A Wodonga-based maintenance company has added an Isuzu NNR crew cab to its fleet to help transport workers, tools and materials to infrastructure projects, including remote sites in Australia’s alpine country.
Global Factory Maintenance (GFM) supports hydroelectricity, gas, manufacturing and civil projects, with some crews travelling around 250 kilometres a day to and from work sites.
For the company, getting the right people and equipment to site is essential to keeping projects on schedule.
GFM Managing Director Gerard Telford said the business needed vehicles that could adapt to different jobs and operate reliably in remote locations.
“The work can be local, or it can take us a long way from home with our projects for the hydro and gas networks taking us to remote locations all over the country,” he said.
“Our business has always had to be versatile because every customer, site and project brings a different set of requirements.”
One truck, different jobs
GFM operates more than 25 vehicles, including three Isuzu trucks purchased through Blacklocks Isuzu in Wodonga.
Its latest addition, an Isuzu NNR 45-150 Traypack Crew, was chosen to carry a work crew alongside the tools and materials needed for each project.
Telford said the truck could be configured for an extended site assignment or used to transport fabricated components and other materials.
“Depending on the job, the truck might be set up with extensive tooling and a secure canopy for a longer period on-site,” he said.
“On another project, we may need the tray for steel plating, long lengths of material or fabricated components.
“The crew cab gives us the flexibility to move our people in comfort while carrying the tools and load needed for the work. That versatility is a big advantage for us.”
The NNR is powered by a 5.2-litre turbo-diesel engine producing 110 kW and 375 Nm. It has a 4,500 kg gross vehicle mass and an 8,000 kg gross combination mass, and is fitted with a nine-speed dual-clutch transmission offering automatic and clutchless manual modes.
Safety features include advanced emergency braking, full-speed adaptive cruise control, electronic stability control, lane departure warning and forward collision warning.
Telford said safety was a priority for crews travelling to and from remote sites, sometimes while working day and night shifts.
“We need reliability, we need safety and we need enough space for the crew and their equipment,” he said.
Ready for the workforce
The Traypack’s ready-to-work configuration was another factor in the purchase decision.
“The fact that the truck came ready for work and in a crew cab was a big part of our choice,” Telford said.
“We didn’t need to spend a significant amount upgrading any features or adding equipment simply to make it suitable for our daily work.
“It was effectively straight from the showroom and into our workforce.”
GFM services its Isuzu trucks through Blacklocks, with the new NNR covered by an Isuzu Service Agreement. Telford said knowing when scheduled work was due helped the company plan maintenance around its operations.
“With the Service Agreement, the work is earmarked, and we know what to expect and when to expect it. We can plan for the truck to go into Blacklocks and keep the fleet moving,” he said.
Founded in 2005 by Gerard and his brother Michael, GFM has grown from a small workshop with around six employees to a business employing approximately 65 people.
The company is now planning a second workshop to separate its stainless and mild-steel operations as its capabilities continue to expand.
