For members of the IPWEA Fleet community, the 2026 IPWEA Fleet Conference offers more than just learning, networking and discussion. It also provides a rare opportunity to go behind the scenes of one of Australia’s most significant heavy-vehicle manufacturing facilities.
As part of the conference program, delegates will be able to take part in an exclusive Site Tour of the PACCAR Australia factory in Bayswater, Melbourne.
The PACCAR factory builds Kenworth and DAF trucks specifically for Australian operating conditions. With strictly limited numbers and access not available to the general public, the tour is shaping up as a major drawcard for fleet professionals working with heavy vehicles, plant and transport assets.
A cornerstone of Australian truck manufacturing
PACCAR’s Bayswater facility has been a cornerstone of local truck manufacturing for more than five decades. Since production began in the early 1970s, the site has grown into a world-class operation that designs and manufactures trucks to suit Australia’s harsh environments, long distances and demanding payload requirements.
The factory produces a wide range of Kenworth and DAF models, combining global engineering with local application expertise. Over the years, tens of thousands of Australian-built trucks have rolled out of Bayswater, supporting industries including freight, construction, resources, local government and essential services across the country.
Beyond manufacturing, PACCAR Australia is also at the forefront of innovation, with ongoing investment in safety systems, powertrain efficiency, emissions compliance and advanced manufacturing processes. For fleet practitioners, seeing how these vehicles are engineered and assembled provides valuable insight into durability, safety and whole-of-life performance.
Exclusive for the IPWEA Fleet community
For the IPWEA Fleet community, the Site Tour offers far more than a factory walk-through. It’s a practical, real-world extension of the conference themes around asset management, risk, safety, sustainability and value for money.
Delegates will gain a deeper understanding of:
- How heavy vehicles are designed for Australian conditions
- The manufacturing processes that underpin reliability and safety
- The decisions that influence long-term operating and maintenance outcomes
- The role local manufacturing plays in supply resilience and fleet support
It’s the kind of experience that brings policy, procurement and asset decisions into sharper focus — particularly for those responsible for specifying, operating or maintaining heavy vehicle fleets.
Another reason to attend IPWEA Fleet Conference 2026
The Site Tour will take place on Monday, 23 March 2026, ahead of the main conference program, with transport provided from South Wharf. Participation is limited and requires advance confirmation, including completion of a waiver and bringing appropriate personal protective equipment.
For many delegates, this behind-the-scenes access alone is a compelling reason to attend the conference. Combined with the broader conference program, which brings together fleet practitioners, industry experts and suppliers from across Australia and New Zealand, it reinforces the IPWEA Fleet Conference as a must-attend event for professionals serious about fleet and asset management.
Registrations for the conference are now open, with Site Tour places expected to fill quickly. For IPWEA Fleet members looking to connect learning with real-world insight, the PACCAR Australia factory tour is an opportunity not to be missed.
