Without Trucks, Australia Stops – so goes the saying that you’ve probably spotted on more than one truck hauling goods up and down this nation’s highways.

The heavy vehicle industry plays a vital part in Australia’s economy, no doubt, and every couple of years, Brisbane becomes the epicentre of that industry when it hosts the Brisbane Truck Show – part of an umbrella event called Australian Heavy Vehicle Industry Week which comprises a myriad of other activities including conferences, product launches and parallel shows such as the new Civil Construction Field Days heavy equipment and machinery show.

Organised by the Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA), the highlight is the Truck Show, which takes over the cavernous Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre for four days during May. If you are in the trucking business or just keen to get a close-up look at some of the amazing machines and associated equipment the heavy vehicle industry uses, it is an absolute must-visit event.

This year, as it always does, the Truck Show attracted tens of thousands of visitors, and there were some 300 displays to keep things interesting. Amongst the highlights in the main showroom of the convention centre were trucks from some of the world’s top manufacturers, including Daimler, Kenworth, Iveco, Western Star, and DAF. Also present were many component manufacturers including ZF, Meritor, Detroit Diesel, Dana, and Hendrickson, as well as tyremakers such as Goodyear and Bridgestone.

Notable this year was the large display from SEA Electric, the Australian battery-electric truckmaker which has been much in the news of late with the launch of its SEA 300 and SEA 500 models, powered by its SEA-Drive power system.

On the fringes of the main truck exhibition site was the South Bank Truck festival – which saw the streets around Brisbane’s South Bank cultural and entertainment precinct become the place for the community to connect with the industry and view some incredible trucks.

South Bank was also the location for the Jobs Hub – an area set-up to showcase the diverse and rewarding careers that are possible in the heavy vehicle sector.

This is where the MTA Institute – a regular at the Truck Show – set up shop this time around, and with more than 1000 students from 42 Brisbane schools signed-up to attend the Hub it was a busy time for MTA Queensland’s Senior Business Development Manager and his team.

“The Jobs Hub enables students to come in and get an idea of what’s available for them in this industry and the wider automotive industry,” said Anthony. “The MTA Institute is a registered training organisation, and the Truck Show is a good opportunity for us to showcase what we do. And we are here to support them, share information, and give some awareness where a career in the industry can take them.

“We are proud to be part of the education journey for apprentices of today and future generations of tradespeople and we cater for all automotive trade training – from light vehicle motor mechanics right through to heavy vehicle, mobile plant and agricultural.

“The Queensland industry thrives on transportation and mobility and we’re very much part of that.”

Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (June 2021)

10 June 2021