Scaling Up Freight Efficiency for AMK Container Services through PBS
AMK Container Services, a Victorian-based container freight specialist, plays a key role in agricultural exports from rural Victoria and meat imports throughout Greater Melbourne. With growing volumes and the industry moving toward High Productivity Freight Vehicles (HPFVs), AMK recognised the need to transition to PBS-approved A-doubles, without scrapping their existing trailer fleet.
To make this transition cost-effective, compliant, and efficient, AMK partnered with BTT Engineering, a leader in PBS vehicle approvals, reverse trailer engineering, and heavy vehicle permitting.
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Avoid Costly Trailer Replacement While Gaining PBS Approval
In 2016–2017, AMK’s Director Michael Potton saw the shift coming: the freight industry was rapidly embracing Performance-Based Standards (PBS) as the future of efficient transport in Victoria and beyond. Michael aimed to adopt PBS A-doubles to increase payload capacity, but initial advice suggested he'd need to remake his entire trailer fleet.
“We were running into roadblocks—being told we’d need to remanufacture all our trailers to suit PBS requirements.”
With reliable trailers already in service, this posed a major financial barrier. AMK needed a smarter engineering solution that preserved existing assets while achieving full PBS compliance.
Reverse Engineering for PBS Certification + Strategic Road Access
That’s when AMK teamed up with BTT Engineering, whose team specialises in engineering assessment, trailer design optimisation, and PBS route approvals.
BTT Engineering delivered a targeted solution:
Reverse-engineered AMK’s existing trailers for PBS compliance—saving thousands in capital expenditure
Analysed axle spacing, dolly setups, and drawbar lengths, to meet PBS network standards
Identified road access pathways and secured permits for operating A-doubles on Victorian freight corridors
Provided fast, honest feedback on what would and wouldn’t be approved under PBS rules
“BTT told us what would and wouldn’t work. They helped us get PBS certification for our existing equipment instead of starting over.”
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More Volume, Same Fleet, Stronger Workforce
Today, AMK Container Services operates a modern mix of compliant and high-capacity vehicle types:
PBS-certified A-double combinations
B-doubles for general container freight
Single semi-trailers and side-loaders
Efficient rural-to-port logistics
But the benefits weren’t just in payload:
“One of the best parts was upskilling our current team—guys who used to run B-doubles now run A-doubles. That means we get more volume out without increasing headcount.”
This driver development strategy boosted efficiency while avoiding recruitment challenges—allowing AMK to deliver faster turnarounds and stronger client service.
The BTT Difference: Practical, Professional, and Problem-Solving
Michael describes BTT’s service as consistent, clear, and above all, effective:
“There’s no lowlights. Maybe it’s just standard service from BTT—but it’s excellent. We’ve never had a problem we couldn’t solve together.”