Scania P-Series rigids: Owner Review

Kevin Burley and his wife Lynn own Perth News Freight, a multi-regional transport provider offering pick-up and delivery solutions for Perth metropolitan and all Western Australia’s regional areas.

The business predominately transports regional, rural and community newspapers and consumer magazines as well as non-perishable goods (food, beverages and consumables, building materials, mechanical and industrial equipment).

“We cover all of WA, from Port Hedland to Albany and everywhere in between, running scheduled services but with the flexibility to provide a tailored solution for a customer,” Kevin says.

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“We also offer hotshot deliveries,” he says. Hotshots are extremely urgent loads that originate out of a sudden and very urgent need for parts or equipment at a specific location. The business offers hotshot freight services to all of Australia’s mining, gas and power industries.

“We pick up and deliver regularly in the South West, Gold fields and Northern Australia regional and coastal areas,” he says. “We operate an extensive fleet of modern vehicles each with its own real time GPS tracking system, trailer, on-board fork lift and tail-lift to expedite any load, fast.

“Our trucks are running 24/7, and runs from a ute through vans to light trucks and the heavy-duty Scanias. We directly employ 14 drivers and we also use 18 subcontractors,” Kevin says.

“Over the last few years we have had a strong focus on safety, as a result of a few near misses. Our drivers are on the road at night, and so we must look after them.

When we were looking for new trucks the Scania ticked all the boxes. It was the right size, had the right safety gear, and right capability for our needs,” Kevin says.

Kevin now has two Scanias on the fleet: A P-series 6x2 rigid with a 360hp motor and a larger 8x2 P-series with more than 400hp, which is the first of the New Truck Generation Scanias in his fleet and one of the first examples in Western Australia.

“The 6x2 is carrying around 13-tonnes and the 8x2 can carry 18t, and they both tow a pig trailer at 11t each, as well. The drivers say they handle like a dream, even when they are towing the trailers.

“We’re averaging between 28 and 30 litres/100km for the 6x2 and around 32 litres for the 8x2, given it’s pulling more weight. We use the Scania Driver Support scoring system on board to keep the drivers focused on efficiency, and there’s a lot of banter in the break room when they discuss their driving scores,” Kevin says.

“We’re averaging 5500-6000km per week on the regional delivery vehicles, so reliability is vital. We have had excellent service from Scania’s workshop at Kewdale.

Steve Masters (Scania’s Customer Service Advisor) bends over backwards for us. We need vehicles serviced quickly and uptime is crucial. If we have a problem, they’re on to it straight away.

“What we are offering our customers is service; the papers can’t be late. I get the same dedication to service from Scania. They go out of their way to support my uptime.

“We like the new generation Scania because it has side airbags, plus the ambience of the cab is great, and the comfort is a very important safety factor, as it reduces fatigue.

“Some of the drivers are on the road for 14 hours a day,” Kevin says, “and a trip to Port Hedland is a three-day run.

“The trucks come into the depot, they are loaded and are gone again within one to two hours. We run multiple drivers per truck, and they are on a constant shift rotation.

Much of the longer work is two-up. We have 11 drivers dedicated to the Scanias and they are loving them because of the comfort and the space of the cabs and the safety systems.

They say they are less fatigued at the end of a shift,” Kevin says. “This is very important for us. The cabs have a good bunk so drivers get a good rest.

While prevailing opinion says newsprint is in decline, Kevin says it’s the opposite. “We have been growing our business, delivering more papers and magazines. There’s growth out there, and I am already talking to David Baronet, the Account Manager for Truck Sales at Scania about another truck, probably another 6x2 the same as the first Scania,” Kevin says.

“When we were talking with Kevin regarding his requirements it quickly became clear that the Scania P-series rigid truck was the ideal solution to his needs,” says David Baronet from Scania Kewdale.

“We worked out what his typical payload would be, and the distances and terrain he’s covering and then we were able to specify the P-series 6x2 for him. It is the most cost-effective and efficient truck for his needs.

“When he came to buy his next truck, we could see there was a need for more payload, so the New Truck Generation P-series 8x2 was the best fit for his needs.

“As with many customers today, it’s not just the hardware from Scania that delivers for our customers, but the services and back-up Scania offer make all the difference. We understand that Kevin is running on a tight schedule and our services are configured to help keep him on the road. His uptime defines his profitability, and backs the promise he makes to his customers, just the same as Scania does,” David says.

“In recent times, we have been supplying more and more P-series rigid trucks into the Perth and broader WA market. The payload, driver comfort and efficiency of the drivetrain have all been key contributors to the rise in popularity. Scania has the right combination of features and we offer the right combination of services that cost-conscious customers appreciate,” he says.

“The smarter operators know that the price of the truck is only one small part of the impact running a vehicle can have on your business, and that a cheap truck that’s off the road is an expensive burden.”