CMV Truck & Bus Albury/Wodonga have partnered with Alpine Truss for several years, supplying them with hard-working Mack Trucks.
This valued partnership resulted from an event that led the truss and wall frame business to need a reliable transport solution and start their own fleet.
Alpine Truss was originally formed in 2002 when George Prothero decided to take the risk and start his own business in Wangaratta, joined by three others from his previous workplace.
This risk paid off with the business now employing 130 staff, at a modern manufacturing plant spanning 6,000m2, located on seven acres.
The business originally relied on the contract transporters, but this was not to last.
“I had a transport contractor ring me one Christmas Eve to tell me he’d had enough and didn’t want our work anymore because he couldn’t find capable drivers,” says George.
With only a few weeks to organise transport over the Christmas break, George and his team took matters into their own hands.
“I had a few mates in the industry who lent me their trucks,” recalls George. “We all went and got licences, including myself, the production manager and the operations manager.”
George and the team were not in the market for a new truck, however, after a CMV Truck & Bus Albury/Wodonga Mack Sales Consultant visited the business with a new Mack Trident, George was sold.
“Within 24 hours I’d placed an order and I haven’t looked at anything other than Mack since, and I’ve probably bought 20 Tridents in all,” says George. “They’ve looked after me through good and bad times. The trucks do the job nicely and because we’ve got the big cranes on them, they handle the weight.”
Our team worked with the engineers at Mack Trucks Australia’s factory in Wacol, Queensland to configure the best axle weight distribution in relation to the crane, ensuring Alpine Truss’ Mack’s were specifically tailored to their applications.
Having the best trucks in the industry has its benefits.
“We bling them up and I do it for the drivers. My truck drivers are my sales reps,” says George. “They go on site and have to be our sales people. Basically, if I am going to get and keep good drivers, I need to have good equipment.”
Alpine Truss’ fleet now stands at 16 prime movers and 28 trailers, including three Mack 100 Year Anniversary models, and more recently, a Mack Anthem.
This Mack Anthem was the first in Australia to be fitted with a crane and was also optioned with eight bag air rear suspension and square fuel tanks.
The impressive Bendix Wingman Fusion Safety system that comes as standard on Mack Anthems are definitely of use to George and the team, who also options this when ordering new Tridents.
George’s fleet have proven Mack to be quality, reliable trucks, as Mack Trucks that are retired from Alpine Truss’ fleet often go on to continue work at in George’s son’s business, if not sold to others.
“They work well and we’ve not had a bad experience,” he says. “That’s what it’s all about. We could buy cheaper trucks but again, are we going to get the service we get now? I have people call me and ask if I have any trucks for sale because they know they’re good trucks and we look after them.”
Alpine Truss employs two staff mechanics who maintain the fleet with minor services, while our team at Albury/Wodonga look after the major services.
With up to 80 truss and frame fabricators in the Melbourne area alone, the truss manufacturer market is extremely competitive.
Despite this, Alpine Truss is considered as one of the industry’s leaders in Victoria, with the business covering all of northeast Victoria, southern NSW, and up to Canberra and Mildura.
The team at CMV Truck & Bus Albury/Wodonga are thrilled to have been able to support George and the Alpine Truss team through the businesses growth since their first truck delivery in 2007, and we look forward to continuing to work together well into the future.