Big Rigs 17 February 2023

WESTERN Australia’s peak radiation safety agency is conducting an inquiry into how a radioactive mining capsule went missing off the back of a truck last month before being found a week later.

A Radiological Council spokesperson told Big Rigs that the probe is being led by its chair Dr Andrew Robertson, who is also the chief health officer for WA.

“It’s a thorough investigation, likely to take several weeks. Dr Robertson will make a report to the WA Health Minister at the conclusion of the investigation,” the council added in an emailed statement.

But under WA’s antiquated Radiation Safety Regulations Act – the safety laws date back to 1975 – the maximum single penalty that can be imposed for failing to safely store, pack and transport radioactive materials is a $1000 fine.

By way of comparison, under the chain of responsibility (COR) regulations within the Heavy Vehicle National Law –to which WA is not a signatory – companies could face up to a $3 million fine and their directors five years in jail.

WA Main Roads, the equivalent agency to the NHVR in the state, told Big Rigs that any breach of the COR legislation in relation to this matter falls under the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMIRS), which is responsible for the transport of dangerous

goods.

“In addition, Western Australia’s chief health officer has also stated his department is investigating the circumstances leading to the loss of the capsule,” a spokesperson said.

But the DMIRS told us it isn’t playing a formal role in any on-going investigations.

Since the incident that captured international media attention the WA government has now committed to reviewing its penalties for mishandling radioactive materials with even Prime Minister Anthony Albanese describing the current penalty as far too low.

“It shouldn’t have been lost, that’s the first thing. And second, yeah of course that figure is ridiculously low,” the prime minister said.

“But I suspect that it’s ridiculously low because people didn’t think that such an item would be lost.”

Liberal and Greens MPs in WA agreed the state’s regulation of radioactive materials needed to be reviewed.

“When you’ve got a penalty that’s so low that it’s actually cheaper to take shortcuts and do the wrong thing you’ve got a real problem,” Greens MP Brad Pettitt told ABC News.

“We’ve got bigger fines for littering in this state.”

Liberal MP Neil Thomson agreed the legislation did little to motivate companies to follow all safety procedures.

“There has to be the signal

sent to these companies that this is not something to be trivialised. This is such a serious issue,” he said.

“We need to have the strictest possible laws in place and penalties for non-compliance.”

The state’s peak trucking body, Western Roads Federation (WRF), was quick to alert members to the potential danger of the missing capsule last month.

“The substance is used within gauges in mining operations. Exposure to this substance could cause radiation burns or radiation sickness,” WRF said in a newsletter.

“The capsule is small (6mm diameter and 8mm tall), round and silver. Risk to the general community is relatively low, however it is important to be aware of the risks and what to do if you see the capsule.”

Described initially by authorities as searching for “a needle in a haystack”, the emergency services eventually found the tiny radioactive capsule near Newman seven days later, ending a large-scale interagency search for the missing object.

The operation, led by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES),

spanned 1400km kilometres from the outback to metropolitan Perth.

The capsule was located two-metres off the northbound roadside edge of Great Northern Highway by a vehicle search crew which was using specialised radiation equipment.

The capsule was then transported in a lead container to Newman for secure storage overnight before being taken to a WA Health facility in Perth.

Fire and Emergency Services

Commissioner Darren Klemm commended the efforts of all agencies and personnel involved in the massive operation.

“We have essentially found the needle in the haystack,” Commissioner Klemm said.

“When you consider the challenge of finding an object smaller than a 10-cent coin along a 1400km stretch of Great Northern Highway, it is a tremendous result.

“I want to thank everyone involved in the search – we called on a large number of agencies to assist and this was a great example of working together to achieve an outstanding result.”

Western Australia’s Chief Health Officer and Chair of the Radiological Council Dr

Andrew Robertson said the chances of anyone being contaminated by the source were extremely remote.

“As I have mentioned previously, to be at risk of radiation exposure you need to be close to the source for a period of time,” Dr Robertson said.

“If you were one metre away from the source for one hour, that would be the equivalent of receiving the radiation dose of 10 X-rays.”

Mining giant Rio Tinto expressed its gratitude to the various agencies involved in the frantic week-long search for the capsule lost while in transit from the company’s Gudai-Darri iron ore mine in the Pilbara.

“While the recovery of the capsule is a great testament to the skill and tenacity of the search team, the fact is it should never have been lost in the first place,” said Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Simon Trott.

