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NEWS
Big Cat tackles WA grain
A major WA grain operation is using Cat Trucks' largest model, the CT630HD, to get the job doneCat Trucks' biggest prime mover, the heavy-duty CT630HD, has been chosen to spearhead a large grain operation in Western Australia.
As the western harvesting season begins, the 130-tonne road-train-spec Cat is hauling large payloads of bulk grain in the Nicoletti Group of Company’s operations, mostly centred in the heart of the WA wheat belt.
Cat's CT630HD has received plenty of interest since it was first introduced at the 2015 Brisbane Truck Show.
Eight Cat Trucks in the combined fleets are meeting the demands of the Nicoletti operation.
Principal John Nicoletti says today his family-owned operation is farming around 300,000 acres in the central wheat belt.
"We have 40,000 hectares of crop and run 12 harvesters," he says.
"We have to shift the grain in a hurry because if it gets downgraded it costs us money. You can't get contract trucks at harvest time so we run our own fleet."
The Nicoletti business model is vertically integrated, giving full control of the production and marketing process to the Nicolettis, from planting seed stock to marketing on a global scale.
Transport is an important link in that complete integration.
However, Julie Nicoletti says successful vertical integration is not for everybody.
"You've got to be big to make it work," she says.
"To own big trucks you have to have the capability of having (grain) storage so that trucks can work all year round."
The Nicolettis also own and run a chain of agricultural implement dealerships selling and supporting the tractor, harvester and the farming machinery required in the wheat belt.
Two Cat Trucks run in the dealership operation, including a brand new, second CT630HD that is used on heavy lifts of machinery the length and breadth of Australia.
John Nicoletti has been running Cat Trucks for six years.
"We bought a couple of the first ones and they have been performing really well," he says.
"All I can say to you is that if you are happy with something you stick with it. And we are happy with them and they are reasonably priced. They are reliable."
Part of the reason for investing in Cat Trucks, John Nicolettis says, is the support from Western Australian distributos, WesTrac, and in particular truck salesman Peter Calligaro.
"We've been dealing with Peter for a long time; WesTrac does a great job, the trucks are reliable and for what we do, they work well," Mr Nicoletti says.
The Nicolettis were among the first to embrace the payload advantage of the heavy-duty Cat Truck, the CT630HD.
“Ninety tonne just doesn't do it anymore," says Mr Nicoletti.
"Our furthest haul is 150 kilometres. If you're going to haul grain that far, it pays to have three trailers rather than two. So we need a 130-tonne rated truck. It's going really well; we've got no complaints."
WesTrak's Peter Calligaro is excited about the advantages that the heavy-duty truck offers operators.
"The CT630HD gives us the tonnage we've never been able to claim before with its 131-tonne rating," he says.
"This truck gives the grain guys the opportunity to be able to utilise the C Train. With the previous 90-tonne ratings, we couldn't get into that field. This truck has been a big asset to us in the West."
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Written byTrucksales Staff
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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