Where is kenworth australia

The PACCAR dealer network for Kenworth and DAF trucks is one of the strongest in Australia, comprising factory-trained, experienced technicians who have access to modern facilities, diagnostic equipment and specialist tooling. Offering a wide range of services from truck cleaning to total overhauls, your local Kenworth and DAF dealership has the specialist equipment, skills and expertise to look after you and your truck.

One that delivers benchmark durability, productivity and support, is safer and more fuel efficient to operate and offers lower cost of ownership over the long term. Read more. Big Rigs takes a trip down memory lane. The year was when the first Australian made Kenworth hit the road, but the story of Kenworth down under started almost a decade earlier.

Ed Cameron passed away in , at the age of He was in the business of transporting fresh produce, initially throughout Melbourne, before expanding into Sydney. Born in Victoria in , Blomfield passed away in He moved to Red Hill in , where he began his career in transport. Post WWII, he too began transporting fruit interstate. In their search for a suitable truck with enough grunt and power to tackle their interstate routes, they were convinced there had to be a better alternative to the trucks that were currently available to them — and they found that in the form of a Kenworth.

They travelled to the US for the first time in in search of a truck that could stand up to the tough Australian conditions. Seven fully assembled S-models arrived by ship into Sydney in October , each one custom engineered.

These Kenworths were the first to be fitted with Detroit Diesel engines. Four were for Cameron and three for Blomfield. It was a KCR cabover, built using locally manufactured parts where possible. Then in , the brand achieved a significant milestone with the launch of the WSAR. This was the first Kenworth fully designed in Australia, specifically for Australian conditions.

With its striking angled bonnet and ability to utilise a high horsepower engine while still getting maximum payload, all within existing length limits, it proved to be an immediate hit.

But its predecessor — the WAR — had gained such a following that Kenworth decided to reintroduce it in , after length limits were eased. With business booming, Kenworth expanded the plant to double its original size in , which created new jobs. In , the first Australian managing director took the reins of the business. His name was Andrew Wright. A true workhorse, this model was built tough for off-highway applications such as the logging and mining industry.

Trucks must deal with extreme heat in remote, dusty mines and across deserts. Others must haul loads that are two or three times heavier than overseas, and on rough and unmade roads. Often trucks are required to perform an inordinate amount of hours, some as much as 24 hours a day. The company currently employs more than 1, staff in Melbourne, the majority of whom are directly or indirectly involved in the manufacturing operations.

In addition, the company supports a variety of local suppliers who provide the majority of the parts and materials which make a Kenworth. As part of its manufacturing commitment, Kenworth has made a substantial investment in design engineering.

This enables it to purpose-build trucks with short lead times — a feat imported trucks cannot match. We are continually reinvesting in expanding our operations, continually refining our techniques and introducing new technologies. They satisfy all of our trucking needs — not just sales, but also finance, servicing and parts.