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First Kenworth T320A with new Allison auto showing its mettle
Take up of fully automatic transmission continues, as concrete agitator gets to work on major Melbourne project
[Family and business hold a special significance for Mark McCarthy of McCarthy Transport. He believes that in life, having a goal and striving toward it is essential. For Mark, the drive to succeed comes from a deep-rooted passion and the desire to honour his upbringing. “If it’s good enough for you to do it, I’d like to have a go at this,” he reflects. Starting his journey in 1975, Mark is now transitioning into retirement, confident that his two sons, Matthew and Michael, will carry on the family legacy. With eight grandsons in total, he hopes they will find a similar path and thrive as their fathers did.]
The first Kenworth T320A truck to come off the production line equipped with an Allison 3200 Series transmission has been hard at work since joining Piave Premix Concrete’s fleet in early 2026.
It’s now pouring the foundations at a major Melbourne redevelopment: the $5 billion Jam Factory site in the inner eastern suburb of Prahran. Moreover, the T320A will gradually replace the company’s current Kenworth T360-dominated agitator fleet.
Piave general manager Maurice Moffa says the 320A has been performing consistently well.
“Built to Euro VI standards, the new model offers us enhanced digital capabilities, Kenworth’s Fusion active safety technologies, exceptional manoeuvrability, a tight turning circle, short bumper-to-back-of-cab length, low tare weight and 180-degree visibility from the driver’s seat,” he said.
“Personally, I’m not a fan of the AMTs as they’re just not as responsive. We contend with a lot of stop-start traffic, so our entire company fleet is exclusively equipped with Allisons to enable us to move efficiently through the city.
“We don’t do a huge amount of high-precision work but, when we do, we’re confident the Allison will also allow for smooth pouring without any rollback. This accuracy is important when you need it – and supports the commitment we make to our customers to strive for perfection.
“For more than 30 years we’ve found Allisons to be robust and easy-to-drive, enabling us to put drivers of all manner of experience behind the wheel.”
Piave isn’t the only concrete fleet embracing the fully automatic transmissions, according to Allison Transmission’s Australian Sales Manager, Robert Cavagnino.
“These trucks are typically engaged in a heavy-duty cycle. Constantly working away as Australia’s building industry strives to meet the needs of our growing population,” he said.
“We get a lot of feedback that our transmissions are absolutely fit for purpose in this concreting – and the broader construction setting.”
