As energy demand grows across Australia and New Zealand — from everyday vehicle starting to large-scale renewable storage — distribution reliability has become critical. For R&J Batteries, fleet choice has been a foundational part of that reliability story, underpinning a 30-year operating relationship with Isuzu Trucks.
Founded in December 1995 by Ray Robson and John Webb with a single second-hand Isuzu NQR 450, R&J Batteries has grown into the largest wholly locally owned importer and distributor of battery products in Australasia. Today, the business operates 29 outlets and distribution centres and supplies more than 20,000 direct customers, ranging from OEM partners to retail walk-ins.
Service built around scale
While around 90 per cent of R&J’s business is B2B, the company has maintained a service model based on direct relationships and regular delivery routes.
“While 90 percent of our business is B2B, our hallmark is a customer service model where our team manages a dedicated list of clients every single day as part of their sales routes,” said Stuart Hamilton, CEO Australia & New Zealand at R&J Batteries.
Supporting that model is a national fleet operating across Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, servicing both metropolitan and remote regions.
A fleet decision shaped by experience
R&J typically turns over its trucks every five years, balancing kilometres travelled with operational efficiency. For Managing Director Ray Robson, the long-standing preference for Isuzu dates back to the company’s first vehicle.
“Our first Isuzu back in 1995 was an NQR 450 and it came to us with 45,000 kilometres already on the clock,” Robson said. “Five years and 400,000 kilometres later we turned it over for a new model. The real proof for me was hearing that original truck was still in operation years later, with well over a million clicks on it.”
That early experience set expectations that have carried through to R&J’s latest MY25 Isuzu NQR additions.
Payload, safety and emissions
Battery distribution places particular demands on vehicles, with payload capacity a key consideration. The NQR’s positioning between light- and medium-duty segments provides additional carrying capacity while retaining manoeuvrability for urban and industrial deliveries.
The MY25 NQR is powered by Isuzu’s 4HK1-TCC engine, producing 140 kW and supporting a GVM range of 8,000–8,800 kg. The model also meets ADR 80/04 emissions requirements through a combination of DPD, SCR and EGR systems.
Safety upgrades introduced in 2025 include a second-generation stereo camera as part of Isuzu’s ADAS suite, with features such as Autonomous Emergency Braking and Lane Keep Assist now standard.
Fit-for-purpose body and dealer support
R&J pairs its NQR cab-chassis with custom bodies designed to handle heavy palletised loads, including sliding doors that allow full pallets of batteries to be loaded by forklift. One of the latest vehicles, supplied by Wagga Motors Isuzu, is based in Bairnsdale and services a wide regional route across Gippsland and into southern New South Wales.
“Quality is paramount over saving a buck, and a big part of that operational integrity is Isuzu trucks, especially when it comes to safety and reliability,” Robson said.
Aligning fleet and sustainability goals
R&J Batteries’ fleet decisions also sit within a broader sustainability framework. The company is certified carbon neutral under the Australian Government’s Climate Active Program, and sees alignment with suppliers as increasingly important.
“With the new range of Isuzu trucks meeting the latest Euro 6-equivalent emissions standards, it is a clear and purposeful statement,” Hamilton said. “We only work with partners who actively support our mission to reduce our carbon footprint.”
Three decades on from that first NQR, the partnership continues to evolve, reflecting how vehicle selection, safety, emissions and service support intersect in modern fleet operations — particularly for businesses where reliability remains non-negotiable.
