Perth-based transport operator Dananni HOTSHOTS has added six new IVECO Daily models to its fleet, continuing a relationship with the truck brand that dates back to 2001.
The latest deliveries take Dananni’s current Daily fleet to 22 vehicles, with the company having operated more than 40 IVECO Dailys over the past 25 years. Some have accumulated close to one million kilometres.
Dananni specialises in time-critical ‘hotshot’ transport, operating around the clock to move equipment, replacement parts and other supplies for customers in the mining, oil and exploration industries.
The work can take its trucks well beyond the company’s Perth base, with deliveries extending across Western Australia and into the Northern Territory, northern Queensland and as far southeast as Tasmania.
For customers operating remote equipment, getting a replacement component to site quickly can be critical, with machinery downtime potentially carrying significant financial consequences.
Dananni HOTSHOTS Director Danni Kempton said reliability had been one of the main reasons the company had continued to use the Daily.
“There are plenty of good reasons why we’ve been using IVECO Daily for 25 years,” Kempton said.
“They’re a very easy model to operate, live with and maintain, and they’ve been incredibly reliable.”
Built for long-distance hotshot work
Dananni’s Daily fleet predominantly consists of 70C models configured specifically for long-distance work.
The trucks are fitted with ADR 42-compliant sleeper cabins, allowing two-driver crews to share driving duties while providing facilities for required rest periods.
Other additions include steel trays, bull bars, ancillary lighting, satellite tracking and long-range fuel tanks capable of providing up to 3,000 kilometres of travel before refuelling.
Most are also fitted with IVECO’s optional Electronically Controlled Air Suspension. Dananni says the system improves ride comfort for drivers while providing smoother transport for sensitive loads, which can include detonators used by mining customers.
Driver acceptance is another consideration for the business, particularly given the long distances involved.
Kempton said the company has retained a number of drivers for many years and described the Dailys as a favourite among its crews because of their comfort and car-like driving characteristics.
7-tonne Daily combines automatic transmission with Euro 6 engine
The latest trucks are powered by IVECO’s 3.0-litre Euro 6 Step E diesel engine producing 180hp and 430Nm of torque.
The engines are paired with the H-Matic eight-speed fully automatic transmission, with the vehicles providing a 7-tonne GVM.
Kempton said the combination provides the performance required for Dananni’s work while delivering fuel efficiency that becomes particularly important when vehicles are covering large distances.
Maintenance requirements also influence the company’s vehicle selection.
Dananni uses Perth IVECO for servicing while vehicles are under warranty before shifting maintenance to its own workshop. Kempton said accessibility to components made the Daily straightforward for its mechanics to maintain and simplified the installation of accessories including spotlights and emergency lighting.
For a transport operation where vehicles can be dispatched at any time and travel thousands of kilometres into remote areas, Dananni’s continued investment in the Daily provides a long-running example of how reliability, driver comfort, payload capability and maintainability can influence fleet purchasing decisions.
