Aeolus Truck & Driver News

Port of Auckland (POAL) will hike its Vehicle Booking System (VBS) prices from the beginning of next year, adding further cost pressures for New Zealand importers and exporters as well as transport operators servicing the port.

The National Road Carriers (NRC) says the 59% increase in VBS prices are part of an escalation of costs which are threatening the viability of many carriers, who are unable to pass on the higher costs until contracts can be renegotiated.

“While VBS charges are eventually paid for by cargo importers and exporters, the challenge for transport operators is they are forced carry the costs in the interim, while contracts are renegotiated, o...

Australia’s mining sector is playing a lead role in the development of autonomous heavy-duty transport solutions.

Mineral Resources (MinRes) recently announced plans to deploy a fleet of 120 fully autonomous road trains equipped with an autonomous haulage solution provided by specialists Hexagon AB.

The world’s first fully autonomous road trains have been designed and developed for MinRes’ flagship Onslow Iron project in Western Australia.

The vehicles combine technological expertise from Hexagon’s Autonomous Solutions with MinRes’ operational knowledge. They promise benefits including removing the risk of driver fatigue, increasing fleet availability, ...

The trucking industry gathered at Rotorua’s Energy Events Centre on Friday September 8 to celebrate a half century of achievement by leading trailer manufacturer Patchell Industries.

The black tie function was attended by nearly 400 guests and had been in the planning process for a year. Guests included suppliers, customers, staff and former staff who travelled to Rotorua from around the country. One customer made the trip from Sydney to attend the celebration.

At the entry to the Events Centre guests were greeted by a display of the full range of Patchell logging, skeletal, tanker and Swinglift trailer products. 

The timing for the celebration is ...

Australia’s first zero-emission emergency service vehicle was launched with plenty of fanfare at the recent Australasian Fire and Authorities (AFAC) conference in Brisbane.

Based on a Volvo FL Electric, the new truck is set to join the ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) fleet in Canberra. 

The pioneering EV build is the work of Lower Hutt’s Fraser Fire and Rescue, part of Fraser Engineering which has played a leading role as a fire engine manufacturer since it purchased Hutt Valley-based Lowes Industries in 2000.

Fraser Engineering has more than 1000 of its fire appliances working in the New Zealand Fire Service as well as in South Australia, ACT,...

Ford Trucks and Canada’s Ballard Power Systems are collaborating to develop a hydrogen fuel cell powered truck based on the award-winning Ford Trucks F-MAX model.

The companies have signed a letter of intent for two of Ballard’s FCmove-XD 120kW fuel cells to be used during prototype truck development.

Ford Trucks, the global brand of Turkey-based Ford Otosan, plans to integrate the fuel cells into the F-MAX 44-tonne long-haul tractor truck. The development will be done in Turkey with the aim to begin European Ten-T corridor demonstrations in 2025 as part of the European Union’s Horizon Europe ZEFES (Zero Emission Freight EcoSystem) project goals.

In the...