Terrence Baker

Terry played a major role in pioneering the ‘development and introduction of the first

‘B-double’ heavy vehicle combination in Queensland in 1985.

The B-double was a Canadian concept that had been used successfully in that country

for many years and Terry credits Luya Julius General Manager Kerry Noyes with

having the foresight and an unwavering desire to pursue a more effective, economical

form of transport in Queensland. Terry’s own contribution cannot be overstated as it

was his job to ensure that the new B-double concept worked. In his position as

operations manager for the Luya Julius Bulk Division and workshop manager he was

involved in all aspects pertaining to operational matters such as logistics,

infrastructure, vehicle specifications, compliance and procurement. Terry personally

drove this combination through out the evaluation and assessment trials which

required maneuvering the B-double around a figure ‘8’ course delineated by witch’s

hats. The course was successfully negotiated in both forward and reverse. It was

during these trials that Terry clearly demonstrated that the B-doubles

maneuverability compared favourably to that of a single 40’ tri axle trailer.

Queensland’s first B-double combination had an overall length of 23M and

comprised of a Kenworth K125 6x4 primemover coupled to two Hockney Alcan

tanker trailers in a tri-bogie configuration. This new combination had a payload of

35T a 40% productivity increase over conventional single trailer units and was

initially permitted to operate for a period of six months between Maryborough and

Bundaberg transporting Molasses.

Terry regards the receipt of Queensland Department of Transport permit no: BD001

to be quite an achievement and one that he is very proud of. This is especially

significant when considering that ‘B-Doubles’ have since acquired national

acceptance and are now regarded as the standard heavy vehicle combination for

Australia’s road transport industry.

Terry was further heavily involved in the trials of B-double operations in southern

NSW and northern Victoria and assisted Graham Elphingstone of Triabuna,

Tasmania, with the design and development of a folding skel B-double combination

for the cartage of short 6 metre long pine logs to the Australian Newsprint mills at

Albury.

As October 2010 will be the 25th anniversary of the successful introduction of Bdoubles

to Queensland, I feel that Terry Baker’s contribution is indeed worthy of

nomination for acceptance in to the Road Transport Wall of Fame.