Livestock carrier, Gerard Johnson Transport has taken delivery of a new Mack Titan.
Built to tow triple roadtrains, the 685hp prime mover was delivered to spec at 140-tonnes by the Toowoomba-based Western Truck Group.
The new truck arrived just prior to Christmas and is already working across the state carrying livestock to feedlots in the Darling Downs or frequently taking finished cattle further north to Rockhampton.
The vehicle is expected to cover up to 5,000 kilometres a week.
It joins four other Macks in the fleet — all Titans.
“It’s been going pretty good so far,” Gerard Johnson told Prime Mover.
“There’s been no dramas since it started running and the comfort [it affords] makes it great to sit in and drive.”
The new Mack rides on an airbag suspension with award-winning Base Air to assist on the steer.
“The driver is very happy with it. He finds it really comfortable to drive,” said Johnson, who often still gets behind the wheel himself when required.
Queensland is a big state. Johnson understands from first-hand experience the time that can be spent on the road, away from home.
Inside the 64-inch Bradley Sleeper cab lacks for nothing having been fitted with an Icepack, microwave, fridge and converter.
Capable of delivering up to 2,300lb of torque, the MP10 engine is paired with a 12-speed gearbox with two additional crawler gears.
The fuel tank has a capacity of 2,500 litres.
“No question, it’s got good power,” Johnson said. “The MP10 does the job fairly easily.”
Johnson has found over the years that the Mack Titan is built-for-purpose making it the ideal vehicle for the rugged challenges asked of his operation.
That’s primarily the reason behind standardising the entire fleet.
Johnson was instrumental in recommending the brand to Martin’s Stock Haulage who have recently begun purchasing Mack product.
“They asked me about it at the time when they were considering another brand in the fleet and no doubt they asked a few people about it,” he said.
It’s fair to say, Mack trucks are in the bloodline.
Gerard’s father Brendan also ran a fleet of Macks, mainly during the 1970s, with the Johnson Brothers Transport company he founded in 1967 along with his siblings Adrian and Ashley.
That operation involved carting their own cattle from family grazing properties before transitioning to road transport full time.
The family has had a longstanding account with Western Truck Group whose current Regional Area Sales Manager, Ben Dare took over a few years back.
“He’s good to deal with. Very down to earth,” said Johnson.
Based in the historic and picturesque town of Tambo — cattle country to city slickers — in southwest Queensland, Gerard Johnson Transport is into its third decade as a respected livestock carrier.
The business predominantly tows double and triple roadtrains with the occasional B-double.
“You’ve got to be flexible these days,” said Johnson.
“The industry is still seasonal but much more consistent these days than when I first started out,” he said.
“Last year was very busy and this year has started well. Everything seems to be getting a bit more consistent each year.”
Some of that consistency he puts down to the advent of feedlots.
“The feedlots are always looking for cattle going throughout the year, so it has made the job more consistent,” Johnson explained.
“Where we are, many of the producers are turning cattle off all year,” he said.
“They’re probably turning off more cattle as they’re not growing as big as they used to previously when they were growing them out to work size. That’s made our job as carriers a lot more consistent where in previous years there might have been quieter periods especially over that summer and Christmas period.”
The busiest time of year is more commonly associated with the middle of the year.
With northern areas getting rained out, Rockhampton is currently taking on extra cattle and seeing an increase in truck movements.
Johnson, who is the President of the Livestock Rural Transporters Association of Queensland (LRTAQ), said each year brought with it new challenges.
With a new government in the state he is hopeful that some regional roads frequented by livestock fleets like his own will receive the desperate attention they deserve.
“A recent change of government in Queensland will hopefully help upgrade some neglected regional roads and last mile access that presents a challenge to livestock carriers across the state,” he said.
“Driver safety also remains an ongoing area of concern. Especially when crossloading cattle at breakdown points for roadtrains.
“We’re looking to put in access to crossloaders or mechanisms that can make things easier or safer when getting access to a yard or meatworks — whatever it is.
“Some places you can’t avoid it — you have to break down from a Type Two to a Type One area. We’re looking to put crossflows in to make that process safer.”
These topics are set to be a focus of the LRTAQ annual conference next week in Broadbeach.
It’s the state’s peak networking event where transporters, regulators and suppliers to industry get together each year.
The LRTAQ Annual Conference 2025 will be held at the Gold Coast Turf Club & Event Centre from Thursday 13 February – Saturday 15 February 2025.
