etruck

Peak industry body, the Truck Industry Council, has declared the first ever Melbourne Trailer Truck and Equipment Expo an unqualified success after more than 35,000 people attended the three day show.

The Expo showcased Australia’s burgeoning truck manufacturing industry and the new generation of greener and safer trucks.

According to Truck Industry Council CEO, Tony McMullan, the success of the Melbourne Expo underlines the importance of the truck manufacturing industry and the essential tasks they fulfil on our roads.

“Clearly the transport industry flocked to the Expo to view in particular the latest technology being shown by the truck manufacturers,” said McMullan.

“The trucks on show demonstrated the industry’s ability to respond to the latest emission and noise regulations which have seen a dramatic decrease in noxious emissions and greenhouse gas and an equally significant reduction in truck noise,” he said.

McMullan said the Melbourne Expo also demonstrated the strength of the truck manufacturing industry in this country, which now has more truck manufacturers than the car industry.

“There are four companies manufacturing trucks in Australia compared with just three in the car industry.

“Along with the trucks manufactured here there are also many domestic component manufacturers as well as the numerous truck importers who each employ many thousands of Australians in disciplines from engineering, design, manufacture, sales and service to truck repair,” McMullan said.

“The truck manufacturing industry is worth more than $12 billion to the Australian economy annually, providing what are essential tools for driving our economy forward.

“Record sales across the industry are continuing with all manufacturers reporting strong demand.

“Truck operators realise that the latest truck technology will save them money in terms of greater efficiencies while also being kind on the environment and the industry was able to demonstrate this at the Melbourne Expo,” he added.

“In safety terms alone the savings the latest generation of trucks will deliver to the economy will be tremendous thanks to the expected reduction in the cost of accidents in years to come,” said McMullan.

The truck manufacturing industry has experienced an unparalleled rate of growth over the last few years as the industry strives to meet the rapidly increasing national freight task.

More than 37,000 new trucks were sold in Australia in 2007 while forecasts predict that the national freight task will double by the year 2020.

“Truck manufacturers are developing new systems and configurations to ensure that Australia will be equipped with the most productive vehicles to meet the growing freight challenge,” McMullan added.

McMullan also said that the Melbourne Expo revealed a strong interest in careers in the truck manufacturing industry and initiatives to further promote the industry to potential employees are being developed.