We speak to Krueger Transport Equipment’s leadership team about the company’s pioneering designs, commitment to the highest standards of trailer manufacturing, and dedication to achieving customer satisfaction.
TIME-TESTED QUALITY AND EXCELLENCE
Trailers have been a mainstay of the Australian manufacturing and transport industries for decades, offering dynamic opportunities for an abundance of businesses across the nation.
“The boundaries of the country’s transport sector have always been pushed and stretched when it comes to the productivity and design of trailers. For this reason, it is the most talked about, respected, admired, productive, and efficient transportation landscape in the world,” opens Kevin Dennis, CEO of Krueger Transport Equipment (Krueger).
Indeed, no other country moves as many tonnes (t) per kilometre than transport operators in Australia. Moreover, with the increasing adoption of performance-based standards and the introduction of electric vehicles (EVs) and hydrogen technology, the nation continues to be a frontrunner in the international trailer industry.
Positioned at the forefront of this global landscape, Krueger has maintained its reputation of operating as a premium brand since its founding over 45 years ago.
The company’s capabilities as a leader in innovation and quality are evidenced by the fact it has built over 20,000 trailers in the last four decades, with 14,000 still registered and active today.
“Our commitment to excellence, reliability, and customer satisfaction has solidified our position as a powerhouse in the Australian transportation market,” Dennis prides.
A POWERFUL BRAND
Krueger’s trailers have become the product of choice for leading logistics organisations across the country as the brand has continuously grown to encompass numerous subdivisions, including but not limited to Krueger National Spare Parts and Advantage Trailer Rental (ATR).
“Our brand voice in the market has never been stronger as we integrate into all the newest marketing channels to create a larger, wider, and more diverse audience who will follow our story and see our quality on a national and global scale, even if they are not in the transport industry,” Dennis expands.
Regarding National Spare Parts, the division stands apart from typical comparable branches. With over 14,000 items in its inventory, the business can support trailers outside of the usual portfolio by offering high-quality products from some of the industry’s top brands, alongside trusted aftermarket services.
“This extensive offering enables our service teams to work on virtually any type of semi-trailer, regardless of the brand. This internal collaboration strengthens the Krueger brand beyond manufacturing, providing value to a diverse array of customers,” opens Ben Raudino, National Spare Parts Manager and Branch Manager for Victoria.
As part of his role in overseeing the Krueger branches in New South Wales and Brisbane also, Raudino works closely with suppliers to secure competitive pricing and ensure that the division remains a strong player in the market.
ATR, meanwhile, contributes to Krueger’s brand success in multiple ways. First and foremost, the division provides a comprehensive rental service, offering a wide range of semi-trailers including skeletal trailers, fridge units, and curtain siders, available in both A and B combinations. This flexibility allows the division to cater to its customers’ diverse requirements.
The division presents tailored options that not only meet its customers’ current needs, but also provide the flexibility to support their future growth and opportunities.
On top of this, ATR supports customers when their trailers are in for service or repairs, ensuring that they stay on the road without disruption.
“Our strong after-sales service is something customers frequently praise, as we understand the critical importance of keeping their assets fully operational. We know the pressure they face to avoid downtime, since freight never stops,” David Raffaele, ATR’s Rental Manager, comments.
Furthermore, with the constant turnover of trailers, ATR also assists customers looking for second-hand purchases and ensures they find the right solutions for their needs.
This same ethos is replicated by Krueger’s National Services and Warranties division, which guarantees customer satisfaction in the maintenance and repair of all heavy trailer models, not limited to Krueger vehicles.
“Tailoring to the individual needs of customers, the business provides prompt service and support for warranty claims and repairs. This reliability fosters customer loyalty and long-term relationships,” Service Manager for Victoria and Warranty Coordinator, Brett Tweedly, tells us.
Tweedly’s role at Krueger is to ensure that all workshop operations run smoothly and efficiently by managing maintenance, repairs, and customer requirements.
“My duties include maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction by ensuring timely and effective service delivery, managing costs, and upholding the company’s reputation through after-sales support,” he adds.
PIONEERING DESIGN
Krueger was established from Founder John Krueger’s personal need for greater trailer capacity whilst building his first trailer in his driveway at home in Melbourne’s West. Unexpectedly, John’s endeavours resulted in a design with unmatched efficiency and convenience.
“As far as I knew, there were no truck and trailer combinations in Australia at the time that matched my rig’s capacity. The longest trailers available were 36 feet (ft), capable of carrying only one 20ft container or 36 general pallets.
