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NEWS
Croft finds its niche with Cat
Adelaide transport firm tackles tricky unscheduled freight with 20-strong Cat fleetCroft Transport, based in Adelaide's industrial heart, has found a niche in hauling one-off lifts and 'you-call-we-carry' type work.
"We are essentially a taxi truck company," says Gary Croft (pictured, right).
It's not the stereotypical taxi company, however, with 50 heavy-duty trucks, 70 employees and 'taxi' runs across the nation, the latest being a series of road train hauls to Alice Springs.
While most transport companies strive for regularity in scheduled freight to give cash flow predictability, the Croft business model embraces irregularity and has developed flexibility to handle on-call jobs at short notice.
Gary Croft and his brother Wayne run the family business from its Wingfield headquarters – a no-frills yard and an office that buzzes with activity with a continual flow of trucks swapping trailers, parking up and drivers delivering paperwork.
The 20 Cat trucks were selected by the Croft brothers from a lifetime love of the International brand.
"We have always had a lot of International trucks so as they progressed we eventually came to looking at Cat Trucks with the Cat driveline. We have had Cat engines in other trucks so they are well known to us. We have always respected the Cat product," Gary Croft says.
Croft Transport runs 35 semi-trailers in the fleet along with a dozen tray tops and crane trucks. Eight in-house mechanics keep wheels turning.
Crofts could be described as a mix of old school management with the latest tech in equipment. Because most work is urban or intra-state, Gary and Wayne have not yet seen the need to move towards electronic tracking of trucks and drivers.
With mobile phones ringing non-stop, you get the feeling that between them, the Crofts know where every one of their trucks is and whether they are running on time.
Both Croft brothers have a high regard for the Cat Trucks dealership, Cavpower, in Adelaide. A long association with the Cat Trucks salesman, Mervyn Jamieson, led to the investment in the brand.
"Cavpower have been very good to us," says Gary, "supporting us whenever necessary."
The Cat trucks in the Croft fleet are CT630s and CT610s.
"We have C12s in our older Internationals and the C13 [in the CT610s] is a progression of those and they have all been doing a good job in different applications."
The most recent Cat purchase is a CT630SC.
"We have configured that truck so we can use it in B-double applications, road train work when necessary or single trailer work."
Click here for more information on Cat's CT630SC.
Most trucks are purchased with sleeper cabs but there are eight Cat trucks with day cabs. Gary Croft says the sleeper option is more versatile if a truck has to go interstate.
"If we get stuck we will send a day cab and put the driver up in a motel, but mostly we buy trucks with sleepers that we can send anywhere."
Another benefit of the Cats for urban work is their size and ability to get into tight spots.
"The vision for the driver is also a big plus, easy entry and exit is a major consideration in our operation so as an all-round package they are very good."
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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.
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