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Mike Williams

Let’s truck some dirt in the Pilbara

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

Name: Mike Williams From: Sydney, New South Wales A bit about me: I’m a full-time truck driver, part- time 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 If 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 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.

That’s enough mate. I can only cart 150 tonnes

A bloke from Auckland was driving this one but he let me have a turn Kicking the tyres

Everyone carts big stuff out here Waiting in the marshal area

Just truckin’ along

Steel producers are grappling with the high price of iron... ...they say it’s a terrible ore deal. Blue sky truckin’ – how many tyres does it have?

68% of Australia’s export income comes from resources. These include iron ore, coal, aluminium, copper and gold. Look these up on the internet if you’re not sure what they are! Iron ore makes up about 32% of that, with 871 million tonnes exported out of Australia in 2021. That’s a lot of trains and a lot of really big trucks!