22 AUGUST 2019 ownerdriver.com.au
Above: Ian Irvin has come a long
way since starting out with a
second-hand Mack CH
Right: The air-operated automatic
strapping ExTe system
Below: Phoenix’s first King Cab is
still servicing one of their long-
time clients, Austral Bricks
“I’ve gone against
every salesman’s good
ideas.”
timber to concrete pylons, hay to bailed metal. It all paid
the bills.
Having good friends in the industry meant Ian was
also able to pick up a fair bit of subbie work as he built
up his own client base. That client base grew very rapidly
though, and when one of his regular clients, Austral Bricks,
put him officially on the books, the growth of Phoenix
Trucking Co started.King Cab
In 2014 Ian’s first King Cab Kenworth turned up to tow
his first B-double set. The entire unit was done up in
Austral colours and five years on is still looking as good
as it did on day one. The same year also saw the arrival of
Ian’s first Freighter EziLiner trailer, which went behind his
original K104. The following year Ian picked up another
K104 and then in 2017 a second King Cab K200, as well as a
standard cab K200 arrived. They were painted up with the
striking red phoenix on the side, bringing the f leet up to
five trucks.
The K200s are a regular site around the east coast of
Australia with their matching B-double sets. The K104s are
still Ian’s pride and joy. Both trucks are approaching two
million kilometres and are proving their worth working
nonstop between Sydney and Canberra.
It’s Ian’s approach to his business that keeps the
Phoenix f leet in a solid position. He admits his ‘passion
over sensibility’ attitude is why he makes sure they have
enough stainless to stand out on the roads, although it’s
his mechanical background that takes precedence.
“I’m very particular about how my gear is looked after;
there is high level of maintenance,” Ian says.
He admits the showroom shine often takes second
place to getting the trucks greased, trailers adjusted and
preventative maintenance when the trucks are in the yard.
Another area where Phoenix Trucking’s innovation is
notable is in the setup of their trailers. A lot of their work