Aussie Aussie Aussie
Pilbara Let’s truck some dirt in the
Mike Williams
Story and photos by Mike Williams
Our on-the-ground reporter in Australia Mike Williams shows us what trucker life is like in the hot, unforgiving climate of Western Australia
I Name: Mike Williams From: Sydney, New South Wales A bit about me: I’m a full-time truck driver, parttime podcaster and writer and a frustrated chef! My favourite drink is coffee and my favourite food is lemon tart. Favourite truck: Got to be the Kenworth T909
f you want to drive the biggest trucks on public roads in the world, you head to Western Australia. I was lucky enough to get to drive the biggest of them. I had to show I could do it first though – you need lots of experience and
training before you get the keys to a truck that’s worth over AU$1.5 million dollars! Anyone with the ambition to work in the trucking sector in Western Australia can work their way through the ranks and get to sit in the driver’s seat. There are a lot more
jobs than just drivers though. Without the heavy vehicle mechanics, autoelectricians and all the other support staff, we wouldn’t be able to move even a tonne of dirt! Where do you want to work in the transport team?
Left: It’s a 24 hour operation. Right: That’s a lot of iron ore and a lot of blue sky
Western Australia
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Little trucker down under
The Pilbara is a large, dry, thinly populated region in the north of Western Australia. It is known for its Aboriginal peoples; its ancient landscapes; the red earth; and its vast mineral deposits, in particular iron ore. It is also a global biodiversity hotspot for subterranean fauna.
