Who is Driving Isuzu's 2023 Truck of the Year?

Now in its 27^th year of operation, Isuzu Australia’s Truck of the Year competition is legendary in its longevity and engagement of truckies, tradies and local businesses who proudly put their trucks on display. 

The annual search for the Grand Prize Winner is entering final stages for the year, with three monthly prize winners still to be announced before entry to the competition closes on 24 November 2023. ​ 

Each of the competition’s 10 monthly winners receives a generous Isuzu merchandise prize pack and the opportunity to be named ‘King’ of their respective Isuzu truck series, with a $1,000 Visa cash card awarded to each. These series ‘Kings’ then go in the running for the Grand Prize—a $6,000 Visa cash card. 

Isuzu Australia Limited (IAL) Marketing and Advertising Manager, Sam Gangemi, said the competition was all about celebrating and connecting truck owners, while also giving the brand the opportunity to give back to loyal customers. 

“This year we have seen entries from builders and labourers, plumbers and electricians, through to arborists, waste recyclers, and even a handful of recreational Isuzu truck owners,” Mr Gangemi commented. 

“We are very pleased to give Isuzu customers the opportunity for recognition on a national stage through their hardworking trucks and also celebrate their achievements at the same time. 

“The competition has been running continuously for almost three decades, making it the longest running truck appreciation competition of its kind in Australia.” 

Proof in the pudding 

Adelaide’s Craneworx took out a slew of prizes in last year’s competition and are still enjoying a moment in the spotlight. 

The team entered an impressive heavy-duty FYJ 300-350 8x4 tilt-tray truck, receiving the honours of a monthly prize and King of the FY Series, and the title of ultimate Grand Prize Winner for 2022. ​ 

Operations Manager of Craneworx, Daniel Lockwood, said their Isuzu truck is booked out around the clock in greater Adelaide providing machinery relocation, rigging, and transportation of industrial supplies for the business. ​ ​ 

“When we won the 2022 Grand Prize the timing could not have been better,” he commented. 

“Craneworx had just collected a new NQR 87-190 that we call ‘Mini Me’, in time for our deadlines from North East Isuzu, to use as a rigging and counterweight truck for our cranes. ​ 

“So we were celebrating the competition win and enjoying the newest edition to the fleet.” 

Gear up 

IAL Head of Sales, Craig White, said there was still time for new truck owners and existing customers to put their best truck forward in the 2023 competition. ​ 

“There are three monthly winners still to be selected, so I would encourage anyone proudly owning an Isuzu truck to enter,” commented Mr White. ​ 

“This can be done online, or our dealer network can assist with this in person—indeed, they play an important role in promoting the competition to truck owners throughout the year, giving a feel for the Isuzu customer experience along with some fun and community spirit. 

“And we all know a bit of healthy competition is great for business!” 

Entering the competition is as simple as visiting isuzu.com.au and following the prompts on the Truck of the Year landing page. The form will ask for a photo of the applicant’s Isuzu truck and a short caption about how it is fit for their business purpose. Applicants who add further description and enthusiasm for the product are likely to catch the attention of the judging panel. 

Monthly winners are announced on Isuzu Australia's social media and the Isuzu Trucks Content Hub, with each of these winners in with a chance to take out a Series Prize or the Grand Prize as Truck of the Year. ​ ​ 

2023 monthly winners so far… 

This year the competition has seen a fantastic pool of entrants showcasing Isuzu trucks in a breadth of applications, trades and services across Australia. 

February Winner: Treesafe Environmental Services 

Treesafe opened up the competition for the year winning the February round with their FXZ 240-350 6x4 used in Southeast Queensland for hauling plant matter from tree removal and towing capital equipment such as excavators and woodchippers to job sites. 

“I think when you have an Isuzu truck, you know that you have the best truck on the road, and that's what we want to put into our business,” said Director of Treesafe Environmental Services, Sam Docker. 

March Winner: DJ Bourke Excavations  

DJ Bourke Excavations took out a prize for showing the payload to power capability of the NQR 87-190 Tipper through towing a skid steer and carrying a backhoe in the tipper tray. Based in Tasmania, DJ Bourke Excavations’ NQR delivers an all-in-one excavation experience. 

April Winner: Rotary Club of Pambula 

The Rotary Club of Pambula based in New South Wales captured the hearts of Isuzu judges with the unique application of their 2001 FVR 950. 

“Our FVR 950 ‘Beryl’ carries a mobile sound stage that we take to all our local communities who were impacted and in the devastating fires of early 2020,” said Colin Dunn of the Rotary Club of Pambula. 

May Winner: Adelaide Liquid Waste Solutions 

“Our new twin-steer FYH 300-350 has the capacity for a 16,000-litre tank, which at this stage makes it the truck with the biggest tank in our fleet for collecting liquid waste anywhere in Adelaide,” said Co-Director of Adelaide Liquid Waste Solutions, Suzanne Magro. ​ ​ 

Collected only weeks before entering the competition, Adelaide Liquid Waste Solutions new FYH 300-350 has been out on the roads solving liquid waste dilemmas throughout the greater Adelaide region. 

June Winner: Lolico Painting & Maintenance 

The Lolico Painting & Maintenance team showed their creative solutions for utilising the carrying capacity of their FRR 110-260 with unique compartments built into the tray for an all-in-one transport solution. 

“We designed the tray ourselves to carry tools and equipment,” said Daniel Taglieri. 

July Winner: BHL Plant Repairs 

The NPR 55-155 with AMT used as a service vehicle is tackling machinery repairs on job sites for BHL Plant Repairs, making their mobile diesel mechanic work efficient and worry free. ​ 

“My NPR 55-155 never fails, and it helps me with keeping my business running,” said Ben Sainsbury of BHL Plant Repairs. 

August Winner: Dynamic Hydro Excavations 

With multiple hubs across Australia, Dynamic Hydro Excavations has seen great growth thanks to a slick range of vacuum trucks and their hydro excavation techniques. ​ ​ 

“We have been operating Isuzu trucks for 20 years, so we’ve wrapped our new FVZ 240-300 to suit this theme. I have since added another five Isuzu Trucks to my fleet this year, making the fleet almost all Isuzu, Australia-wide,” said Andy Smith of Dynamic Hydro Excavations. 

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