Volvo Group Australia’s 75,000th truck

Andrew Hill of Hill’s Tankers, who took delivery of the landmark FH16 700, said it was an honour to take possession of the truck. “I learnt to drive in a Volvo F7,” he said. “And I’ve had a lifelong association with Volvo, so to own the 75,000th one is almost unbelievable.”

Hill’s Tankers have been buying Volvos since Andrew’s parents started the business in Maitland in the 1960s, and Andrew now has more than 40 Volvos in his fleet.

“Volvos are made here in Australia.” said Andrew. “That’s important to me, I’ll always prefer a locally-built truck over an import.”

Gary added that the 75,000th Volvo is a major milestone for VGA’s manufacturing facility in Wacol, Queensland.

“With this truck, VGA has demonstrated that automotive manufacturing is alive and well in Australia. Our Wacol plant has been operating since 1972, and it’s earned us a place in the Australian Made Campaign – we’re proud to say that every Volvo we build carries the iconic green and-gold ‘Australian Made’ logo.

“The plant makes a huge economic contribution to the local area – without any government subsidies – and supports approximately 85 local suppliers delivering more than 3500 different components, many of which are produced here in Australia.”

Andrew said that having the trucks built locally made it a lot easier to get trucks to meet the specifications of local regulations.

“We run a lot of our trucks under Performance Based Standards,” said Andrew. “And it can be pretty exacting getting accreditation. Truck lengths and tare weights have to be just right to maximise payloads while meeting the specifications. Having a local manufacturer makes that easier.”

But it’s not just the trucks that have led Andrew to have more than 40 Volvos in his fleet.

“We have our Volvos on service agreements with VCV Australia. They give us predictability of servicing costs and of scheduling, and we know the parts will always be available. This maximises the time our trucks are on the road and makes forward planning simpler.”

Gary Bone paid tribute to the people on the factory floor and in the dealerships who make it all possible.

“One of the best things about being a part of VGA is our people,” he said, “everyone on the floor at Wacol had a role in building that truck, and the thousands that have come before it, and the people in the dealerships keep them on the road. It’s their spirit and determination, and their obsession with quality that have made VGA the force in the Australian transport market that is today.

“When we built our 60,000th truck back in 2017, we said we were here to stay,” said Gary. “Here we are six years later and we’ve produced 25 per cent of that number again. Given the economic conditions we’ve experienced in that time, that’s nothing short of phenomenal.”

“VGA is continuing to invest in our manufacturing plant, and in our nationwide dealer network. Australia is a key market for this company, and this truck proves that beyond doubt. I’m looking forward to seeing truck 100,000 roll off the line.”