Two-pedal trucks dominate Australian market

This year alone, over 80 per cent of all car-driver’s licence truck models sold (up to 4500kg GVM) have been specified with a two-pedal automatic or automated manual transmission (AMT).

The trend continues right across the GVM spectrum, a stark comparison to around 10 years ago in 2012-13 when over 50 per cent of all trucks sold were specified with a manual transmission.

Beyond ease of use and fuel economy, Isuzu Australia Limited (IAL) national sales manager Les Spaltman noted this trend points to some intriguing factors within the Australian road transport industry.

“Uptime and the efficient application of equipment is something Aussie businesses do really well, but there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to the decision to specify a two-pedal transmission on a new truck,” Mr Spaltman said.

Analysed further, productivity, whole of life costs and most strikingly, labour retention, come under the microscope for businesses considering a truck purchase, particularly those running medium to large-sized fleets.

Isuzu’s recently released Future of Trucking Report: The Road Ahead, the largest research study of its kind ever undertaken in Australia, confirms Australian truck buyers and business owners are maintaining a keen eye on these factors.

“We surveyed over 1000 road transport operators from all over the country and the findings threw up some intriguing insights into the changing needs of the Australian truck buyer,” Mr Spaltman said.

“Our research shows a direct tie between the retention of labour and changing buying behaviours.

“This was particularly evident in the choice of transmission in a bid to attract and retain talent, particularly drivers, an issue that has plagued the industry since the early 90s.

“While businesses are accessing a broader labour pool, they are also moving towards new, two-pedal trucks across the GVM range to support this.

A pioneer of AMT truck technology in 2005, today, Isuzu’s most advanced iteration of this transmission is its third-generation AMT with torque converter (TC-AMT).

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Representing over a decade of development and refinement, the Australian variant of TC-AMT has been designed specifically for local conditions.

The result for the driver (regardless of experience level) is a clever, instinctive drive, offering smooth gear changes and a car-like experience at the wheel—from the nimble car-license N Series to the medium-duty F Series models.

This is a particular boon in urban settings. Isuzu’s TC-AMT provides a torque multiplication factor of 1.5 times, producing a superior response from a standing start.

It also offers better acceleration at lower speeds, making it ideal for drivers dealing regularly with stop-start traffic.

Moving to the top-end of the medium-duty F Series range, the ubiquitous Allison automatic transmissions take centre stage.

Autos have long been well regarded for their adaptability in stop-start functions such as refuse collection, and Allison transmissions are a standout example.

Featured across the medium- and heavy-duty GVM range, from 260hp 12- and 14-tonne FSR/D models right through to the FYX 350-350 10×4, Isuzu recognises the premium performance that Allison automatic transmissions offers operators in tough environments.

Mr Spaltman noted the brand keeps a keen eye on changing trends and industry issues, including driver shortages.

“Our road transport industry employs a varied workforce, but as we know too well, labour and skills shortages are as real as they are persistent,” he said.

“It may be a matter of preference for some buyers but we know prioritisation of fit-for-purpose, two-pedal trucks is going some way towards helping attract and retain a driving workforce.

“As an OEM, we will continue to answer the needs of a broad range of customers in addressing industry issues such as this,” Mr Spaltman concluded.