“I’d like to apologise to the wider community of Western Australia for the concern it has generated.

“We are taking this incident very seriously and are undertaking a full and thorough investigation into how it happened.”

[l-r] DFES Bravo team leader Jason Paull, ANSTO senior associate physicist Dr Lachlan Chartier, ANSTO radiological emergency manager Prashant Maharaj and DFES search team member Dom Reay. Photo: DFES

The capsule was located two-metres off the northbound roadside edge of Great Northern Highway. Inset: The tiny capsule is used within gauges in mining operations.

NSW lagging behind on rest stops, says NRFA

ROD Hannifey is hoping that truckies finally got the message about parking bays through to NSW Roads Minister Sam Farraway at the National Road Freighters Association (NRFA) conference in Wagga Wagga earlier this month.

This issue went to the printers just prior to the February 11 summit, but the Dubbo-based NRFA president had vowed to vent his frustrations to Farraway, a guest speaker.

“I will be involved in the federal steering committee for truck rest areas, and it’s good to see NSW is stepping up to it,”

Hannifey told ABC News.

“But honestly, it’s taken far too long and blokes have been put into situations they should never have been put in if we had suitable and sufficient truck rest areas. It’s ridiculous.”

Hannifey said truckies often had no choice but to drive “buggered” due to a shortage of truck bays and rest stop facilities.

He says trucks bays being demolished in NSW to make way for more overtaking lanes is only exacerbating the issue and cited bays near Trewilga, Boggabilla, the Pilliga, and West Wyalong as recent losses.

Farraway said the state government was reforming its rest stop policies and is seeking truckies’ feedback on the issue until February 28 at haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/heavy-vehiclerest-stops.

“The best way we can develop better rest stop policy is to actually listen to truckies,” Farraway said.

“I want to hear from truckies across our state on how we can do this better so we can develop good policy.”

A sceptical Hannifey said it was great to see more government consultation on the issue,

but was adamant that it should have come sooner.

Hannifey, along with three other association luminaries and five truckies – Kellie Boland, Bruce Skelton, Frank Black, Heather Jones and Craig Forsyth – have their first rest area steering committee meeting in Canberra on February 20-21.

The committee, which is chaired by WA Senator Glenn Sterle, is tasked with deciding how $140 million in federal funds will be spent on truckies’ rest areas around Australia over the next decade.

Rest areas high on agenda in new national safety plan

A new National Road Safety Action Plan has been released, with building and upgrading heavy vehicle rest areas set out as being one of the key priorities.

The first National Road Safety Action Plan (2023–2025) for the National Road Safety Strategy 2021–30 has been agreed by Australian, state and territory road and transport ministers.

The Action Plan focuses on

delivering tangible and measurable actions, clear responsibilities and timeframes. It sets out the actions the Australian, state and territory governments will take to implement the nine priority areas in the strategy over the next three years.

Australian Government actions will include:

• improving regional and remote road safety through

targeted road safety infrastructure programs, • progressing the uptake of new vehicle safety features and technologies through new Australian Design Rules, and

• building and upgrading heavy vehicle rest areas.

An annual progress report against the Action Plan will be provided to infrastructure and transport ministers and public-

ly released each year, providing transparency on the road safety activities of all governments.

Local governments manage 75.3 per cent of all roads across the network. This Action Plan includes actions from the Australian, state and territory governments to support and build the capacity of local governments to deliver stronger safety outcomes on their networks.

The Action Plan recognises

the importance of robust road safety data, committing the Australian, state and territory governments to developing a National Road Safety Data Collection and Reporting Framework.

This framework will provide a clearer way to build a national data set for road safety that provides insights into where serious injuries and deaths are occurring and their contributing factors.

The Action Plan also includes the development of a National Research Framework to improve coordination, test new concepts and ideas, develop best-practice approaches and consider emerging issues.

This process will commence with a review into the research, funded by the Australian Government, which is currently being undertaken by various institutions.

Rod Hannifey says it’s taken far too long for NSW to take action on rest areas.

Truckies keep droughtstricken town hydrated

WHILE many parts of the nation have been affected by floods, a drought-hit Central Queensland community has been relying on truckies to bring in fresh drinking water each day.

Residents in the Rockhampton town of Mount Morgan have been on strict level six water restrictions since March 2021. These restrictions were put into play after the dam fell below 10 per cent capacity.

