Baker Group celebrates with a pair of special Macks

Ted Baker started Baker Group in 1980 as a landscape supply business delivering sand, soil and gravel with just one truck.

A move into excavation projects in the 1990s led to rapid expansion, and Ted’s fleet soon found itself hauling away the fill from the massive infrastructure projects that have transformed Sydney, such as the M4 and M5 motorway tunnels, the North-West rail link, and now the metro rail tunnel under Sydney Harbour.

Mack Trucks have been their truck of choice for decades, and Ted explains that there are many reasons for this.

“The Mack people are really professional, whether it’s in sales or service,” says Ted. “They’ve taken the time to genuinely learn about and understand our business, and the trucks they’ve recommended for our operation are technologically advanced and ideally suited for the work we do.”

The Baker fleet of 40 truck and dogs features 25 Mack trucks, including 12 Tridents, a Super-Liner and six CH models. The trucks work all over the Sydney region, hauling fill from major excavation projects and delivering it to tips and to large subdivisions where it’s needed in construction.

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Ted points out that the sophisticated technology in the latest Mack trucks was a critical aspect of their decision, as both clients and governments are expecting more modern trucks with better safety features.

“We needed trucks that could meet the specifications of the SPECTS scheme in New South Wales. It’s over and above the usual PBS requirements, so we can carry heavier payloads on more routes than we might otherwise be allowed to.

“The Mack sales team did a lot more than just sell us some trucks. They knew that SPECTS was a key need for us, and by enabling us to meet the requirements we were one of the first companies in the scheme. Now we have fifteen trucks meeting the specification.”

Ted notes that there’s more to it than just payloads, as safety is a fundamental requirement.

“To justify carrying the bigger payloads you need to demonstrate more sophisticated safety features,” says Ted, “Mack were able to meet all of our requirements—anti-roll, anti-collision—you name it.”

The one hundred limited edition trucks Mack Trucks is producing commemorate 100 years of Mack trucks in Australia, since the first AC model arrived here in 1919 at the end of the First World War.

Each one is individually numbered and finished with unique 100-years identification insignia and luxury fittings inside and out. Ted’s decision to buy two 100 Years Limited Edition Tridents came when he attended the launch of the commemorative trucks at the Brisbane Truck Show in 2019.

“Mack invited me along and I liked the sound of it, so I put my hand up for two trucks: numbers 1 and 3,” says Ted. “They asked me for two unique years, so one truck has the year 1980, which is the year we founded the company, and other one has my birthday.

Dean Bestwick, Vice President of Sales Mack Australia commented: “The Baker Group is a perfect example of the kind of long-term partnership we look to build. Our aim is to understand what makes our customers tick and provide a total solution for them, and we’re proud to have been a part of the Baker Group’s success over 40 years of continuous operation.

“It’s a big milestone for them, and there’s no better way to commemorate their success than with these unique 100-year Limited Edition Centenary Trucks.”