It was 75 years ago that the first Freighter trailer rolled onto Australian roads. Today supplied by Australian manufacturer MaxiTRANS, the Freighter’s success is built on the loyalty of customers such as South Australia-based Symons Clark Logistics, managed by brothers David and Ricky Clark.
“Freighter has never given me any grief in 25 years,” says David. “They have always accommodated in helping me achieve what I wish to achieve with my business needs. The quality that Freighter makes and the durability of these trailers is very good.”
Symons Clark is one of the oldest transport and logistics businesses in South Australia, with its roots dating all the way back to 1875. With a fleet of over 90 trucks and 176 trailers, the business provides transport, bulk haulage, container services, warehousing and distribution and equipment hire across the South Australian market, along with transport services to major cities along the east coast.
“The majority of our trailers are from MaxiTRANS, made up of Freighter, Hamelex White and Lusty EMS units,” David says. “Our first trailer was a 40-foot tri-axle Freighter trailer and we continued to buy the same model for some years to cart shipping containers. Once B-Doubles came in the market, we started buying those sets and now we buy Road Trains and AB-triples. We have ordered three new Stag sets of B-doubles from MaxiTRANS that are coming later this year.
Most of Symons Clark’s trailers and equipment are standard models, but it does have some custom-built Freighters with features such as longer tipper bodies on the A-trailers, tri-axle tipper racks, and a custom-built Sliding Tipping Skel bought around seven years ago and still in use.
“The design of Freighter trailers is 100% productive,” David adds. “Our trailers are in use every day, they do a lot of work but they don’t wear out. They are very robust and a very good product. Since the initial days of our link with Freighter, we have not had any problem with their sales or customer service.
“I go with quality, experience and service and how people look after my business so I’m not one to change. I’m a bit of a creature of habit and when I know I’m being looked after, I’m totally committed. That’s what draws me to Freighter. They look after me.”