Power and comfort all the gas
30 January 2012
When you spend all day rolling 45kg gas cylinders on and off the
back of a truck and your only reprieve is the driver's seat, the
cabin refinements of your vehicle can mean the difference between a
good trip and one relegated to the 'don't ask' pile.
Tim Donegan, a 20-year trucking veteran and part owner of
Kyneton-based Donegan Transport has experienced his share of hard
days on the road, but says the increasing comfort of modern
vehicles is making a big difference to the lives of truckies around
Australia.
Tim says Donegan Transport's recent acquisition of an Isuzu Giga
CXY 455 Premium is a perfect case-in-point.
"Being the first heavy duty Isuzu we've purchased, we certainly
haven't been disappointed with the Giga," Tim said.
"Our drivers are doing manual labour all day, loading and
unloading the trucks, so the Giga's automated manual transmission
(AMT) has made it easier on them when they get back behind the
wheel.
"The Giga also comes with a bed, so it's no problem if you get
caught somewhere overnight. And it has a good turning circle so
it's easier for our drivers to get in and out of yards and tight
spaces when they need to.
"Basically, comfort is a major consideration when you're in a
truck all day, and that's what the Giga delivers in spades."
Donegan Transport's new Giga CXY 455 Premium hauls a large
capacity load of around 260 gas bottles in its 7.5 metre tray and
6.6 metre Barker pig trailer.
The custom-made tray was sourced through Poyser Trucks in Bendigo
and engineered to contend with the stresses created by hundreds of
gas cylinders bouncing around throughout the day.
Donegan Transport operates a fleet of 11 trucks out of Kyneton and
Maryborough, with the newly-acquired Giga CXY 455 Premium just one
of five Isuzus at work in this family business.
Since Donegan Transport founder Michael Donegan opened his doors
in the early 1980s, the business has firmly established itself
throughout country Victoria, into the eastern reaches of South
Australia, and southern New South Wales.
Today, the fleet hauls a range of general freight both intra and
interstate, while transporting Kleenheat gas cylinders to gas
dealers in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales.
Tim Donegan works alongside his father Michael, brothers, Peter
and Joe, and 12 other staff members to deliver quality transport
solutions with a family touch.
He says Isuzus make up about half the Donegan Transport fleet
because they live up to their reputation for reliability, quality
and after-sales care.
"With Isuzu it all adds up at the end of the day. Even the older
models are still going strong and they have the horsepower to do
the job so we don't have to work them hard," Tim said.
"And the after-sales service is spot on. We send the trucks into
Poyser Motors and don't have to worry about them when they arrive
for a service."
The Giga CXY 455 Premium is powered by a 338kW, 15-litre engine
producing 2,255 Nm of torque at 1,300 RPM.
Cabin features include driver airbag, ECE-R29 cab strength
compliance and an ISRI 6860 air suspended driver's seat with
integrated seatbelt.
The Giga's touchscreen audio-visual system gives operators
integrated sat-nav, memory card slot for music and/or mapping, MP3
input, Bluetooth and optional external cameras.
And a separate Multi-Information Display shows fuel consumption,
speed warnings, engine hours, service intervals and more.
ends
For further information please contact:
Jeff Birdseye
Marketing Manager
Isuzu Australia Limited
Phone: 03 9644 6666
For Isuzu Truck releases and photos:
Arkajon Communications
Phone: 03 9867 5611
Email: isuzu@arkajon.com.au