Residents have had to rely on about 20 truckies to come into the town each day, carting water tankers from Gracemere. The tankers provide approximately 160 litres of water per person, per day.

Once the trucks deliver to the reservoir, the water is again disinfected to ensure its quality remains after the journey. It’s then distributed using the same water distribution system that has been supplying water to the Mount Morgan community.

The Queensland Government announced a $10.8 million funding boost on January 31, that will allow the Rockhampton Regional Council

to continue keeping the town of Mount Morgan hydrated, while the area continues through drought.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Local Government Steven Miles said the funding would keep this essential service on the road while a pipeline from Gracemere to Mount Morgan was built.

“Council has been carting water to the Mount Morgan Treatment Plant, making about 20 water tanker deliveries a day and meeting costs of about $5.7 million to date,” explained Miles.

“The Palaszczuk Government is providing a Special Assistance Package of up to $10.8 million to council to cover the cost of water carting into next year, when the pipeline is expected to be completed.

Rockhampton Regional Council Mayor Tony Williams added that council has started preliminary works on this permanent solution for the region’s water security.

“While we plan and build a new water pipeline from Gracemere to Mount Morgan, this new funding will help ensure we can continue to

supply drinking water to the Mount Morgan community,” Williams said.

“This is essential for the people of Mount Morgan as works progress towards a permanent water supply.”

Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke also welcomed the funding. “The Mount Morgan community deserves secure access to water supply. This funding and the construction of the pipeline ensures that,” O’Rourke said.

“It also means Rockhampton Regional Council won’t be required to continue funding the carting of water.”

The new funding will be available to Rockhampton Regional Council over the 2022-23 and 2023-24 financial years.

In June 2022, the Queensland Government also announced a $40.4 million funding commitment towards the Mount Morgan water pipeline. The project is expected to take around two years to build.

Plans include the use of a more efficient alignment for the Mount Morgan Water Pipeline.

The new alignment will use the existing road reserve from the Poison Creek intersection up the Razorback Road and into Mount Morgan via Creek and Baree Street, up East Street extended, across the Dee River, into Black Street and then finishing at the South Reservoir.

“The alignment that was originally identified in the Business Case used the existing rail trail up the Razor-

back, however a number of construction concerns were identified with this option,” explained Williams.

“Some of these concerns were that the pipeline would go through private properties, there would be significant environment overlays, major telecommunications infrastructure is already on that alignment, and constructing in service access roads would cause issues for accessibility,

these are just a few of the concerns we had.

“Once these issues were identified, an alternative option was reviewed which has turned out to be a much better option for the construction of the pipeline.

“This new alignment is a more direct route and saves about 1.5 kilometres in pipeline and construction so it makes much more sense to go with this option.”

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Staged reopening for flood-damaged highway

TEMPORARY repair work to a badly damaged section of the Great Northern Highway between Broome and Derby has been completed, thanks to a 40-person strong road construction crew. A staged reopening has followed.

The repair works include the construction of a temporary single-lane gravel track, reconnecting Broome, Derby and Fitzroy Crossing by road for the first time since the floods.

“I want to thank Main Roads and the hard-working road construction teams who have been out there working most days in some really challenging wet season conditions to get this temporary track completed in less than four weeks,” said WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti.

“Seeing the early vision of the floods and the scale of damage that was sustained to the road infrastructure, it’s an incredible achievement to be able to open up the highway in a limited capacity this quickly.”

As part of the staged reopening, vehicles are being escorted in alternating east and west convoys, using the single lane gravel track under speed restrictions.

“This staged re-opening will allow movement of critical freight and local community members between

Broome, Derby and Fitzroy Crossing for the first time since the floods,” added Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna.

“Pending weather conditions, we expect that within the next few weeks the second lane of the temporary gravel track will have finished construction, allowing traffic to move more freely.”

Permanent repair works will be undertaken in the dry season.

Travel times across the 10-kilometre section are likely to average between 15-20 minutes per convoy. Wait times at the controlled access points either side of the temporary track at the Willare Roadhouse and the Cockatoo Creek Bridge are likely to average 30 minutes.

Toowoomba eastbound lane back in play for truckies

All vehicles will need to follow the direction of traffic controllers and drive to the reduced speed limit.

Crews will be monitoring the weather and road conditions and if necessary short-term closures may be implemented if the unsealed conditions deteriorate due to further significant rainfall.

Planning continues for the temporary low-level crossing which will provide a more permanent option while the new Fitzroy Crossing Bridge is constructed.

