Owner Driver – August 2019

ownerdriver.com.au AUGUST 2019 89

H

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.

UD organised its placement from Brisbane to ICC’s

Townsville Carrying Company (TCC) operation, run by Lance’s

brother John Law. As Lance predicted 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, there to fetch reptile stock

for Queensland interests.

When Owner//Driver 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 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 19m extendable loads.

“It’s extremely manoeuvrable around town – you can put

it anywhere. It’s good to dock with it; good visibility,” John

Law continues.

“It’s a really tidy little truck.”

After half a year with TCC, the Quon is transferring to

sister company ICC to tackle services related to a long-term

customer, electricity company Ergon Energy.

This takes it on coastal roads and the Bruce Highway –

south to Ingham, Townsville and Mackay and north to Cairns

• along with a Mt Isa trip once a month.
  With such hefty distances to cover, especially going west, the
  Laws are sensitive to containing running costs.
  Pushed along by a relatively modest – in northern
  Australian terms – 11-litre engine, they are pleased to report
  2.8 to 2.9 litres per long-haul and 2.4–2.5 around town.

Tech time

This is where the technology now in newer vehicles is

provinga boontoownersandmanagerswhoseexperience

Above: Lance (left) and John Law

are delighted with how the UD

Quon has been performing over

the past six months

Below right: On board telematics

data has allowed the company to

monitor driving performance and

achieve fuel gains

“It’s extremely manoeuvrable around

town – you can put it anywhere.”