National freight and logistics operator, Glen Cameron Group, recently added 24 Isuzu FSR 140-240s to its close to a 1000-strong fleet of trucks and trailers.

Each of the 14,000kg Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) FSRs is expected to travel around 50,000km annually, making about 5,000 deliveries to customers in metro areas.

The company has been providing metro route distribution services to Asahi Beverages in Melbourne for more than 15 years, delivering iconic brands including Schweppes, Pepsi, and Cool Ridge.

According to Isuzu, when Asahi Beverages ran a rigorous tender process for multi-state metro route distribution early last year, Glen Cameron Group was thrilled to have the opportunity to extend the relationship, successfully winning route distribution services in Sydney, Brisbane, and Adelaide.

With three months to get trucks on the road between securing Asahi Beverages’ multi-state contract in June 2020 and commencing the services in September, the company needed a truck supplier that could guarantee delivery, despite the fluid conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We had three months to procure a new fleet to fulfill this contract – it was a tight schedule, to say the least,” said Glen Cameron Group Fleet Manager, Greg Morris.

“After meeting with Les Spaltman and the team at Isuzu we came away with a partnership that worked really well for us.

“It wasn’t just a matter of finding the right truck. It was finding the right people to execute and distribute in a very, very tight window.”

According to Morris, the four-cylinder FSRs are ideal for this urban application.

“The turning circle is very good and we’re happy with the TC-AMT (torque converter automated manual transmission), he said – adding that from an OH&S perspective, the low chassis height is a big bonus as the trucks are being unloaded by hand. “We are very happy with that safety aspect in particular.”

The company also deems driver safety a chief concern, and Morris was complimentary about Isuzu’s well-rounded safety suite that comes standard with all F Series trucks.

As for the bodies, they represent the very latest in beverage distribution technology out of Europe – in the form of Rapid Liner bodies with gate-rated, load-safe curtains, complete with Fleetmark livery and fitted by Alltruck Bodies.

Morris said the relationships with equipment suppliers are paramount to the company.

“At the end of the day, a truck is a truck. They’re important, but the relationships we have with our OEM partners are more important,” he said.

“Unlike a lot of large carriers, our company doesn’t have big workshop resources in-house.

“Our business model is focussed on freight and logistics, and we partner with the larger OEMs with Australia-wide resources to give us the best outcomes for the fleet.

“To this end, we really lean on the premium aftercare support, skills, and expertise that come with partnering with an OEM like Isuzu.”

This article was originally written for The Prime Mover Mag and can be viewed here