Northern Exposure

Vision Freight Systems is welcoming the challenge of skyrocketing demand as it grows its intrastate road freight and logistics operations in Queensland where it is based.

It began as something of a ruse. He was working as an interstate truck driver having just returned from driving in the US — more of that later — loading out of a Brisbane pipe manufacturer waiting to go to Sydney.

Sitting in the yard for the better part of the day, Mark Frankling wasn’t even close to finishing.

Upon seeing another driver enter the yard, Mark jokingly enquired if he wanted to sell his truck.

The inference being that he was so desperate to leave it didn’t matter in whose vehicle.

“I might as well have gone and done some local work I’d been there that long,” he recalls.  The driver, without missing a beat, told him, no, his truck wasn’t for sale but there was someone else in the yard who did have a truck to sell.

Mark summarily found him, made an offer and bought it. It was a Hino GH with a rear mounted crane.

That was the first of what now amounts to a stable of some 30 commercial vehicles operated by Mark’s company Vision Freight Systems fleet where he serves as the Managing Director.

A change of career trajectory made upon a spur of the moment whim personifies the adroitness in which Mark has moved from an auto electrician, by trade, to the top executive of a rapidly expanding Queensland-focused company based in his home town of Brisbane where he is “born and bred.”

It was while working on trucks as an auto electrician he was first offered the opportunity to tag along for a drive of a prime mover.

Mark was, by his own admission, immediately hooked. Later that year he had learned to drive a truck and received the proper accreditation for the relevant heavy vehicle licences.

In 2000, the following year, he had his first job driving with Booth Transport.

Mark and Jodie Frankling.

Through that employment he learned the general side of road freight transport which after a few years of business diversification has given expression to the current company as an express freight carrier. It operates out of Salisbury on the Southside of Brisbane in the Federal electorate of Moreton, situated, rather conveniently, between the major transit routes of the Ipswich and Pacific Motorways.

The warehousing side of the business accommodates 4,500m2 under the roof and that comprises all local metropolitan distribution. At present there are 36 full time staff.

In recent times, Vision Freight Systems has been steadily building up its fleet of Fuso rigids with new Shoguns, Fighters and Canters being deployed alongside its bigger rigs including Mercedes-Benz Actros, Freightliner Argosy and some Western Stars.

Four of the newest Fusos are operating out of Brisbane with three each in their northern depots at Mackay and Townsville.

Mackay, the site of a new warehouse facility currently under construction, is a major growth area for both Vision Freight Systems and the region with its central location along the vast Queensland coastline affording the town an opportunity to develop as the major freight distribution hub for central and northern Queensland.

Being positioned within 12-hours driving distance from most regional settlements is an advantage also when it comes down to compliance under permissible driver fatigue hours.

Vision Freight Systems have maintained a presence in Mackay, which was built on sugarcane and natural resources, for the last 12 years.

“We’ve always worked on the philosophy if we give them a good service then they’ll keep coming,” says Mark. “That’s what it’s about. We’ve always focused on servicing the people in the town, not the mine.”

Vision Freight Systems service many of the local businesses who, in turn, service their own clients.

The new depot, once completed, is a subject of excitement for the business as it will be company operated and should enable it to grow its existing footprint in the town.

“That’s going to be great for our freight side of the business,” says Mark. “It’s a good feeling when you’ve got that backing of the town behind you to do something like that. I noticed just the other day someone advertised for some freight moved on a Facebook page and the next thing you know I’m getting notifications from people because they’re instructing them to put it up on Vision Freight and that’s just from random people. It’s a fantastic thing.”

Planned major infrastructure developments such as the Mackay Ring Road and Bowen Basin Service Link will enable further improved efficiencies for local and other businesses alike.

The approved land use plan for the Mackay Airport includes significant freight, logistics and distribution facilities which further improves the region’s intermodal accessibility via road, rail, port and air connections.

A new Mercedes-Benz Actros 2653 runs Townsville to Mackay daily on a linehaul application and there’s another two 630hp Actros already on order intended for linehaul changeover. An Actros rigid currently services Cairns from Townsville every day.

“We don’t do contract linehaul,” says Mark. “Every single parcel we cart is our freight. Some days we’ll be right up there at 62 tonnes, which includes express overnight satchels through to bulk pallet loads and oversized freight.”

General freight road transportation was the result of a splinter away from carting PVC pipe for pipeline systems manufacturer Vinidex.

Vision Freight Systems methodically expanded its remit north and in doing so added more drivers which in turn required new and better vehicles. That coincided with increased demand for freight into the Mackay region.

“In the process of diversifying the business into general freight it kept growing really from there,” Mark recalls. “It has completely taken the reins now making it our core business.”

Since 2015, the Detroit DD15 has been, where possible, the engine of choice in the prime mover fleet. Along with the 13-litre and 15.6-litre, 630 horsepower Actros prime movers, which share an distinct similarity to different specs of Detroit engines, Vision Freight Express runs a handful of Western Stars and two cabover Freightliners including the last Argosy sold in the world.

Along with Daimler Trucks Gold Coast, Vision Freight Systems commemorated the occasion with a big celebratory event that included delivery of the vehicle and over 150 guests in attendance from both the OEM and carrier. Brock McGarity, Sales Executive Daimler Trucks Gold Coast, helped organise the night.

“It was a great night with plenty of lasting memories for all who came,” says Mark. “It’s a shame they stopped building the Argosy — it’s a great truck actually.”

Midway through the evening the last Argosy was delivered and a few hours later it was out the door already working.

The Argosys are purely highway spec’d and come with an 18-speed automated manual gearbox matched with the Detroit DD15.

Since 2015 the company has aligned proactively with Detroit-powered product.

