Quality care for Australian truck owners as road numbers grow

The number of trucks on Australian roads is on track to reach record levels, correlating with the country’s rising freight task as forecast by the Federal Government’s (BITRE) research, which predicts road freight volumes to increase 77 per cent between the years 2020 to 2050.

This figure encompasses an interstate transport figure up by 2.9 per cent per annum, and capital city road freight increasing at a rate of 2.2 per cent per annum.

With the Australian truck parc growing larger and more complex, and with the introduction of alternative powertrain vehicles, a key consideration is the need for trucks to be well-maintained for road safety compliance as part of an operator’s adherence to Chain of Responsibility laws.

As Australia’s most popular truck brand—recording almost 100,000 units in operation over a 10-year period up to 2023— Isuzu Trucks takes seriously the responsibility of assisting businesses to keep on top of their maintenance and their compliance obligations.  

Raising standards

With an unrivalled customer care program and an industry-leading warranty offer that has backed up Australian businesses for decades, Isuzu’s customer-centric offering also includes service agreement packages that cover newly purchased trucks and trucks already in operation.

Isuzu offers three levels of service agreements: Isuzu Essentials, Isuzu Essentials Plus and Isuzu Total, and an Isuzu Heritage option for older truck models.

Catering to a range of customers and transport end uses, the key drawcard of an Isuzu service agreement is the predictable monthly or upfront fee, which flattens out maintenance costs and allows operators to better understand their total cost of ownership (or TCO) for the vehicle.   

Brett Stewart, Head of Aftersales for Isuzu Australia Limited (IAL) noted the goal of the program was to continue providing a better all-round truck ownership experience for Isuzu Trucks customers.

“We want customers to get the most from their truck ownership experience with Isuzu, a critical element of this being their truck spending more time doing what it needs to do—and not held up in the workshop.

“If we can also assist businesses to gain greater clarity around whole-of-life vehicle costs and their compliance obligations, it’s a win-win for everyone.

“A service agreement can be a useful tool in calculating TCO with a regular monthly bill or upfront payment so that there are no costly surprises in the expected servicing routine,” Mr Stewart continued.

“This is particularly important during the first few years of truck ownership, as it often correlates with when businesses are establishing a name for themselves, and when vehicle up-time is critical.”

IAL Head of Aftersales Brett Stewart

Better care for customers

In 2023, IAL reported the take-up of service agreements by Isuzu Trucks customers rose by 36 per cent (year-on-year growth), exceeding anticipated targets over a three-year period.

In correlation, the updated Future of Trucking Report released earlier in the year indicates 41 per cent of transport industry respondents had taken out the option of a tailored servicing package in their purchasing decision to ensure its safe and efficient operation.

As safety and compliance obligations for Australian operators mount ever higher, it makes good sense to back up business with the best vehicle care available.

Isuzu Service Agreements are designed to offer comprehensive coverage on a truck’s essential, high-wear componentry, ranging from engine and transmission to brakes, suspension and electrical, with additional options available for the customer’s peace of mind.

All work is carried out by factory-trained Isuzu technicians, using only Isuzu genuine parts or approved parts and consumables.

“Feedback has been extremely positive with many of our customers saying they should have done it sooner and recommending it to others as a value-add to business,” commented Mr Stewart.

“This spans existing Isuzu truck buyers who are signing-up service agreements on new vehicles, to brand new buyers such as tradies upgrading from a ute to a light truck, who are clearly seeing the benefits for their business from the get-go.”

Outstanding value

Keen to showcase the benefits of its service agreement packages, until 30 September 2024, Isuzu Trucks is offering a six-year Essentials Service Agreement package for the price of three years on selected N Series Ready-to-Work and N Series cab-chassis models*.

All parts and labour are included in an Essentials Service Agreement package, meaning those savvy operators who take up the offer of buying three years and getting an additional three years will be safe in the knowledge their truck is in expert hands for the first critical years of its operating life.  

This is supported by Isuzu’s industry-leading six-year truck warranty and six-years of roadside assistance on N series cab chassis, and three-year warranty on truck body equipment in its Ready-to-Work range.

Isuzu N Series truck range covers models that can be driven on a standard car licence (4,500 kg GVM) through to 8,700 kg GVM vehicles, with Ready-to-Work models handily specified for a wide scope of trades and freight tasks.

For more detailed information on the buy three years and get three years free offer running from 01 August 2023 to 30 September 2023 and different service agreement options, please visit Isuzu Service Agreements - Isuzu Australia. 

*Excludes NPS and NLS models