Iconic Melbourne transport and logistics company, The Glen Cameron Group, has taken delivery of its very first Western Star Truck in Bayswater last week.

In an historic first, The Cameron Group’s fleet now boasts a Western Star  4800FS2 model, a versatile 6×4 specially designed for B-double and single trailer work. In a one-two from Penske, the truck also features a 15-litre DD15 engine from Detroit.

Only recently honoured as road transport’s Personality of the Year at the Australian Freight Industry Awards Gala in Melbourne, Glen Cameron himself attended the hand-over at the company’s Bayswater depot.

“Western Star Trucks is a strong brand with a lot of history behind it, but for us, the fact that it is backed by an experienced and ambitious organisation like Penske is equally important,” Mr Cameron said. “To me, combining the two is a powerful sales proposition.”

According to Shane Coates, long-standing Group Asset Manager of the Cameron Group, running a successful road transport organisation is all about having the right equipment on hand for each job, with the new Western Star 4800FS2 scheduled to perform B-double work in and around Melbourne.

“We don’t have a preference for European or North American trucks per se,” he said. “We only decide on merit, and with Penske behind it, we thought Western Star Trucks more than deserved an opportunity to prove itself. It’s a powerful truck that has a good reputation in the industry.”

Mr Coates, an experienced fleet manager with ample experience in the industry, said Penske’s bumper-to-bumper service contract offering was an important factor in deciding on the Western Star brand.

“With Penske backing the product and taking care of servicing and maintaining it, we have peace of mind that everything is taken care of,” he said. “We know exactly what our cost will be like, with no question marks or unwanted surprises down the track.”

Mr Coates said that while the truck was still in its “honeymoon period”, he was extremely confident in the new Western Star 4800FS2. “We can definitely see a future for the brand in our fleet should the trial be successful. It’s an exciting opportunity for everyone involved and we are looking forward to giving the new truck a serious workout.”