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Articles by Jon Thomson
HEAVY SIMULATION – AUSSIE COMPANY SUCCEEDS IN DEVELOPING HEAVY VEHICLE SIMULATION PROGRAM
An Australian simulation technology company has revealed that it has completed a heavy vehicle simulation training program and is now set to apply the technology to one of the most demanding roles on Australian roads, and that is driving a bus. The company, Motum has delivered through Round nine of the Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative, which is administered by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) on behalf of the Australian Government.
WE’VE GOT THE ROAD MAP NOW WE JUST NEED THE CHARGING NETWORK
It has been announced that Australia is set to develop its first national roadmap to help industry and governments understand and plan the charging infrastructure needed to support millions more electric vehicles and a growing fleet of electric trucks expected on Australian roads by 2035.
YOU’RE NICKED – NHVR SUCCESFULLY PROSECUTES RECALCITRANT QUEENSLAND TRANSPORT OPERATOR
Screenshot The NHVR has reveal that it has successfully prosecuted and heavily fined a Queensland-based heavy vehicle operator after the company pleaded guilty to eight offences of breaching a court-ordered Supervisory Intervention Order.
REFINED TOURING – SCANIA LAUNCHES LATEST INCARNATION OF ITS FLAGSHIP COACH PLATFORM
Swedish maker Scania has announced that its long-awaited new generation Touring coach has been launched in Europe. After years of anticipation, the brand’s new generation Touring has been introduced, with the company claiming it as a milestone in its coach offerings, and that the new generation model builds on its product concept while taking exterior styling, the passenger environment, driver area and powertrain features to new levels.
WARPED VIEW – HOW MANY TRUCKS ARE NEW CHINESE BRANDS ACTUALLY SELLING IN AUSTRALIA
As every month of the year rolls by the body that purports to represent the truck makers in this country, the Truck Industry Council or TIC as it calls itself, publishes its monthly tally of how many trucks and heavy vans have been registered in Australia for the preceding four weeks and adds up the year to date totals up to that point.
ITS A DOWNER BUT IT EMPHASISES THE POSITIVES – MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PLAYER PRAISES HEAVY DUTY HINO
With the arrival of its new 500 Series medium duty range looming on the horizon Hino is continuing to emphasise the versatility and workability of its 700 Series heavy range revealing this week that one of Australia’s largest infrastructure services providers, the Downer Group has added another 700 Series to its fleet recently.
NHVR PAYS TRIBUTE TO ITS INAUGURAL CHAIR BRUCE BAIRD FOLLOWING HIS DEATH
The NHVR has paid tribute to its inaugural chair, the Hon. Bruce Baird AM, who passed away suddenly last week, he was 84. Baird was the first chair of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and headed up the organisation from its inception in 2013 until he stepped down in 2018. He also served as the NSW transport minister from 1988 to 1995, and was the father of former NSW state premier Mike Baird, the ABC journalist Julia Baird, and marketing executive Steve Baird.
DUNES IN JANUARY – HINO SET TO TACKLE ITS 35TH DAKAR MARATHON
502 VAN KASTEREN Janus (nld), RODEWALD Darek (pol), SNIJDERS Marcel (nld), BOSS Machinery Team de Rooy, Iveco, Trucks, action during the Stage 12 of the Dakar 2023 between Empty Quarter Marathon and Shaybah, on January 13, 2023 in Shaybah, Saudi Arabia - Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI Hino has announced that it will once again run the gauntlet of the toughest cross country really in the world be again backing a campaign to tackle the Dakar Rally, where the Japanese truck maker’s Sugawara team...
LIGHT AT THE END OF THE MEDIUM TUNNEL FOR HINO WITH NEW 500 SERIES JUST OVER THE HORIZON
Beleageured truck brand Hino has shown the first glimmers of. its promised new dawn in 2027 after a tough couple of years managing and riding out a massive shortfall in stock, particularly for medium duty, with the company announcing that it is now taking orders for its long awaited new medium-duty 500 Series models with the first trucks set to hit Aussie roads in the first months of 2027.
EMERY NEW BOSS OF TRUCK INDUSTRY COUNCIL
It’s been announced that Hino Australia boss, Richard Emery, has been elected as the new president of the Truck Industry Council (TIC) at the industry lobby group’s annual general meeting in Canberralast week. Emery succeeds his opposite number at market leader isuzu, Andrew Harbison, who will take on the role of co-vice president of TIC along with Volvo Australia vice president Tom Chapman.
