Heil: sensitive freight
- From the April 2011 issue.
When Inland Petroleum was looking for a new vehicle to expand the fleet after purchasing a new depot in Dubbo in 2010, the choice of a Heil model may have been no coincidence. “Ever since, I have been a Heil client,” says principle Paul McCallum. “It was the beginning of a new business relationship.”
Inland Petroleum is a leading fuel distribution company in New South Wales. Located in Dubbo, it services the Sydney area and Hunter Valley in the state’s east, and Bourke and Cobar in New South Wales’ vast west. “In the south, we supply the local mining industry,” says Paul. “It’s quite a comprehensive portfolio.”
In 2010, the family owned company became an independent fuel wholesale business after purchasing a distribution facility in Dubbo. “Endless opportunities have opened up,” says Paul. “Now we have to take advantage of the situation and enforce expansion.”
Therefore, the company purchased a 25m B-double combination to deal with the increased workload. It is operating between Newcastle, Gunnedah and Dubbo on a double shift basis. “We knew we would need additional equipment, so we contacted WBG Tankers, a long-term affiliate of Inland Petroleum. They recommended Heil and were able to deliver in an instant. I knew that Heil was a renowned brand and I trust in WBG’s professional judgement, so I didn’t hesitate to give it a chance.”
In 2010, WBG became an official Heil distributor in Australia. “Ever since, we were able to obtain new key customers and form sustainable relationships,” says Mark Dale, Heil’s Regional Manager Australia. “The co-operation with WBG was a milestone, and they have worked closely with Heil and Inland Petroleum in developing new designs to upgrade Paul’s Fleet.”
The 25m aluminium tanker is equipped with drum brakes and has been re-fitted with the latest Wabco EBS system. It can cart up to 50,000 litres, using 10 separate compartments. “The compartment design and engineering strength is Heil’s key quality,” says Paul. “It can determine whether a trailer is a business asset giving good service over its economic life or a millstone around your neck. The Heil model has proven itself in the field.”
Yet the 25m B-double was nothing but the beginning of a new business relationship. Soon after he took delivery, Paul decided to order a custom-built 19m B-double combination.
“The 19m model is set up for line haul work between Sydney and Dubbo. It’s got the full bells and whistles,” says Paul. “It’s equipped with a Wabco disc brake system including ABS and EBS, for example, and it’s pulled by a state-of-the-art Kenworth 409 fitted with the new ultra shift option to minimise fatigue.”
“The 19m B-double will be running on a back-to-back shift six days a week, carting 48,000 litres of liquid freight, stowed in an aluminium vessel that is based on a steel sub frame.” Yet liquid freight is sensitive. “Diesel is almost ten percent heavier than petrol, so you carry less volume.”
On this account, the design of the compartment sizes must be able to cope with both liquids. “To tackle the problem, we’ve designed the vehicle from scratch. The compartment sizes exactly match the differing density of petrol and diesel ensuring that we weight optimise over each of the three groupings. The end result is full compartments - no matter if you are carrying petrol or diesel. This is paramount for stability and dynamic balance. In the event of an emergency manoeuvre this meticulous attention will result in the driver remaining in control.
“Heil’s software programmes allowed us to be an active part in the design process and simulate the weight distribution,” says Paul. “The 19m will be a valuable addition to the fleet.”
At the moment, Inland petroleum is maintaining two 19m B-double combinations, one double road train, two truck and dog combinations and a number of rigid vehicles. “But we are already planning to purchase an AB-triple in late 2011,” Paul announces. “We have to keep up with the company’s growth.
“In addition, we’ve just completed a truck and dog design that’s going into production in April. It’s a 23 tonne rigid with a 4-axle dog. And dealing with dog trailers, the weight distribution is even more important. Therefore we will rely on the tried and true and work with Heil again. I know that the end result will be perfect right from the start, because Heil is an innovative company that can build solid trailing equipment. And in NSW, we need sturdy equipment.”
In NSW, Inland Petroleum owns and operates eight retail sites, while supplying a further ten privately owned sites.
“We also manage the logistics for BHP Illawarra Coal’s underground Mining Fuel . This involves roadtraining fuel from Eromanga, 400km west of Charleville, to Dubbo, where it is offloaded and stored in our 350kl facility. It is then reloaded and transported to the underground mines on the south coast.”
Due to the small storage facilities at the south coast mines and local delivery covenants, this can be a challenging role. “We see ourselves as a boutique company,” says Paul. “There are a lot of companies carting fuel. Anybody can cart fuel, but we also manage the stock on behalf of our clientele . It’s a total solution service; and it’s a niche in the market.
“We strive to achieve customer satisfaction from the smallest retail transaction up to the largest bulk delivery, ensuring that customers receive quality service along with quality product.”
After all, it might not be a coincidence that the family operated company has grown from a single fuel depot with only a handful of staff to a thriving business employing 85 people. “We do not go astray,” says Paul. “We focus on our core competence, and servicing all our clientele from rural customers to the largest gold mine in Cobar that will use an entire roadtrain at a time. Whilst company controlled distributorships are moving back from the rural bulk market, we see ourselves as a vibrant force in the sector, and in co-operation with Heil, we will continue to grow.”
