Iveco Eurocargo piping hot for Ryans Group

Victorian transport firm Ryans Group says its innovative Iveco Eurocargo trucks are paying major dividends as its services it client Vinidex, one of Australia's largest PVC pipe producers.

Graham Ryan, son of company founder Frank Ryan, says his firm's innovative 'Epod' system, developed in partnership with tech specialists Honeywell and Peacock Bros, is streamlining how it goes about servicing its Vinidex contracts in Melbourne and Brisbane.

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The Eurocargo trucks servicing Vinidex in the two east-coast capitals is equipped with a hand-held Epod, which allows information to be sent and received via the Epod gateway computer at Ryans depots.

The Epod provides the driver with job information and directions to each drop-off, while providing customers along the drop-off schedule with accurate, real-time ETAs for delivery of their goods.

Once on site, the goods are signed for on screen by the receiver using the Epod and the driver can even take a photo of the delivery – this information is then uploaded to the gateway and made available for reference if required, via a website using a consignment number.

Seven new Eurocargo trucks recently began service in Brisbane with Vinidex and, as well as featuring the Epod system, several also have customised bodies that extend over the top of the cabin, allowing the trucks to carry 12-metre pipes.

This delivers considerable efficiency gains, says Ryans Group Contract Manager, David Mammarella.

"These longer pipes were previously delivered by semi-trailers which are more costly to operate and are also restricted in accessing certain sites because of their size," he says.

"Working with bodybuilder Austruck, we developed a solution for carrying these longer lengths and when combined with the Epod offering, I think these factors really assisted Ryans' success in this particular tender.

"Certainly the feedback from Vinidex and in particular its National Logistics Manager, Graham Jones, has been extremely positive."

The seven new Brisbane-based vehicles are ML160 models featuring Iveco’s Tector 6 engine. The powerplant produces 280hp and 950Nm of torque from 1250rpm and are coupled to the nine-speed manual transmission.

Ryans Group Manager, David Howell, said the Brisbane-based vehicles had the same specifications as its Eurocargo stationed in Melbourne, which have performed faultlessly now for over four years.

"Our Melbourne-based Eurocargo are showing between 250,000 and 500,000 kilometres after four years' work and have been very reliable," he says.

"Based on this, their very high fuel efficiency and positive driver feedback, it was a logical decision to again go with Eurocargo models.

"The drivers really appreciate the comfortable cabin, driver appointments and safety features."

The trucks are all equipped with rear-mounted Hiab cranes to assist unloading goods at the hardware stores and on job sites, and also feature swing-away gates to minimise the likelihood of driver injury during unloading.

Ryans Group's Eurocargo fleet is serviced and maintained by Iveco dealerships on service maintenance agreements.

"We're experts in transport, not truck servicing, so we leave this to the experts at the dealership," David says.

"We have the peace of mind in knowing what our maintenance costs will be over the longer term and also get greater accountability from the dealership.

"The trucks were purchased through Adtrans in Melbourne – this dealership has been fantastic to deal with and has provided us with high service levels over many years now."