NO HOPE SPRINGS IN MEAGRE SEPTEMBER SALES RESULTS
Tim Gimbert 2025 As we enter the final quarter the Australian truck and heavy commercial market has continued its sales slide finishing September with a drop of just over 500 units or 13.3 per cent compared with the figures from this time last year.
DAF MAKEOVER- PACCAR’S EURO BRAND LAUNCHES NEW GENERATION RANGE
3D rendering background image for car scene. DAF has announced it has launched the its new generation range of trucks, which the company claims represents the most significant transformation of its product line in more than three decades.
PROCABIN GONG – NEW MERCEDES AERO TRUCK WINS AUSTRALASIAN TRUCK OF THE YEAR
It has been announced that the brilliant new Mercedes-Benz Actros ProCabin has been awarded the 2026 Australasian Truck of the Year award. While we here at Truck and Bus News don’t hold a lot of province in awards such as this and many of them are not always appropriate or correctly assigned, the case of the Mercedes-Benz ProCabin is one we believe is totally deserved and worthy of the title.
FUTURE TENSE – ATA ANNOUNCES FUTURE LEADERS FORUM FOR TRUCKING INDUSTRY
The ATA along with Geotab and Volvo Group Australia have announced the participants in this year’s Future Leaders Forum. According to the ATA its Future Leaders Forum is an award-winning leadership program that gives young leaders in the trucking industry the tools and training they need to become strong, effective industry advocates. The Association tells us that this year’s Future Leaders were selected by the its member associations as well as TruckSafe.
COMMENTS ON THE SUPER COACH – SCANIA PLUG IN HYBRID WINS INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABLE BUS AWARD
Swedish commercial vehicle maker Scania has revealed one of its Scania chassis Irizar bodied coaches has been awarded the Sustainable Bus Award for 2027 in the Coach category The Scania Irizar i6S Efficient PHEV was announced as the winner in the category, recognising the coaches’ plug-in hybrid platform as an “innovative solution for reducing fuel consumption by up to 47 percent”.
DON’T RUBBISH IT – WASTE GIANT REMONDIS PRAISES MERCEDES eECONIC TRIALS IN AUSTRALIA
Major wast management company Remondis Australia has announced it is taking further steps towards decarbonising its fleet revealing it is trialling the latest battery-electric zero-emission technology from Mercedes-Benz. Remondis said it has put Mercedes-Benz’s eEconic 6×2 model through commercial waste collection trials in Brisbane during August and has apparently come away impressed.. The Mercedes eEconic uses lithium-ion batteries to power its electric motors on the drive axle.
IT’S ON THE ROAD AT LAST – US CAR MAG GETS TO TEST TESLA’S MUCH ANTICIPATED SEMI
It’s been nearly 10 years since controversial and edgy zero emission vehicle maker, Tesla first announced it was building its take on an all electric prime mover, which it creatively called, the Semi. As is. the brand’s want many a claim has been made about the capabilities and potential uses for its Semi in the past decade, often with some what seemed like wildly optimistic claims of performance and weight hauling capabilities.
IN A PICKLES ! – HANNAHS TRANSPORT ROTATING PRIME FLEET ASSETS WITH A SALE THROUGH LEADING AUCTION HOUSE
Well-known auction house, Pickles, has announced it will be auctioning off an array of Mack and Volvo prime movers belonging to one of New South Wales’ best-known independent transport operatorHannahs Haulage. The auction due later this month will bring more than $2 million worth of trucks and trailers to market in a standalone auction by Pickles running from yesterday 28th to tomorrow Wednesday the 30th September.
NO ASSAULT ON BATTERY! – SCANIA REVEALS 720KM RANGE FOR BATTERY ELECTRIC TRUCKS AT HANOVER TRUCK SHOW
Scania 44 R 6x2 tractor unit Just a week after announcing that it was exploring a potential hydrogen fuel cell opportunityfor heavy trucks with Japanese auto giant Toyota, Swedish truck maker Scania has used the IAA Transportation expo in Germany to reveal a potential extended range for battery electric trucks claiming a potential of up to 720 kms.
ATA BACKS TAX SLASH PROPOSAL BY FEDERAL COALITION
The ATA has welcomed the Coalition’s proposal to automatically reduce fuel taxes when global oil prices spike, saying a clear trigger would give trucking operators greater certainty when managing one of their biggest business costs.
