At CST Hire, dedication to truck maintenance starts in the company’s own workshop, staffed with a team of ten skilled mechanics. Maintenance Manager Andre shared insights into how CST ensures its fleet is always ready for the field and meets the needs of clients across Australia. “We handle a lot of work in-house,” Andre explained, “especially on the modulus—customizing equipment like fuel reels on the back of our trucks. And for larger projects, we also have two full-time field mechanics who go out to service trucks directly on-site.”
In addition to their internal team, CST Hire partners with all of our major brand dealer networks around Australia. “Companies like Ultratune help with our light vehicle fleet, making sure we can maintain trucks wherever they’re needed,” Andre said.
Ensuring trucks stay operational year-round requires a proactive maintenance approach, something CST Hire prioritizes. “We follow a maintenance program that flags upcoming services,” Andre explained. “For clients with long-term rentals, they even book directly with our preferred suppliers for convenience.”
Key maintenance areas include standard servicing, tires, crane checks, and equipment on the trucks, which are all carefully monitored to comply with legal standards. “Our sales team asks all the right questions upfront to ensure the client gets exactly the truck they need,” Andre said. “Recently, we built a purpose-built field truck for a client, and after they started using it, we made modifications based on their feedback to better suit their needs.”
To keep trucks in peak condition, CST Hire goes above and beyond with its servicing schedule. “If trucks don’t get serviced frequently, it impacts fuel efficiency,” Andre noted. “We overservice our trucks by a large margin. While some trucks only need servicing every 50,000 kilometres, we check them every 10,000 to make sure they’re ready.”
Every truck undergoes a comprehensive inspection checklist before heading out for hire. “We follow a ‘ready for hire’ checklist and ensure all key components meet requirements,” Andre said. “For site-specific needs, we also complete inspections like BMA checks to make sure everything aligns with client expectations.”
Managing a fleet spread across Australia requires advanced tools. CST Hire uses an app called Upvise, which Andre described as invaluable. “Upvise allows us to view maintenance records nationwide. A mechanic working in Western Australia can see the same job card as our team here in Queensland, so if a truck moves across regions, everyone’s up-to-date on its history and needs.”
In-vehicle monitoring systems also offer clients a way to track driver behavior and fuel efficiency. “Some clients have moved our trucks to their own databases, which lets them monitor factors like idle time,” Andre added. “That way, they can improve fuel efficiency across their own fleets.”
Safety is a top priority at CST Hire, with the company investing in cutting-edge systems to reduce driver fatigue and improve safety. “We’ve equipped trucks with Guardian camera systems and fatigue management technology, especially in our ‘Safer Together’ spec vehicles,” Andre shared. “All our trucks from small 4x4s and up have stability control as well.”
Preventative maintenance is essential in CST Hire’s philosophy, as Andre emphasized: “Preventative maintenance is always cheaper than waiting for a breakdown. By routinely changing filters and servicing critical parts, we avoid major failures and keep our fleet dependable for clients.”
Ultimately, CST Hire’s dedication to truck maintenance translates into quality for clients. “Our clients expect the trucks to be in excellent condition,” Andre noted. “We make sure to check them over more often than required to meet that standard. Our goal is to provide a reliable, safe fleet that our clients can trust—anywhere in Australia.”
