Lusty EMS Sliding B-Double/road train: Review

Increased regulation and a tough economy have taken a toll on the nations bulk haulage operators in recent years. Not to mention Queensland’s extreme weather conditions which have forced many small transport owners out the of the bulk grain market.

Finding the balance between meeting stricter regulations and maintaining some form of profitability is something that Guse Transport Services (GTS), take very seriously and 18 months ago they purchased a versatile Lusty EMS B-Double-Roadtrain combination to reap the rewards of increased payloads.

Queensland’s broadacre and intensive grain growers produce a range of crops, which is normally valued at just over $300 million. Nationally the grain industry plays a key role in the health of Australia’s domestic transport community and just as importantly it competes successfully in export markets, representing nearly a quarter of Australia’s total agricultural exports.

“Over the past decade, sharp rises in truck registration, insurance and fuel mean that maintaining some form of profitability has been a real challenge for smaller fleets like ours,” Mick Guse said.

The decision to purchase the Lusty EMS tipper combination was not taken lightly, it was one that was took a lot of planning. Yet it wasn’t until the opening up of new road-train routes through NSW for tri-axle dolly road trains that real gains in this combination could be gleaned.

Mick Guse is quick to point out that the backbone of his operation is having good drivers who appreciate and can operate good equipment.

“Being on time every time and getting the loads delivered safely is paramount,” Mitch Jensen, senior driver for GTS, said. “It is as simple as doing what you say when you say you’re going to do it, that’s my philosophy.

“How we do that is by having the best gear,” Mitch continued. “We spent a lot of time with Lusty EMS in Brisbane planning the specifications of the trailer combination to ensure that we could take advantage of payload increases in all the areas we travel.

“We very rarely run our units as single trailers other than when we are running dog trailers to set up a road train. We either have them set up as a B-Double or road train and we average a healthy 56 tonne payload with the new Lusty EMS tri-axle dolly,” Mitch said.

“Not only do we get the additional payload but the tri-axle dolly is so much more stable than a bogie dolly,” Mitch added. “They’re far safer and we believe they are the way forward for the future for us now.

“The trailers and dolly are fitted with what we consider to be the best running gear on the market, for maximum reliability,” Mitch said.

Each unit has BPW axles, ABS disc brakes, ALII air-suspension kit, Edbro tipping hoists and heavy-duty Ringfeder couplings. Both trailers have an automatic lift on the first axle for more savings when the trailers are empty.

“We are probably not the cheapest carriers in the business, but we pride ourselves on being one of the most reliable. There is no argument that you can’t beat reliable service. Our customers expect us to be reliable and in turn we expect reliability from our suppliers,” Mitch said.

“That’s why we go the extra mile and spend a few extra dollars to get the best gear, after all, this unit is a long-term investment. It’s a matter of getting equipment that you can rely on to get you through week in, week out and using the best components available like the BPW axles and Edbro hoists ensures the equipment will live up to our expectations.

The key to the versatility of this combination is the Lusty EMS Lead Slider trailer, which enables Mitch slide the tipper bin forward to reveal a turntable mounted over the tri-axle suspension. In this setup he can connect it up to the rear Tip-Over-Axle trailer and use it as a B-Double. Conversely when he is running on road train routes he simply slides the turntable under the lead trailer’s bin and connects the trailers as a traditional road train.

The Lead Slider trailer also features a second drop-in kingpin, which ensures correct carrying capacities are achieved in Road Train and B Triple applications.

The trailers and dolly also feature LED lights as standard, providing long and reliable life and adapting automatically to varying voltages in truck power supplies.

These tipper bodies have been treated with a Durabrite finish, which ensures they are always looking clean.

“The finish of the Lusty EMS trailers is first class,” Mitch said. “It’s all the little things that really make these trailers the best in their class. They come standard with corner cleaners and grain cutes all mounted on the chassis. Importantly the quality of workmanship is second to none and there are no sharp edges anywhere. I was really impressed when I picked them up in Brisbane as to how well they’d come up. Both trailers have stainless steel toolboxes and water tanks.”

The Limited Edition Kenworth Director T909 is understandably Mitch’s pride and joy. He has won a couple Truck of the Show awards with it and reckons it’s real head turner. Under the hood is the Cummins E5 set a 600hp and 2050 lb/ft for torque. The transmission is Eaton’s RTLO22918B with Meritor RT46-160 GP that have cross locks in both axles.

In recognition of Kenworth’s 90th Anniversary, the Limited Edition Director T909 features a lot of one-off extras that include external bonnet emblem, individual numbered internal emblems, chrome accessories and signature items, polished fuel tanks, black leather-embossed ISRI 6860/870 driver and KAB fixed rider seat, embossed door trims, embossed rear sleeper trim, limited edition gauges with gold bezel and director series face, dual stainless steel exhaust shields, HID high-beam headlights and a wood-grain smart wheel to suit ISXe5 engine.

Mitch has added a vertical fridge and microwave oven to the sleeper for the long haul jobs that makes the Director a real home away from home.

“I prefer the rear-of-chassis connection for the hydraulic lines and air-electrical hoses,” Mitch added. “It’s more of a personal choice, but I don’t like climbing up on the chassis to disconnect them in the dark, it’s easier to see what you’re doing with all the taillights and if you’re already on the ground you can’t fall and hurt yourself. As well as that, I think the unit looks a lot neater with the hoses out of the way.”

“Most weeks I average 5000 kilometres a week,” Mitch said. “This load of almonds I brought up from South Australia in the road train. They press them into oil here at Kingaroy and that oil-extract is exported to Spain where it’s used to make perfume.

“In the 18 months we’ve had these trailers and dolly they’ve travelled over 150,000 kilometres and we haven’t had one issue and they still look as good as the day the we picked them up,” Mitch concluded. “But importantly, we’re reaping the rewards of the increased payload.”

Model: T909 – Director
Engine: Cummins ISXe5 Signature
Horsepower: 600hp (447kW) at 1850rpm
Torque: 2050 lb/ft (2779Nm) at 1100rpm
Gearbox: Eaton RTLO22915B 18-Speed
Air Cleaner: Dual Cyclopacs
Fuel Filter: Fuel Pro and fuel/water separator
Electrical: 160A isolated alternator & power distribution box
Front Axle: Meritor MFS73LA 7.3t capacity
Front Suspension: 7.2t taper leaf
Power Steering: TRW Ross TAS 85
Rear Axles: Meritor RT46-160 rear axles with X-locks.
Rear Axle Ratio: 4.56
Rear Suspension: Kenworth Air Glide
Brakes: HD (P-type) drum brakes with auto slacks
Turntable: Jost JSK37
Interior: Limited Edition parchment cab trim, HD diamond-pleat vinyl
Seats: Limited Edition leather charcoal HD extreme air suspended seats
Bumper: King Bars – Polished Roadtrain
Extras: Remote diff breathers, extended grease lines to clutch, additional grill bars, stainless headlight protectors, stainless tank wrap, seven-inch straight-cut stacks, stainless visor, plus heaps more