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Australia’s most durable side tippers! Haulmark Trailers: Heavy Metal in the Outback.
Why Roma Transport’s Charlie Burke Backs Haulmark Side Tippers for the Harshest Work on Earth
Roma Transport’s Charlie Burke back’s Haulmark side tippers.
There’s a certain kind of toughness you need to thrive west of Roma, Queensland. Not just in the people — though there’s plenty of grit among them — but in the machines that earn their keep across the unforgiving plains of the Channel Country, into the red heart of the Territory, and across the stony expanse bordering the Simpson Desert. This is the domain of Charlie Burke and Roma Transport, where soft options simply don’t last. And that’s precisely why Haulmark side tippers are his trailers of choice.
Out here, durability doesn’t just influence productivity — it is productivity.
A Legacy Forged in Gas, Oil and Guts
Roma, some 500 kilometres west of Brisbane, is better known for its rich history in gas and oil exploration than its tarmac. It’s home to Australia’s largest cattle saleyards and is a critical business hub for the Western Downs. But for transport operators like Charlie Burke, it’s more than just a postcode — it’s ground zero for some of the toughest freight tasks in the country.
Charlie cut his teeth carting supplies to gas exploration crews back in the late ’80s, when coal seam gas was still an emerging industry. In 1992, he joined forces with business partner Ian Forbes, forming Roma Transport. Today, the company boasts a fleet of 40 Kenworth prime movers, over 160 Haulmark trailers, and 50 Haulmark dollys. It’s a testament to three decades of steady growth driven by consistency, capability and no-nonsense gear.
“We’re often running rigs out 200 clicks west of Boulia, right on the edge of the Simpson,” Charlie explains. “You don’t send second-rate equipment into that country. It’ll chew it up and spit it out before smoko.”
Haulmark Trailers have built a strong reputation for providing quality manufactured transport equipment.
Built for the Battleground
Charlie’s trucks are specced with battlefield precision — and for good reason. These aren’t the flashy show ponies of urban haulage. They’re built for endurance, pure and simple. They are no ordinary Kenworths either, they optioned for extreme conditions, and it’s worth spending a few moments checking out the specifications. As you’d expect power wise under the hood is a Cummins engine rated at 550 horsepower, coupled to a Fuller RTLO22918B transmission. The tailshaft is Spicer’s SPL250 that connects to Dana D52-190 axles with cross-locks in the rear, and a final drive ratio of 4.56:1 all riding on Kenworth’s KW6-60A21T steel spring suspension. Up front is a heavy-duty King Bullbars with robust driving lights,
It’s a bulletproof combination that thrives in the dust, heat and remoteness of Australia’s inland frontier.
“You can’t afford breakdowns out here,” Charlie says. “It’s not just the cost of downtime — it’s the logistical nightmare. Getting a mechanic out to the middle of nowhere with the right parts? That can cost you five grand before the spanners even come out.”
It’s the same philosophy that drives his continued loyalty to Haulmark.
Haulmark side tippers lined up ready for work at Roma Transport depot.
Haulmark Toughness: The Burke Benchmark
Haulmark’s trailers aren’t the lightest in the business — and Charlie wouldn’t have it any other way.
“They’re heavy, yeah. But that’s what you want when you’re hauling casing, tubulars or road base into soft ground and bulldust pits,” he says. “They’ve got steel decks with a 5mm plate, more crossmembers than most, and they’re made for this sort of country.”
Haulmark’s side tippers are a standout in Charlie’s fleet. With high-strength, impact-resistant materials forming the body and doors, they’re engineered for the relentless pounding of unsealed roads and abrasive loads. The tub and hinge design ensures a clean tip every time — no hang-ups, no stuck loads, and no wasted time. That’s thanks to synchronized hydraulic systems, over-center valves and clever engineering that just works.
“The tub angles are spot on,” Charlie nods. “Even with sticky loads, they slide straight out. And the wear life on them is phenomenal.”
Every trailer is designed with field smarts in mind: integrated belly tanks for long-range fuelling, flip-over Road Train signs to suit quick configuration changes, and removable timber bolsters for tubular loads.
“They’re made for the job, not just sold for it,” Charlie says plainly.
Proven in Combat – Literally
If there were any doubts about Haulmark’s credibility in extreme conditions, their track record with the Australian Defence Force puts them to rest. Winning the massive LAND121 Phase 5B contract to supply over 2,500 trailers to Defence wasn’t just a big win — it was proof that Haulmark builds to a standard few others can match.
“It’s the same gear, the same engineering that goes into our trailers,” Charlie remarks. “That level of quality doesn’t just help them. It helps us.”
The Backbone Below – Why BPW Running Gear Rules
Underneath every Haulmark in Roma Transport’s fleet is another premium component Charlie won’t compromise on — BPW axles and suspension.
“BPW gives us the lowest whole-of-life cost by a long shot,” he says confidently. “We’ve run trailers a million k’s without touching the brakes, bearings, S-cams or bushes. You can’t argue with that.”
BPW Transpec’s support network is another factor that keeps Roma Transport rolling. With fast parts supply and a national footprint, downtime is minimised — which, out here, can mean the difference between profit and a logistical disaster.
“They’re built for the bush,” Charlie adds. “And they’ve never let us down.”
Luxury Where It Counts
Despite the rugged gear and rough roads, Charlie makes sure his drivers aren’t left behind when it comes to comfort. His Kenworths come with Ice-Pack air conditioning units, fridges, TVs, and water tanks — everything needed for days away from base.
“Look after your drivers and they’ll look after your gear,” Charlie says. “They’re out there doing the hard yards — they deserve a bit of comfort.”
The True Cost of Cutting Corners
Charlie’s advice for newcomers to the game is simple — don’t be seduced by cheaper, lighter gear on paper.
“Out here, the difference between a good trailer and a bad one is thousands of dollars — not in price, but in downtime, recovery costs, and repairs,” he says. “You only need one breakdown 400km from the nearest workshop to understand that.”
He points to the cost of quality components like BPW, Cummins, Kenworth and Haulmark, and then compares that to their performance and longevity.
“You might pay more up front,” he shrugs. “But five years down the track, you’ll still be running — and still making money — while the cheap gear’s long dead and gone.”
In a part of the country where failure isn’t an option, Roma Transport’s recipe for success is grounded in a tried-and-true combination: Kenworth power, BPW strength, and Haulmark toughness. It’s a heavy-handed approach — but in Charlie Burke’s line of work, that’s exactly what keeps the wheels turning.
Haulmark Trailer Features
- Built for the Outback – Engineered to endure Australia’s harshest conditions, Haulmark side tippers deliver dependable performance in rugged, remote environments.
- Durability that Drives Profit – Heavy-duty chassis and robust hinge designs ensure maximum uptime and lower maintenance costs, even under punishing loads.
- Proven Payload Efficiency – Optimised weight distribution and smart tare weight design enable higher payloads without compromising structural integrity.
- Versatile Side-Tipping Operation – Efficient unloading on either side of the trailer offers flexibility in confined or uneven sites, ideal for civil, mining, and agricultural applications.
- Low Maintenance, High Reliability – Simple hydraulic systems and quality components reduce servicing requirements and increase fleet availability.
- Operator-Focused Design – With safety and ease-of-use in mind, Haulmark side tippers feature intuitive controls, stable tipping geometry, and superior visibility.