“Therefore, the fact that my rig was able to carry two 20ft containers sparked a change in the industry,” John recalls.
The construction process for his specialised trailer-truck combination took six to nine months and involved rigorous testing, undergoing several design changes to ensure that it was easy to tow and could be effortlessly reversed onto docks for loading and unloading shipping containers.
Once the crucial aspect of trailer manoeuvrability had been achieved, thanks to the modification of a 20ft chassis to form a 10ft axle spread, John began to work on a more seamless method of decoupling the trailer from the truck.
Meeting this objective meant that he could reverse the trailer into the next bay, allowing it to be loaded simultaneously with the truck. This doubled the productivity of the trailer, which typically would only be able to transport one container per trip.
Therefore, John’s innovative, first-of-its-kind design marked a turning point in the trailer manufacturing sector.
However, he faced difficulties when the manufacturing company he was working with to create the trailer faced pressure from other drivers over how much he was earning from his innovative modifications, ultimately resulting in the trailer no longer being permitted for use.
“Despite facing setbacks and ultimately parting ways with the organisation that restricted my trailer’s use, I found new opportunities through subcontracting and witnessed the fruits of my labour seeing local businesses flourish,” John reflects.
Subsequently, after finding that there was not enough work in subcontracting alone, he sold the trailer-truck combination and placed his focus on growing Krueger as a business.
“Though my time as a trailer builder and owner-driver may have come to an end, the lessons learned and the legacy I created live on in the evolution of Krueger.”
ADDRESSING INDUSTRY CHALLENGES
John’s pioneering design and subsequent creation of Krueger was inspired by the constant issues he faced as an owner-driver, witnessing first-hand the numerous safety challenges and operational difficulties associated with towing various brands of skeleton and open flat top trailers.
Indeed, the former proved to be one of the most perilous to drive for John due to issues with excessive rear sloping, leading to cargo instability during loading and unloading and the trailer nosediving to the ground when connected to forklifts.
Additionally, he found that the chassis design of skeleton trailers led to uneven weight distribution between axles, increasing the risk of roll-overs, particularly when navigating corners.
Meanwhile, open flat top trailers, whether in tandem or a tri-axle format, also presented challenges with braking abilities and caused damage to cargo and pallets when utilising twist locks during transportation and unloading.
John’s decades of learning and experience meant that Krueger as a business could address these safety and handling concerns efficiently.
This resulted in the implementation of many adaptations such as reducing rear sloping, optimising chassis lengths to prevent cargo falling out when the container doors are opened, altering landing leg designs and placements to stop trailers nosediving when being unloaded, and improving suspension setups to share the load across both the axles and landing legs.
Similar efforts were undertaken with open flat top trailers, where the company re-engineered the main beams of the structure to prevent the axle hopping when braking under pressure or on wet or unstable roads. Furthermore, Krueger lowered the trailer’s twist locks, resulting in fewer part replacements.
“This was critical considering the damage I had seen to twist locks and the importance of the mechanism for holding containers that can weigh up to 30t,” John highlights.
Krueger’s improvements to both skeleton trailers and open flat top trailers subsequently became the industry standard in freight and heavy haulage, culminating in patented designs that minimised cargo damage and enhanced the overall driving experience and public safety.
From here, Krueger launched other transformations such as the Kurtainer and adopted an innovative approach to design, pushing the boundaries of well-known trailer concepts.
“Our commitment to a forward-thinking philosophy is underscored by our successful patenting of products such as Slide-a-Gate, addressing local restraint issues and earning accolades for occupational health and safety.”
“Our commitment to excellence, reliability, and customer satisfaction has solidified our position as a powerhouse in the Australian transportation market”
Kevin Dennis, CEO, Krueger Transport Equipment
CONSTANT PURSUIT OF QUALITY
The ability to produce high-quality engineering and designs is the backbone of Krueger. Since its inception, the company has prioritised R&D, laying the groundwork for its stringent policies and procedures.
Moreover, the business conducts thorough testing of raw materials and components to identify any potential weaknesses before they impact its products in real-world scenarios, thus avoiding unwanted risks for its customers and the general public.
“Krueger has always put engineering first, closely followed by manufacturing excellence,” John asserts.
“Ever since I started employing full-time engineers, I’ve ensured that we always stay up to date with the latest trends, techniques, and processes whilst guaranteeing we build safe, high-quality trailers that are made to last, offering exceptional resale value to our customers.”