Procurement for the full replacement of the Fitzroy Crossing Bridge is being fasttracked, and the WA Government plans to award a contract in coming weeks.

AS eastbound lane of the Toowoomba Bypass was reopened on February 3.

The eastbound lane can be used for vehicles up to 3.2m wide, or vehicles up to 4.5m if the load is greater than 1.0m off the ground.

Larger vehicles are required to detour via the approved route through Toowoomba (see map above).

Vehicles between 3.5-6.2m wide and no higher than 5.4m, will only be permitted to travel through Toowoomba between 9pm-5am, with no permit amendment required.

Vehicles between 6.21-7.9m wide and no higher than 5.4m, will only be permitted to travel through Toowoomba between 11pm-3am. They must submit a Traffic Management Plan (TMP) for the alternate route only. TMR approval is required

prior to travel.

For vehicles 7.9m wide and above, travel through Toowoomba will only be permitted between 11pm-3am. They must identify an alternate route and submit a permit application with a completed TMP through the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.

The westbound lanes remain unrestricted for all oversize vehicles.

Nexus Infrastructure CEO James Thewlis said works had progressed well. He was pleased to be opening this lane ahead of schedule.

“With the initial stabilisation works complete, we are now able to confidently reopen an eastbound lane for motorists,” Thewlis said.

“Works will continue on the cutting repair but this closure and stabilisation work will al-

low us to re-construct the cutting while maintaining traffic flows on the bypass.

“We thank the community and motorists for their patience during this time while these essential works were carried out.”

He added that one lane will remain closed for the duration of the reconstruction works but this is unlikely to impact on travel times.

“Safety is always at the top of our priority list and we ask motorists to be aware the works and follow the signage as directed for their safety and the safety of others.”

There will be a 40km/h speed limit when moving through this section of the bypass.

Shipping containers have been setup in this area as a barrier between ongoing works and geotechnical monitoring of the cutting will continue.

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A temporary gravel track will reconnect Broome, Derby and Fitzroy Crossing by road for the first time since the floods.

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Driving industry forward to find future workforce

THE Queensland Trucking Association (QTA) is on the front foot to find new talent for the road freight industry, creating a ‘Get in2 Transport and Logistics Industry Awareness Program’.

As part of its workforce strategy to solve industry attraction issues, the program will create awareness of the opportunities the industry has to offer.

The first step is industry visits to local transport and logistics businesses to promote the employment opportunities to career pathways staff, with subsequent tours for high school students.

The first tour was held in Townsville on Tuesday, February 7, for career pathways and career transition professionals.

With over 10 schools and organisations involved, four local businesses are showcasing their facilities and depots with on-the-ground insight into the job roles available in the sector.

“Seeing the industry in action is important as it highlights the critical role the industry plays in not only servicing our communities, but

the endless opportunities that are available in the industry,” said QTA CEO Gary Mahon.

“The aim of the tours is twofold, one for career pathway staff to see first-hand the job roles available to assist in promoting these to students and guide subject selection and training options to plan entry into the sector rather than finding it by chance. Secondly, for employers to form mutual connections with the local secondary schools and to meet engaged students who are interested in gaining employment.”

Included in the Townsville industry tour was the heavy vehicle truck and trailer industry as there is an urgent need for tradespeople providing excellent opportunities for apprenticeships and traineeships in a range of areas.

The four businesses who took part in the first tour included Brown and Hurley, Followmont Transport, Harbourside Cold Stores and Haulmark Trailers hosted over 10 secondary schools from both the public and private school sectors, as well as Employment Services provid-

ers and programs within the Townsville area.

Attendees also had the opportunity to get into a prime mover which was provided by Emerald Carrying Company for the morning.

The QTA would like to acknowledge and contribution of time that all businesses provided and the commitment from all the schools involved to participate in the first Get in2 Transport and Logistics Industry Tour.

QTA staffers Frances Schafer, the NQ membership officer, and industry skills advisor Camilla Elmes were on the ground to coordinate the day and assist employers and attendees with information on the heavy vehicle driving apprenticeship, vocational training opportunities and pathways into the industry.

Feedback from participants was extremely positive and indicated that the tour was a valuable way for career guidance and pathway professionals to get an up close look at the transport industry to properly inform students first hand on what the industry looks, feels and sounds like.

