With a fleet of 12 trucks – eight being Isuzus – Cairns based company AG Height Safety Queensland is more than just a supplier of height safety equipment.
The firm works collaboratively with its clients to understand every site’s safety needs before recommending, quoting, delivering and installing the right equipment for the job.
From setting up quick stage scaffolds for a small home roof repair to installing edge and void protection services at a construction site, AG Height is a one-stop shop for everything needed to make a work site safe and secure.
Affectionately named ‘Head Honcho’ by the AG Height crew, AG Height Director, Tim Johns, said the company welcomes both residential and commercial clients.
“No project is too small, and no job is too hard,” said Johns – adding that the company was one of the earlier innovators that came up with the metal fascia bracket – a clamp-on bracket which leaves no building damage – something people in the past thought couldn’t be done.
“Even if something looks like it can’t be done, we will innovate and come up with a solution. We’ll make it work,” he said.
Having started in the industry at 19 years of age, Johns worked his way through the ranks, until finally purchasing the AG Height business in Cairns four years ago, at the age of 30.
When he took it on, he was backed by ‘three blokes and three trucks’; but since then, the business has grown exponentially and now includes over 40 employees and several branches across Brisbane, Townsville and Mackay.
As for trucks, Johns currently operates a fleet of 12, with eight of those wearing the Isuzu badge.
Asked about the large proportion of Isuzu trucks, Johns said he is a self-proclaimed ‘Isuzu man’.
“I’ve always stuck with Isuzu and I’m never going anywhere else,” he said.
“The affinity came from my father – my Dad was a farmhand on a cane farm and used to drive an Isuzu F Series 900 Tipper, carting dirt all over the place.
“That old farm truck lasted for years, and at the end of the day, it’s all about the quality for me.
According to Johns, Isuzus are simply good quality trucks, and he opines there’s no reason to consider any other brand.
In fact, to support the growing business, Johns has purchased three brand new Isuzu trucks in the last three years.
He worked with the Ireland Isuzu dealership in Cairns and decided on the Isuzu FRR 110-240 with an Automated Manual Transmission (AMT).
Sporting a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of 11,000kg and a Gross Combination Mass (GCM) of 14,500kg, the FRR features a six-cylinder powerplant that delivers 177kW at 2,400rpm and 765Nm at 1,600rpm.
With the innovator in him going strong, Johns designed his own truck tray from scratch.
“Our trucks need to be forklift-friendly because we transport everything in stillages and crates – carrying everything from edge protection componentry to quick-stage scaffolds and even temporary fencing,” he said.
“So, I’ve designed the tray in a way that utilises every square inch for the storage and carriage of componentry.
“The trays are built from light yet strong aluminium so the trucks can carry more weight, and they’ve been designed with fold-down cages and underbelly boxes,” he said.
The three new FRRs have been deployed across several branches of AG Height, with one truck each in Cairns, Mackay and the Sunshine Coast.
“The trucks travel mainly within the metro areas, and there have been no complaints from my guys at all,” Johns said, adding, “The FRR is a smooth truck that drives well, and most importantly they keep my crew happy.”
For Johns, prioritising his crew and keeping them happy has been his winning formula. Taking the idea of family seriously, the business employs a life coach for employees, helping to support them.
“AG Height stands for family, and anyone joining the company will instantly join a family,” he said. “My crew’s wellbeing means a lot to me, and they are key to the success of AG Height.”