This build review covers an 18,000L WT30 water truck built on a Kenworth T360 8x4 chassis — delivered to THS Truck Hire Solutions during a period when backing local manufacturing was genuinely significant, not just a talking point.
The truck has since passed to CST Hire following their acquisition of THS, and it's still working. That's the measure of a good build.
The Story Behind This Build
When COVID disrupted global supply chains in 2020–21, lead times on imported equipment blew out significantly. For hire companies trying to maintain and grow their fleets, the uncertainty around offshore supply was a real problem. Sam Everingham at THS chose a different approach — backing local manufacturing when others were pausing orders.
That decision kept our team working through an uncertain period, and it produced a truck that has now delivered years of productive hire income for two different fleet operators. It's the kind of outcome that reflects well on everyone involved. We remember clients who back you when it's not easy.
Why the Kenworth T360 8x4
The Kenworth T360 is a well-regarded platform in Australian heavy civil and hire applications. The 8x4 configuration provides the axle spread and gross mass rating to carry an 18,000L water tank within applicable compliance limits — a configuration that a 6x4 platform wouldn't typically accommodate at this capacity without payload compromise.
For hire fleet operators, the T360 also offers strong operator familiarity, established parts availability through the Kenworth network, and a platform that holds its value over time. When the truck eventually changed hands from THS to CST Hire, the platform was a known quantity — which simplified due diligence and transition.
The WT30 Build — 18,000L Specification
This build was specified for demanding hire environments — sites where the truck needs to run hard, be operated by different people, and access a range of civil and mine site conditions.
- 18,000L baffled steel water tank — fully baffled to manage water movement on rough access roads and haul roads, structurally integrated into the body frame
- Hydraulic dribble bar and gravity spray options — switchable spray configuration for dust suppression and road base wetting across different task types
- Rear fan sprays and batter sprays — for broad coverage dust suppression on active haul roads and embankment faces
- Water cannon — for extended throw distance applications
- In-cab control systems — intuitive operator layout for a vehicle that will be used by multiple people across different sites
- Reverse camera and safety signage — standard for civil and mine site operation
- VSB6-compliant engineering and construction
Mine-Spec Compliance Fit-Out
The build includes a full mine-spec compliance package:
- Battery isolators and E-stops positioned to site standards
- Compliant handrail and access systems
- Beacon and compliance lighting to ADR and site requirements
- Wheel chocks, fire extinguisher, and safety signage
Mine site compliance requirements vary by site and operator. Safer Together, BMA, and site-specific standards all need to be confirmed directly before finalising a specification. We build to the compliance requirements of your target sites — but you need to bring those requirements to us at the start of the conversation.
From THS to CST Hire — The Asset Keeps Earning
When CST Hire acquired THS Truck Hire Solutions, this truck and others came with the business. That's a strong endorsement of build quality — assets that transfer with an acquisition are ones the acquiring party has assessed and decided to keep running, not retire or replace.
It's also a reminder of why specification decisions matter. A truck built to a genuine civil and mining spec — with compliant systems, quality materials, and operator-focused design — retains its value and utility across multiple operators and ownership changes in ways that a lower-spec build often doesn't.
What This Build Represents
Beyond the specification, this build matters to us because of when it was built and who it was built for. THS backed Australian manufacturing during a period when the easy call was to wait. We delivered a truck that's still earning its keep years later. That's the standard we hold ourselves to on every build.
This is a build review for a completed project. Specifications vary by build. VSB6 and mine-spec compliance requirements should be confirmed for your specific application and target sites before finalising a specification.
Any Type Trucks builds WT30 water trucks for hire and civil fleet operators across Queensland and Australia. View the WT30 range or call 07 5476 8499.
