When International trucks became available once more in Australia, it sparked interest among previous owners looking to reacquaint themselves with the brand.
Such was the case for Narellan-based Attcall Civil Contractors, who had previously operated 9900 Eagles for its earthmoving, excavation and demolition business. Not surprisingly, when the new ProStar became available, Attcall owner and managing director, Clinton McKinnon was one of the first to place an order.
The ProStar Tipper and Dog was delivered last year and impressed so much that a second vehicle was ordered. Clinton said:
“It’s a great little truck, we’ve had no issues whatsoever with it, it’s fantastic to look at and to look out of – the visibility is excellent.”
“From an operational perspective it’s got big horsepower, a light tare weight, a great turning circle and the drivers adore it.”
The ProStar is powered by a 600 horsepower Cummins X15 SCR engine and coupled to the Eaton 18-speed manual transmission, a combination that is well-proven for demanding construction and excavation work.
To further lift visual appeal, the ProStar has been treated to chrome accents on the front wheel arches and exhaust stacks, while the fuel tanks are stainless wrapped. Perhaps most noticeable though, are the airbrushed Australian flags which adorn both sides of the ProStar’s sloping bonnet, making it seem like the flags are flowing in the wind.
Clinton said that these visual enhancements not only show the company’s intent in portraying a professional image to customers, but also shows the pride they have in their equipment. He said:
“All of our trucks get a bit of extra work done to them, for the drivers it’s also nice for them to have a truck that’s a bit flash.”
Clinton started Attcall in 1995 as a ‘one man show’ and the company has grown to directly employ around 100 people across a diversified range of construction services. Clinton said:
“There are no secrets in business, it’s hard work and I’ve got a lot more grey hairs that I used to.”
“We’ve been lucky enough to make some strong relationships over the years and this certainly helps business longevity and expansion.”
The company is currently undertaking contract civil works plus its own projects for a number of large companies, and recently it gained ISO environmental accreditation which will provide better access to government work.
And while the constantly expanding suburbs of Greater Western Sydney is also providing plenty of opportunity for business growth, on the flipside it means that the Attcall team of drivers is having to travel increasingly further afield to source quarry materials, according to Clinton. He said:
“We’re often travelling up to two and a half hours to collect materials, so the trucks can cover 400 to 500 kilometres in a day, and the drivers can be up to 16 hours in the truck.”
“We have to make the most of productivity and be as efficient as possible so we run PBS dog trailers which are larger and allow you to carry extra weight, this is fine out on the roads but the downside is that when you get back into built-up areas and onto the construction sites, getting around is more challenging.”
“This is where the ProStar really comes into its own. It’s a comfortable truck on the road and with its sloping bonnet when the drivers get on site they find better accessibility when surroundings are tight.”
“The drivers really like the ProStar, they want them.”
Source: International Trucks
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