleet Manager at PrixCar. “The Mack Anthem, which we have recently purchased, have to be factory fitted with special staunches to hold our cab frames. We work very closely with Volvo Group and specify our needs, and they engineer them into the design for us. Mack have worked very hard in the last few years to accommodate us.”

The height gained enable the operation to put something like a medium SUV, weighing no more than1900kg above the cab and still remain below maximum height. 

getting the right dimensions is absolutely essential

“All of our trailers have to be 48 foot long, because the longer our trailers, the longer the cars we can put on them,” says Goran. “That means we have to spec the truck with a short wheelbase. This creates other issues, because I still have to be able to cart the fuel for the truck and fit hydraulic tanks on the side in order to have my PTO running, to operate the trailer.

“The limited wheel base and longer trailer means we specify a 28 inch sleeper, which we used to have to source on the aftermarket, but Mack has now integrated that for us. So, there is now literally, a car carrying spec, with integrated sleeper.

“For us space is everything, especially because the cars are protruding from the front of the trailer. When you turn the cars come pretty close to the back wall of the cabin.”

Although overall GCM is not going to be exceeded, modern cars are becoming heavier and loads are getting up to around the 37.5 tonnes GCM, still short of the 39 tonnes maximum allowed. The Mack Anthems which have recently arrived in the fleet are rated at 500 hp from the 13 litre MP8 engine. 

Most of the fleet run as single trailer combinations. Access to dealerships to unload trucks is simpler with a semi. B-doubles can cause issues on busy roads if they unload on the street. Most dealerships receiving regular deliveries will keep an area clear off the road for a semi to unload on. If not a designated area on the road can be coned off when needed. 

There are some more dimension allowances to be taken into account for the car carrier. The prime mover and trailer have to be under 19m when coupled up. However, there is a gazetted allowance for the cars on board to over hang, both at the front, over the cab, and at the rear of the trailer. This allows a vehicle to over 1.2m at the front and at the back as well. This means overall length for a fully loaded semi car carrier can get up to 21.4m long. 

getting the right dimensions is absolutely essential

The fleet also includes a number of smaller rigid trucks with specialist bodies, including set-ups like enclosed carriers to handle the top end off the car market.

When it comes to purchasing decisions for the prime movers pulling the single trailer car carriers, the choices are quite clear. In order to fit a car frame the truck needs to be a conventional. This limits choice considerably. 

Another consideration is the combination of ride height and cabin height, to keep a loaded truck under 4.6m high. Taking this into calculation, the choices come down to the Mack Anthem and the Kenworth T410SAR as the only truck makers to be able to design an Australian built truck to fit inside the envelope and the two models are approximately 50/50 in this fleet.

When it comes to the trucks hauling B-doubles and involved in moving trucks around the country, the choice is more broad and PrixCar have a wider selection with many brands of truck used in this, smaller, part of the fleet. 

“Fuel economy is not at the top of our list,” says Goran. “All the trucks we look at are very competitive and I argue that there are other elements of our operation, which we need keep control of more than concentrating on fuel consumption. It’s also hard to monitor fuel, because the trailers are not aerodynamic and change shape all of the time.”

getting the right dimensions is absolutely essential

Tags: car-carrierdimensionsPrixcar
Premium Ad
5
Private Advertiser

$100,000

2006 HINO RANGER

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Class: Tilt Tray Tow Truck
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Camira, QLD

**** *** 770
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
27

$49,900

2017 ISUZU NMR

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Class: Tipper
  • » Power - hp: 150
  • » Kms: 95,000
  • » Stock Number: HU10441
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Huntingwood, NSW

02 6171 3465
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
30

$57,900

2019 ISUZU NPR

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Class: Pantech
  • » Power - hp: 155
  • » Kms: 152,236
  • » Stock Number: HU10415
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Huntingwood, NSW

02 6171 3465
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
30

$199,950

2018 WESTERN STAR 4864 FXB

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Class: Prime Mover
  • » Power - hp: 550
  • » Kms: 1
  • » Stock Number: 300200
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Crestwood, NSW

0485879525
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
30

$65,900

2020 ISUZU NNR45-150 CREW CAB

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Class: Pantech
  • » Power - hp: 150
  • » Kms: 50,200
  • » Stock Number: HU10432
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Huntingwood, NSW