HOLIDAY TIME! NHVR WARNS TRUCKIES AND ROAD USERS OF RISKS IN WEEKS AHEAD
The NHVR has issued a warning to truck operators and drivers of heavy vehicles to o understand how to safely share the road with holiday makers as School holidays commence in various states around the country in the coming weeks which will mean more people travelling on the road, often on unfamiliar routes and at different times of day. The NHVR’s executive director of Corporate Affairs, Michelle Tayler said that taking a few extra moments could make a significant difference to road safety.
EXTRA, EXTRA, EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT – SYDNEY UD DRIVER WINS EXTRA MILE CHALLENGE
UD Trucks has announced that a Sydney based driver has taken first place in its Extra Mile Challenge competition after three months of intense com-petition which was monitored and judged but the company’s UD Connect telematics system. Sydney based driver Anthony Cassar of Coolway Trans in Sydney and follows Australia’s global victory in the competition 2024 with owner-operator Matt Modra of MA and RC Modra.
TREADING ON EVERY KILOMETRE – KUMHO ANNOUNCES NEW TRUCK AND BUS RANGE CAMPAIGN
Korean based global tyre maker Kumho has announced a new campaign to inform truck and bus operators about the importance of fitting more efficient tyres on heavy vehicles to reduce fuel and energy consumption and to ensure long term safety of the vehicle, other road users and occupants.
ELECTRIC TRUCK RANGE WINS VOLVO INTERNATIONAL TRUCK OF THE YEAR FOR 2027
Volvo has been announced as the winner of the International Truck of the Year at last week’s IAA Transportation Expo at Hanover in Germany, marking the eighth time Volvo has taken the award. The often controversial award is judged by an International jury and has often been award to trucks that haven’t actually been officially launched or gone on sale.
WORLD’S BIOGGEST TRUCK SHOW OPENS WITH FANFARE AND A CALL FOR GOVERNMENTS TO KEEP PACE WITH THE TRUCK INDUSTRY
Daimler Truck AG auf der IAA Transportation 2026 Daimler Truck AG at IAA Transportation 2026 President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) Hildegard Müller has used the opening of this year’s Hanover Truck Show to call on European governments and policymakers to act now and catch up to the truck industry which she claims has led the way in innovation.
SCANIA SCORES BIG IN EURO NCAP TRUCK SAFETY RATINGS
Swedish truck maker Scania has scored big in the latest Euro NCAP ratings for two of its prime models with both its G-series and R-series being cited for their strong safety performance. The two Scania models are made for different long-haulage and regional transport needs but according to Scania they both share the same safety approach by supporting the driver through good direct vision, comfort, control, and advanced driver assistance systems.
VOLVO HELPS FOODBANK DEPOSIT MORE FOOD AROUND THE REGIONS WITH DONATED TRUCK
Volvo Truck Australia has helped the well known not for profit charity Foodbank celebrate its first year of operating the Volvo FH12 that the Swedish truck maker donated to the organisation back in 2025.
ATA PLAUDITS FOR TOP TECH, TRAINING AND MAINTENANCE PERFORMERS COMING UP
The ATA has announced the finalists for its National Trucking Industry Awards to be presented at its Technology and Maintenance Conference in Melbourne later this month. The ATA National Trucking Industry awards are in their … year and recognise outstanding achievements for a range of truck industry workers who serve the various operations that are truly the lifeblood of the nation.
VAN TASTIC – KIA UNVEILS BIGGER ADDITION TO ITS PV ELECTRIC VAN RANGE AT HANNOVER TRUCK SHOW
Kia delivered an interesting vehicle launch this week’s IAA commercial vehicle Expo at Hannover in Germany revealing another battery electric van range that comes hot on the heels of it recently launched PV5 model. Kia tore the covers off its new larger electric cargo van model the PV7 at the Hannover Show and the local Kia subsidiary has confirmed that the new bigger model will join the PV5 in Australia is by the fourth quarter of 2027.
ON A CHARGE! FORD UNVEILS A CHINESE BUILT ONE TONNE EV VAN AND A 900KM RANGE SUPER HYBRID FOR OZ
Ford has announced it is about to set the cat among the pigeons when it comes to battery electric powered cargo vans with the news that it will launch a new pure battery electric one tonne van on our market for a gamer changing, drive-away price of just $50,000.
LOGISTICS COUNCIL TARGETS SIX PRIORITIES FOR ALL PARTIES CONTESTING VICTORIAN STATE ELECTION
CEO of the ALC, Dr Hermione Parsons The Australian Logistics Council is asking all parties contesting the upcoming Victorian election to commit to six practical priorities that it claims will strengthen the state’s supply chains and make better use of the infrastructure already in place. The ALC claims that Victoria’s freight task is expected to more than double over the next 25 years, from about 440 million tonnes in 2020-21 to an expected 908 million tonnes by 2050-51.
