Buying a new truck takes preparation, but sometimes you don’t know what you need until your business is fully established and in operation. It’s also not uncommon for you to realise you need a different size truck only after you’re already too far in the game. Hino Australia’s very own Sales Engineer, Jeff Gibson, knows a thing or two about choosing the right application to meet your business requirements. Here are a few tips to consider when purchasing your truck:
Understand the size you need
Consider:
- what you will be carrying
- where you will be carrying
- and how often.
Just knowing these three variables can have a lot of influence over your sizing options. It’s also important to note that most trucks are built as a cab chassis, therefore further consideration needs to be made on the body. The options can be endless, therefore it is highly recommend you consult closely with your local sales representative to understand the capacity of different models and work out the right solution for you.
Considering an upgrade
Your business might grow quicker than you anticipated, and your current trucks(s) may need an upgrade in truck size to keep up with demand. “It’s fairly common to see people come back months after purchasing a truck to enquire about a size upgrade,” Jeff explains. Before you say goodbye to your current truck(s), look at your business and plan ahead – where is it going? What is your five-year plan? Will you have to return, to make yet another upgrade or even downgrade later down the track?
Make sure you have correct specs
There is no such thing as a “common truck” in Australia. Every order is specific to you and what you need depends on the application and requirements. But, across the board, the safest truck is the one that is built to the correct specifications and loading capacity.
Don’t cut corners
One of the most common mistakes is trying to do too many things with the one truck, such as selecting the smallest, lightest chassis with the biggest body to carry the most. This may seem like the easy thing to do, however, overloading can affect the durability of the truck overtime and lead to heavy fines and serious safety concerns.
Another common mistake is trying to squeeze too much on a rigid truck because the driver only has a rigid licence. Often the smarter solution is a trailer configuration. In addition to up-skilling your operator, this configuration can make the truck more maneuverable and versatile. Also, there’s limited down time when you’re servicing the truck as the trailer can still be used. And, if it comes time down the track to replace the truck, there’ll be no need for body swapping or any modifications.
Understand road rules
You’ll have to do some in-depth, custom digging to know the rules that pertain to your own unique requirements, and your sales representative should know these rules. But it doesn’t hurt for you to be aware of the basics: in general terms, the maximum height of the overall truck has to be under 4.3 metres, with a maximum width of 2.5m and a maximum length of 12.5 metres; or 19 metres including a trailer. All of these dimensions may be limited in your application.
Other legal limitations exist with overhang and turning regulations, but each State in Australia has exceptions to these rules and special dispensations may be allowed for different applications. There are also legal limitations on the weight you can operate at. State based legal axle operating weights along with overall weight limitations need to be considered with the manufacturer’s limitations. This is why you need to be in close consultation with your sales representative.
After all is said and done, there’s no such thing as “spilled milk” when you have so many supportive, helpful, and knowledgeable people on your side. Just give your Hino dealer a call to evaluate what you need, and if you need, to consider an upgrade in truck size.