Ostwald reaps PBS benefits

Ostwald Bros recently made its first foray into Performance Based Standards, taking delivery of three PBS-approved, Hamelex White truck-and-dog combos

Resources and infrastructure services specialist Ostwald Bros is now reaping the benefits of the Performance Based Standards (PBS) scheme, after the company's Transport Bulk Haulage division worked with Brisbane trailer dealer Trailer Sales to add three PBS-approved truck and quad-dog combinations to its fleet, courtesy of Hamelex White.

According to Ostwald Bros' Safety & Compliance Manager, Athol Carter, the firm knows only too well of the importance of keeping abreast of new regulatory developments.

"We pride ourselves on consistently adding the latest and most innovative transport gear on the market, since we know it will keep us profitable and improve the productivity of our operation," he says.

"From my point of view, PBS makes perfect business sense.

"We conducted extensive research into the benefits of PBS. It ended up becoming a two-year process but it was all worth it. The goal for acquiring the new truck and dogs was to reduce our footprint on the roads, raise productivity and maximise payload."

Originally introduced by the National Transport Commission, PBS allows operators to unlock considerable productivity gains with heavy vehicle set-ups that meet the scheme's guidelines.

Hugh Carr from Trailer Sales explains…

"PBS focuses on a vehicle’s on-road performance rather than on its length and mass, ensuring that the vehicle complies with all standards of stability and rollover risk," he says.

"Therefore, the new PBS combinations will maximise both flexibility and payload, providing similar payloads to that of a standard B-double. At the end of the day, it will earn the company more money per tonne in comparison to a conventional truck and quad-axle dog combination, while providing increased flexibility when compared to a B-double."

Adopting Kenworth's T409 SAR rigid, the PBS Hamelex White combo has a GCM of 57.5 tonnes and a payload of 39.5 tonnes – seven tonnes more than a standard truck and dog.

"Under the PBS scheme, we now have flexible vehicles that can travel on Level 1 and Level 2 roads here in Queensland as opposed to the B-doubles and Type 1 road trains in our fleet that are required to use alternative routes," says Carter.

"Having multi-purpose vehicles allows us to really make the most of each run, servicing our clients within the Surat Basin in Queensland’s south."

Carter says Hamelex White's pre-approved PBS designs made the process simple.

"Hamelex White is the leader when it comes to pre-approved PBS combinations, reducing the waiting period for clients," he says.

"We basically outlined what we needed to see in the trailers and Hamelex White filled out the rest of the features that fall under PBS requirements."

The aluminium Hamelex White combos feature a 5mm flat lining sheet for added protection and a locking tailgate with sludge locks, the latter preventing leaks. The combos also benefit from an electronic brake system with roll stability system.

Ostwald Bros has grown considerably in the 25 years since it was established, and its fleet now comprises 32 prime movers and 115 trailers, including 40 AZMEB side-tippers plus a range of low loaders, flat-deck trailers and water tankers.

Carter says the company's new PBS combos are just the beginning.

"Success is obviously the end result every business aspires to but, for us, we also make a concerted effort to learn from the partners we deal with, especially Hamelex White," he says.

"Now that we are aware of what PBS can achieve, we'll look at adding more multi-purpose trailers going forward."

Ostwald reaps PBS benefits

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