Brisbane Truck Show assembles industry best

[kscarbel2]

Prime Mover Magazine  /  April 23, 2019

The sheer scale of original equipment manufacturers that assemble at the Brisbane Truck Show makes it a world class event and for many in the commercial road transport industry it represents a mecca in which to view and engage with the latest vehicles, newest equipment and advances in technology made available in seminars and shared information sessions.

Dating back to 1968, the biennial Brisbane Truck Show on 16-19 May occasions a pilgrimage to Southeast Queensland for many in road transport where four days of product showcases will offer a glimpse into the near future of the industry.

Located at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre for the fifth time, the event is supported by the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council.

South Bank Parklands will again help to co-ordinate the extension of the show into the entertainment and restaurant precinct providing it with additional atmosphere in the evenings.

Part of this transformation involves the launch of the South Bank Roadhouse.

The Penske Group returns this year, with offerings from the latest in its Western Star, Detroit and MAN product range.

Daysworth has confirmed it will display its next generation Diamond Reo while both SEA Electric and Foton Motor are on board with the latest advances in technology for light-heavy and heavy vehicles.

The general public will also get a glimpse of commercial vehicles currently undergoing evaluations long before much anticipated launches in the market.

Brisbane-based manufacturer Mack is widely tipped to debut its new Anthem, which until now has made rare appearances at events largely reserved for select media.

PACCAR will showcase the latest in Kenworth technology including the remodelled T360 and the new T410.

For many attendees the Brisbane Truck Show is the first opportunity to take in the test models of the Freightliner Cascadia ahead of its arrival next year.

Mercedes-Benz are expected to display its new SoloStar concept, a roomy interior with a lounge set-up boasting a 900mm bunk, making it the biggest bed on the market.

There’s also speculation that the mirrorless, partly autonomous Mercedes-Benz Actros on show at Hannover last year will also be part of its display in Brisbane.

One of the highlights at this year’s event will be the National Apprentice Challenge, which has attracted a record amount of entries from all parts of the country according to Steve Power, Heavy Vehicle Industry Association National Manager Communications.

“It’s quite a dynamic audience driven event with commentary and interviews going on over the whole four days of the show,” he says.

“Heats take about an hour and a half and the event will culminate with a final on the Sunday.”

Sponsored this year by IVECO, the National Apprentice Challenge will feature three identical vehicles with faults pre-programmed into them. Each team is required to solve the issue in a race against the clock.

The contest is run with help from Queensland TAFE SkillsTech, as part of an initiative to develop talent and nurture career paths within the industry.

Through a schools-to-industry program, 800 students are bussed in from high schools from around the region and put through a series of seminars from a variety of exhibitors to showcase career paths.

This has led to the creation of a Jobs Hub which includes a Jobs Exchange where employees and employers can be matched across over 200 jobs.

“This initiative is about promoting our industry more broadly and the career paths that are available,” says Steve.

“Typically people think you have to be a driver or mechanic to be involved. That’s not the case. The new Jobs Hub highlights the broad range of career paths available across the different sectors of the industry and the possibilities of working internationally and in leadership positions for major companies.”

The Job Exchange allows attendees to submit their resumes and get matched, appropriate to their skills and experience, with jobs online and real employers in the flesh.

Steve equates it to speed dating. “I think the program is going to be a real highlight. It will generate a lot of interest within and outside of the industry,” he says.

The National Road Transport Association will hold its annual NatRoad Conference in conjunction with the Brisbane Truck Show on 15 May.

This year’s main points include technology innovation and safety; improving business health by adopting forward-looking processes and systems; a focused approach to building a diverse workforce and making the industry a career choice for a younger generation; sustainability and keeping abreast of industry news and changes to rules and regulation.

Another feature of the event is the Insight Centre sponsored by KPMG who is currently conducting a major study on the road transport industry footprint covering manufacturing, sales, maintenance, service and distribution on behalf of the HVIA.

The Australian Trucking Association, NatRoad and the Queensland Trucking Association have all confirmed that they will be running sessions at the Insight Centre over one of the four days.

These presentations, according to Steve, will provide real value for visitors with helpful information about managing internal finances, fatigue management and making improvements to their business.

Another of the sessions will be dedicated to navigating the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator portal from an operator’s point of view.

“Like any event what we’re trying to do is make every visitor’s experience even stronger,” he says. “It’s going to be a useful resource and give them an extra bang for their buck.”

Scania has confirmed it will have a New Truck Generation V8 flagship, a Scania XT tipper, a G-series prime mover and two P-series rigids as part of their exhibit.

In line with Scania’s commitment to innovative sustainability solutions one of the rigids is dedicated to running on alternative fuels.
Drake Collectibles celebrates its tenth anniversary at the event.

The celebrations will include original tooling from their first ever model, merchandise, new diecast product announcements and Q&A sessions on how the models are created.

The Drake Group will showcase the premium finish and high quality of its Drake and O’Phee heavy haulage trailers.

JOST Australia will unveil its latest development in towing hitch technology with the help of its ROCKINGER range.

Part of its showcase will involve the RO*50E towing hitch which it claims permits gentle coupling even at difficult drawbar eye angles.

ROCKINGER has also developed a camera which acts as a driver’s third eye whereby the driver is able to see the exact position of the drawbar eye and can engage the coupling in a targeted manner minus visual misalignment.

Under the umbrella of Australian Heavy Vehicle Industry Week, the Brisbane Truck Show will continue to announce additional keynote presentations, forums and entertainment in the following weeks.

.