Source: www.kenworth.com.au

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Allan Clark is king of the road in his T904

Pic caption - Allan Clarke and daughters with their growing fleet of Kenworths

Allan Clark has driven all manner of trucks over the past 20 years. So when he was ready to go solo, he knew which brand to buy. The one he idolized as a child – Kenworth.

Over the past five years, Melbourne-based A&T Clark & Daughters has grown from an owner-operator to an expanding sub-contracting firm for Kalari Transport, employing several drivers for daily interstate runs.

The one thing that hasn’t changed is Allan’s choice in trucks. He started his business in 2002 with a brand new Kenworth T604, and within a couple of years had clocked up 1.3 million kilometres. In the following years he added a T650 and a T404SAR to his Kenworth stable. His latest acquisition is a new T904, with two more on order.

The company’s B-Double prime movers haul powdered feldspar, used in the making of glass, as well as vinyl powder for making PVC pipes. The raw materials are carted to silos in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane.

“I plan to replace my older Kenworths with new T904s and eventually have a fleet of them,” Allan said. “Kenworth has proved to be the best brand for this application, and the T904 is the best model for my business.”

One of Kenworth’s most popular vehicles, the T904 is designed to handle the most demanding operating conditions on and off highway, from harvested timber to livestock, whether pulling a single trailer or a triple road train.

“The T904 is an excellent, heavy-duty truck that is not only tough but very comfortable to drive on long hauls. Like all Kenworths, it’s engineered to be powerful, durable and reliable. And it’s surprisingly light for such a robust rig. All of these features benefit my bottom line,” Allan explained.

A&T Clark’s T904 is rated to 90 tonnes. It is powered by a Cummins Signature engine, producing 525 hp and 1850 lb/ft of torque. It features the latest 18-speed Eaton AutoShift 20918AS3 ‘Cobra Shift’ T-bar transmission, Meritor RT46 160 rear axles, Kenworth Airglide 460 suspension as well as a 36-inch Aero sleeper.

In addition, Allan has fitted an LPG induction system. Designed by CSMU in Newcastle, the system feeds the engine with a mixture of 80 per cent diesel and 20 per cent gas and air. According to Allan, it provides a significant improvement in horsepower, fuel economy and reduced emissions.

“I converted the T650 12 months ago and the T604 six months ago. When I was using standard diesel, my fuel usage averaged 1.5 km per litre. With the LPG system, my trucks get around 1.73 km per litre. That saves me about $2000 per truck, per month. Also, because it’s a diesel-LPG blend, I actually gain about 50 horsepower, and there’s the added benefits to the environment. The gas effectively burns the unburnt diesel which is ordinarily emitted in the exhaust,” Allan explained.

“The system pays for itself in a matter of months and provides added economy and performance for years – not to mention being a more environmentally friendly form of transport.”

Allan purchases his vehicles from PACCAR Trucks Melbourne. He says Kenworth’s dealer network plays a vital role in his business.

“That’s the great thing about a Kenworth. You can sit down with your dealer and build a truck to suit your specific needs. That’s what I did with the T904. We basically put together the truck on paper – all the things I needed to operate my business as efficiently as possible. No one else can offer that service,” he said.

“For me, the T904 is king of the road – it’s very impressive in looks and performance, and has a larger cooling capacity than most other models which is critical for heavy-haulage.

“It all boils down to one thing – reliability. My trucks have to haul heavy loads over long distances – day after day, year after year. If they’re on the road and running, they’re going to be making me money, not costing me money. That’s why I started buying Kenworths and that’s why I will only buy Kenworths. I’ve tried the rest and I prefer the best,” Allan added.

The T904 is available with a range of options, including Caterpillar and Cummins engines, delivering up to 620 horsepower with 2050 lb/ft of torque. It provides an outstanding cooling capacity tested to meet the requirements of ambient temperatures of up to 50¢ªC at 24 kmph under full load – a far higher requirement than for North American or European operations. This makes it the perfect choice for demanding applications, such as those undertaken by A&T Clark & Daughters.

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 worldwide manufacturer of heavy and medium duty trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt, and DAF nameplates. It also provides financial services and distributes truck parts related to its principal business. 

For further information:

Neil Willox

Marketing Manager

PACCAR Australia

Tel: (03) 9721 1500

Media Contact: Neil Willox ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Source: www.kenworth.com.au