Bartlett News Archive

Bartlett’s customised solutions

Two generations of Bartletts – Allan and his daughter Sarah

Amid the accessory and ancillary stands on the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre’s plaza level, Bartlett Integrated Transport Solutions was making its third appearance at the Brisbane Truck Show with a range of truck towing systems.

However, as Allan Bartlett points out, the Bartlett brand has been around much longer. In fact, it began shortly after World War II; the year 1946 to be exact, when his grandfather, Norm Bartlett began connecting trucks to trailers. Consequently, Allan is the third generation of Bartletts in the business. His daughter, Sarah, also on show stand duties, is the next generation. Bartlett Integrated Transport Solutions is based in Hallam, Victoria, although its equipment is sold through distributors around Australia.

“We also have direct contact with fleets, so if there’s a large fleet that has towing issues, we come in, maybe look at custom design or custom equipment to help mitigate their problems,” Allan continues. “We also have 20 different towbar models and we have a unique grading system that we rate to the maximum that the truck can tow, and the maximum that the trailer coupling can tow. We look at all the aspects of the lowest common denominator on the vehicle combination, and then we rate to that. We serial number the towbars, we match the serial numbers to the bin, and the outcome for the fleets is that they get complete traceability so they can start managing their fleet. So if they want to know something about what that truck can tow, we can tell them,” Allan says.

The 2021 Brisbane Truck Show, to be held from May 13 to 16, will be a landmark occasion for Allan and Sarah, and Bartlett Integrated Transport Solutions. “The next time we come here will be 75 years in business,” Allan says.

Originally published in Owner Driver Magazine. Published online at ATN, date: 25.06.2019

“Truck driving is considered the deadliest profession in the country”

NEWS.COM.AU: “Workers in one Australian profession are far more likely to die on the job than any other workers, a Melbourne University study has found. Truck driving is considered the deadliest profession in the country, with drivers being 13 times more likely to die on the job than any work, Monash University researchers found. The university analysed more than 120,000 compensation claims lodged and accepted between 2004 and 2015. The study found truck drivers have a 13-fold higher risk of fatal injury compared with other professions.”

Click here for the full story.

Driver and vehicle safety is a huge part of our focus

At Bartlett, we pride ourselves on pulling our weight when it comes to the safety of drivers, trucks and trailers. Not only are our products professionally engineered, tested and made to above industry standard, we are actively involved at all industry levels as a business and individually. We use our experience and knowledge to advocate for safety measures and standards across the industry.

Bartlett’s Managing Director Allan Bartlett is an active member of the VACC Industry Policy Council and chair of the Commercial Vehicle Industry Association Victoria (CVIAV). Through his role with VACC and CVIAV he directly advocates and promotes safety and compliance within the industry.

Antarctica, Alabama, Australia—just some of the places where Bartlett products are used for their reliability, flexibility and safety.

Bartlett Ball Sleighs Antarctica

Click the image and choose video #10 to watch the video. Source: Patrice Godon Polar Engineering

The Bartlett 127 Ball trailer coupling recently played a crucial role in supplying fuel and other equipment to a European Antarctic Research Base.

The client required a slack-free, articulating coupling that would remain functional in an environment where temperatures can reach -40ºC. The idea to use the Bartlett 127 Ball to connect this most unusual snow train was devised by specialised heavy Antarctic equipment engineering firm Travtech based in Hobart, Tasmania.

Towing a sled loaded with supplies and two 15 000 litre fuel bladders through challenging and dangerous terrain, the coupling was ice cool under pressure and performed admirably.

The Bartlett Ball has now been in production and operation for over 50 years. It has proved itself in some of the harshest conditions on the planet. For further information about Bartlett couplings, click here.

Bartlett gets it done in the USA

In Alabama USA a regional city council has chosen to use a customised Bartlett Towbar Solution that is fit-for-purpose for their heavy industrial municipal applications. With growing interest from the USA we look forward to providing towing solutions and products to the USA market.

Feedback from the USA: “Allan, I can not believe how easy it was to install. It went perfectly. Only took about 2–3 hours to install and ready to try out. All measurements were right on the money. I have one picture I’m sending now. Your company is the only one I was able to find that makes a plug-and-play item that I needed and without a doubt It was just that. Thanks for everything.”
Fleet Superintendent, Alabama, USA”

…at Home

Werribee Open Range Zoo Train. Source: https://www.zoo.org.au/werribee

At home, Bartlett products are proven performers in our extreme and harsh conditions and across a variety of industries. From the Victorian snowfields to outback Australia.

At Melbourne’s Werribee Open Range Zoo, complete towbars, 127mm ball trailer couplings and safety chain systems provide a safe, smooth ride for train passengers as they’re towed through the open range zoo.