02 6171 3465
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
25

$165,000

2021 HINO FD 1124 Auto

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Class: Horse Truck
  • » With Work Available: No
  • » Power - hp: 240
  • » Drive: 4x2
  • » Kms: 161,000
  • » Stock Number: RMFDHorse
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Moama, NSW

02 8315 0185
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
8

$145,000

2020 ISUZU FTR900 PREMIUM AMT

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Class: Beavertail
  • » Kms: 110,101
  • » Stock Number: S1121
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Campbellfield, VIC

03 8547 8664
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
21

$62,775

2024 HYUNDAI EX6

  • » Listing Type: New
  • » Class: Tipper
  • » Power - kW: 104
  • » Drive: 4x2
  • » Kms: 15
  • » Stock Number: TH0001
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Breakwater, VIC

03 8373 7025
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
25
Private Advertiser

$45,000

2003 MERCEDES-BENZ ATEGO 1528 HOPPER

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Class: Removal
  • » Kms: 136,192
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Taren Point, NSW

**** *** 213
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
28

$49,000

2017 ISUZU NPR 65-190

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Class: Tipping Tray
  • » Power - hp: 190
  • » Drive: 4x2
  • » Kms: 236,925
  • » Stock Number: S4928
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Dubbo, NSW

02 8315 0022
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
20

$114,900

2012 HINO 500 SERIES - GT 1322

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Class: Service Body
  • » Power - hp: 220
  • » Drive: 4x4
  • » Kms: 168,000
  • » Stock Number: 13629
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Macksville, NSW

Location marker The shape of a location marker

Delivery Australia Wide

02 6171 3494
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
50

$29,950

2020 HINO 300 SERIES - 616

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Class: Fire Truck
  • » Power - kW: 150
  • » Kms: 297,732
  • » Stock Number: 6777
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Inverell, NSW

02 8999 8466
MORE DETAILS

Related Posts

JATEC

JATEC’s family history

by Alex Catalano
July 17, 2025

Founded in 2003 by Caitlin’s parents Troy and Jane Barlow, JATEC Transport has now become a second generation family business....

Dealer

Creating a dealer partnership

by Alex Catalano
July 17, 2025

It is no doubt an exciting year to be involved with anything and everything Isuzu. The new model range is...

Centurion

Centurion marks electric truck charging milestone

by Alex Catalano
July 10, 2025

Transport and logistics operator Centurion has reached a major milestone in its electric truck charging project. The Western Australian-based business...

Join our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.
PowerTorque is Australia’s premier truck and trailer magazine. Renowned for its extensive feature articles and bold editorial, PowerTorque was established in 2001. PowerTorque is uniquely positioned in the truck industry as a bold and brave voice showcasing the latest technology and raising issues that are important for drivers, owner operators, fleets and the industry as a whole.

Subscribe to our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.

About Powertorque

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Latest Magazine
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Collection Notice
  • Terms & Conditions

Popular Topics

  • News
  • Industry Issues
  • Opinion
  • Showcase
  • Video
  • Operators
  • Trucks

Our TraderAds Network

  • Arbor Age
  • Australian Car Mechanic
  • Australian Mining
  • Australian Resources & Investment
  • Big Rigs
  • Bulk Handling Review
  • Bus News
  • Cranes & Lifting
  • Earthmoving Equipment Magazine
  • EcoGeneration
  • Energy Today
  • Food & Beverage
  • Fully Loaded
  • Global Trailer
  • Inside Construction
  • Inside Waste
  • Inside Water
  • Landscape Contractor Magazine
  • Manufacturers' Monthly
  • MHD Supply Chain
  • National Collision Repairer
  • OwnerDriver
  • Power Torque
  • Prime Mover Magazine
  • Quarry
  • Roads Online
  • Rail Express
  • Safe To Work
  • The Australian Pipeliner
  • Trade Earthmovers
  • Trade Farm Machinery
  • Trade Plant Equipment
  • Trade Trucks
  • Trade Unique Cars
  • Tradie Magazine
  • Trailer Magazine
  • Trenchless Australasia
  • Waste Management Review

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited

No Results
View All Results
NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE
MARKETPLACE
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Showcase
  • Video
  • Operators
  • Trucks
    • DAF
    • Fuso
    • Freightliner
    • Hino
    • International
    • Isuzu
    • Iveco
    • Kenworth
    • MAN
    • Mack
    • Mercedes Benz
    • Scania
    • TIC
    • UD Trucks
    • Volvo
    • Western Star
  • List Stock
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited

  1. Australian Truck Radio Listen Live