AITCH TWO OWE – TOYOTA AND SCANIA ANNOUNCE SURPRISE TRUCK HYDROGEN FUEL CELL COLLABORATION
In what could be one of the biggest stories in the truck industry this year Toyota and Scania have announced that they are forming a partnership to advance hydrogen fuel cell solutions for heavy-duty mobility through real-world logistics operations. The surprise is Scania’s heavy involvement in a technology that it has openly eschewed in recent times favouring a battery electric future and openly expressing doubt in the long term future of hydrogen fuel cells.
NOT JUST A CITY SLICKER – WE GIVE HINO’S NINE LITRE 700 SERIES AN INTERCITY WORKOUT
Was a time when Hino was a thorn in the side of market leader Isuzu when it came to the medium duty sector with its 500 Series range taking the fight up to its opponent and actually sometimes outselling it in the early 2000s. That was then and in recent years Izuzu has pulled ahead across all sectors while Hino is in the midst of a well documented supply shortage that is causing the brand and its dealer network more than a little anxiety.
WE PICK THEM – SPECIALIST TRUCK BODY BUILDER STG SAYS HINO IS ITS FAVOURITE
James Agius of STG Global is a custome of Hino. Photo by James Thomas/The Photo Pitch In an unusual move leading Australian specialised truck body manufacturer and supplier STG Global has selected the Hino 700 Series as its preferred heavy-duty truck partner.
DAIMLER TECHS BATTLE OUT FOR THEIR VERY OWN PREMIERSHIP AWARDS
Daimler Trucks has announced gongs for two of its most outstanding truck technicians at a function in Melbourne last week. As the Forty Finals season comes into play Daimler has revealed its premiership players when it comes to fettling customer’s Freightliner and Mercedes-Benz trucks with the best Daimler Truck technicians travelling to the Victorian capital for trhe awards.
AUGUST FALLS – T-MARK TRUCK SALES NUMBERS RETURN A DISMAL PERFORMANCE FOR THE END OF WINTER
The August truck and heavy commercial sales data tells a story of a diminishing market with dwindling sales continuing to cause some angst in the market, despite the arrival of several newcomers. The August figures show that the industry registered 2989 trucks and heavy vans for the month, down 17.8 per cent or 648 units on the sales figures from August 2025.
CONCRETE EVIDENCE – HEIDELBERG MATERIALS SWITCHES TO FREIGHLINER CASCADIAS FOR PAYLOAD AND EFFICIENCY
Heidelberg Materials is the recently adopted name for the company many of us identify as Hanson, the concrete and building materials giant which is easily identified by its vivid green trucks. Daimer trucks Australia has revealed that Heidelberg Materials has recently purchased Freightliner Cascadia 126 day cab models s to operate out of its depots around Australia.
TOUGH AS TEAK – PREMIUM PLANT HIRE PUTS NEW SCANIA 4X4 XT TO WORK IN RUGGED MINE HIRE LOCATIONS
Perth-based company Premium Plant Hire has just clocked up 14 years of operation since being established by its managing director Russel Wells in 2012 and has been been built on the promise of a premium service and premium products that can be dry hired to the mining industry. Truck maker Scania has been selling its 8×4 workhorses to Premium for several years with the company hiring them out to mining operators as service vehicles, effectively keeping the big mining machinery running.
MACK THE KNIFE – TWO BULLDOGS GET A NIP AND TUCK IN RETRO STYLE FACELIFTS
Volvo owned famed US based truck brand Mack has just revealed that two of its key models, the Trident and Super-Liner have benefited from a retro themed facelift. Mack said that the project was locally driven and has gives both models a new squared off face with quad 7-inch LED headlights for better nighttime visibility. The company claims that the new look pays homage to the brand’s heritage of building tough trucks for tough conditions.
WE’LL GIVE YOU THE TIP! – ISUZU REFRESHES ITS READY TO WORK TIPPER OFFERING WITH SPRING PROMOTION
Isuzu Australa reckons that with Australia’s construction pipeline continuing to demand more from contractors, trades and infrastructure crews, it is putting dependable, well-specified trucks within easier reach through what it is calling its ‘Spring Tipper’ sales campaign. The company reckons that the value of total construction work completed nationally rose 3.4 per cent to $83.4 billion in the March 2026 quarter according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, .
