Tandem Towing - Hino 500 Series Standard Cab
Tandem Towing relies on their fleet of Hino’s, so customers can rely on them.
When you’re on call 24/7 and it’s your job to get others out of sticky situations, you need trucks that you can rely on. Tandem Towing has been in business for over 35 years, and when you spend a lot of time towing, you become pretty good at knowing what to look out for in a good vehicle. That’s why they’ve been using Hino trucks, and only Hino trucks, to maintain their impressive 100% turn up rate.
Tell us a bit about Tandem Towing. How did it come about?
Started by Peter Sutcliff and his brother over 35 years, Tandem Towing is a family owned business. When first started, in order to provide 24-hour emergency towing service, one brother would drive during the day and the other at night, so they worked in tandem… hence the name! Now, Tandem Towing has nine full-time drivers on the road.
How many Hino trucks do you have and what are the different models?
We currently have a fleet of nine Hino trucks, and two more new vehicles on the way. Our oldest is a 2005 Hino FD Ranger and our fleet consists of all 500 Series Standard Cab models ranging from our oldest up, and we can’t wait to keep growing it.
What specs and features about your first Hino did you love so much, to continue purchasing Hino?
We bought our first Hino Super Hawk all the way back in 1997. This truck had a large towing capacity, as well as the cradle option, which allowed us to tow two vehicles at the same time. This was a rare and a unique feature in those days as not many trucks offered this. Hino quickly became our brand of choice, so we later moved over to a 2005 Hino FD Ranger. Hino soon became a solid base for us and has helped to propel our business ever since.
How do Hino trucks compare to other trucks you’ve driven?
We asked our drivers for their feedback on this one. Our drivers have had experience with all brands and vehicles, but they love Hino trucks because of how agile they are in traffic. They’re exceptionally smooth to drive considering their size.
How has Hino proven to be a reliable business partner for Tandem Towing?
It’s no secret that when you’re on the road for long hours every single day, there will inevitably be breakages and failures, regardless of the truck. However, with Hino, we have always been able to find the right parts on hand, and the truck is always back on the road quickly, so with Hino, there’s minimal downtime.
Driver shortage is a big topic of conversation in the industry. How are you retaining drivers?
We have a great team of drivers at Tandem Towing and have been lucky enough not to struggle to retain them. Our drivers are very professional and are a valued part of our business.We reward them for their efforts by ensuring they have a good work life balance, as we understand the importance of family time.
We currently have two drivers who, between them, have been with us for over 35 years. Our drivers have over 100 years of towing experience combined. Also, our trucks are always maintained well, which makes our drivers happy.
Your business has relied on Hino trucks for over 25 years. Has there been anything about the new Hino trucks that surprised you?
We weren’t sure about the new generation vehicles and the new Allison auto gearboxes, as we’d heard some talk that the gearboxes weren’t as reliable as in the past. But we were wrong! Now that we have them, we won’t be getting anything else. The new Hino trucks are much smoother and more comfortable to drive – we’re very impressed.
At Tandem Towing, you pride yourselves on exceptional customer service. How do Hino trucks help you to uphold this great level of customer service?
In our job, we need to pick up customers from the side of the road very regularly, especially people who have broken down in vulnerable or dangerous areas that they aren’t used to. When they get into our Hino trucks, their reaction is always “WOW… it’s so comfortable, clean, and tidy in here!’. It’s nice how often we get complimented on how well presented our trucks are. Our vehicles, especially the passenger seats, feel as though they’re brand new, even though we’ve had many of our trucks for years. We are a name the public can trust, and we pride ourselves on that. Having vehicles clean and shining on the road certainly doesn’t hurt that reputation!
If you could sum up your experience with Hino (purchasing, servicing, truck features etc…), what would you say to someone looking to buy a Hino?
Hino and Toyota are trusted in Australia for a reason. They are time tested, reliable vehicles that you can count on. Things like quality, reliability, good servicing, and the ability to customise our trucks are far more important to us than things like price. So, while other truck brands may have sales and promotions, saving a little bit of money isn’t worth sacrificing quality and reliability. That’s why Hino has been our business partner of choice for so long.
We love a success story, especially when it involves Hino trucks. Thank you, Tandem Towing, for continuing to rely on Hino to keep your business running.
If you are looking for a comfortable, easy to service truck to expand your fleet, head to the Hino Australia website to find your local dealer and grow your business today.
Need a tow? There is no job too big or too small for Tandem Towing, if you’re in Greater West and Southwest of Sydney, give them a call.
Website: https://www.tandemtowing.com.au
Number: 0418 293 134 or (02) 9602 2211
Email: info@tandemtowing.com.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tandemtowing