November 10th, 1999
Tasmanian log hauliers get their grip
Logging is one of the toughest divisions of any transport operation. As well as
heavy loads, the nature of the timber carried demands a very specialised and, in many
cases, highly technically competent trailer to complete the task.
By implementing a specific tyre maintenance program, logging company K.J.
Padgett’s of Scottsdale in northern Tasmania has benefited from substantial savings
of up to 20 per cent in operating costs. The company also improved the performance of its
vehicles when carrying full loads away from the bitumen.
The roads used by logging trucks are often no more than bulldozed trails running
through a pine forest and with their exposure to leaf mulch and rotting vegetation the
grip factor is often lacking in the extreme.
Under these harsh operating conditions the choice of the truck, the trailer and the
tyres that provide the grip and off road performance have to be a careful blend to achieve
the necessary traction and required safety levels for an operator.
Padgett’s runs a mixed fleet of prime movers using Freightliner, Scania and more
recently Kenworth. These are coupled to predominantly Elphinstone logging trailers in both
single and B-double configuration.
Although the different truck marques feature contrasting technology from both Europe
and North America, one of the constants in the specification of an ideal vehicle is that
of tyres.
As transport manager of Padgett’s, Tony Hutton said, "It’s a fairly
tortuous life for a tyre so we initiated an assessment to determine what brand would give
us the best cost per kilometre.
"We needed professional experience and ran our tests in conjunction with our tyre
supplier Dowling McCarthy Tyres. We started by establishing a target distance against
which we evaluated different tyres on the market. Michelin not only met the target, it
passed it significantly.
"What we learnt was that the initial price of a cheaper tyre does not reflect an
overall cost saving. There were also some gains in product performance by using
Michelin," he added.
According to Stephen Dowling, sales manager of Dowling McCarthy Tyres, the gains in
tyre life and reductions in costs per kilometre were realised almost as soon as the
program was commenced.
"We introduced a properly organised and committed tyre maintenance program making
sure that the correct type of tyres were used throughout the fleet to suit the application
of each vehicle," said Stephen Dowling.
The performance of the standard 295/80R22.5 Michelin XZY and 11R22.5 XDY tyres is
tracked from new until after they have been re-capped twice or three times.
The B-doubles are fitted with centralised tyre inflation systems. Pressures are
maintained at 110 psi for steer axles and 85 psi for drive tyres in normal use but can be
reduced when off road to as low as 38 psi to maintain traction.
"It takes a very strong tyre to withstand that type of pressure variation,"
said Stephen Dowling.
"There is no doubt the Michelin tyres give the lowest cents/km operating costs
while at the same time retaining excellent driver acceptance. When combined with a
dedicated and committed tyre maintenance, rotation and pressure checking program there are
rewards available for any transport operation, irrespective of size," he added.