“That’s been our choice of engine when we can get it,” Mark says. “That’s nearly all we’ve been buying. The reliability out of them is fantastic and the product support out of Detroit is amazing. They’re bloody brilliant and they do such a good job.”

The fleet now has an increasing proclivity for Daimler Truck vehicles. Daimler Trucks Gold Coast supply the bulk of the new trucks to Vision Freight Systems and it now runs ten Fuso units of different stripes, all of which have been acquired in recent years.

The Fusos run the gamut of 14-pallet Shoguns, 14-, 12- and 10-pallet Fuso Fighters and also a 918 eight-pallet Canter.

The Japanese trucks are built-for-purpose, handling the sticky humid conditions comfortably where some other truck brands might struggle.

The new Fuso Shoguns, according to Mark, are excelling on a linehaul task servicing the Burnett region that encompasses Bundaberg, Rockhampton and surrounds.

“They’re a great truck for what we ask of them,” says Mark. “Extremely comfortable for the driver. The fuel mileage out of the truck is great. They’re very easy to work with and the driver is extremely happy driving it.”

Another Shogun is based in Townsville servicing Cairns every day on door-to-door delivery.

Going for a ride in one of the new Fuso Shoguns.

The tapered A-pillars provide improved visibility while a lower transom window on the passenger side helps amplify important sightlines for the driver who is infrequently loading and unloading at docks.

A low height chassis and electronically controlled rear air suspension are said to help even further with this process.

“Given it can get pretty hot up there we haven’t had a single complaint from the drivers,” says Mark. “They’re absolutely rapt with the operation and cabin comforts. The ride and comfort are impressive to the point I called Fuso today to look into ordering more. They’ve got plenty of power.”

An ADR 80/02 compliant 7.7L twin-turbo provides linear torque delivery at any rev range, producing 360hp and 1400Nm of torque, coupled to a 12-speed AMT. The first Fusos were delivered in 2020 at the start of the pandemic when demand for its services started escalating.

Since then, Vision Freight Services have progressively added more units to the business having, importantly, listened to the rapt response of staff who have been very pleased after positive engagement with the product.

“We’re extremely happy with the product. It’s given us a really great run actually,” says Mark. “Our Fuso portfolio is broadening and we’re happy to be an ambassador of the brand in the services we offer it. It doesn’t hurt none that the Shogun is a really great looking truck.”

Mark acknowledges the prodigious input of his wife Jodie who has been involved at the company since 2004.

While he concentrates mainly on the operational side of the business she handles accounts.

“Jodie’s contribution is immense. There’s the task of all the billing of the business and then, on top of that, all the support for me and others that comes with it,” he says. “Everything we do is a team effort.”

The necessity of adding new assets and, in at least one case, a new facility, has been as much about moving the needle forward as it has been the consolidation of what has been achieved up to this point in time.

For that Mark is grateful especially for the ongoing role his staff have played in making this upward curve possible.

“Without the team, across all depots and departments, none of this happens,” he says.

“They provide great supply and service from the GM to the office girls to the guys in the shed. Our business is a decent sized machine that ticks over everyday. It’s a massive effort week in and out. To get to where we’re currently is largely thanks to them.”

It wasn’t that long ago Mark was living out of an extended-hood Peterbilt 379 he was asked to steer over all parts of the United States. In 2002 he ventured overseas and ended up gaining experience for DJ Franzen Trucking, an Iowan-based family carrier.

For the better part of the year, at the age of 25, he enjoyed life as a driver touring from coast to coast.

“It was just me in the truck travelling around getting to see everything for the first time,” he recalls. “It was such a cool experience. It was like, far out, I’m into this – let’s go.”

With a little over a year under his belt driving in Australia much of what he encountered in the US seemed bigger — cinematic.

“Everything is massive. The interstate highways. The truck stops and service stations. The equipment,” he says. “Everything is done on such a bigger scale than what we do here. It’s an amazing place to drive.”

Experiencing America from the driver’s seat presented him with a slideshow of unforgettable imagery he will not soon forget. Loading often happens in deglamourised neighbourhoods where the neon has fizzed out and the windows of bleak brown brick house rows, like in Philadelphia, is blown out.

Vision Freight Systems yard in Brisbane.

Driving out of Chicago, a body sprawled out on the table drain, possibly deceased or just temporarily suspended in the aftermath of a big night on the drink was left unattended. A woman, half-crazed on the doorstep of the truck raps her fist on the door, insisting Mark give her a ride.

“She was wanted for a homicide,” he says. “The police had only moments before that had her in the back of their car. I’ve seen some wild stuff.”

Pulling a 53-foot refrigerated van through the Bronx, where bridge clearances are notoriously low, signage is minimal, and the streets were unfamiliar is another memory he relishes.

“That was 20 years ago and we’re only 48-foot maximum length here,” he says. “There is lots of different stuff that is, as a driver, amazing. What you see in the movies, much of it looks like that.”

Every couple of weeks the drivers would catch up back in Des Moines for a break after living out on the road. Mark’s only regret is he didn’t take more photos.

Returning to 2022, following close to 30 months of unparalleled company growth, Mark is in the process of finalising a deal on a new building in Brisbane that will basically double the size of his facilities.

New sets of Vawdrey double drop deck mezzanine floor B-double-rated trailers are also on the way. For Mark things have never been busier nor more productive — he knows the difference.

Current forecasts suggest freight movement tonnages will increase at a greater rate than the population in Queensland.

The Centre for Transport, Energy and the Environment forecasts a growth in the freight task of up to 71.6 per cent in the next ten years.

Mark, for one, is feeling it. The question is how much?

“Off the chart. The last three years for us have just been incredible and I’m looking forward to the next three,” says Mark.

“The next three are going to be even better.”

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