Triple H Contracting owner, Manuel Hall, is a second-generation logging contractor with knowledge of the industry spanning almost three decades. The arrival of the new T659 8×4 and quad dog incidentally coincided with the tenth anniversary of Triple H Contracting‘s formation. 

Manuel began working for his father Ken‘s logging business in the mid-80s while still at school. However, by 2007 Manuel decided it was time to branch out on his own and he entered the contracting game, specialising in the harvesting of Tasmanian hardwood and softwood plantations. Starting with just himself and one employee they worked long days to make ends meet, but over the next four years another harvester and excavator was added, complete with a new crew to operate them. Persistence, good old-fashioned service, and the skills he‘d learnt and honed from his father‘s mentoring in those informative years, paid off when Triple H Contracting was awarded a contract with Timberland Pacific a short time later.

Photo: Manuel Hall. Went out on his own in 2007, and with hard work and commitment he hasn‘t looked back.

This year Triple H Contracting will harvest in excess of 250,000 tonne of products and transport over 90,000 tonne of processed logs with their own trucks and engage subcontractors to pick up the remainder.

“ We chose the Kenworth T659 8×4 because they‘re renowned for their reliability,” Manuel said. “Especially in the steep rugged north of the state. Sit outside any of the log yards at Bell Bay for half an hour or more and you soon realise just how popular these T659 8×4 models are for this type of work as nearly every third log truck arriving will be one.

“ There are several advantages that a T659 8×4 with a quad dog has over a conventional semi or B-double,” Manuel continued. “Firstly, their extremely light combination tare of 20.5 tonne. We get a 41.5 tonne payload on this configuration, with a gross combination mass of 62 tonne. Compare that with a B-double and there is virtually no gain in terms of payload.

“Furthermore, with a B-double you have additional registration and insurance costs for the second trailer,” he said. “On top of that you have the added challenge of finding drivers with multicombination licences. It‘s far easier to get HC drivers than MC drivers and training costs are much cheaper. They can virtually go anywhere too, although in some areas we might get our combination weight lowered due to aging bridges with load limits on a specific route, but for the most part they ‘re loaded to the maximum weight with general access.

Photo: Driver Joe Davis sets up the ExTE auto-tensioner.

“ The advantage of the self-loading Kennedy quad dog when it is folded up on the back of the T659 8×4 is it keeps weight on the drive wheels for the run up to the landing where we load the logs,” Manuel said. “ That way we have good traction and the empty trailer is not getting shaken to bits on the rough bush tracks. It also makes manoeuvring around the landing area much easier and safer prior to loading. Importantly there is much less wear on the trailer tyres and brakes as they‘re only traveling half the distance compared with the truck.”

The Kennedy quad dog also has ExTe auto tensioning load binders and BPW Trailer Electronic Braking System with the Trailer Roll Stability System.

“ WE‘RE CURRENTLY SPECIFYING our new trailers now with the EBS and BPW brake technology which I believe has contributed greatly to the elimination of both avoidable accidents and roll-overs over the past five years,” Manuel said. “I‘d recommend them to any operator who has any high centre of gravity loads, like logs, or dynamic moving load issues. “ The ExTe auto load binders operate from the truck‘s existing air system, making the task of load restraint simpler and safer,” Manuel said. “ The truck‘s air pressure does all the hard work, quickly tensioning load binder straps once activated, then continually applying post tension to the load while it is in transit.”

Photo: Having the trailer up helps get them back to the loading sites in the steep country.

It eliminates the use of cheater bars on ratchet handles and there is no need to stop and re-tension straps a few kilometres down the road. The straps are just kept tight all the time. The TU model features a symmetrical design, easy change from left-handed to right-handed operation, and an easy release function. Different strap widths, lengths or even combination with chain can all be accommodated, maintaining up to 1000 kg of pre-tension on the load.

“It‘s a guaranteed, measured tension that is consistent every load, which means load restraint is not governed by the driver‘s strength,” he added.

The T659 is also equipped with a locally sourced AIR-CTI central tyre inflation system.

“I specified central tyre inflation on the drive of the T659 for a number of reasons. Firstly to reduce tyre wear, but it also improves traction and gives a far better ride when the truck is empty, which reduces the wear and tear on both the truck and trailer.”

Photo: Very reminiscent of home.

Driver Joe Davis said the ride, comfort and handling of the Kenworth T659 8×4 was exceptionally good. “ The steering lock is very good for a truck this size,” Joe said. “ The finish of the Kenworth really puts them in a class of their own. For this type of work, they ‘re really the only choice if you‘re serious about getting a good return on your investment.” It‘s only early days for the big red Cummins ISXe5 under the hood, but so far both Manuel and Joe are pleased with the performance and economy. “ The Cummins is really going well,” Manuel said. “I‘m sure it will get better as it loosens up too.”

We left the last words to Manuel: “ When you consider we‘re getting almost an equivalent payload to a tri-tri B-double with fewer axles, trailer and registration, this combination just makes good business sense.”