Chas Kelly Group sees major safety gains with JOST fifth wheels

Chas Kelly Group has been a paramount player in Tasmania’s transport industry for nearly 50 years by providing a range of transport and logistics services across seven subsidiaries – Chas Kelly Transport, Kelly Logistics, Rock Logistics, RoadRunners, Transport Equipment Hire (TEH), FreshFreight and SeaRoad.

The comprehensive transport group was the brainchild of founder, Chas Kelly, who was first exposed to Tasmania’s transport world in Devonport by working for Wm. Holyman and Sons. This laid the foundation for Chas’ entry into freight services under the Chas Kelly Transport business with a single prime mover – a choice which seemingly sealed his fate as a logistical pioneer for Tasmania.

Chas Kelly Group has since become a national logistics provider. Its many subsidiaries are still diligently operated by Chas and his family and are underpinned by a common commitment to providing reliable transport solutions.

“There’s quite a bit of overlap between the companies,” says Chas Kelly Group Fleet and Procurement General Manager, Bernie Dalton. “You will often see a Kelly Logistics prime mover towing a TEH trailer with a SeaRoad container on its back because their capabilities all come together to deliver freight to the right people at the right time.”

Chas Kelly Group’s particular focus on quality and reliability is further reinforced by JOST. Chas originally approached the OEM over 35 years ago due to its similar business values of ensuring safe and efficient transport and Bernie has since been keeping a close eye on the combined business values in action.

“I’ve personally maintained a strong relationship with JOST throughout my years in the industry,” he says. “I’ve really seen what they do and offer firsthand.

“JOST brings the same high standard of quality to Chas Kelly Group. Whenever we’ve asked OEMs what their default fifth wheel choice is, they’ll always choose JOST unless otherwise specified. This is because JOST is the best to deal with.

“Their commitment to customer service, problem solving and quality componentry makes them the clear choice for our fleet.”

Chas Kelly Group has significantly improved safety and security by fitting JOST JSK37CW greaseless fifth wheels onto 80 per cent of its overall fleet. The relevant trailer and prime mover combinations carry a wide variety of freight around Australia, from fresh produce and refrigerated goods to steel products and semi-trailers for hire.

In these applications, operators have been able to enjoy many of the fifth wheel features and aspects which were designed to increase convenience during coupling and uncoupling trailers. These include maintenance-free top plates, rubber cushioned pivot bearings, wearing rings and yellow-painted inner handles which allow for easy visual inspections.

Additional features which have been beneficial include extended operating handles which reach 240 millimetres as well as lock jaws and wear rings which can be replaced while the fifth wheel is still in position.

Furthermore, Bernie attests that the JSK37CW’s delivery of safety extends from manufacturing precision to operational efficiency due to the peace of mind drivers gain when operating a combination fitted with the fifth wheel.

“We can see how the fifth wheels are actively enhancing the safety of our operations,” he says. “Their intuitive designs, precision-engineered coupling solutions and consistent performance are helping our drivers operate with confidence, minimise accidents and overall downtime.

“Standardisation is also a key aspect of driver comfortability. By having much of the same equipment on our trucks, drivers are confident with the many different vehicles that we provide due to their similar fittings.”

Chas Kelly Group also uses JOST’s sensor couplings for select transport contracts. These variants constantly monitor the coupling of prime movers and trailers via three sensors. Placed onto ‘protected zones’ of non-moving parts of the fifth wheel, they make the connection of the king pin as well as the contact locking position much more seamless.

Aside from fifth wheels, JOST is also supporting Chas Kelly Group with a national network of aftersales branches. These customer-centric locations are operating in most of Australia’s capital cities and, being stocked with a wide assortment of spare parts, are ready to service the variety of fleet operators that use its trusted componentry.

“JOST’s comprehensive services, including incident reporting, technical support, workshop training and driver training have been invaluable in maintaining the efficiency and safety of our operations,” Bernie says. “JOST’s responsiveness and expertise make them a trusted partner when it comes to ensuring that our fleet remains safe, reliable and well-equipped to handle any challenges.”

JOST’s aftersales presence and fifth wheel offering have been embedded into Chas Kelly Group’s operations for decades, helping the group boost its capabilities to service Tasmanian freight demand via secure logistical parts and solutions.

“The combination of JOST’s expertise and our operational commitment ensures that we can deliver safe, efficient and reliable transport solutions,” Bernie says. “Our partnership helps keep our customers’ freight moving.”