Isuzu trucks suit Proactive Drilling down to the core

For the team at Proactive Drilling Services, a standard ten-hour days start at 6.30am in the yard and then they’re driving off to their job sites in one of their Isuzu FRR 107-210 support vehicles, rigged with a vacuum excavation unit on the back.

Proactive specialises in environmental and geotechnical drilling.

The operation’s environmental drilling comprises identifying contamination in soil and groundwater, taking soil samples and installing groundwater monitoring wells, often performed on commercial sites or sites that need to undergo redevelopment after having a commercial past life. Their varied work takes them all across Australia, covering five states and territories.

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Another core aspect of their work involves geotechnical drilling, which is the beginning of all the infrastructure we see every day. This process involves drilling down into the rock and removing core samples. The engineers then use the information to establish the design requirements for different kinds of infrastructure, such as train lines, roads and bridges.

Before investing in Isuzu trucks, reliability and cost of maintenance were the business’s biggest issues with their vehicles. Looking for reliability, dependability and affordable whole-of-life cost, Proactive Drilling made their move towards Isuzu Trucks.

“The first Isuzu truck we bought was in 2012—the brand has always had good reputation for reliability and after sales support,” said Proactive boss Ryan.

“I had a bit of experience driving Isuzus in the past and favoured them over the competitors’ trucks in the range” he said.

“We bought the first couple of Isuzus and, comparing them to the other trucks in our fleet, the Isuzus just won in every way.”

Now, Ryan’s fleet includes a Giga prime mover, two FVM 1400s (FVM 230-300), an FVR 950 (FVR 165-260) and the latest addition, a new FRR 107-210.

“Our Isuzu FRR is a great size, it’s compact enough to get to sites where access is tight.

“And all the while providing the power we need to carry a large range of support equipment, tow a three-tonne trailer and have the vacuum excavator mounted on the back, with no struggle at all,” Ryan said.

That’s thanks to the FRR 107-210’s impressive gross vehicle mass of 10,700kg – and all within a body compact enough to access the hard-to-navigate sites.

When an average day at work for the crew at Proactive Drilling might mean driving for ten hours from Brisbane to Cairns, to Mount Isa for another job and finally returning to HQ in Brisbane, reliability becomes paramount.

“Our trucks need to be going every day, we have two trucks travelling to each job, if one truck is broken down the job can’t start.

“With Isuzu’s after-hours servicing, and their trucks’ reliability and resale value… Isuzu trucks just fit our needs better than other truck brands.”

The years have gone on and Proactive Drilling’s Isuzu truck fleet has increased, with the fifth Isuzu truck, the FRR 107-210, added last year and another FRR 107-210 coming in from Brisbane Isuzu.

Ryan said: “The FRR has been a great addition, the handling, safety features and Isuzu reliability means we can concentrate on running the business. The drivers are very happy too.

“That’s why we’re buying another one!”