Fierce bidding at ATA Auction

Spirited bidding at the ATA Auction has seen a total of $573,500 raised for the industry's peak representative body, the money helping the ATA continue its advocacy work for the year ahead.

The event kicked off on the eve of the ATA's Trucking Australia 2015 conference, and was held tonight (March 19) at a venue at Macquarie Wharf, near Hobart's Constitution Dock.

After a tribute session to out-going ATA CEO Stuart St Clair saw several friends and colleagues share some fondest memories of his time at the helm (St Clair will hand over the reins to in-coming CEO Chris Melham on March 21), a range of goods and services went under the hammer.

Bendigo-based auctioneer Mel Harrington then oversaw a flurry of activity from operators keen to support the ATA and snap up some new hardware to aid their work – or perhaps even a holiday to momentarily escape it!

A Kenworth and DAF merchandise pack from PACCAR Australia fetched $700, while six nights' accommodation for 12 at a Mount Hotham ski lodge went for $7500.

Qld's De Gunst Transport pledged $8000 for the honour of being inscribed on the ATA's recently restored honour board, while local Tasmanian operator Hingston Transport snapped up 32 of Bridgestone's new Multi Trans M766 drive tyres for $17,600.

A stunning custom-painted Thermo King Precedent S700 refrigeration unit, depicting a Tasmanian devil and celebrating 20 years of Thermo King's support of the ATA, went to Qld's Wickham Freight Lines for $47,000, while a slightly used Precedent S600 went to fellow Qld operator Blenners Transport for $45,000.

Victoria's Thompson's Transport secured a fully optioned, CIMC curtainsider B-double trailer set for $162,000. The Managing Director of CIMC, Hector Ojea, was joined on-stage by ATA Chair Noelene Watson, as he took the opportunity to pledge the company's support of the ATA by donating its trailers for a further five years, as its initial five-year contract draws to a close.

That left the evening's headline item, a Volvo FH540 Euro 5 prime mover. Supplied by Volvo Group Australia, it went to Brisbane-based Ken Easter of K S Easter Pty Ltd, for a heady $280,000.

Speaking at the conclusion of the evening, Mrs Watson thanked the many purchasers for their commitment to the Australian Trucking Association.

"We're all going through pretty tough times in transport at the moment and margins are minute," she said.

"For our operators to come out and bid as strongly as they have tonight in support of the ATA is just fantastic."