TRUCKS TRIUMPH IN COMPETITION’S OCTOBER SHORTLIST

When the early Christmas decorations start popping up, most business owners batten down the hatches and prepare to be consumed by work right up until their festive lunch. This year though, as the holiday period speeds towards us, Isuzu owners aren’t too busy to drop us a line about the reliable workhorses that help keep their businesses running. No matter what time of year it is, there are scores of businesses with Isuzus out on the road. The reliable workhorses help businesses perform those everyday services that keep Australia functioning like a well-oiled machine. Congratulations to Darryn Jockers and Grahams Concrete on being selected as the two monthly winners for October 2017. Darryn Jockers Though Darryn Jockers’ business involves transporting staff and small remote-controlled trucks to exhibitions, he knows that sometimes, bigger can be better. That’s why Darryn decided to upgrade from his ute to an Isuzu NPR 65-190 Tipper crew cab. Since the switch, Darryn has become a convert, saying his Isuzu “ticks all the boxes – carries all the toys, tows the caravan and seats the whole crew”. Grahams Concrete In the concreting game, the truck you choose is one of the most important business decisions you’ll make. When husband and wife team Rod and Kari Graham chose four Isuzu FYJ 2000 8x4 Agitator Cab Chassis trucks for their business, they got exactly what they wanted. Rod says the FYJ model “has great horsepower and the smoothness of the automatic transmission makes for easy operation”. AJ & M Construction Since AJ Croome of AJ & M Construction upgraded from a light commercial ute to an Isuzu NPR 65-190 he hasn’t looked back. The NPR “handles and drives as good” as his former ute, and allows him to lug much more substantial loads to wherever the next job is. Even when its tray is loaded up, the workhorse still has enough grunt to tow the company’s 3,500 kg excavator/trailer combo or scissor lift “all over Tasmania with ease”. Gary O’Brien’s Swimming Pool Box and Steel Years of gearbox problems and having to put up with expensive suspension upgrades to his utes led Gary O’Brien to invest in an Isuzu NPR 45-155 Tradepack. Gary says the Tradepack is better engineered to cope with the demands of the job, and the equipment and materials that used to take him two trips to transport to a site in his ute are easily handled in one. SA Country Fire Service Around Roseworthy, South Australia – the headquarters of the Country Fire Service– they call their Isuzu FTS 800 4x4 crew cab truck “the beast”. Volunteer Nick Jack says the always reliable truck has “the speed, agility and power to meet the demands required of a fire (fighting)appliance”, meaning when firefighters are out on the front lines they have enormous confidence in their Isuzu. Murray Bridge Septic Solutions Graham Mutton of Murray Bridge Septic Solutions says buying his first ever truck was a daunting experience. He picked an Isuzu because of the brand’s reputation, but it still exceeded his expectations. He says the “bullet-proof truck is so easy to drive”, adding that it definitely won’t be the last Isuzu he buys. Valley Earthworks Business is booming for earthmoving contractor Valley Earthworks. Based in Yamba, New South Wales, Director Mark Mitchell said their rapidly growing workload means the company needs vehicles as reliable as their schedule is busy. That’s why they’ve bought six Isuzu Giga CXY 455 6x4 trucks – and it’s proved such a good decision, the company has ordered another one for January. Central Coast Car Carrying Anthony Jackson clocked up 1.7 million kilometres in his 2004 model Isuzu, lugging cars around our nation’s highways for over 10 years. He said it was “a very reliable truck” and he was hesitant to let it go. However Anthony is confident that its replacement, a 2017 Isuzu FRD 110-260 will offer the same reliability and peace of mind as its predecessor. Daydream Explorers Mark Collett, director of Sandgate-based Daydream Explorers, is passionate about offering inclusive day adventures where access isn’t a barrier to a great adventure. With the help of their Isuzu NPS 75-155 4x4 with custom fit-out, Daydream Explorers have helped create many smiles and memories as they trek through Queensland’s picturesque scenery.