Bartlett specialises in fleet solutions whether it be be road transport, defence, agriculture or any other heavy vehicle towing application.

If you have a challenging fleet or individual towing need, please contact our experienced staff.

Heavy vehicle towbar news from New Zealand

Radio New Zealand has reported: “A second engineer has been suspended amid safety investigations into broken and cracked towing connections on heavy truck-trailers. Before this latest suspension, more than 1400 trailers had already been taken off the road for checks, repairs and replacements. The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said it now recognised it had “issues” with its certification system.”

Radio New Zealand touched on the wider industry issues within New Zealand: “The wider issues are that trucks have been allowed to get bigger, while at the same time the rules have been getting looser: For instance, truckers no longer need to get semi-trailer kingpins checked at 100,000km like they used to. In addition, the New Zealand Standard that governs engineering quality is seen by some in the industry as being weak, and some engineers prefer using the Australian Standard.”

Read the full story here.

Photo: NZTA Media Release www.nzta.govt.nz/pwe-revocation

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR)

Bartlett MD, Allan Bartlett recently attended and participated in the combined ARTSA and NBTA meeting with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) in Brisbane. The meeting identified and discussed key disruptors and the innovation challenges that are facing heavy vehicle industry. NHVR also presented and discussed their national Performance Based Standards Report a joint report by the NHVR and ARTSA. Click here for more.

Charting uncharted territory

With imminent changes to chain of responsibility laws, operators will have additional factors to consider to ensure compliance.
As such, the new updated customer Bartlett Data system (towbar rating report and compliance plates) were recently featured in the Trailer Magazine highlighting the issues and steps involved with meeting the new CoR laws. The Trailer Magazine feature focused on how unique Bartlett towbar reports bring clarity into an area of management that is often misunderstood. Bartlett Equipment will launch a new detailed support system designed to assist operators in safely setting up their trucks to tow trailers. Click here to read the full story.

MEGATRANS

The BARTLETT team would like to thank all those who came up and said hello, and learnt more about our products, brand and team at the inaugural MEGATRANS 2018 held in Melbourne last month. The BARTLETT team really enjoyed the conversations and insights learnt from engaging and networking with industry all under one roof.

“Any event where transport and logistics productivity, safety and efficiency are discussed will only benefit the whole industry and should be encouraged”

Allan Bartlett
Managing Director
Bartlett Integrated Towing Solutions

New Bartlett Towbar Rating Reports & Plates to be rolled out in 2018

Keeping on top of vehicle data and safe operating capacities is a constant challenge for fleet operators, especially where trailer towing is concerned.

Bartlett currently leads the industry with its comprehensive range of ADR62 compliant towbar kits which include a customised rating plate and printed report displaying vital rating data for safe trailer towing management. Great products supported by great information. (more…)

It’s been a big year at Bartlett. Here are some of the highlights…

It is critical that regulators engage with industry to strike the correct balance between safety and commercial viability. In this respect, our MD Allan Bartlett was kept very busy during 2017 in his role as Chair of the Commercial Vehicle Industry Association Victoria (CVIAV) advisory committee. Allan and other CVIAA National members partnered or participated in the following major industry events in (more…)

Chain of Responsibility (CoR) laws coming in mid-2018

BARTLETT Managing Director Allan Bartlett, in National Industry Magazine TRAILER

With changes to Chain of Responsibility laws coming in mid-2018, it’s crucial that fleet procurement personnel Chain of Responsibility (CoR) laws coming in mid-2018
understand their responsibilities in terms of tow coupling safety. Allan Bartlett, Managing Director of Bartlett Integrated Towing Systems, was recently featured in the Trailer Magazine highlighting the issues and steps involved with meeting the new CoR laws. (more…)

Bare Knuckle a big hit at the Brisbane Truck Show

Thanks to all who attended the Bartlett stand at the Brisbane Truck Show last week. It was a great opportunity to showcase our brand new Bare Knuckle trailer safety chain system due for release in July 2017. With four sizes designed to meet the highest ADR 62/02 test forces, the patented Bare Knuckle system has all modern truck trailer combinations covered to set new standards in towing safety.To quote our Managing Director, Mr Allan Bartlett “Bare Knuckle is a low cost, ergonomic, light weight solution that provides maximum strength, ADR compliance and optimum functionality – peace of mind that heavy vehicle operators demand”.
(more…)

Allan up front at ARTSA

The Australian Road Transport Suppliers Association (ARTSA) and National Bulk Tanker Association (NBTA) held a combined meeting at the Brisbane Truck Show on the 25th May to update industry on trends, valuable data and notable safety issues.
(more…)