Isuzu Freightpack on Monson Transport's radar

He currently runs a dozen-truck fleet, with nine medium- and light-duty Isuzu trucks, including a purpose-built freight machine: the 12-pallet FSR 140-240 AMT Freightpack, sitting at 14,000kg GVM.

Monson Transport carts everything from bulk goods to air freight (including 25,000 Chrisco hampers last year) and contracts to Toll, IPEC and TNT.

The company is also one of the few transport companies that send multiple vehicles out to the far northwest, delivering in remote country areas.

One of Wayne’s chief concerns, and one that fleet managers are increasingly aware of under tightening Chain of Responsibility obligations, is keeping on top of vehicle maintenance.

Webster Trucks is happy to help Wayne with vehicle compliance, and assists with all major services, keeping the Isuzu fleet on the road.

“We’ve bought Isuzu for a long time, because of their reputation for reliability,” said Wayne.

“It’s got tons of power and we do operate in some hilly places… I’ve never had one complaint from the drivers.”

Showcasing Isuzu’s clean and ultra-efficient 4HK1 turbocharged diesel engine, which pulls power at 177kW and with torque of 765Nm the FSR AMT Freightpack has grunt enough to satisfy Monson’s requirements.

Coupled with features to shave time off pallet delivery, including easy glide curtains, quick-release Lightning latches, LED body interior lighting and yellow safety steps and handles, the Freightpack is seeing the driving team hitting their delivery goals.

And with good truck drivers a rarer breed than in years gone by, Wayne is keen to invest in the best technology to keep his team happy.

“One of our biggest challenges is driver shortage, it’s getting harder and harder to find drivers,” Wayne noted.

“The work is physically demanding, and you need to be able to think on your feet.

“The industry has really changed. We used to deliver con notes and we’d sort them in sequence… now we have multiple scanners from multiple clients, and they all operate on different systems.

“Drivers need to have a reasonable idea of what they’re doing,” he added.

Elaborating on the challenges Monson Transport are facing in a rapidly evolving freight industry, Wayne mentioned rate pressure was a key factor driving equipment purchase and need for efficiency.

“I think the days of the small three or four truck couriers are just about over,” he said.

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“It must be very, very hard to make a living with a lot of pressure on rates, pressure on how, and when, and what you get paid. The KPIs that are in place now, reporting, time spent on deliveries… it’s changed a heck of a lot over the years.”

That’s 25 years to be exact; Wayne founded Monson Transport in 1996 with one truck, one van and one employee. Things have come a long way since then, but Wayne didn’t start fresh off the block in logistics, having years of transport experience under his belt before 1996, serving in the Royal Australian Air Force and military peacekeeping forces between the 70s and 90s.

“I joined the Air Force in 1976 when I was 17 years old,” he recounted.

“I spent a fair bit of my time in purchasing and air movements, the logistics of loading and weight balance.

“You could say it’s in the blood, too. My uncle owns a bulk freight business called Monson Logistics.”

So where to from here for Wayne and Monson Transport?

“I’d like to retire, but I’ll probably never leave the business,” he said.

“In the meantime, I’ve got our fleet, the Freightpack, another 10-tonne tautliner delivered just before Christmas, and a 6.5-tonne pallet truck on order from Isuzu to keep me busy.”