Interest from the schools for the student tour in April was overwhelming with over 160 students and potential job seekers anticipated to attend.

Employers who hosted the tour were greatly appreciative of the support provided by the QTA to coordinate the Get in2 Transport and Logistics

Program and rolling the first pilot session out in Townsville.

In this climate, where labour shortages are the key struggle for industry, providing this opportunity has created valuable connections between industry, schools and other community programs that will feed future employ-

ees into the sector, said the QTA.

Schools and businesses in the transport and logistics sector looking to take part in future tours are encouraged to express their interest by contacting Schafer on email at frances@qta.com.au, or by phoning 0427 815 468.

Attendees in Townsville had the chance to get into a prime mover provided by Emerald Carrying Company for the morning.

Headwinds ahead after record start to truck sales

TOTAL new truck sales for January jumped to a record 2785 units, 22.9 per cent up on the previous best mark for the month recorded in 2008, according to the Truck Industry Council (TIC).

But TIC CEO Tony McMullan said that although pleasing to see, the industry should not read too much into the record numbers.

“We are facing ongoing headwinds, supply chains remain fragile at best, inflation is still too high, there are potentially more interest rate rises on the way in 2023 and the Australian and global economies are cooling quickly,” cautioned McMullan.

“There is even some talk of a potential economic recession.”

McMullan believes the industry will have a much better indication of how the market is tracking at the end of the first quarter and sales have had a chance to “normalise”.

“January and even February sales, are subject to fluctuations and some inconsistencies due to the transition of supplying trucks from one year to the next and the sum-

mer holiday period.”

McMullan cites the last record January in 2008 as a prime example of how a year can get off to a stellar start, then quickly go sideways.

“Truck sales continued at record levels until just after the mid-year point when the Australia economy succumbed to the effects of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) and new truck sales slowed considerably thereafter.

“Truck OEMs, body builders and equipment suppliers alike, will be hoping that scenario is not repeated in 2023, as the 2008 GFC downturn led to significant job losses in the manufacturing sector.”

Cautions aside, it was certainly an encouraging start for most of the manufacturers in the heavy-duty sector.

Coming off the record sales final quarter of 2022, it was expected that heavy truck sales would slow a little coming into in 2023 due to ongoing supply chain issues.

But the segment also set a new record of 944 sales, up 130 trucks, or 16 per cent, on the 2008 mark.

As in most months, Ken

worth again topped the charts, notching an impressive 197 sales and a market share of 20.9 per cent.

Volvo wasn’t far adrift with

175 (18.5), followed by Isuzu on 150 (15.9).

The leading trio gapped the rest, 88 sales clear of a cluster headed by UD Trucks with

62 units sold in January.

Fifth-placed Scania was a noticeable casualty of the seasonal impacts highlighted by McMullan with just 58 sales.

In the medium duty race, Isuzu was immune to supply chain issues besetting others, notching an impressive 261 sales, 180 more than nearest rival Fuso.

The segment was also up over the 2022 January result, with 445 medium truck deliveries for the month of January 2023, verses 421 trucks in January 2022, a gain of 5.7 per cent.

This result is well short, 106 trucks, or just over 19 per cent, of the best ever January deliveries of 551 medium trucks achieved in 2008. However, as TIC has reported previously, the segment is a shrinking market, so it is unlikely that we will ever see new medium truck sales rewriting the record books.

Light-duty trucks set a new sales record for the month of January 2022 and went on to set a new sales record for the

Not our problem

JAMES GRAHAM

WITH so many agencies and associations in trucking, it’s easy at Big Rigs to find oneself caught in the middle of clashing agendas when chasing a story.

But it’s safe to say that the missing radioactive capsule scare in WA (see page 2) takes the cake in the buck-passing stakes. I got passed from so many agencies, all claiming it was the next one’s responsibility, that I felt like nuclear safety inspector Homer Simpson - the inspiration for Ryan Lee-Taylor’s brilliant drawing on the right - after one too many Duff beers at Moes.

Then, when I finally did find the right body in charge, the Radiological Council, I got an automatic reply to say it was so swamped that it would take at least two weeks to come back to me. How many missing pieces of radioactive equipment are there gathering dust in the Pilbara? As for the measly fines if found guilty of wrong-doing, it’s no wonder that apologetic mining giant Rio Tinto was reportedly offering to fund the search.

