New DEALS
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ow hard do you need to
be to handle a cargo of
crocodiles? For a Northern
Territory task, the UD
Quon that Innisfail Carrying
Company (ICC) MD Lance Law won for a
year was fitted with a refrigeration unit
to keep the latter-day dinosaurs at a quiet
and comfortable 25 degrees for their
journey east.
That is a pretty fair way away from
Queensland’s north coast, where the Quon
has been put to the sort of stern test UD was
hoping for when it launched the exercise.
After UD organised its placement from
Brisbane to ICC’s Townsville Carrying
Company (TCC) operation, run by brother
John Law – as Lance said it would six months
ago on being presented with it – the Quon
was quickly put to B-double use, both long-
and short-haul.
Its early tasks included trips to Mt Isa and
Cloncurry, along with a few of Brisbane runs.
That crocodile load, one of about 10
annually, was part of a trip through
Katherine to Victoria River, where Coolibah
Station runs a crocodile farm, to fetch reptile
stock for Queensland interests.
When Deals on Wheels called at the
half-way mark of the initiative, the Quon
had done about 44,000km in an average
range of around 7,500–8,000km per month
depending on the task.
And John Law is delighted with it.
“It was well-used – it’s a very versatile
truck,” John says, praising its direct steering
and tight turning circle and ergonomics.
“I love it – a good truck.”
Given his senior position, spending days
away from the office can’t be done, but he’s
been more than happy hooking up a few
local 19-metre extendable loads.
“It’s extremely manoeuvrable around
town – you can put it anywhere, it’s good to
dock with it, good visibility," he says.H
ICC’s Townsville Carrying
Company has been putting
the truck to work for both
long and short-haul work177