Booyal Quarries grows with International

For Queensland's Booyal Quarries, its recent purchase of two International ProStar trucks represents the continuation of a passion for the brand that began some 60 years ago.

Booyal Quarries owner, Bruce Evans, got his first International fix at the age of eight, at the controls of his father’s IH bulldozer. Bruce learned to drive trucks in an AA 164 Series and, having owned and operated many Transtars, Eagles, S-Lines and A and C Series ACCOs over the years, when it was time to add to his business's fleet he beat a well-worn path to his local International dealership.

The latest additions to the Booyal Quarries fleet are two ProStar day-cab prime movers, which haul B-double ‘stag’ trailers (19 and 25 metres) and occasionally tow side tippers.

The company is based in Booyal, southwest of Bundaberg, where Bruce and his family operate a quarry that supplied aggregates and road base material, usually operating within a 200-kilometre radius of the site.

"I've had International in my blood since I was a young lad so with the company coming back to Australia, there was not much chance of us getting anything else," Bruce said.

"All the International trucks I've owned over the years have done a great job."

Bruce says both the ProStars have been returning excellent fuel figures, despite the newcomers only showing 70,000km and 45,000km on their clocks respectively.

The trucks feature Cummins X15 powerplants rated at 550hp (410kW) and 1850lbft (2508Nm) and are matched to the venerable Eaton Roadranger 18-speed manual transmission.

"We're getting around 2.2 kilometres per litre combined which I'm happy with – the 19 metre B-double is normally operating around the 56 tonne mark, while the 25 metre trailers have us at around 65 tonnes," said Bruce.

According to Bruce, the Cummins and Eaton Roadranger components provide a proven combination for heavy-duty earthworks but, prior to finalising this specification, he consulted with his drivers to get their thoughts.

"Both of the ProStars have regular drivers; I like to keep drivers with the one truck because I think the equipment gets looked after better," he said.

"They're both very experienced having spent a long time driving road trains, and the two of them told me that they'd prefer the manual so that's the way we went.

"I can understand the attraction of an AMT for city driving where you're starting and stopping all the time but for us the manual works well – once you're rolling and on the open road there aren't many gear changes needed."

With considerable roadwork and sub divisional activity occurring in the region, the ProStars are on the road five days per week and often have to put in big days, so the drivers are appreciative of the new equipment.

"The drivers comment on the comfort, the ample power and the excellent vision, particularly when they're driving through built-up areas," Bruce said.

"The trucks are giving us the payload we need, the power we want and the right fuel efficiency – we often get asked by others about what the ProStars are like, and have no hesitation in telling them that they go well and that we really like them. I can't think of a bad thing to say about them."