LinCon Hire and Sales has strengthened its national fleet with Scania all-wheel drive trucks, supporting the transport and operation of its truck-mounted elevating work platforms across Australia.

Based in Brisbane, LinCon is a national leader in the hire, sales, servicing and repair of truck-mounted elevating work platforms, with offices in every state capital and around 140 vehicles in its fleet. Its equipment supports work across power, renewables, telecommunications, infrastructure and mining, from transmission line maintenance and telecom tower servicing through to wind farm construction.

As the business celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2026, LinCon’s relationship with Scania continues to grow. The company began purchasing Scania trucks in 2006 and has taken delivery of five new Scanias this year, with a further 15 on order.

LinCon favours the Scania P-series low roof cab, specified in 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 configurations. All-wheel drive is essential for the company’s work, with trucks often required to access remote and challenging terrain while carrying heavy Palfinger elevating work platforms.

The company’s 8x8 trucks are powered by Scania’s 500 hp 13-litre Super engine, while the 6x6 models use the 460 hp unit. With the finished vehicles weighing around 36 tonnes once fitted with platform equipment, strong power, torque, cooling performance and fuel efficiency are key requirements.

The latest deliveries include five 64 m elevating work platforms on Scania 6x6 chassis, with 10 Scania 8x8s on order for delivery over the next 12 months fitted with 75 m lifts. A further five 8x8s with 64 m Palfinger platforms are also on order.

The vehicles are built by Scania in Europe before being sent to Palfinger in Germany for the platform fitment. Once shipped to Australia, LinCon works with local suppliers to complete final modifications, including load-sharing suspension to increase front axle capacity.

Scania chassis are also used for LinCon’s Barin under-bridge inspection and maintenance units, where full airbag suspension helps create a stable working platform when the arm is extended.

Beyond the all-wheel drive rigid fleet, LinCon has also taken delivery of its first Scania V8, an R 660 prime mover rated to 130 tonnes. The truck will be paired with a Drake widening low-loader to transport LinCon’s 103 m Palfinger platforms mounted to five-axle Tadano crane carriers, which are used on wind farm construction sites and other major projects.

Fuel performance has been another important factor in LinCon’s move towards Scania. With heavy platform bodies permanently mounted to the trucks, every vehicle operates fully laden, making fuel efficiency an important part of the total operating picture.

LinCon’s work can take its vehicles to some of the most remote parts of the country. In Western Australia, the company is currently supporting a power transmission project around 200 km from Newman in the Pilbara, with 10 trucks and a rotating team of drivers on site. The project is expected to run for around two years, with servicing carried out on site to keep the fleet operating.

The company is also active on powerline projects through regional New South Wales and Queensland, where trucks may be sent away for weeks at a time to support repair and maintenance work.

Reliability is critical in this environment. While LinCon’s vehicles may not always record high kilometres, they spend significant time running the engine and PTO. The company aligns truck servicing with the 90-day inspection requirements for the elevating work platforms and has extended oil change intervals based on oil sampling results.

Technical Sales Manager Tony Fish says Scania has proven reliable in service, with strong support from the Scania Richlands team.

“The relationship we have with Scania Richlands is very good and very close. If there’s an issue or I need to know something, I know I’ll get an answer,” Tony says.

Mark ten Broeke, Scania National Fleet Sales Manager, says LinCon’s application highlights the strength of Scania’s all-wheel drive rigid chassis and Super 13-litre engine range.

“Our all-wheel drive rigid chassis and Super 13 six-cylinder engines are the ideal workhorse for customers like LinCon,” Mark says.

For LinCon, the move to Scania is about having the right trucks for work that can happen almost anywhere in Australia.

From remote powerline projects to wind farms and infrastructure sites, the company’s Scania all-wheel drive fleet is helping keep people, equipment and projects moving.

About LinCon

LinCon Hire and Sales was founded in 2001 by Director Colleen Lindores to support Australia’s safe access industry with globally recognised practices and technology. Today, the business is run by Colleen and her son Craig, providing hire, sales, service and repair solutions across power, renewables, telecommunications, infrastructure and mining.