EDITOR

Logbook fines the final blow for owner-operators

BY DANIELLE GULLACI

WITH a great contract already lined up, things were looking bright when this Cobar based couple decided to buy their own truck – but then Covid hit and that all went out the window.

Add to that the rising fuel and registration costs and four logbook fines – and John and Faye McGrath were left with no other option than to close their small transport business JFM Haulage.

John, who is just 40 years of age, was born and bred into

trucking and farming. “He’s been trucking all his life. It’s in his blood and he loves it,” said Faye. “His grandfather was still driving at 70-odd years of age and John is still so young to be giving it up.”

The couple purchased a 2013 Freightliner Coronado three years ago, in early 2020. They had secured a great contract with a business in South Australia. “We bought the truck and went to pick it up right around the time that Covid hit, so we lost that contract,” explained Faye.

She said they had high hopes when they decided to take the plunge and go out on their own. “Our goal was to pay our house off a little bit quicker and get ahead of things. That contract would’ve brought in $15,000 a week. Then Covid hit and it was gone. We didn’t know what to do.”

Working to get a new business off the ground is hard at the best of times, without throwing in a raft of unprecedented restrictions, border closures and everything else that came with the pandemic.

“We struggled for a while

but were able to buy a flat top trailer and keep working. With Covid, it was really hard. We then sold that trailer and bought a tautliner,” explained Faye.

The couple were able to secure a new contract running from Newcastle to Perth each fortnight. They then hired another trailer and dolly as they

worked to build up their customer base.

“With the rising cost of fuel around March/April last year, it was getting really hard. At one stage, it was costing us $10,000 just in fuel to go across to Perth and back.

Then there’s the costs for rego, the truck repayments, insurances, etc,” revealed Faye.

“We pushed and struggled, and there were many times John wanted to give up, but I said let’s just keep trying to push forward.”

They made the heartbreaking decision to sell the truck, and it went to auction in June last year. They initially tried downsizing from a truck to a ute. “We made just enough to

John and Faye McGrath were optimistic about the future when they bought their own truck.

The McGraths purchased this 2013 Freightliner Coronado three years ago.

cover paying it out and then we sold the tautliner. Without the truck, John decided to use a ute and a 6-metre trailer with ramps. He tried that for a while but it wasn’t any easier, even with the reduced fuel costs, the rising cost of everything still made it hard.”

Things went from bad to worse when John received four logbook infringements in SA, each carrying a maximum penalty of up to $11,450.

After being adjourned several times, the matter was brought before the Port Augusta Magistrates Court in South Australia on December 12.

As these fines were a first-

time offence and with an early guilty plea, the total penalty actually imposed was $7024. They’re now having to pay that off in instalments as they work to get back on their feet.

“Fair enough he made mistakes on his logbook but you see on these TV shows where people get pulled up for drink and drug driving and they get these small fines. It’s just ridiculous. It’s the little person trying to make a living up against the NHVR,” Faye said.

“Yes, he made mistakes in his logbook and was regretful. For a little business like ours, that’s just a small hus-

Industry hits back at flawed FTC report by think tank

THE trucking industry would be decimated if a new proposal from an academic think tank to dramatically increase the effective fuel tax on trucks succeeds, warns the Australian Trucking Association (ATA).

The Grattan Institute has released a report on fuel tax and the fuel tax credits (FTC) system, Fuelling Budget Repair.

The report claims that the $8 billion a year in FTC given to businesses, including trucking operators, should be cut in half, to help repair the budget and reduce carbon emissions.

many trucking businesses would fold. And costs in rural and remote areas would go up even more.”

Smith said the effective fuel tax on trucks should be set to recover the cost of the roads we need, and not inflated by extra costs or poor state government spending decisions.

The Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) was also quick to rebuke the claims from the Gatton Institute.

ludicrous,” said the TWU national secretary Michael Kaine.

“This move would unfairly target operators and drivers battling razor-thin margins, under pressure to cut corners in safety to stay afloat. It would decimate operators and supply lines with deadly consequences in what is already Australia’s most lethal industry.”

band and wife operation, that amount of money just seems really ridiculous,” Faye said.

Now John is working at a farm in Narromine, some 250km away from their home in Cobar, while Faye has just found work locally.

“Even though we’ve sold up, we still need to pay our bills just like everyone else,” Faye said. “At the moment, John doesn’t feel like he’ll ever get back into truck driving –I’m hoping one day he will, because it’s in his blood. Both his grandfathers were truck drivers. His brother was too but gave it up 12 months ago. I just don’t know what the future holds.”

