Isuzu Trucks are tops for Budget Waste

Lev is a former professional soccer player and the CEO and founding member of Budget Waste Services, which offers waste and recycling collection services across Melbourne and down through the Mornington Peninsula.

While the business is a new kid on the block, being founded in 2017, it came out of the gate fast, picking up a book of clients primarily in the industrial sector but also taking care of commercial and retail customers, and also getting a new fleet of FYJ 300-350s.

They’ve just taken order of their sixth FYJ 300-350, which is Isuzu’s heavy-duty truck for punishing applications.

Smartly outfitted with a Superior Pak front-hook body, each of Budget Waste’s trucks features load-sharing, twin-steer front axles supported by a unique suspension system comprising Hendrickson airbags in the rear and taper leaf springs in front.

Matched with a high-torque 9.8 litre common rail turbo diesel engine and Allison HD4430 auto transmission, the FYJ 300-350s can handle the demands of a gruelling roster, while also simplifying the job for the driving team, and Lev’s a big fan.

He’s expecting their seventh Isuzu truck to hit the road by December this year.

If you’re wondering how a former athlete knows one end of a waste truck from the other, it’s because Lev also spent 13 years working for one of the world’s largest waste companies, Veolia.

Having access to some of the best performance and cost analytics systems in the industry in his role at Veolia, Lev knew Isuzu wouldn’t let him down when it was time to outfit his own venture at Budget Waste.

“I’ve been very fortunate with a 13-year apprenticeship of sorts with Veolia,” he recalled.

“We had every truck under the sun working for us, hundreds of trucks, and during my last two years there as the general manager for Queensland, I was only buying Isuzu.

“Down here in Melbourne, Jim McKinnon at Patterson Cheney Isuzu has been fantastic for me… it’s been a really good decision to go Isuzu all round.

Related reading:
Isuzu teams up with AutoNexus
Two-pedal trucks dominate Australian market
Light trucks guide Part 2: 4x4

“We simply need a truck that’s reliable, consistent and that won’t break down with the constant stop-start operation and long distances (up to 1500 kilometres per week).”

During those first critical years of business growth with new clients to impress and the trucks running a full roster without a spare on hand, Budget Waste were keen to keep downtime to a minimum.

Lev signed up for Isuzu Essentials Plus (formerly Isuzu Priority One) at point of purchase, meaning all his new trucks’ scheduled services are covered for the first 60 months of ownership, with roadside assist and priority after-hours servicing (and a host of additional inclusions such as fuses, fan belts and filter replacements), for a known, fixed price per month.

While taking care of the fleet’s on-road performance, from a planning perspective Lev says having a service agreement in place is invaluable, assisting him to manage the company’s balance sheet.

“We pay roughly one to two per cent out of our revenue per month to cover maintenance for the whole fleet,” he said.

“Without a workshop or service staff on site it makes a lot of sense to outsource the work and it means I have someone to take on the stress of servicing the fleet, so I can focus on the business.

“A service agreement just helps you manage the financials, so you know exactly where you stand,” Lev continued.

“Our Operations Manager, Glenn McBean, has been instrumental in applying process and procedures to ensure our business operates within all legal frameworks and that our drivers are safe at all times.”

Summing up his truck ownership and aftercare experience, Lev said, “We’re growing organically and Isuzu is helping us along the way. Six trucks in three years has been a great achievement for us.

“Without a doubt in our waste application, Isuzu offers us the best vehicle and care combination… they’ve really aligned with our business, so I’m very happy with the decision to go with them.”