Patrick:
In the 80s the really heavy work dried up, so a lot of the former competitors teamed up, resulting in one big group with a lot of equipment and experience. But why they’re all gone now beats me, you’ve worked for Econofreight, do you know what happened in the end?
Can’t answer your question, as I said, too long out of the loop, but I reckon the best answer to it will come from Rikki.
Perhaps some of the answers are in the shape of Wynn’s and Sunter’s both family firms going way back, not the case with Econofreight who started life as part of Tarmac I think. I seem to remember the Tarmac logo on cab doors.
As to the little known, or unknown, to me in the business now, it is not as if they are operating on the margins of safety overloading where they really shouldn’t. Many of the ones I was referring to have correct multi-axle equipment so big money has been put in and has to be paid for. My old mate’s son, ably publicised by our friend from ■■■■■■■ ( ), I do not consider in this category as there is obviously a well founded and maintained fleet there. But there are so many now with one photo on these pages, and no more. Of course, and I keep coming back to it, I have been away a long time, or perhaps they are one vehicle operations? Just wondering.
The very short answer (there a lot more detail) But Econofreight was sold along with Lastra to Brambles who promised to invest and grow the business but they really had no idea of what we did, they spent a fortune on a flash new HQ in Thornaby but never invested in the equipment While ALE and Mammoet where upgrading their fleet we were standing still, and losing work as losses mounted Brambles started asset stripping Econofreight selling off every thing under 80 tonne to Sarens/GE Curtis (which is when I got TUPED Over to Sarens) then Brambles just stopped trying and sold what was left to ALE - Brambles just didn’t understand the industry and the reputation of Econofreight all they saw was the bottom line
Patrick:
In the 80s the really heavy work dried up, so a lot of the former competitors teamed up, resulting in one big group with a lot of equipment and experience. But why they’re all gone now beats me, you’ve worked for Econofreight, do you know what happened in the end?
Can’t answer your question, as I said, too long out of the loop, but I reckon the best answer to it will come from Rikki.
Perhaps some of the answers are in the shape of Wynn’s and Sunter’s both family firms going way back, not the case with Econofreight who started life as part of Tarmac I think. I seem to remember the Tarmac logo on cab doors.
As to the little known, or unknown, to me in the business now, it is not as if they are operating on the margins of safety overloading where they really shouldn’t. Many of the ones I was referring to have correct multi-axle equipment so big money has been put in and has to be paid for. My old mate’s son, ably publicised by our friend from ■■■■■■■ ( ), I do not consider in this category as there is obviously a well founded and maintained fleet there. But there are so many now with one photo on these pages, and no more. Of course, and I keep coming back to it, I have been away a long time, or perhaps they are one vehicle operations? Just wondering.
The very short answer (there a lot more detail) But Econofreight was sold along with Lastra to Brambles who promised to invest and grow the business but they really had no idea of what we did, they spent a fortune on a flash new HQ in Thornaby but never invested in the equipment While ALE and Mammoet where upgrading their fleet we were standing still, and losing work as losses mounted Brambles started asset stripping Econofreight selling off every thing under 80 tonne to Sarens/GE Curtis (which is when I got TUPED Over to Sarens) then Brambles just stopped trying and sold what was left to ALE - Brambles just didn’t understand the industry and the reputation of Econofreight all they saw was the bottom line
Very interesting that Rikki, thank you, but strange because, although I wasn’t involved with them in Australia, I always thought that Heavy Haulage was their core business there. Maybe I’m wrong and one of our southern colleagues will put me right.
Patrick:
In the 80s the really heavy work dried up, so a lot of the former competitors teamed up, resulting in one big group with a lot of equipment and experience. But why they’re all gone now beats me, you’ve worked for Econofreight, do you know what happened in the end?
Can’t answer your question, as I said, too long out of the loop, but I reckon the best answer to it will come from Rikki.
Perhaps some of the answers are in the shape of Wynn’s and Sunter’s both family firms going way back, not the case with Econofreight who started life as part of Tarmac I think. I seem to remember the Tarmac logo on cab doors.
As to the little known, or unknown, to me in the business now, it is not as if they are operating on the margins of safety overloading where they really shouldn’t. Many of the ones I was referring to have correct multi-axle equipment so big money has been put in and has to be paid for. My old mate’s son, ably publicised by our friend from ■■■■■■■ ( ), I do not consider in this category as there is obviously a well founded and maintained fleet there. But there are so many now with one photo on these pages, and no more. Of course, and I keep coming back to it, I have been away a long time, or perhaps they are one vehicle operations? Just wondering.
The very short answer (there a lot more detail) But Econofreight was sold along with Lastra to Brambles who promised to invest and grow the business but they really had no idea of what we did, they spent a fortune on a flash new HQ in Thornaby but never invested in the equipment While ALE and Mammoet where upgrading their fleet we were standing still, and losing work as losses mounted Brambles started asset stripping Econofreight selling off every thing under 80 tonne to Sarens/GE Curtis (which is when I got TUPED Over to Sarens) then Brambles just stopped trying and sold what was left to ALE - Brambles just didn’t understand the industry and the reputation of Econofreight all they saw was the bottom line
Very interesting that Rikki, thank you, but strange because, although I wasn’t involved with them in Australia, I always thought that Heavy Haulage was their core business there. Maybe I’m wrong and one of our southern colleagues will put me right.
Fascinating SDU, and not a single mention of heavy haulage.
Where I got the notion from that they were major players in the sector I have no idea. My only connection with them was my troll down Burrows road (I think) Alexandria. That was the Sydney suburb and street where the majority of all the transport companies had their premises and I called in every one to find a complete blank as far as a job was concerned. (Apart from the previously mentioned owner driver searching for a co-driver and sitting in the tiny cab of his Oshkosh having a brew )
It was then that I started my trek north to find employment first in the cane fields before my time with the Main Roads Department and finally self-employment as a horse gambler.
This is a late 1972 registration so I guess this must have been one of the first Marathons sold.
Is it a LHD? Looks like the steering wheel on the right hand side of the picture but could be a optical illusion.
Yes it was LHD. It was a prototype pre-production model with 6x4 config. It had a ■■■■■■■ NTC 335 engine which the production models didn’t have and this was connected to a 9-sp Fuller which production model did have. Astran ran it down to the Middle-East and ran into all sorts of problems with it as it hadn’t been properly prepared for the work (quelle surprise!). Nonetheless it did enjoy some success on heavy haulage.
This is a late 1972 registration so I guess this must have been one of the first Marathons sold.
Is it a LHD? Looks like the steering wheel on the right hand side of the picture but could be a optical illusion.
Yes it was LHD. It was a prototype pre-production model with 6x4 config. It had a ■■■■■■■ NTC 335 engine which the production models didn’t have and this was connected to a 9-sp Fuller which production model did have. Astran ran it down to the Middle-East and ran into all sorts of problems with it as it hadn’t been properly prepared for the work (quelle surprise!). Nonetheless it did enjoy some success on heavy haulage.
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Thanks for the confirmation. From memory the Marathon had a ridiculously small steering wheel so it was hard to tell.
), I do not consider in this category as there is obviously a well founded and maintained fleet there. But there are so many now with one photo on these pages, and no more. Of course, and I keep coming back to it, I have been away a long time, or perhaps they are one vehicle operations? Just wondering.
