Pavements supply company Road Science has significantly raised the bar on product transport in the pavements industry and recently taken possession of two state-of-the-art B-trains and two semi-trailers.

Tieman Tankers of Australia and Total Transport Engineers (TTE) from Mount Maunganui presented the trailers to Road Science in an official handover and blessing ceremony at Bay Park in Tauranga. 

“The tanker fleet‘s average age was climbing rapidly and compliance costs were escalating year on year. We wanted units that could also take advantage of the HPMV network,” said Stuart McFadyen, Road Science‘s Transport Logistics manager.

Road Science searched extensively throughout Australasia for the right supplier, settling on Tieman Tankers due to construction quality and expertise, and an existing supply record to Road Science (subsidiary of Downer Group). Then there was the added advantage of involving local transport engineering firm TTE, who provided concept and application research as well as local compliance and certifying. 

“We‘ve worked with Tieman successfully for 15 years on different projects and they‘re a great company to work with,” said TTE managing director Craig Gordon.

The new Road Science trailers on display at the presentation.

In terms of distribution in the pavements cartage sector the new trailers rewrite the book on capacity, ease of operation, looks, and safety standards. All functions are able to be performed from the ground and additional features like integrated safety showers have been added. The design and concept involved everyone who had a stake in the daily operation of the final outcome, including the drivers.

From left: Stuart McFadyen, Road Science transport logistics manager; Steve Lucinsky, Road Science plant category manager; Mark Nelson, Tieman Tankers contracts manager – tankers; Colin Tieman, director Tieman Tanker; and Craig Gordon, managing director Total Transport Engineers. 

The B-trains can be split and towed as semi-trailers with the rear semi-trailer equipped with the Manoeuvre Assist programme that allows a weight transfer to the prime mover up to a mximum speed of 7kph. 

Road Science‘s National Manufacturing manager Ross Godkin is thrilled with the trailers.

“We‘re really delighted for the people who will use these units, the unsung heroes, the drivers. I have to thank them because they make our business successful and in the past they‘ve had to deal with constraints imposed by the old trailers. Now they have these beautiful new units that they can take pride in towing and that will help them do their jobs successfully.