Isuzu announces 2023 Truck of the Year winners

Isuzu Australia Limited (IAL) has announced the winners of its 2023 Truck of the Year awards ahead of Christmas. 

The competition has brought Australian truck owners together for more than 30 years, celebrating life on the road and hundreds of hardworking businesses across the country.  

Isuzu says that decades after it started, the competition is as strong as ever and is proving that the art of trucking and appreciation for a great rig will never die. 

Every December since beginning, the competition’s judges gather to examine the winners of each monthly round and select who will receive the big prizes. Each selected monthly winner throughout the year receives a $1,000 Visa cash card.  

Monthly winner trucks then go in with the chance to win the Grand Prize, where the winner receives a $6,000 Visa cash card and the title of Truck of the Year. 

IAL national marketing and advertising manager Sam Gangemi says a large number of entries spanning a wide range of industry applications made the choice of winners difficult, but well-deserved. 

“Selecting the winners for the competition is a great way to round out the year, but it is also hard work with so many fantastic entries to consider,” Gangemi says. 

“This year we have four series ‘Kings’ and the ultimate Grand Prize winner, who have all been chosen for their Isuzu pride and spirit, along with the hard work undertaken by truck and driver. 

“We’ve seen it all this year, from mining trucks to waste recyclers, crane trucks, trade heroes and service units. 

“I would like to take the opportunity to warmly congratulate our prize winners and thank the many Isuzu truck owners who took the time to enter–we look forward to seeing you back again in next year’s competition.“ 

VTG’s FYJ 300-350 8×4, which is used for recycling and commercial waste disposal in Darwin, was the winner of the competition’s grand prize.  

The truck comes decked out in VTG’s striking custom ‘VTG green’ colour scheme. 

“Isuzu trucks are reliable, functional and well-suited to the tough environment of the Northern Territory,” VTG managing director James Prakash says. 

“We understand that giving our employees the right tool for the job is key to making service delivery happen efficiently and our custom green Isuzu fleet is a huge part of that.” 

Along with winning the Truck of the Year, VTG also receives the King of the FY series prize. 

Tasmanian-based company DJ Bourke Excavations’ NQR 87-190 Tipper was crowned as King of the N Series. 

Isuzu says that the tipper has enough payload to carry a backhoe and towing capacity to haul a skid steer loader. It says the company also has a rig that is ready to tackle just about any job for its clients. 

Daniel Taglieri from Victorian-based Lolico Painting and Maintenance was announced the winner of the ‘King of the F Series’ after submitting the company’s FRR 110-260. 

Isuzu says the truck has a custom-built tray that stands out from the crowd and showcases the reliability of its medium-duty models for trade applications. 

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

“We store plasterboard top and bottom, it has a custom canopy and storage and it has been fitted with a custom ramp at the rear for all our demolition needs.” 

Sam Docker from Treesafe Environmental Services took out the King of the FX Series title. Docker submitted the company’s FXZ 240-350 that Isuzu says is putting in hard yards for the arboriculture business throughout Southeast Queensland. 

“When it comes to Isuzu you know you have the best option of truck on the road and that gets put back into your business,” Decker says. 

Treesafe’s FXZ 240-350 was the winner of the FX series title. Image Supplied: Isuzu