Bigger truck boosts productivity for tree lopper

Date: 15.08.2023

More time on site and less time spent driving backwards and forwards to offload plant waste has proved to be a productivity booster for the team at Treesafe Environmental Services in Queensland

After 17 years in the business of maintaining and removing trees for homeowners and schools around South East Queensland, Treesafe Environmental Services knows what it needs in a truck.

When the business’ director Sam Docker went looking for a bigger option for his business in 2022 he settled on an Isuzu FXZ 240-350 6×4 due to its size and ability to haul a FWR Tandem Axle Tag Trailer.

The FXZ 240-350 is also equipped with Isuzu’s 6UZ1-TCC engine with 257 kW (350PS) @ 2,000 rpm and 1,422 Nm of torque @ 1,400 rpm.

It’s configuration is perfect for pulling loads of tree and plant matter it’s been set up handle the most arduous of towing jobs, which often includes Treesafe’s nine-tonne Morbark woodchipper.

“We specialise in tree maintenance, tree removal and pruning, and our business approach is similar to a commercial set up, but our clients are the ‘mums and dads’ market, so doing arboriculture work on folk’s properties, keeping their homes safe,” Docker says.

“We also do medium-scale land clearing, and workplace health and safety compliance for trees and plants on school grounds.”

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The new truck joins another Isuzu in the fleet, an FVR purchased in 2007 from Blake Montgomery at Sutton Motors Arncliffe.

“The FVR has really put in the hard yards, we still use it every day,” he says.

“But depending on the size of the job, the team can be allocated between one to four jobs per day, so having the ability to load up with a bigger truck makes the day that more efficient.

“The FXZ was bought to tow capital equipment for us; we even had the gearbox specifically recalibrated by the dealership.

Sam Docker with the businesses’ newest truck

“We specified the model with the bogey axle so we could tow our new eight-tonne excavator and also load a five-tonne excavator on it as well.”

Sam said the newest edition to Treesafe’s fleet is admirably fit for purpose, having travelled over 20,000 kilometres since being collected from Suttons Motors in August 2022, supporting the team for jobs six days a week.

“The team will be at the depot early in the morning, they’ll set the gear up and then they’ll drive to the first job site… the days are always packed with carrying out tree maintenance and arboriculture work.

“My drivers appreciate the addition of the FXZ truck and say the ride is very smooth considering the power behind it.

“We’re also pleased that to find it’s got good fuel consumption and overall, it’s a cost-effective truck to run.”

Less trips to the tip are required when you have so much storage to work with

On the service side, Docker uses Brisbane Isuzu at Archerfield.

“We always get our trucks serviced with Brisbane Isuzu and a big plus point for us is being able to access 24-hour servicing,” he says.

“Being on the road six days a week, we can’t afford downtime, so Brisbane Isuzu services our trucks overnight.

“Planning our services in advance is critical to the smooth running of the business as our jobs are booked out in advance by two or three months, minimum.”

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https://www.tradetrucks.com.au/product-news/2308/bigger-truck-boosts-productivity-for-tree-lopper/