DFAC IN THE OPERATING THEATRE! – NEW CHINESE BRAND STEPS UP WITH FULL OPERATING LEASES AVAILABLE IN ITS TRUCKS
New Chinese entrant to the Australian light truck market, DFAC has announced it is launching a new fully maintained operating lease as the fledgling brand roles out more marketing support offerings that are sure to make the new range of trucks more attractive to potential buyers in what is a very crowded and competitive sector of the truck business.
A VESTED DEVELOPMENT – ARCHION ANNOUNCES FIRST PRODUCT FRUIT FROM HINO-FUSO JOINT VENTURE
The president and CEO of the Daimler/Toyota truck joint venture Archion: Karl Deppen, as this week announced the launch of a new medium-duty truck range for the Japanese market, the first under the umbrella of the joint venture organisation. Archion said that the new medium duty range which will be cold under either the Hino Ranger or Fuso Fighter nameplates promise to provide stronger product choices for Japanese customers in the medium duty segment.
FAMOUS BUS BUS FAMILY SCIONS FACE SENTENCING OVER HUNTER BUS CRASH DUTY OF CARE AND DILIGENCE BREACHES
The NHVR is in court this week as it seeks to prosecute the directors of Linq Buslines the operator of the bus that crashed in the Hunter Valley three years ago killing ten people and injuring another 25.
COUNCIL ON COUNCIL – LOGISTICS BODY LAUDS LOCAL GOVERNMENT ROLE IN MORE EFFICIENT FREIGHT OPERATIONS
CEO of the ALC, Dr Hermione Parsons The managing director and CEO of the Australian Logistics Council, Dr Hermione Parsons is set to use an address to the ALGA National Local Roads, Transport and Infrastructure Congress in Cairns tomorrow to reinforce the critical role local government plays in the resilience of Australia’s supply chain logistics and freight transport network.
PENSKE PLAUDITS – POWER SYSTEM AND TRUCK COMPANY RECOGNISES ITS MASTER TECHS
Penske has announced two new guild master technicians for its on-highway and off-highway operations respectively, naming Luke Andrew and Luke Reid as its 2026 Guild Master Technicians. Penske says its Guild comprises members from across its Australian and New Zealand network and culminates in a prestigious biennial master technician competition aimed at promoting and rewarding technical excellence, where technicians compete in qualification rounds prior to the final.
CATTLE CALL – LIVESTOCK FREIGHT BODY APPLAUDS EXTRA FEDERAL FUNDING IN VICTORIA PASS ROAD FIASCO
The industry association for livestock and rural carters in Australia says it applauds the Federal Government’s latest commitment for the beleaguered and blocked Great Western Highway on the Western flank of the NSW Blue Mountains.
IRONING OUT THE BALANCE – DAIMLER SELLS DOWN A STACK OF ARCHION SHARES TO EVEN THINGS UP IN JOINT VENTURE
With the newly forged Fuso-Hino joint venture company, Archion only just having come into existence, the news this week that German based global giant Daimler has just announced that it has reduced its stake in the Japanese joint venture down to just 25per cent came as somewhat of a shock.
AGITATING FOR CHANGE – SCANIA WANTS TO CEMENT ITS POSITION IN AGI’S
Swedish based global truck maker Scania has revealed it has delivered the first of two agitator-bodied versions of its new Super 11-powered trucks to a Queensland-based civil contractor as the truck maker makes a bid to capture a greater share of the ‘vocational’ market including applications such as concrete agitators, wast trucks and tippers.
THINK PINK – WA RAISES MONEY FOR BREAST CANCER AT HANDOVER OF NEW PINK SCANIA FIRE TRUCK
A Perth fire and rescue truck fabrication company has delivered of WA’s first pink coloured Scania Fire Appliance ahead of its commissioning with Hancock Iron Ore in the Pilbara and has used it to raise vital funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF). Perth based Frontline Fire and Rescue has marked the official handover of the first Pink Scania Fire Appliance in WA to Hancock Iron Ore by hosting a ‘Pink for a Purpose’ fundraising event to support of the NBCF.
FUELS GOLD – ATA APPLAUDS GOVERNMENT FUEL SECURITY MOVES
Transport industry lobby group, the ATA, has said that it and the truck industry it represents has welcomed the Federal Government’s release of two consultation papers about building Australia’s fuel security and renewable fuels. The Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Catherine King, and the Minister for Agriculture, Julie Collins, have released the consultation papers today ( 18th August).
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