Sydney-based Global Product Supply Management has celebrated its 20th anniversary with the investment in a new Kenworth T909.
The prime mover, which is pulling A-doubles from the wharf at Port Botany, making it unique in Sydney alone for its individual specification, has been added to a fleet of a dozen prime movers the freight forwarder runs in New South Wales.
Co-founded by Bill Alexiou in 2002, GPSM is part of a global logistics firm with a presence in many international territories.
Outside of Sydney, where it maintains its own transport division, GPSM relies mainly on sub-contractors.
The fleet of 11 prime movers, most of which are Volvo FHs, is singular in that respect.
“Aside from the new Kenworth, we’re not doing anything particularly different to anyone else, but we’ve got a lot of trailers that are interchangeable which gives us flexibility,” said Rob Sullivan, GPSM Transport Governance & Compliance Manager.
“For the size of the fleet I’m really proud of the volume of work it does,” he said.
Bringing in the new flashy Kenworth as a showpiece was the idea of Bill’s son, Sam Alexiou.
“As a traditional Kenworth truck no one in Botany was running these with A-doubles which we thought would be special for the company and help highlight the anniversary,” he told Prime Mover.
Because it is ferrying A-double skels between the port and Eastern Creek, the only Kenworth of its kind to do so, the vehicle has needed to undergo several modifications through its design and build stages.
The 30-metre allowance in Sydney nominally prohibits bonneted American trucks like this from operating in such an applications on the wharf.
Alexiou specifically designed the T909 in collaboration with Gilbert and Roach to ensure it was within the 30-metre requirement.
This subsequently necessitated a host of changes including a shorter wheelbase.
So that the front of the skel could be shifted all the way forward, a day-cab became imperative.
The air tanks on the chassis also had to be moved to the rear as there was no room under the chassis for them to go in the usual spots.
“When the truck isn’t committed to any trailers it looks quite short,” said Alexiou.
The 7-inch chrome exhaust stacks have been shorted to 4-metres from 4.2m to ensure the truck has no challenges accessing service stations.
Alexiou, by his own admission, has a thing for how tanks are presented. On the T909 a square tank was specifically chosen for cleaner aesthetics.
The other trucks in the GPSM fleet have a rubber band that goes around the straps on the fuel tanks. This was removed and the straps were given the GPSM grey to better align with the company colour scheme.
Driver, Lincoln Hira, something of a Kenworth fanatic, had much input in this area including the 17 marker lights that can be found below the custom bullbar.
“It’s a pretty special unit,” said Alexiou.
“From the start it was always purchased as a driver’s truck. God forbid he ever leaves.”
Sullivan said Hira’s dedication to the truck is impressive.
“He gets out and washes it down every time he stops, ensuring it looks spectacular” he said.
“His love and commitment to this truck is on a different planet. He got cranky with me for asking him to attend one of the depots because it was too dusty,” jokes Sullivan.
“He wasn’t impressed. I’ll have to personally clean it when he comes back.”
Sullivan adds, “Under his supervision, no doubt.”
An 18-speed RoadRanger transmission has been paired with a tweaked 574 hp Cummins engine.
On that front it’s the perfect vehicle — for highway interstate according to Alexiou.
“It’s not very Sydney in terms of the practicality, but it’s very Sydney in the way it stands out,” he said.
“You can’t have anyone come off the street to operate it. Not around Sydney. You’ve got to have the right driver for that truck.”
GPSM by all reports have found him.
“The biggest reason why you go with that truck is if ever things don’t work out you will always get your money back,” said Alexiou.
“That truck holds so much value.”