Laszlo “Les” ”The Quadfather” Bruzsa
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame in 2022.
Laszlo Bruzsa, better known as “Les”, was born in Budapest, Hungary in February 1962 and attained a master's degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University of Budapest in 1987. He found employment as a fleet and development engineer at Hungarocamion, a provider of logistics services across Europe.
In 1989, Les visited Australia, a country known for its different truck combinations and as he had always wanted to work with big trucks, immigrating was an easy decision to make! Les arrived in Adelaide in 1991 but moved to Melbourne to work for Road User Research where he was involved in the testing and evaluating of heavy vehicle configurations.
In 1995 Les was employed by the Queensland Department of Transport in Brisbane. As the Principal Engineer he was responsible for assessing new vehicle combinations, developing technical standards and formulating policies and guidelines for vehicle use, access and management. Between 2000 – 2013, Les was also the senior advisor for ‘Productivity and Technology’ in the department as well as a technical adviser to the Performance Based Standards Review Panel for the National Transport Commission in Melbourne.
In 2013 Les was appointed Administrator of the Performance Based Standards Scheme by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator in Brisbane. As the chief engineer Les provides national engineering and technical leadership in performance advice for heavy vehicle criteria, modifications, manufacturers’ specifications and design rules in accordance with both Australian and international standards.
Les is known to many in the transport industry as the ‘Quadfather’ as he has been instrumental in the implementation of innovative, safer and more freight-efficient heavy vehicle combinations like B-doubles, AB-Triples, B-Quads, AAB and BAB quads. A wide variety of such vehicle combinations are now used across all states and territories and represent the norm in terms of productivity and road safety in the Australian road transport industry.
The advanced state of the road transport industry in Australia is well recognised by other countries, many of whom have shown a keen interest in adopting such aspects as vehicle combinations, fit for purpose modifications, road infrastructure development, regulations, a road safety emphasis and the role of ever-evolving Performance Based Standards.
Les has been at the heart of this movement and has received many awards and accolades for his achievements. He is an internationally renowned and respected authority on heavy vehicle technology, road safety and the complex interplay of heavy vehicles and roadways.
Down to earth, selfless, knowledgeable and an excellent communicator, Les’ passion for trucks has been at the centre of his life’s work. The contribution he has made to the development of Australia’s road transport industry cannot be under estimated.