The APS Earthmoving journey commenced 13 years ago with a three-tonne excavator and small tipper combination, which, as is often the case with good ideas, soon led to a second similar combination.
As time went on, it became evident during a growth spell, the fledgling earthmoving operation was capable of supporting itself as its own business.
Today, the excavator fleet has grown to include 14 excavators, ranging from 1.7- to 40-tonne eight track loaders that are used in the various earthmoving and demolition operations.
Established by Paul Scerra, APS Earthmoving began as a strategic extension of his commercial plumbing business.
One of his first key hires was Adrian Sciarretta who started as an operator and quickly became instrumental in the company’s growth.
Over time, Adrian worked his way up to become Earthmoving Manager, playing a pivotal role in shaping APS Earthmoving into the well-regarded business it is today.
Based in the Brisbane suburb of Kedron, APS Earthmoving’s areas of operation extend from the Greater Brisbane area to include the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.
The plumbing side of the business, APS Plumbing, now employs 85 plumbers, while in the earthmoving division there are 15 dedicated excavator operators and an experienced driver for each truck.
APS Plumbing focuses on the plumbing requirements of new constructions, and the company works closely with builders and developers. Paul recognised the advantages which could be gained by having an in-house earthmoving operation instead of engaging outside contractors.
Investing in their own equipment also allows the team to select the latest, safest and most efficient pieces of machinery.
Having access to its own broad range of machines, trucks and other services, APS has been able to become a true one stop shop capable of handling jobs of all sizes — an enviable situation which provides a significant competitive edge.
APS takes serious pride in its fleet of trucks and machinery which have the most up-to-date technologies, safety features and emissions standards. This commitment to excellence ensures the clients are dealing with a professional future-focused operation.
Kobelco has become the brand of choice for heavy excavators, and Yanmar for mini excavators as APS expands its stable of excavating equipment, while Hino has become the dominant truck brand in the APS fleet with the few remaining examples of other Japanese truck brands eventually to be replaced.
“I’m not saying they’re a bad vehicle, but it’s just we have such strong connections with Hino and its Brisbane dealership. Plus, their trucks are excellent,” says Adrian.
“We value relationships and reputation, and Hino has supported that. We partner with companies that we can create strong working relationships with. We rely on Nathan Murdoch and the Sci Fleet team, for servicing, warranty and general advice. We lean on them to assist with the right information to help us choose the right truck to suit each of our applications.”
All of the Hino trucks in the APS fleet have been purchased through the Brisbane Sci Fleet dealership which also performs the servicing on an as-required basis rather than as a precondition of any formal maintenance contract.
Due to the nature of the materials that they often carry, such as broken concrete and demolition debris, all of the APS tipper bodies are manufactured in steel by Mini Bodies in Brisbane.
The steel bodies are more resilient than alloy bins being customised to suit the specific machines being moved between sites efficiently.
The truck fleet includes Hino 300 Series 616 automatics which work in combination with the smaller excavators, a 500 Series FE1426 and six Hino 700 Series, including 360 horsepower FY3036 8×4 twin-steer models with load sharing front suspensions and six-speed Allison full automatic transmissions.
Other Hino 700 Series FS2848 6×4 leaf spring tipper trucks are suited to earthmoving combinations with 480 horsepower and equipped with 16-speed ZF TraXon automated manual transmissions.
Each truck is ordered specifically for the type of equipment it will carry and the type of work that it is required to carry out, with the clear aim to deploy equipment quickly and work efficiently once on site. Whenever possible, Adrian tries to provide a one truck-one driver culture but with a remaining degree of flexibility which is well accepted by the team.
“With their autos, the new Hino 700s are so much easier to drive and the feedback from drivers is very positive about the trucks’ safety features such as the pre-collision braking system and the stability control,” says Adrian.
Further important features of the Hino safety package included in the 700 Series are Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning System, Adaptive Cruise Control, driver’s air bag, an effective reverse camera and the Driver Monitor system.
Driver comfort is maximised using an ISRI air suspended seat with integrated seat belt. Braking is enhanced by the Jake-brake style engine retarder.
In addition to wet weather, vehicle access can often be a challenge in the type of work APS performs, particularly when operating at sites in locations such as the Brisbane CBD. This eventuated in APS ending its reliance on traditional dog trailers.
“We used to run truck and trailer combos but not anymore,” says Adrian.
“This is another reason we went to twin-steers which give us better access and still allow us to legally handle the weight of the material or the machines we are carting.”
Manoeuvrability is important whether working at a major commercial excavation site or at a suburban home knockdown and rebuild job and the Hino six rod taper leaf spring rear suspension allows for plenty of rear axle articulation to meet these demands APS’s reputation and consistent delivery of high quality work assists in it gaining new and repeat business, as does its strong presence on social media where the acquisition of each new truck or piece of equipment is celebrated.
APS Earthmoving continues to be successful because it provides earthmoving solutions tailored to meet the needs of its clients.
Whether it’s large-scale land clearing, precise excavation, demolition, pool excavation or general earthworks, the combination of modern equipment and a team of skilled operators keeps APS at the forefront of the industry.
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