If there was only one word to perfectly describe SRV Roadfreight Services, it would be ‘trailblazer’.
The Queensland-headquartered freight carrier, established close to 30 years ago in 1997, prides itself for being a family-operated business with support that is on par with some of the country’s biggest transport entities. But this alone isn’t what makes the organisation a pioneer in its own right.
Throughout its entire history, SRV Roadfreight Services has always aimed to be at the forefront of evolution. This is something that has set it apart in a very competitive market.
“We’ve always tried to be the first to try something new,” says SRV Roadfreight Services General Manager, Ben Sparrow. “Whether it’s through a new trailer model, prime mover or other advancement in technology, it gives us a point of difference.”
This vision for success is what led SRV Roadfreight Services to Vawdrey’s new innovation – a technological breakthrough which was unveiled to the world for the first time at this year’s Brisbane Truck Show.
Vawdrey’s fully patented Auto Drive Titeliner is a revolutionary curtain system which has the ability to automate trailer curtain handling by replacing the manual labour process with a one-touch system. This, in turn, reduces OH&S risks and improves safety, productivity and efficiency.
The product, having been in development at Vawdrey for the past 10 years, is now beginning to emerge. Transport companies such as SRV Roadfreight Services are now trialling it for the first time and transforming their operations as a result.
“Vawdrey explained the concept of the Auto Drive Titeliner system to us, and from a transport perspective, it sounded like it would be a no-brainer to invest in it,” Ben says. “It was clear that the risk versus reward factor would be in our favour due to less injuries, less downtimes and less repair costs to fix over-pulled curtains.”
SRV Roadfreight Services wanted to be one of the first fleets in Australia to try Vawdrey’s new innovation. So, Paul Vawdrey and Queensland Sales Manager, Shayne Nicholls, sat down with Ben and SRV Roadfreight Services CEO, Errol Cosgrove, to run through the entire product and answer his questions. From there, Ben says they all agreed that they would go through the journey together.
“Vawdrey has been a big part of our business for over 15 years now,” he says. “We don’t look anywhere else. Vawdrey is a family-owned business and we like to align ourselves with partners that have the same values as us.”
SRV Roadfreight Services has been trialling the Auto Drive Titeliner on a new Vawdrey Performance-Based Standards (PBS) 36-pallet B-double curtainsider which travels the eastern seaboard carrying drinks and food grade products. Increased safety and efficiency have been the biggest benefits seen so far.
“We’ve only just started trialling Vawdrey’s Auto Drive Titeliner but the proof is already in the pudding,” Ben says. “The system has helped with our loading processes because our driver doesn’t have to be right next to the trailer to move the curtains. He has told us that he’s not getting any strain on his upper body, shoulders or back from pulling curtains, so the advantages of the system have carried over to the safety aspect as well.”
The effortless operation of the Auto Driver Titeliner is the main driver behind its promised advantages. Operators simply have to press a button at the front or rear of the trailer for the curtain to automatically slide from one end to the other. By removing the need for curtains to be opened and closed manually, it improves work conditions significantly by reducing the chances of injuries – as seen at SRV Roadfreight Services.
The Auto Drive Titeliner features a motor which drives along the roof rail of the curtainsider trailer that is suitable for a wide range of curtains (including Vawdrey’s load restraint Super-Strap curtain, buckle-less load rated curtain, LatchLiner curtain system and standard welded strap and loose sleeve curtains). It is also suitable for drop deck and double drop deck chassis trailers as well as different-sized curtains. The system features wireless remotes for connecting and charging docks, meaning that when the curtain system is parked and the curtain has tension, the drive motors can charge and travel backwards and forwards along the trailer multiple times. With a battery system fitted to the trailer in addition to the solar panel on the trailer roof, it can also be connected to the park light circuit for charging, negating the need for ancillary power systems.
Within its trial at SRV Roadfreight Services, the Vawdrey Auto Drive Titeliner has also improved productivity.
“Our unit has reduced loading and unloading times significantly,” Ben says. “We just have to push the button for the curtains to move. We no longer need a driver to be next to the trailer, and the forklift driver doesn’t have to wait for him to get out of the way and back into the safety zone anymore.”
SRV Roadfreight Services is planning to further invest in the Auto Drive Titeliner product based on the promising results seen so far. Ben says this will include specifying it on new equipment as well as retrofitting it across an existing fleet of over 100 Vawdrey B-doubles.
“Vawdrey’s Auto Drive Titeliner product is a new innovation that is progressing the industry forwards,” he says. “I think we’re going to see less injuries and complaints from drivers going forward because it’s a solution that will make the process of loading and unloading trailers safer and easier.”
