Conquering the Canning Stock Route with Telematics

Attributed to Brendon Nazar, Regional Sales Manager, Fleet Complete

After 10 years away from motorbiking, the call of adventure with some friends led me back into the saddle for an ambitious journey: tackling the legendary Canning Stock Route.

This remote 1,800-kilometre trail cuts through the heart of Australia and has no phone coverage, fuel stations, or even shops.

For me, the journey from Wiluna through to Halls Creek wasn’t just a test of physical and mental stamina— it was also a deep dive into the rugged beauty of this historical route, and a trial by fire for our equipment.

Preparing for one of Australia’s most rugged routes

Having worked for a decade at Fleet Complete, a telematics business based in Australia, I had access to everything I needed to keep track of our progress and put the systems through the ultimate test. There are few rougher roads in Australia.

Planning for the trip alone took a year, as we had to identify all the automobile spare parts we needed to pack. But that was easier than emotionally preparing our families.

We knew that the full journey would not be without breakdowns, since we would have to travel across boiling soft sand and climb over hard rocks. The route ended up having one of the worst corrugations that I’ve seen in my life, and we even bent an axle on a trailer.

We embarked on this adventure with a fleet of close to ten four-wheelers, motorbikes, and support vehicles. Being well-prepared was key, so we also took along 3.5 tons of fuel, food, water, welders, and generators.

Staying in close touch without satellite phones

Although it was refreshing to be free from the constant pull of technology, our families needed to know that we were safe.
Before the journey, I fitted a telematics system – the Geotab GO9 Rugged – to my bike. Designed for the harshest conditions imaginable, this compact technology became our lifeline during the 13-day trip as it offered us a way to stay connected without the encumbrance of satellite phones.

With the device installed, they were able to track our day-to-day progress and ensure our safety from afar. By accessing a secure link, my father-in-law was able to monitor our adventure vicariously: he even got to learn about the history of the track as he followed us virtually. Our families were able to see where we stopped and for how long. 

Solely through the system, my family was aware that we had a breakdown after they noticed that we stopped for five hours during the day, outside of our normal trip. When we lost the axle to one of the trailers and stopped for four hours, they also sensed that something had gone wrong.

Duress button as a safety signal

I triggered the duress button on designated days and times to inform them that we were safe. We had an understanding that if I triggered it outside the fixed time periods, or if I never pressed that button at all, it meant that we needed help.

In case of an emergency, we could easily press the button to alert our families. This was a safety net that brought reassurance to us and to them, as Geotab’s system allowed for immediate alerts in critical situations – a feature that proved its worth in the vast emptiness of the Australian outback.

On top of the telematics on my bike, one of our support vehicles carried a portable case which was plugged into a cigarette lighter for satellite coverage using Geotab’s data subscription plan. Till today, I can still access my troop history on their platform, which is very useful to show the remoteness and the lack of data of the route.

Suffice to say, the device was subjected to conditions as harsh as any work site or remote exploration might offer. Very little care was given to the portable case, as we left it in the footwell of the car.

The trip of a lifetime, but also the first of many

Surviving the Canning Stock Route meant overcoming mechanical failures, navigational challenges, and the physical toll of long days in the saddle. Every breakdown, the corrugated roads, and the endless dust tested our resolve and resourcefulness.

Our equipment was pushed to the limit, yet through it all it remained reliable and functional. We spent a total of 21 days away from home, of which 13 days were spent conquering the track. Looking back, it was a transformative experience.

As my friends and I plan our next adventure into the Gibson Desert, the lessons learned, and the confidence gained from our time on the Canning Stock Route will guide us. The GO9 Rugged, having withstood one of the toughest tests on the planet, will undoubtedly be part of our gear, ensuring safety and connectivity no matter where the trail leads.