Big Rigs

A remote Gulf of Carpentaria hospital running low on oxygen was one of the first to feel the effects after the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) grounded the Hawkins Transport fleet, according to company boss Bradley Hawkins. With his company sidelined by a prohibition notice on August 14, Hawkins said one of his depot managers was forced to load a pallet of oxygen into a four-wheel-drive and deliver it to Normanton Hospital.

Brown and Hurley has supported Legacy Australia through its annual ANZAC Day Trucker Cap Campaign, this year raising $15,590.50. Legacy Australia provides vital funds for an organisation that provides essential support to the families of Australian veterans who have given their lives or suffered injury or illness through their service.

Six tunnel boring machine components will be transported from Bulleen to the Port of Melbourne on OSOM vehicles weighing up to 372 tonnes, and measuring approximately 68 metres long and up to 9 metres wide, following work on the North East Link tunnels. The moves will take place overnight, with the first setting off this week on Wednesday August 19.

Victoria’s new Premier, Ben Carroll, has launched a $50 million royal commission into the state’s construction sector, with a focus on alleged corruption and criminal infiltration of the government’s Big Build infrastructure program. The Big Build has directed about $109 billion into more than 180 projects since 2015, including the Metro Tunnel, West Gate Tunnel, North East Link, Suburban Rail Loop and level crossing removals.

Operators wanting to learn more about their compliance obligations under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) reforms are invited to attend a free information session in Wodonga on September 1. The TruckSafe event is designed to help all transport operators understand how accreditation and safety management systems can help achieve compliance with the new laws that came into effect on August 1. An expert panel will also be fielding questions from the floor.

A truck driver has died in a crash on the Western Highway near Ararat earlier today. Investigators have been told a truck travelling east on the Western Highway crashed into a tree about 500m east of Heath Street at about 4.20am. Police said the truck was engulfed in flames and the driver, who is yet to be formally identified, sadly died at the scene. The Western Highway remains blocked in both directions and diversions are in place. The Western Highway remains blocked in both directions.

ACFS Port Logistics is facing an estimated $112 million in trade creditor claims and a $76 million Australian Taxation Office (ATO) claim, newly filed creditors’ meeting minutes have revealed. The preliminary figures were tabled at the first meeting of creditors on August 18 and included in minutes filed with ASIC the following day. The minutes state that the figures are rough initial estimates, with several assets and liabilities yet to be quantified.

Upgrades have been completed on three Victorian bridges to better meet the demands of modern traffic volumes and today’s heavy vehicles — as part of the Australian Government’s $322.9 million investment in the Princes Highway corridor. The Dennington, Allansford and Weerite rail bridges on the Princes Highway West were all over 40 years old. Strengthening works have now been completed.

Penske Australia & New Zealand has named Luke Andrew and Luke Reid as its 2026 Penske Guild Master Technicians for on-highway and off-highway, respectively. Aimed at promoting and rewarding technical excellence, Penske Guild comprises members from across Penske’s Australian and New Zealand network, culminating in a prestigious Master Technician competition biennially where technicians compete in qualification rounds prior to the final.

The closure of Mitchell’s Causeway and Victoria Pass on the Great Western Highway in March 2026 due to serious cracking and movement has been an ongoing headache for freight operators who rely on the route. Now, it looks like the end may be in sight, with the federal government announcing $100 million for the Great Western Highway project, matching the $100 million already committed by the NSW Government in the 2026-2027 NSW State Budget.