Rodney's Transport Service (RTS) - the largest privately-owned trucking firm in NSW's Riverina region - took possession of its 200th Kenworth this week.

PACCAR Australia's senior management met with Managing Director, Peter Rodney, at RTS' headquarters in Wagga Wagga to officially hand over his 200th Kenworth, a K200 cab-over, which was one of seven delivered to the firm.

The milestone follows another significant event for the two companies. RTS purchased Kenworth's 50,000th Australian-manufactured, heavy-duty truck which rolled off the production line in July 2013.

"This is an important event for Rodney's Transport Service and for everyone at PACCAR Australia - from the factory and other divisions of the company to the nationwide dealer network which supports it," PACCAR Australia's Managing Director, Mike Dozier, said at the official hand-over.

"There aren't many operators in Australia who reach this milestone, purchasing 200 Kenworths. In fact, there aren't many operators who will ever own 200 trucks in their business life. RTS joins a rare club of high-achieving transport companies. It's most gratifying to have played a part in the company's growth over the years and its ongoing success," he added.

"This is a very proud moment. It's a milestone I never thought we'd achieve," Mr Rodney said at the ceremony. "Our continuing success is a team effort by all of the employees at Rodney's. It's also the result of a close and long-standing relationship with PACCAR Australia, its dealers and the consistent performance of the Kenworth product. Put simply, Kenworth trucks are the driving force behind our business."

Kenworth's only cab-over - the K200 - is Australia's best-selling heavy-duty truck model. A versatile workhorse, it can manage a range of applications, including interstate line haul up to 26m B-double and B-triple combinations. RTS' seven new trucks join 27 other K200s in its interstate general freight division, one of three burgeoning operations.

Founded in 1992 near Wagga Wagga, Rodney's Transport Service has grown from a small business running three trucks to a major regional transport organisation with two depots boasting large storage facilities for up to 100,000 pallets of stock and 20,000 tonnes of grain harvested from the Riverina.

The company operates a Kenworth fleet of 104 prime movers, employing various models for different duties. These include a large number of T909s, T609s, T409SARs, T359s and K200s. The trucks haul everything from general and container freight to industrial products, scrap metals and waste throughout the eastern states and South Australia. In addition, Kenworths transport livestock and a variety of agricultural products, including fertilizers, lime, gypsum and grain.

Rodney's purchases its Kenworths from award-winning PACCAR dealer, Twin City Truck Centre in Wodonga. Dealer Principal Chris Dziedzic says the company is a great ambassador for Kenworth trucks.

"RTS operates an impressive Kenworth fleet which handles a range of demanding applications in various parts of Australia. We are delighted to work with such a dynamic company and a true industry leader."

Mr Dozier said RTS' and PACCAR's long relationship had evolved into a partnership which benefited both companies and the industry as a whole.

"RTS contributes valuable feedback based on decades of operational experience. We have had honest and open communication with Peter Rodney since day one. It has helped make our products better and, consequently, his business more competitive. It's the epitome of how we conduct business with all of our customers," he said.

RTS' milestone K200 is configured as a 34-pallet B-double tautliner with a payload capacity of 40 tonnes. The prime mover will cart a variety of goods, from batteries and paper to various agricultural products, including salt. It will make interstate deliveries to Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, clocking up around 7,000 km a week.

The truck is powered by a Cummins 15-litre ISXe5 engine, producing 550 hp and 1850 lb/ft of torque. The engine utilises SCR exhaust after-treatment technology for emission reduction, which meets Euro 5 and Australian ADR 80/03 emissions regulations. It is equipped with an Eaton Fuller RTLO20918B 18-speed manual transmission, Meritor FG941 (6.6t) front axles and Meritor RT46-160GP rear axles (20.9t). It also features two 750-litre, long-range fuel tanks, 200-litre AdBlue tank, Kenworth Airglide 460 suspension and a 2.3-metre Aerodyne sleeper.

The cab-over is also fitted with Kenworth's Level 1 suite of Electronic Brake Safety Systems (EBSS) modules. This includes ABS, ATC (automatic traction control which prevents wheel spin under acceleration) and DTC (drag torque control which prevents the driving wheel from compression locking on slippery surfaces).

In addition to taking possession of seven K200s this week, Rodney's Transport Service has three more Kenworths on order - two T909s for transporting livestock and a T609 for hauling bulk grain.

Mr Rodney says Kenworth trucks offer significant advantages compared with other American-style and European brands he has tried over the years.

"We have now purchased over 200 new Kenworths, and we will continue to buy them every year because it's good for business. They are designed and manufactured in Australia to suit Australia's harsh environments and applications. And Kenworth builds trucks to our exact specifications and requirements. No other manufacturer can do that - and that makes all the difference.

"Kenworth trucks are more reliable, durable and cost effective to run. They can handle the hardest work, the longest hours and many years of service. It's no wonder our drivers love them. The trucks are tough but they're also safe and comfortable to operate, and they perform well under any conditions," he explained.

Mr Rodney says PACCAR's nationwide dealer network also plays an integral role in its operations. "Our trucks cover a lot of territory, so it's comforting to know that if they ever have a problem, there's a Kenworth dealer nearby. We are especially indebted to Twin City Truck Centre for maintaining our fleet. They have been a very attentive dealer who has gone the extra mile to ensure our vehicles continue to perform at peak efficiency," Mr Rodney added.

Kenworth trucks are designed and manufactured in Australia to meet the world's toughest applications. Kenworth, a division of PACCAR Australia, is market leader in heavy duty trucks in Australia. Its trucks are also exported to Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. PACCAR Inc, a Six Sigma company, is a global technology leader in the design, manufacture and customer support of high-quality light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF nameplates. PACCAR also designs and manufactures advanced diesel engines, provides financial services and information technology, and distributes truck parts related to its principal business.

Photo caption: Mike Dozier (left), Managing Director, PACCAR Australia, presents a gift to Peter Rodney (right), Managing Director of Rodney's Transport Service (RTS), at RTS' headquarters in Wagga Wagga to acknowledge their 200th Kenworth.

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