Isuzu cleans up for AAA Skip Bins

As the northern city of Bundaberg, Queensland, expands, AAA Skip Bins is growing with it with the help of Isuzu.

The owner/operator of AAA Skip Bins, Jari Maata, took the business on in 2016. Isuzu trucks have played a key role in the company’s growth ever since, as the firm also grows to meet Bundaberg’s waste removal needs, from commercial and construction waste, to cleaning up after an event or festival, to general hard rubbish removal.

“Our bins are our brand,” says Jari.

“The bins do a lot of our advertising for us. They are so recognisable; I have never had to advertise any other way.”

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New NQR

More recently, the firm’s bright orange bins can be found on the back of a new Isuzu NQR 87-190. It's the latest truck to be added to the AAA Skip Bins fleet, which comprises mainly hook-lift vehicles.

When purchased in 2016, the business came with a single 1990 Isuzu FRR 500, but thanks to Jari’s focus on innovation the company has taken great strides.

“A big operational change I made was swapping to a hook-lift system for the bins rather than the original chain link system,” he says.

“With the hook-lift method, the hook comes out from an arm and it goes over the back of the truck, and it picks up the bin from the rear of the vehicle.

“We’ve found that it's a more efficient system and I can spend more time in the cabin rather than getting out all the time to secure things.

“With the hook lift I can arrive at the job site and stay in the truck while lowering the bins onto the ground.”

Growth spurt

The pandemic has helped fuel a population boom in Bundaberg, and these days Jari finds he’s busier than ever.

“AAA Skip Bins has grown around 25 per cent during the past year, if not more,” he explains.

“More housing projects and refurbishments has meant a lot more work for us.”

Now his new Isuzu NQR will help Jari meet that challenge and help take AAA Skip Bins to even greater heights.

“The NQR has great power for that size of truck; this was a big factor for us,” he says.

With an 8700kg GVM, the NQR is powered by a four-cylinder 4HK1-TCC engine producing a claimed 190hp (140kW) at 2600rpm and 513Nm from 1600 to 2600rpm.

Room to manoeuvre

“This one is a medium wheelbase, which is exactly what I was looking for because we do a lot of inside access work in the city and around construction sites,” says Jari.

“The overall size and manoeuvrability were a really important factor when purchasing.”

The six-speed automated manual transmission makes the job easier too.

“All my trucks are automatic – I find the automated manual transmission fantastic!” says Jari.

Onwards and upwards

And Jari’s expansion plans don’t end there…

“I have a four-cylinder FRR that I bought in 2018, and I find that the engine is good for what I do. But in the future when I get a more powerful truck it will be bigger and able to carry larger waste loads and heavier skip bins,” he says.

Jari also says he’s taking full advantage of Isuzu’s aftercare support.

“I opted for the extended warranty on my 2021 NQR and in future, I plan to investigate the service agreements as well,” he says.

“I’m really happy with Isuzu Trucks. They back their products and that’s the key for me… they back their products and I know the reliability of their trucks.”