MKD Transcorp adds 14 trucks to fleet

Sydney-based carrier, MKD Transcorp, has boosted its prime mover and rigid fleet with 14 new trucks.

The business, which began in 1999 as a one-truck operation, is now running 11 new S-Way AT 460 prime movers and three S-Way 6×2 AT 360 rigids.

These units fit within a fleet of over 100 trucks and 400 trailers predominantly for refrigeration, which also allows the company to backload with perishables, providing even greater productivity.

Additionally, MKD undertakes a high volume of container work, transporting from wharf to customer and wharf to distribution centres. There is some local distribution around the greater Sydney area also thrown into the mix.

The company, headquartered in Chipping Norton, now employs around 215 staff including drivers, and runs its fleet on double shifts, seven days per week providing a range of interstate ambient freight services along the country’s eastern seaboard as well as to Adelaide.

The new IVECO S-Ways began their rollout into MKD’s fleet in September last year and have slotted in seamlessly.

MKD Transcorp General Manager, Noel Ryles said the trucks were acquired to meet the company’s growing needs in Melbourne.

“We won a contract in Melbourne so needed to expand our fleet,” he said.

“We’d been using another European brand predominantly, but were starting to have some friction points, so decided to look elsewhere. We spoke with all the major manufacturers and decided that the IVECO S-Way was a strong fit for what we needed.”

As well as choosing the trucks based on driveline and payload, Ryles, who has worked his entire career in the transport industry including as a driver before transitioning into management, was in a great position to evaluate the options.

“Reliability is critical, as is emission performance, safety and support,” he said.

“IVECO went to a lot of trouble to win our business. They’ve provided our drivers with training and all the support we’ve asked for. So far, the relationship is working well and feedback from the drivers has been very positive.”

The S-Way AT 460 prime movers have a 60,000kg GCM and feature 11.1-litre, Euro 6 (Step E) engines that produce 460hp and 2150Nm of torque, while the AT 360 rigids are rated at 27,600kg and are equipped with 8.7-litre, Euro 6 (Step E) engines outputting 360hp and 1650Nm.

In both cases, the engines are coupled to IVECO’s 12-Speed Hi-Tronix AMT.

Standard safety equipment includes Advanced Emergency Braking, Brake Assistance System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning System, Electronic Stability Program with ABS (disc brakes all round) and ASR (Anti-Slip Regulation), Hill Holder and Driver Style Evaluation plus Driver Attention Support (DSE + DAS).

Another attractive feature for MKD Transcorp was ‘IVECO On’ telematics, which is a standard feature on the S-Way range.

“Full telematics is definitely something we must have on all our trucks, along with cameras and driver fatigue systems,” Ryles said.

“With customers entrusting their freight to us, it’s important we have great visibility into the location of the trucks and this increases our accountability to our clients.”

Brothers Zak and Igor Cvetkoski, who founded MKD Transcorp, own the company which is now in its 25th year.

The company’s success comes down to a simple formula according to Ryles.

“Our company motto is ‘Committed to Reliability’ – we live and breathe it, and this focus on continually offering a highly reliable service to customers across all business operations, has always held us in good stead,” he said.

“To a large degree, we have grown with our customers and steadily gained new contracts through referrals and recommendations. Then once you have a great reputation, you begin getting asked to tender for contracts and it builds from there.”

Ryles said that with over six months of service, the IVECO S-Ways were living up to expectations.

“The S-Ways are a great product – we’re happy with them,” he said.

For added convenience, MKD Transcorp’s new S-Ways are covered by a 5-year / 600,000 km ‘Easy Road’ maintenance package, providing improved budgetary control of maintenance costs. Other benefits of the program include a pickup and delivery service for the trucks.