Frugal Cat pays dividends

Kevin Munro of NSW operator Murray Valley Transport says his Cat CT630 is both lighter and more economical than his previous truck, which adds up to greater productivity and significant savings.

"From the day the Cat started work, our monthly fuel bills have been at least $500 less than the cab-over we ran before," he says.

"That's an incredible saving in a business like ours."

Kevin owns and operates Murray Valley Transport with his wife, Lea, the business servicing a wide diversity of customers scattered across western and north-west NSW.

The business has grown steadily since the business was purchased 20 years ago.

"There wasn't much to it when we bought it," Lea recalls.

"Just two small Japanese trucks picking up and delivering small loads in Dubbo and towns around the region. But we quickly changed the name to Macquarie Valley Transport because it reflects where we're from and also puts our own stamp on the business.

"We're not a big operation by any means but we are totally dedicated to the business and our customers.

Loads range from Lea picking up and delivering parcel freight to Dubbo businesses in a utility, to a driver in a six-tonne truck carrying larger items around the local area and outlying towns. Meanwhile Kevin drives the Cat CT630 coupled to a three-axle dog trailer, hauling an array of freight as far as Broken Hill in the west and Moree in the north.

Critically, the company is a licenced dangerous goods carrier and along with a wide range of chemical products, the Cat primarily hauls farm machinery, fencing equipment, seed and livestock feed products. Operating under the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme with Performance-based Standards (PBS) approval, Kevin insists the truck regularly works at maximum gross weight.

"The truck and dog trailer combination is definitely an asset," he says, as the format allows him to segregate chemicals from other products and to work as a rigid truck when load volumes are down.

"With the Cat's tight turning circle, the truck and dog is also a lot more manoeuvrable than a semi-trailer," he adds.

"In fact the turning circle is even better than the cab-over we had before."

Kevin and Lea replaced that five-year-old cab-over with the CT630 in late 2014, purchasing from Dubbo Cat dealer WesTrac. It then went to work with a new curtain-sided body from DND Welding and a matching curtain-sided dog trailer from Express Engineering.

Kevin says he'd been impressed with Cat engines over the years and, after visiting the Cat stand at the 2013 Brisbane Truck Show, he went with his gut instinct. One year on, he hasn't looked back.

"It was the right decision – definitely!" he says.

While Kevin says the Cat is half a tonne lighter than the truck it replaced, he cites the Cat's fuel economy as its single biggest drawcard.

"In this business things can change from day to day," he says.

"One day you’re running as a truck and dog at top weight, then the next day you’re running as a rigid, so I don't really bother looking at how many kilometres per litre the truck is using.

"What counts is the fuel bill at the end of the month and like I said, every month we're consistently $500 or more ahead of where we were with the previous truck doing exactly the same work. And that’s money in the bank for us."

Kevin says the CT630's performance, handling and steering are also strengths, while he appreciates the model's extended cab.

"It's ideal for this job – it's comfortable and I don't have any trouble getting a good night's sleep."

All in all, Kevin says his thoroughly satisfied with the Cat.

"There's not much more I can really say about it except that I've had a few people ask me how the Cat's going and ask if I'd make the same choice again," he says.

"All I can tell them is the truth: that the truck's performing really well, it's great on fuel and there are no complaints about the service and support from WesTrac.

"So would I make the same choice again?

"Absolutely. It's an easy truck to like."