Graeme Elphinstone, founder of Elphinstone Engineering, has been inducted into the Shell Rimula National Road Transport Wall of Fame, cementing his place among Australia’s most influential transport innovators.
The honour, announced during the annual Festival of Transport in Alice Springs, recognises Elphinstone’s more than 50 years of engineering breakthroughs that have transformed heavy vehicle safety, compliance and efficiency. His name now sits alongside more than 1,700 industry figures — from legendary drivers to visionary engineers — whose contributions have shaped the nation’s road transport heritage.
A Tasmanian born and bred, Elphinstone began his career in the early 1970s, quickly establishing himself as a problem-solver for the transport challenges of the time. In 1976, he and his brother, Dale, fitted Australia’s first on-vehicle truck weighing system to a Tasmanian log truck—a pioneering move that provided drivers with instant load data and dramatically reduced roadside weighbridge breaches. “Vehicle overloading was prevalent,” Elphinstone said. “One of the biggest problems for truck operators was accurately estimating the weight of their load. For the first time, logging transport had entered a new level of professionalism, with far fewer roadside weighbridge violations and drivers finally enjoying ‘peace of mind’ as they now had a legal load.”
The innovation also drove one of the earliest applications of what are now known as Chain of Responsibility laws — a “non‑payment for overload” policy at the Triabunna woodchip mill. Developed in collaboration with logging contractors and Transport Tasmania, the policy removed the incentive to carry overweight loads, improving safety and fairness across the supply chain.
From that first breakthrough, Elphinstone went on to deliver a string of Australian and world firsts that have since become industry standards. Among them:
- 1980: Invented the stretch mudguard, now widely adopted to reduce road spray and debris.
- 1983: Designed the world’s first self‑loading road train combination, allowing cargo to be loaded without external equipment.
- 1985: Developed the award‑winning “Tri‑Beam” suspension system, improving load distribution and durability.
- 1988: Created one of Australia’s earliest B‑double trailer designs, paving the way for their widespread use.
- 1989: Introduced the Easyweigh™ wireless onboard weighing system, enabling weight checks from outside the cab and allowing trucks and trailers to interchange without recalibration.
- 2008: Launched the PBS‑approved Easyloader™ Long Logger, capable of carrying 19‑metre logs on a 26‑metre B‑double combination.
- 2011–2013: Developed the Easysteer™ self‑steering suspension system, improving manoeuvrability and reducing tyre wear on long combination vehicles.
These innovations have improved driver safety, enhanced regulatory compliance and boosted operational efficiency across the Australian transport sector. Many of his designs remain in use today, a testament to their durability and foresight. “His pioneering work, such as Australia’s first onboard weighing systems, has left an indelible mark on the industry,” the Tasmanian Transport Association said when honouring his 50‑year career in 2024.
The Shell Rimula Wall of Fame, established more than two decades ago, is regarded as a cornerstone of Australia’s road transport heritage. The induction ceremony, held annually in Alice Springs, celebrates the men and women whose ingenuity, dedication, and service have driven the industry forward.
