Lift & Shift: Allcar Towing set to Expand with F Series Fleet

The morning commute in Melbourne can be an exercise in patience as a multitude of motorists try to get from A to B in the shortest time possible. ​ 

Statistically speaking, the number of accidents and breakdowns is likely growing as Victoria’s vehicle registrations continue to outpace population growth. 

With this in mind, it’s nice to know that the Director of Melbourne’s Allcar Towing Group, Mile (Milo) Atanasov, is recruiting tow truck drivers who are both experienced at driving and at calmly handling stressful situations. 

“Accidents and breakdowns—these things unfortunately do happen, but we're here to make it a little bit easier and get the road cleared,” said Milo. ​ 

“The staff work in shifts to ensure that a driver is available for a callout, no matter the time of day or the circumstances. 

“Experienced drivers are invaluable to our business and customers, not only on the road but as they pass on their knowledge and skills to our younger drivers.” 

The morning rush between 6 am and 10 am is the most active period for Allcar Towing. However, with Melbourne highways almost always congested outside of the usual morning rush, there’s enough work to keep them busy seven days a week, 365 days a year, and on-call at all hours. ​ ​ 

Fleet fitness 

Planning for an expansion of the business as road numbers continue to rise, Milo has invested in a tidily specified Isuzu F Series fleet, featuring 40 long-wheelbase FRD 110-260 Auto tilt-slide tray trucks. 

Milo’s decision to upgrade to an Isuzu-only fleet was based on some considerable experience as a driver himself, having started as a yard hand at Allcar Towing in the early 2000s under the previous owner, John Ficarra, before working his way up the ranks until he was in the position to purchase the business outright in 2011. ​ 

Regularly updated with new models, the smartly presented fleet is spread across five locations: a head office at Dandenong and sites at Berwick, Somerville, Keysborough, and Springvale. 

While the majority of Allcar Towing’s business is related to accidents and breakdowns, the fleet handles a range of work, including delivering new vehicles for car dealerships, transporting luxury cars, towing boats, and tackling heavier items such as shipping containers and machinery. 

A GVM of 11,000 kg and GCM of 20,000 kg allows the FRD 110-260 with Allcar Towing’s body installed to carry up to four-and-a-half tonnes on board.

The FRD 110-260 Auto is the perfect Isuzu model match for Allcar Towing

A united front 

This is complemented with a beefy Isuzu 6HK1-TCC six-cylinder engine which provides plenty of grunt for towing, offering 191 kW of power @ 2,400 rpm and torque of 761 Nm @ 1,450 rpm - 2,400 rpm. ​ 

The seven-metre-long tilt-slide tray from Australian Trailer Manufacturers (ATM) allows the deck to be lowered flush to the ground, allowing for direct drive-on and a smoother loading of broken-down vehicles. 

“Every truck is built the same so that there are no differences between our Isuzu fleet—I want all our drivers to have the same experience across the board,” Milo explained. 

“The FRD 110-260 is a good-sized truck that allows us to service our customers for what they need, during the most stressful of times. 

“Aside from handling accidents, our trucks can perform other work for our customers; this versatility is important as the economy moves and shifts, and we're adapting our business to these changes.”

Rules for good reason 

Isuzu’s FRD 110-260 is specified with a 6-speed Allison LCT 2500 fully automatic transmission, which Milo says decreases distractions for drivers and removes the potential for excessive wear and tear on a truck’s clutch. 

It also assists with driver fatigue levels, playing into Milo’s desire to ensure all NHVR and Chain of Responsibility (CoR) requirements are met by the business. 

“We always stay up to date with compliance with the NHVR, as it's very important for business operations. ​ 

“We want to play our part in the chain of responsibility on the roadways. ​ 

“This is also why we choose to buy brand new Isuzu trucks, because of the reliability and consistency of the product.”

The Allcar Towing team are ready to be of assistance

Superior service 

For Milo, staying on top of the fleet’s routine servicing requirements is a non-negotiable step in boosting safety for all staff involved in the operation, and keeping up the company’s reputation for reliable service. 

All work is conducted by the Patterson Cheney Trucks dealership in Melbourne’s southeast, with the support of Fleet Coordinator Nick Makalongo and veteran Service Manager Wayne Murphy.

Classic Isuzu trucks can still be found in Milo's fleet, hard at work

Towing takes a heavy toll on equipment; the service team at Patterson Cheney understand the needs of Allcar Towing as a business that never switches off, making sure that trucks get in and get out of the workshop with a minimum of downtime. 

“The relationship with Patterson Cheney and our Fleet Sales Consultant Brooke Griffin has gone from strength to strength as we continue to purchase vehicles,” Milo said. 

“Patterson Cheney is assisting us with further expansion as we take on new towing businesses under the group and launch our car carriers built onto Isuzu cab chassis. ​ 

“The dealership has always gone out of its way to solve any issues, and I couldn't be more appreciative of that.”