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NEWS
Trusty Fighter clocks up a million
Trouble-free trucking from Fuso FighterVictoria’s Browns Sawdust and Shavings has chosen to add two more Fuso Fighters to its fleet thanks to the durability of a truck the company bought in 2006.
“Reliability is the key factor in the decision,” says Browns Sawdust and Shavings owner, Scott Brown.
“You don’t often get trucks that gives you a million kilometres and doesn’t give you any grief, from the cab right down to the driveline,” he added.
While reliability was a key driver, Brown said there were other reasons as well.
“It also came down to driver comfort, they have come a long way with the design of the cab and the additional visibility through the passenger door.”
The driver of the first new Fighter is Barry Evans, who has driven for the company for 22 years and Brown said he’s pleased with the new truck.
“Barry is very tall and needs a bit of room and the Fuso provides that,” he said.
“He had a choice of any truck for his next million km and he was happy to stick with the Fuso.”
His old truck is still part of the fleet and there are no plans to move it on, given that it is working well. Browns Sawdust and Shavings has a total fleet of 14 trucks including American models and a small Fuso Canter tipper.
The new Fighter models are 2427 6x4 specification and feature 7.5-litre six-cylinder engines generating 199kW and 784Nm of torque. A fully-automatic Allison six-speed transmission is available as an option, but Browns chose the nine-speed Eaton manual for its two units.
The Fighter has 30,000km service intervals, but Mr Brown has them serviced more regularly because the high PTO usage.
Browns Sawdust and Shavings, based on the Eastern fringes of Melbourne, supplies sawdust and wood shavings to the agricultural and equine industry across Victoria, covering everything from hobby farmers and horse racing stables to chicken farms and piggeries. It also delivers woodchips to ports for export.
The design of many of the sheds on the farming properties means that the Fighter’s compact dimensions are appreciated, along with the rear air suspension that allows it to drop down lower when some of the air is released.
The Brown’s Sawdust and Shaving trucks are equipped with bodies using Pumpa walking floors that enable the sawdust and shavings to be delivered into the dray area of the confined barn space.
Browns Sawdust and Shaving was started by Scott’s father Geoffrey in the 1970s with two trucks.
Scott Brown, who took over the business in 2003, says a lot has changed since the company started off.
“We have changed with the technology and the environment,” Mr Brown says.
He adds that sawdust and shavings are also viewed differently these days.
“Back in the 1970s and 1980s, sawdust and shaving was a throw-away product that people had trouble getting rid of, but now it is being used for generating power, in kilns, tomato hot houses in addition to agricultural uses, it is a unique product.”
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Written byTrucksales Staff
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