Double Coin Imaging Awards

A T909 Kenworth is a staunch looking truck to begin with, but combined with the team at Klos Custom Trucks, this T909, which is called Talk Dirty, is now one of the coolest trucks in the country.

Owner, Austin Clements and driver Miles Jensen, have ticked all the boxes and then some when it comes to this truck.

Austin Clements began his transport journey in 1990 with a partnership in log transport which he later transitioned into a sole ownership in 1998. This led to the establishment of Austin Clements (1998) Ltd. After shifting away from log transport in 2010 to pursue civil construction, Austin successfully built a reputable civil works business, employing over 20 people.

In 2019, after selling the civil construction company, he retained one truck for transporting metal. It very quickly became apparent that Austin would need more than one truck to keep up with clients requirements.

This sparked the creation of ACM (Austin Clements Metals), and the business grew rapidly, expanding from one truck to a fleet of 15 in a short time. With the increasing demand, Austin brought Daniel Dodd on board to manage operations. In 2022, Austin sold ACM to his son, Reece Clements, Daniel Dodd, and Tom Yule allowing the company to continue growing under new leadership.

Reflecting on past ventures and opportunities, Austin returned to Austin Clements (1998) Ltd to focus on transporting machinery to support the growth of the quarries and aggregate supplies. The demand for transporting crushers, loaders, and excavators grew, especially following the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023.

During this period AC98 played a crucial role in transporting earthmoving equipment for roading repairs and silt removal in Hawkes Bay. To meet these urgent requirements, Austin expanded his team and decided to order a new truck, with the input of his transporter driver, Miles Jensen.

Rolling off the factory floor this Kenworth T909 is powered by the Cummins X15 which produces 600hp and 2050 ft-lbs of torque.

Driver Miles Jensen will no doubt enjoy the Eaton-Fuller RTLO22918B 18-speed manual transmission and being heavy haulage rated with 109,000 kg GCM and Meritor axles all round on Kenworth AG460 steel pedestal suspension, the truck will be well set up for doing its fair share of heavy loads in and out of the hilly terrain and quarries in the North Island.

While the truck is set up for rugged work, the interior has a classy look with charcoal trim upholstery in the cab which continues into the 760mm mid-roof sleeper. Dual air seats have been fitted for both driver and passenger comfort and other extras like touchscreen audio, GPS, camera, MP3 radio, and speakers and a sliding door fridge are included.

Before the Kenworth left Australia the team at Klos Custom Trucks in Geelong put their special touches on Talk Dirty. Brothers Justin and Turk Klos believe that true artistry lies in the details. The team at Klos can take a standard truck and working with their customers vision to create a showstopping ride.

Work carried out by Klos Custom Trucks included stainless guards, stainless wrapped fuel tanks, painted chassis covers, a drop visor and 8-inch straight stacks. There’s also under cab blue lighting, custom rectangular headlights, grille mesh and bars, a gear lever extension with Austin Clements custom surround and internal cab lighting.

Once finished, the Kenworth was shipped to Auckland, New Zealand, where Ideal Services Ltd fitted a 90mm fixed compensating fifth wheel and trailer hydraulics with a remote control.

Miles will tow an MTE trailer with the T909 alternating between trailer only, dolly and trailer etc to cater to all sizes and weights.

At the heart of the AC98 business is the “Say Yes” philosophy, which is ingrained in the company’s culture. This philosophy emphasises offering solutions, maintaining a positive service attitude, and prioritising customer satisfaction. The commitment to a “Say Yes” approach ensures that clients always feel valued, with a team that is hired for attitude and trained for skills.

Miles Jensen and Talk Dirty are set to take this philosophy to new heights, continuing AC98’s legacy of exceptional service.