Just Trucking Around

Grimmy Roebuck

Mike Verran recently spent a day with Graeme (Grimmy) Roebuck, who drives (and is an all-rounder) for J Swap Contractors, based at Mt Maunganui. For Mike, the attraction of a day on the road was made even more desirable as the journey was in a CAT-powered Kenworth T900, towing a five-axle B-train bulk tipping unit.

Graeme grew up in a trucking family. Truck driving was all he ever wanted to do, and he now has an impressive 42-year history behind him.

His career started in a three-tonne TK Bedford at Hookers, based in New Plymouth. Then, after 25 years driving a Western Star bulk unit for RMD at Mt Maunganu, Grimmy thought he’d reached the end of his driving career when he moved to despatch for the following 12 years. Work then took him to J Swap, where he has been for the past five years.

Grimmy mentioned his favourite truck was an American Kenworth W900B, with a 600 Cummins and 18-speed Roadranger, owned by RMD. The extra bling made this unit an impressive sight. J Swap’s T900 comes a close second with the great vibes these old school trucks give out.

Grimmy enjoys being out on the road. He loves just “cruising”, finding it relaxing. He says it’s frustrating that current health and safety regulations prevent young fellas from riding along with their dads, which could encourage them to become drivers themselves.

Vexing question No.30 had Grimmy choose cabbage, with kale not an option.

Steve Bettin

Carl Kirkbeck and Gavin Myers had stopped at BP Bayview, about to head home from the Hawke’s Bay, when Waikato son Steve Bettin rolled up to the pumps in his new Scania R620.

Gleaming in East Coast Transport livery, the truck had been on the road only seven weeks and is the Ashburton fleet’s flagship – hence the graphic of the German battleship Bismarck on the sides of its cab. “The Bismarck was the flagship of the fleet, and I wanted something that doesn’t represent me but the fleet in case I leave one day,” explains Steve.

It’s kitted out with crates by Nationwide Stock Crates on top of a Jackson Enterprises deck and trailer. “It’s all good gear this. The trailers are super low to the ground and crates so deep,” says Steve.

A Euro man having come off a Volvo FH, Steve’s impressed with the Scania. “It’s a nice unit. The only thing the Volvo’s got is a bigger fridge. Other than that, everything else on the Scania is mint. You don’t get tired of driving it.”

Steve had just come from Taupo and dropped off a shipment of calves for export at the Port of Napier. He says it frustrates him how people get upset about the calves going overseas. “They have no understanding. All of them are bobby claves; farmers have kept them for this exact reason. If it wasn’t for the export… You know? I’ve had many arguments about it at the side of the road. They’re going over for a better life; they’re cherished and adored.”

Work currently takes Steve all around the country. “I love working. I love being up and down New Zealand,” though, he adds, the downside is leaving his family behind. “I was last home three weeks ago. I thought, ‘If I’m away this long, I’ll have their [his family’s] names on it’. The kids are over the moon to have their names on the truck.”

Steve’s vexing question was a steak and cheese or pepper steak pie? “Definitely steak and cheese, the old classic,” was his choice.

Seth Warren

While visiting Pio Pio on a blistering late summer afternoon, Craig McCauley had the good fortune to come across Seth Warren, who was giving the Kenworth K108 Aerodyne he drives for Progress Transport a once-over in preparation for an early start the following morning.

The Warrens are a well-known family of truck drivers, particularly in Taranaki and the King Country. Seth is among the fourth generation to join the industry, and before joining Progress, he worked as a machine operator for Inframax Construction.

He spent a lot of time in the passenger’s seat of a Progress Transport truck while growing up and leapt at the chance to drive for the firm when the opportunity arose. He started on PTL1, a Cummins Signaturepowered Freightliner Argosy, before going onto the K108.

When the topic of negatives about the industry was raised, Seth reckoned that everything about the job was pretty good. However, he doesn’t enjoy waiting when stock is being prepared for pick-up – but that goes with the job.

Living close to the well-stocked waterways of the North Island’s West Coast, Seth was asked if his preference was for whitebait or paua. The “ocean’s bounty” was his reply.

THE MURRAY FRANCIS

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