Paul Cotterill, the owner of Wollongong-based heavy vehicle driver training outfit Coachbiz, decided an Isuzu FXZ 240-350 six-wheel tipper was the ideal vehicle for his dedicated training operation.
By his own admission, Cotterill who is now in his 50s was bitten by the trucking bug at the age of 20 and began his on-the-job learning of how to professionally operate trucks.
During his 34-year career he developed a passion for teaching others these skills, along with imbuing in them the responsibility that comes with operating heavy trucks in a wide variety of conditions.
He subsequently took his passion to the next level and started his own heavy vehicle training and assessing business, Coachbiz, based in Wollongong, New South Wales.
“In today’s fast-moving society, no one seems to have the time to do the full training anymore,” Cotterill said.
“I don’t do this just for the money, I do it because I want to make a difference in the industry – I want to help put better drivers on the road.”
In 2019, after realising his previous truck just wasn’t cutting it for him or his students anymore, he traded it for a new Isuzu FXZ 240-350 with a tipper body.
Cotterill’s criteria was that the new truck must be uncomplicated, comfortable and easy to drive, without compromising on quality and reliability.
He also needed a truck with enough pulling power to tow a 15-tonne plant trailer loaded with concrete blocks.
He found the 24-tonne Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) and 257kW (350hp) of power at 2,000rpm matched with an Allison six-speed fully automatic transmission were just right for the job.
Trust in the reliability of his truck is also important to Cotterill, as a breakdown means both lost work and letting down a client.
So far, according to Cotterill, there’s only been one minor issue, which Isuzu dealer Dwyer’s Truck Centre in Wollongong addressed within a day.
“Throughout Australia, no matter where my truck is, I know there’s going to be a dealership close at hand to look after me,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter whether I’ve called in with the dealership or gone through Isuzu directly, the attention to detail and care factor are always there.
“In a day and age where things are fast and hard, to have that personal touch is a real dealmaker for me.”
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