Obrienco Transport expands into interstate with new prime movers

Obrienco Transport has received two decorated Mack Anthem B-doubles ahead of its logistics expansion, with the help of the Western Truck Group dealership (WTG).

The Toowoomba-based transport service, run by father-son duo John and Jack O’Brien, has carried general freight ranging from stock feed to shed kits across Queensland for nearly 20 years.

Looking to grow its operations to a national level following consistent company growth, the O’Briens worked with WTG Sales Professional, Lachlan McDonald, for years to find the perfect trucks for the job.

“We had been speaking to Jack and John off-and-on for a couple of years,” McDonald said.

“They had been thinking about starting their expansion into interstate freight for a little while. Before they purchased the Anthems from us, they actually purchased a used truck, a Volvo, which they had a really good experience with. That parlayed into their search for the other trucks.”

With McDonald’s assistance, the transport duo landed on the two Mack Anthems, which offered a multitude of perks and benefits well-aligned with Obrienco’s mission to amplify its transport capabilities.

The two Mack Anthems achieve great fuel economy due to the build of their aerodynamic cabs and 13-litre high efficiency engines. Additionally, the Anthems’ new 36-inch bunk provides drivers with space to stand and stretch while ensuring the truck maintains its short combination.

Jack O’Brien was eager to take these perks on to service both Obrienco’s abilities and the comfort and security of its fleet drivers.

“There were a few reasons why we chose the Mack Anthems,” he said.

“The fact that they are built in Brisbane, by Mack and Volvo, is extremely convenient for us. Brisbane is only an hour and a half away, and we can go through WTG for any engine servicing or repairing that we may need,” said O’Brien.

“Another factor which helped our choice was the fuel economy on the Mack Anthems. It is exceptional. When we’re running fully-loaded at 36 tonnes, and getting anywhere from 2 to 2.2 litres per kilometre, that’s a pretty great rate.

“Finally, we chose the Mack Anthems for our drivers, our greatest assets. The 36-inch sleeper is very spacious — it’s a home away from home for our guys, who are spending a lot of their time on the road.”

According to O’Brien, Obrienco’s drivers have reacted very positively to the trucks, praising their comfortability, handling and durability on harsh Australian roads.

In addition to finding the right specs, Obrienco worked hard with WTG to decorate the trucks’ exterior which would promote the transport service in an eye-catching fashion.

Both Mack Anthems sport a dynamic combination of Obrienco’s colours – the trucks’ cabs are painted in a Holden Voodoo Blue, split by a flowing Ford Focus XR5 Orange stripe.

The addition of these striking and efficient vehicles to Obrienco’s fleet is a testament to the transport service’s partnership with WTG, which, according to McDonald, is looking to be further explored down the road.

“We’re definitely looking to do some further deals in the future,” he said.

“Their business is expanding at a fairly quick rate, so we’re speaking with them to see what we can do together.”

This enthusiasm was matched by O’Brien, who praised McDonald’s help and WTG’s diligent work.

“Working with Lachlan and WTG was very new to us,” he said.

“We hadn’t dealt with them before this. We came to the dealership for our second-hand Volvo, and Shannon at WTG looked after us really well for that sale. While we were there, he introduced us to Lachlan, and it was a great meeting.

“We discussed how we were new to the interstate game but wanted to grow rapidly and organically. Lachlan and the team really understood that, and we had a long chat at WTG to hash out those details. The fact that they were legitimately interested in our goal was a really good thing for us.

“There’s no issue with me just giving him a buzz or sending him a text message – he’ll just get back to me. It’s not a situation where you sign a bit of paper and they forget about you. The account management and the customer service there is fantastic.”