Most of us have had the unfortunate experience of being in some sort of crash. If we are lucky, it’s a small bump at a red light or hitting a curb a little too quick.
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In other circumstances, the damage can be quite severe, like when I wrote off my 2004 Ford Focus right after getting my P-plates (mum was not happy about that one).
If an occasion like this does arise, a towing company can often be your saving grace, lifting you up in a time of need.
But it’s not just fender benders and reckless teens that need assistance, with companies like Aplus Towing proving that towing services are in high demand around the country.
Operating around the Canberra area, Aplus Towing is a locally owned and operated family tilt tray business with years of experience.
“My wife and I started the business around 10 years ago,” Aplus owner Gary Fleming tells Deals on Wheels.
“What started off as a fairly small business has now grown over the past couple of years, and we have our son, my stepfather and a bunch of employees working for us.
“We do a fair bit of roadside assistance around the area, but we also do accident breakdown, machinery, heavy towing, and a whole heap of other jobs.”
Gary attributes a lot of their success to not only their business model, but the rigs they have on deck, spending a lot of time to ensure they are of the highest quality.
“Over the years, I’ve been lucky to have a lot of mentors in the industry who have shown me the way of the industry and the kind of equipment you need to be successful,” he says.
“I also went over to the states in 2018 and researched what works and what doesn’t. It was a learning curve for sure.
“But now, I know we have built some unreal bits of equipment that even our mentors look at and just absolutely love.”
The culmination of his hard work and research is shown in Aplus Towing’s incredible 2023 Scania R620 XT.
Named APLUST1, the impressive rig has become the flagship of the fleet, capable of towing an impressive 108+ tonnes.
The fully Australian-built Ekebol boom can extend 7.5 metres, with a total lift capacity of 35 tonnes.
Able to recover and move coaches, semi-trailers, B Doubles, B Triples and more, a lot of work went into ensuring it was perfect for the job.
“We put four years of development into that truck,” Gary says. “Talking to mentors and companies, bouncing ideas off of each other and learning off drivers as well.”
A unique part of the Scania is the axle slider tilt tray. With a low tare weight of 20 tonnes, the tray is able to multi-load up to 22-23 tonnes.
“It’s been a real passion of mine and my team. We’ve put a lot of time and effort into the equipment here.”
Recognising the potential risks associated with his work, Gary has prioritised safety as a non-negotiable when it comes to the fleet.
“We’ve always wanted to keep our business to the highest standard, so we’re big on the tech base. Something that we’re really passionate about is keeping our drivers safe.”
A standout feature of the 2023 Scania is the retarder. Even when loaded with a B-double, the Scania’s brakes are rarely needed, instead able to pull itself up.
Coming in handy when dealing with the aftermath of an accident, particularly when a vehicle may have lost its brakes, Gary says it is “just brilliant”.
Telematics is another upside to the special-built truck. While many stray away from the new technology, Gary and his team have fully embraced the advantages it can give them.
“The telematics in the Scania truck are second to none,” he says. “I think it is the best in the industry.”
“It can tell you the brake optimisation, the fuel usage. It does drop pins of every trip and it can even give driving scores.
“We’ve also put a lot into cameras. We’ve got cameras at the front and rear and internal cameras that we run that we are able to access remotely at any time.”
These not only give the drivers security for any incidents that may occur, but because they are all tracked in real-time, it allows them to contact the office if they have a difficult job and get some advice from the more experienced employees.
Despite obviously smashing goals in the field, the drivers at Aplus towing also appreciate the extra benefits the Scania has hidden away.
With an extra-large bed, a TV and a kettle, workshop manager Trai Hildebrand says it’s a “home away from home”.
“If we’re on site for a long time, we’re all set up. That was the main focus of being able to turn off, shut down, and also rest when you can.”
Most recently, Trai put the bed to the test when travelling to the Alexandra Truck Show, keen to show off their hard work.
“Truck shows are extra special to us because it is the one time people are actually happy to see us,” Trai laughs.
“Especially on the heavy recovery side, we only go out there when it’s shit for them. No one ever has a good day when they’re breaking down and no one wants to see us.
“So truck shows are that time where we can chill out and catch up with everyone.”
It appears more than one or two of the visitors at Alexandra were happy to see the Scania, with the massive rig taking home the People’s Choice award.
The rig definitely stood out on the tar, with the orange and blue graphics immediately grabbing eyes.
“We’ve been really lucky at the shows so far, taking home awards at all three we’ve attended,” Trai says.
Gary says while he is ecstatic with the reception towards his pride and joy, at the end of the day it is his team that keeps him going.
“Trai’s gone out to a lot of these shows, and it’s been a really proud moment to see how much commitment it takes to get the team together, and it’s really created a great culture in our business.
“I am proud of my team and proud of the fleet that we’ve built together.”
Moving forward, Gary says there are big plans in place for Aplus Towing.
“There are some car park recovery vehicles we want, and we are wanting to do a tri axle, prime mover that can double up as a backup unit on site.”
“But also some really cool bush recovery units would be great. We’re looking to push that side of our business up in the snowy mountains and just really support all the drivers that come into the projects in here, and just even coming into the region.
Deals on Wheels will be keeping an eye on the Aplus team, seeing how many other trophies they can take before the year is over.
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