Toll Group has put a new high productivity Performance-Based Standards (PBS) B-triple combination to work for its major customer, BOC Gases Australia.
Towed by a brand-new Kenworth K200, Toll’s latest B-triple PBS combination features a Cummins X15 engine set to 600 horsepower and an Eaton Ultrashift automatic transmission.
It has the ability to run on concessional mass up to 85 tonnes or a Higher Mass Limit (HML) with a 90-tonne mass load.
As part of Toll’s strategy for improved efficiency, the Kenworth B-triple has been granted PBS approval to operate within a transit route between Sydney and Adelaide.
“This has taken us quite some time to get up and over the line,” Toll Group National Manager – Gases, Cameron Taylor, told Prime Mover.
“It was an idea that I had, and they’ve got it to come to fruition working closely with Gerrard Claassen who is our Equipment and Design Manager and our PBS expert.
“So, for this to happen, there was a prime mover upgrade required which is why we’re now heavily going back to the Kenworth product.”
The B-triple completed its first run last week carrying pallets of gas cylinders for BOC, departing from Arndell Park, New South Wales.
“It was fantastic. There were no issues whatsoever on its first run out – Cummins handles the weight more than adequately,” Taylor said.
“We have to set our speed alert because under PBS this combination is capped at 90 kilometres an hour, so we heavily monitor that,” he said.
“But, in doing the debrief with the driver, he was very happy with the performance. It went out at 85 tonne and performed extremely well.”
According to Taylor, the Kenworth K200 was chosen purely for the reliability factor and its ability to handle these sorts of combinations.
“We will only strategically go with Kenworth or Volvo from now on,” Taylor said.
“But, for this application, the K200 as a long haul and linehaul unit is a totally proven combination. We’re very happy with these new units.”
To formulate the B-triple, Toll split up a new MaxiTRANS Freighter B-double set rather than running an existing B-double.
The unit is also equipped with Teletrac Navman GPS Fleet Tracking and monitoring software which provides Toll with real-time data and location upgrades, along with tracking of axle weights for safety and structural integrity.
Taylor said the B-triple has been pivotal for Toll’s major operations.
“The fact that we can have a B-triple that can run at a 90-tonne mass load is a game changer for us,” he said.
“It’s of enormous high productivity and it’s greatly beneficial to our major customer, BOC.
“We do national work for our gas customers and the product we have going between Sydney and Adelaide to coordinate with our roadtrains going to the west is a considerable amount.”
Gaining vehicle approval from the government for PBS, according to Taylor, involved a lengthy process with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).
“We had to go through a lot of hoops and hurdles to get vehicle approval,” he said.
“This combination is 34.35 metres long, and there was considerable communication backwards and forwards from our equipment team and NHVR,” Taylor added.
“Initially we were only able to run the combination between Adelaide and Wagga Wagga, and then the challenge was to get network access into Sydney which took many months.
“But, we finally found a pathway forward and that was to base the B-triple here at Toll Chemicals in Arndell Park, Sydney. We’ve got a specific route that we must follow for access to get back out of Sydney most efficiently.”
With the first unit fully operational, Taylor revealed the company will be looking to roll out a PBS-approved fleet to support linehaul, bulk tanker and ISO operations in BOC’s national network.
“We’re looking at other high productivity combinations that we’re looking to roll out next year,” he told Prime Mover.