Indeed, John has created a culture of excellence and quality throughout the company, as he ensures that each Krueger trailer is designed and engineered to not only meet but exceed customer expectations.
“Before my time at Krueger, John was extremely hands-on in creating the strategy and procedures for the engineering department, and these are the core values that my team and I work by today,” echoes Adis Selmic, Manager of Projects and Production Engineering.
Therefore, regardless of design complexity, the company’s engineering team tirelessly works on new ideas and components, ensuring that each trailer produced is of the highest quality.
This is further emphasised by Krueger’s dedication to keeping pace with the ever-changing needs and technical advancements of altering market demands.
“While the fundamental principles of engineering excellence have remained constant, the methods and tools used in design processes have undergone a digital revolution,” Selmic informs.
Designs are now created using state-of-the-art computer software, allowing for more precise and efficient developments. The company also ensures that these programmes work efficiently, both within the manufacturing process and in practice.
“With these changes, our dedication to quality and innovation has remained steadfast as we make sure that each trailer reflects the pinnacle of engineering expertise,” Selmic emphasises.
This commitment has not faltered since the inception of Krueger, as the company understands that its responsibility extends beyond simply producing trailers – it is entrusted with the safety and well-being of customers and the general public at large.
For this reason, Krueger refuses to compromise on quality and rejects any materials or parts that don’t meet its exacting standards.
“We recognise the importance of maintaining both our reputation and the trust placed in us by our customers and the industry,” John acknowledges.
“Krueger has always put engineering first, closely followed by manufacturing excellence”
John Krueger, Founder, Krueger Transport Equipment
EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE
Steeped in a heritage of quality and innovation, Krueger ardently prioritises its customers’ needs as a fundamental ingredient to its success.
“We understand that our customers are the lifeblood of our business, as their needs and preferences are central to everything we do,” asserts Grant Krueger, National Sales Director and the son of John.
Indeed, Krueger actively listens to client feedback and continuously strives to exceed their expectations, enabling the company to develop personalised trailers that meet their specific requirements and deliver exceptional value.
As such, the business has become a trailer industry stalwart thanks to its devotion to fostering strong client relationships built on trust and reliability and remaining the preferred choice for both large and smaller fleet owner-drivers.
Notably, Krueger would not be able to deliver such exceptional customer service if it weren’t for its unparalleled trailer manufacturing capabilities and after-sales service through its National Spare Parts and ATR divisions.
For starters, its unwavering commitment to quality and durability has meant that the company’s trailers are built to last, with a reputation for reliability that is second to none.
“The durability and robustness of our trailers have earned Krueger a reputation for excellence that spans over four decades, with thousands still actively operating on Australian roads today,” Selmic urges.
Additionally, the company’s outstanding engineering team comprises highly skilled professionals who are equipped to tackle even the most complex design challenges.
Each engineer actively utilises cutting-edge two-dimensional and three-dimensional software, as well as conducting manual calculations and finite element analysis (FEA).
As a result, Krueger’s customers can rest assured that every aspect of the company’s trailers are rigorously tested and validated.
Moreover, Krueger’s comprehensive record-keeping and preservation of engineering expertise means that the same high-quality standards are maintained across the generations, especially in regard to after-sales and spare parts services.
EXPANDING PRODUCT RANGE TO KEEP UP WITH NEW MARKETS
2024 marks a year of ambition and innovation for Krueger as it is set to deliver its newly released K-Van range into full production by the end of the year, after completing many successful piloting units with several key customers.
As a result, the company will become a major player in a new market segment as it continues to expand its product range.
Similarly, continuous improvements to its existing products are a benchmark target from year to year, which stems from decades of engineering practice and refinement processes that underwrite the recognised quality of Krueger trailers.
On top of this, the company’s recent investment in advanced technology has been a crucial pillar in the adaption of the business around the growing needs of the industry.
Towards the end of 2023 and the beginning of this year, Krueger has enjoyed major benefits from these investments, such as its newly installed laser cutting facility.
“This advanced technology has provided considerable gains in quality, time, and efficiency, which is further reflected in our increased manufacturing quality and speed, which ultimately means we get more Krueger trailers out on the road,” insights Kevin.
Above all else, the company’s commitment and dedication to quality will remain unwavering.
“It’s what distinguishes us in the industry and has made Krueger synonymous with excellence for decades. Whether it’s engineering, manufacturing, design, or delivery, quality is at the forefront of everything we do,” John closes.
KRUEGER TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT PARTNERS
