Australasian trailermaker maxitrans has completed the delivery of its biggest-ever single order – for 386 trailers.

The $AUS60million deal has seen the company build the fleet of Maxi-CUBE and Freighter trailers for Coles Supermarkets.

MaxiTRANS MD and CEO Dean Jenkins says that the Coles order has highlighted the company's "unique capability and competency to fulfil large orders" – and its ongoing ability to support its trailers with its after-sales service and parts.

Even with the completion of the huge order, MaxiTRANS says that it remains very busy and has "a pipeline of new orders being received daily."

And in the wake of the giant order, Jenkins points out that "for over 70 years we have prided ourselves on the fact that small fleets and owner operators from around the country have come to MaxiTRANS for their trailer and rigid body products.

"They are the backbone of our business and their ongoing support shows that we are exceeding their expectations."

In addition to this traditional core base, the company says it's received other large, new orders from some of Australia's leading private and national fleets.

The company announced an R&D collaboration with two Australian universities late last year, and Jenkins says it is "beginning to make inroads into the future of trailing equipment…..pushing the boundaries of trailer design and construction in order to maximise efficiency, safety and environmental sustainability."

The collaboration will, he says, allow the partners "to ascertain what transport and the next generation of trailers will look like in the future."