Truck launches often happen on sunny days with empty vehicles and ideal driving conditions.
My day in the Hino 700 Series FY 3036 tilt tray was the opposite.
Sydney delivered persistent rain for most of the drive, the roads were slippery, traffic was heavy, and the tilt tray was carrying a Hino 300 Series dual-cab truck on the back. It turned out to be a far better demonstration of the truck’s capabilities than any carefully choreographed test route could provide.
The FY 3036 is an 8×4 rigid fitted with an STG 9200mm tilt slide tray and a 13.6-tonne winch. Under the cab sits Hino’s 9-litre A09C engine producing 360hp (265kW) and 1,569Nm, paired with a 12-speed automated manual transmission.
With a GVM of 30,000kg and a long 6738mm wheelbase, this isn’t a truck designed to spend its life cruising empty. It’s built to carry equipment, machinery and vehicles across metropolitan and regional routes.
That became obvious the moment I climbed into the cab.
A different kind of confidence
The first thing that stood out was stability.
With the Hino 300 Series dual-cab securely loaded on the tray, the truck felt planted despite the wet conditions. Surface water, spray from other vehicles and reduced visibility created the sort of environment that demands concentration from any driver, but the FY 3036 never felt unsettled.
The long wheelbase and twin-steer configuration gave the truck a predictable feel on the motorway, while the air suspension helped smooth out rough road surfaces and expansion joints.
When you’re carrying another truck on your back in pouring rain, predictable handling quickly becomes more important than outright performance figures.
Not every truck needs a 13-litre engine
Earlier in the drive program I had spent time in the larger-engined Hino FS 2845 tipper. Jumping into the FY 3036 highlighted how important application matching is when selecting a truck.
The tilt tray’s 9-litre engine naturally doesn’t deliver the same punch as the 13-litre powerplant found in the tipper. However, it never felt underpowered for its intended role.
Instead, the engine and transmission combination felt well matched to the application. The automated manual transmission kept the engine in its sweet spot, while the available torque made it easy to maintain momentum through traffic and on motorway grades.
Fleet buyers often focus on maximum horsepower numbers, but spending a day in both trucks reinforced an important lesson: the best engine is the one that suits the task.
When safety systems earn their keep
Heavy rain is one of the best opportunities to evaluate modern safety systems.
Visibility changes constantly. Vehicles disappear into spray. Following distances become harder to judge. Fatigue can creep in as concentration levels increase.
The Hino SmartSafe package was particularly valuable in these conditions.
The distance warning system helped maintain awareness of surrounding traffic, while lane departure warning provided an extra reminder when visibility markings became less distinct in the rain.
Importantly, the systems supported the driver rather than dominating the experience.
For fleets operating recovery vehicles, transport equipment or carrying expensive loads, these technologies add another layer of protection when conditions deteriorate.
A mobile office with a view
One benefit of spending an entire day in the truck was appreciating how much time operators spend in the cab.
The air-suspended seat remained comfortable throughout the drive, while the cabin itself was impressively quiet despite the constant rain hammering the windscreen and traffic noise outside.
Wireless Apple CarPlay, steering wheel controls and the large multimedia display all contributed to reducing driver workload.
It is easy to overlook these features when reviewing specifications, but for operators spending ten or twelve hours a day behind the wheel, they become important productivity tools.
Built for the real world
What made the drive memorable wasn’t the truck itself. It was the conditions. Sydney traffic. Continuous rain. Wet roads. A loaded tilt tray carrying another truck.
These are the situations fleet operators deal with every day. The FY 3036 handled all of it without drama.
That might sound like faint praise, but in the heavy vehicle world, “without drama” is exactly what operators are looking for. Predictable handling, sufficient power, strong visibility, effective safety systems and driver comfort are what keep fleets productive and drivers confident.
After a full day behind the wheel, the Hino 700 Series FY 3036 proved it doesn’t need perfect weather or a carefully managed demonstration route to impress. In fact, the rain probably helped show exactly why trucks like this are trusted to perform when conditions are at their worst.
