Like any transport business, Marley’s Transport takes great pride in its ever-growing fleet. It is predominantly company-owned, allowing for maximum flexibility in allocating vehicles to their various jobs.
This also comes with the advantage of being able to standardise the maintenance process and implementing consistent quality control systems across staff and equipment company-wide.
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The need to move bulk agricultural commodities comes with the need for power and performance to be able to handle some of the biggest jobs that Marley’s takes on. This is where the star of the fleet, a Kenworth K220 comes in.
Featuring a Cummins X15 fleet engine with 450hp and 1650Nm of torque as well as an Eaton Endurant XD Pro 18 speed transmission, it offers a unique solution to the challenges that hauling road trains provides.
Eaton’s Endurant XD Pro 18 speed automated transmission is engineered to provide enhanced low speed manoeuvrability and optimised performance throughout the gear range. The Endurant features an overall gear ratio of 20.5:1 which provides Marley’s Transport the versatility and reliability required to meet the needs of bulk grain operations.
Pulling a tipper road train, the relatively smaller horsepower engine needed to be carefully matched to the transmission to be able to handle its tough and varied jobs.
Marley’s engaged Kenworth and Eaton in order to tackle the task within the limited time window between production and delivery.
Eaton Engineering developed a bespoke testing regime to fine tune the transmission calibration for the unique powertrain combination, optimised for the specific road train tipper trailers under both on and off highway conditions.
Once approved and completed, Eaton worked with the local Kenworth dealer during the delivery of the truck to Marley’s to see the calibration solution in action on the K220’s transmission. Feedback was immediate and strong from the Marley’s team, with the new truck a major success and now an important part of the fleet.
“Marley’s are experiencing similar or better fuel economy already compared to the current fleet,” says Marley’s owner Russell Marley.
“Drivers are loving the way the gearbox works and are basically saying that they rarely need to switch to manual.
“Feedback is that the drivers are actually feeling less fatigued on long runs and the trip times have slightly improved.”
Fleet and innovation
While what’s under the hood is important to the performance of their trucks, keeping the fleet in good shape continues to help the longevity of Marley’s equipment.
The average age of the Marley’s fleet is approximately 10 years, which isn’t too out of the ordinary for a large trucking business. All trucks in the fleet are put through the workshop at least every 10 days in an effort to maintain reliability on the road and to reduce downtime.
Marley’s says the level of investment into fleet maintenance and the workshop has allowed the business to continually take advantage of new technology.
It’s a perfect fit with the introduction of Eaton’s Endurant XD Pro advanced electronic technology and extended lubricant drain intervals, which retains the efficient transmission maintenance schedule. The technology improvements provide the maintenance efficiency and safety to be at the forefront of quality fleet maintenance.
Safety has always been a key value of Marley’s. In 1998, the business took on a Quality System Project and was officially Truck Safe Accredited as a result. They are also WA Heavy Vehicle Accredited, as well as holding accreditation from the Cooperative Bulk Handling Group as an approved supplier.
This also led to Marley’s winning the TruckSafe John Kelly Memorial Award in 2024, one of the industry’s most prestigious honours.
In his time at the helm of the business, Frank was also passionate about transport legislation, working to make the industry safer and make sure ‘all transport get a fair go and equal opportunity to compete’.
Inducted into the National Road Transport Museum’s Wall of Fame in 2002, Frank’s efforts have been recognised industry-wide. His strenuous work saw regulations lessened on road transport in WA, with the effects still being felt to this day.
Frank’s tireless work ethic has helped pave the way for the third generation to carry on his legacy that he has built over the last 55 years.
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