Iveco trucks cover all bases

From hauling horses to rescuing stranded motorcyclists, Iveco's latest models are getting the job done

While a bigger player in light-duty compared to medium-duty and heavy-duty truck segments, Euro brand Iveco continues to make its presence felt across most areas of Australia's road transport economy, thanks to a model for just about every job out there.

Here are some more recent examples of where the latest Iveco trucks and vans are making a difference down under...

Not horsin' around...

Horse riding has been a lifelong passion for amateur show jumper Peter Carcary -- it’s a ‘hobby’ that’s seen him compete in Europe and across Australia -- but he reckons life on the road is a lot easier now after purchasing an IVECO S-Way AS 550 prime mover, coupled to a 48-foot Premier horse float.

Peter travels to around 25 events nationwide each year, and the Premier float allows him to securely transport up to eight horses. Normally he competes with two, but given the close-knit equine community he often transfers those of friends and fellow competitors too.

“I’m not just an amateur horseman, I’m also an amateur truck driver,” he says. “For me, it’s important that I can get in a truck, travel to an event and not be worried or stressed about handling the vehicle.

“The ease of operation of the S-Way, the comfort, the quietness and the intuitive cabin layout means that I actually look forward to getting in and driving long distances.”

The impressive truck and trailer combo allows Peter to be fully self-sufficient, and the float is equipped with a generator and inverters, full kitchen, bathroom and sleeping berths, and storage for riding gear and equipment, while the two slide-outs maximise space.

The prime mover itself with its microwave oven and fridge/freezer also adds to the convenience, making rest break snacks hassle-free.

Normally it’s a two year wait to have a Premier float built, but Peter was fortunate to purchase his in a lightly used condition when the previous owner and friend moved overseas to compete – the float still carries the former owner’s livery, ‘Kolora Lodge’.

With a 550hp/2500Nm engine, the S-Way 550 offers above what’s needed for the application in terms of power output, making the trips from Brisbane – where the horses are stabled – to events in Northern Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria a breeze.

“I probably could have chosen a smaller truck, but test driving the S-Way filled me with confidence – it felt so planted and smooth on the road, and I’d rather have something that would do the job easily and without concern,” Peter said.

24/7 hotshots

Having taken its first delivery of Iveco Daily trucks in 2001, Perth transport company, Dananni HOTSHOTS, recently welcomed six new models to the fleet, bringing the current total to 22.

While the company offers customers a diverse range of transport services, it’s perhaps best known for its ‘hotshots’, where the team can be called on 24/7, 365 days a year to deliver equipment, spare parts and other vital supplies to clients in the mining, oil and exploration sectors.

The stakes are high in these industries – machinery breakdowns can quickly cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost revenue due to unforeseen downtime, meaning timely delivery of replacement components is critical.

“There are plenty of good reasons why we’ve been using IVECO Daily for 25 years,” explained Dananni HOTSHOTS Director, Danni Kempton.

“They’re a very easy model to operate, live with and maintain, and they’ve been incredibly reliable – we’ve now owned over 40 units since 2001, and some have covered close to a million kilometres."

The HOTSHOTS’ fleet of Daily trucks are predominantly 70C models which are cleverly specified to answer the call.

All the vehicles are customised with ADR 42-compliant sleeper cabins, meaning two-up drivers can cover large distances sharing driving duties while also getting required rest.

Other features include steel trays, bull bars, ancillary lighting, satellite tracking and long-range fuel tanks that allow the trucks to cover up to 3000km before refuelling.

Most are also equipped with Iveco’s optional Electronically Controlled Air Suspension, making for a more supple ride for the driving crews, while also providing smoother haulage for sensitive cargo, including detonators for the mining sector.

The Dailys cover vast distances from the company’s Perth base, often travelling to the north of the state, into the Northern Territory, Northern Queensland and as far southeast as Tasmania.

Waste no time

Waste industry leader, JR Richards and Sons, recently added 26 new Iveco trucks to the fleet as part of its equipment renewal process, to service local government contracts in Picton and Moss Vale, NSW.

Twenty-five of the new trucks are the latest generation ACCO model in 6x4 configuration and featuring a locally developed dual control system designed by Iveco Australia engineers.

All are equipped with side loading compactor bodies by Solo Resource Recovery.

The remaining truck, an S-Way 8x4 460 AD, features a Palfinger hooklift body.

JR Richards and Sons began using Iveco– in particular the ACCO model – almost 50 years ago, and today the company has almost 280 Ivecos on fleet, with the oldest being a 1996 ACCO, with rear loading compactor body.

The latest ACCOs replace a fleet of earlier models that have been on the job since 2014, with the trucks having amassed an average of 25,000 engine hours over their tenure operating in tough conditions, according to JR Richards and Sons GM – Logistics, Fleet & NHVR Compliance, Rod Jones.

“The work they do isn’t just on sealed residential roads, a lot of the time our trucks head out into the bush and operate on rough dirt roads and have to deal with a heap of corrugations – they can get a real flogging."

Iveco to the rescue

Mobile workshop, emergency breakdown vehicle, delivery van and everyday commuter – boutique motorcycle service and repair business, ‘Squily’s Moto’, found the solution in a new Iveco Daily 35S van.

Initially beginning as a hobby when long time motorbike enthusiast, John Lizamore, started helping repair friends’ motorcycles, the operation has grown to offer a diverse range of services, from full rebuilds and nut and bolt restorations to general servicing, accessory fitment and motorcycle event support.

John has also been known to travel huge distances to assist and recover stricken riders, and more recently, was appointed local dealer for motorcycle brands including Thumpstar and Rieju along with Segway ATVs.

Given the broad scope of work at Squily’s, John recently replaced his utility with an IVECO 35S 16m³ van, which offered him the versatility to do all these tasks more easily.

“The Daily has a low chassis height and with the rear electronically-controlled airbags, you can further lower the height by around eight centimetres to make loading and unloading motorbikes and ATVs easier, and when the van is empty you also get a much more comfortable drive – we have a lot of poor roads around here,” he explained.

“The standing height roof makes it much more comfortable and safer to get motorcycles on board and to access any tools we need as well.”

The machines are loaded with removable ramps and for bigger equipment, the Daily is fitted with an onboard winch to make the job effortless.

It’s not just motorcycles that find their way into the back of the Daily though, being a regional area, John also services equipment such as ride on mowers, augers and the like.