The institute is proposing that the current FTC for heavy on-road vehicles of 20.5 cents per litre (cpl) be removed, increasing the effective fuel tax rate to 47.7cpl. At present, trucking operators can claim back 20.5cpl on their business activity statements, which is the difference between the fuel excise of 47.7cpl and the road user charge of 27.2cpl.

ATA chair David Smith says Grattan’s proposal would spell disaster for the trucking industry – and ultimately for consumers. “There is no way that any transport business could survive this,” he said.

“Diesel is our biggest cost. We’re already fighting ridiculous fuel prices; this would be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

“Ultimately, our customers would have to pay the extra cost. But on the way through,

The union warned that the short-sighted and dangerous calls to wipe out the FTC credit lifeline for truckies would send transport operators and owner drivers to the wall and cause more truck crash deaths.

The FTC scheme provides relief to operators and drivers on “razor-thin” margins, while wealthy retailers, manufacturers and oil companies at the top of supply chains squeeze transport contracts to bolster their bottom line, the union said in a statement.

The TWU believes that a sustainable transition to clean energy in transport must first address the ‘Amazon Effect’ of untrammelled commercial clout at the top of the supply chain and the gig tsunami “wiping out safe, fair and sustainable standards”.

“The prospect of tampering with – let alone halving – a fuel cost lifeline for our essential trucking industry in the current climate is as dangerous as it is

Kaine said that last year proved that the removal of such credits under the Morrison government did not see increased costs absorbed at the top of the supply chain but inflicted upon those struggling at the bottom.

“We need long-term, practical and sustainable reform which recognises commercial reality, not the blinkered theoretical economic view which frankly is a fantasy,” he said.

“The solution to this is already in the works, with the federal government committing to set fair, safe and sustainable standards in transport, which will be introduced to parliament later this year.

“The Grattan Institute would find it is better placed to join the conversation here, after first listening to and understanding the industry.”

It’s the second time in recent months that the institute has earned the ire of the transport industry. Just last August it floated a proposal to ban pre-2003 diesel trucks from Sydney and Melbourne within three years in a bid to reduce emissions.

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After selling the truck, they tried to keep the business going with a ute.

Transport operator receives Australia Day honours

BY DANIELLE GULLACI

THE man behind a Sydney-based charity and trucking operation, Amar Singh, says it’s a “huge honour” to be named the 2023 Australian of the Year Local Hero.

Singh’s Australia Day honour comes after he was named NSW Local Hero at the NSW 2023 Australian of the Year Awards in November. He also presented an Australia Day address in Western Sydney, where he shared his inspiring story.

“For somebody who landed here 25 years ago, working for the betterment of society, I was crazy happy to get the NSW Local Hero honour. To get the Australian Local Hero is such a huge honour but it was also great to be able to meet all of

the other local heroes too. I’m dedicating my year to working with each of the state recipients because I think every charity and every issue people raise is a worthy cause,” explained Singh.

He came to Australia in 1998 at the age of 15, from Punjab in northern India; and became an Australian citizen in 2000.

After experiencing racial slurs and insults because of his Sikh turban and beard, he wanted to show people they didn’t need to be afraid. With that in mind, he launched his charity Turbans 4 Australia in 2015. Its goal is to help struggling Australians. At first it was a small group of volunteers working together to help local causes. Now it is a national charity with over 300 volunteers.

Last year he expanded on

this by launching the charity’s logistics arm, Green and Gold Charity Logistics, all while running his own transport company too.

The Green and Gold Charity Logistics trucks are used to pick up bulk donations and get them quickly to wherever it is that they are needed.

Along with his charity work, Singh has had a long career in trucking, that started when he bought his first truck – a rigid – in 2004. He moved into general freight, including local and interstate work and his business has been doing tipper work, delivering road mix for the past eight years.

But with Singh’s charity work taking off, he’s now looking to downsize his own transport operation so he can dedicate himself to his cause full time.

Every week, Turbans 4 Australia packages and distributes up to 450 food and grocery hampers to people experiencing food insecurity in Western Sydney. He uses his trucking experience to keep everything running smoothly.

The charity also raises awareness and funds for important causes while promoting multiculturalism and religious tolerance. But the organisation is best known around Australia for transporting emergency goods to those in need.

Turbans 4 Australia has delivered hay to farmers experiencing drought; supplies to flood victims in Lismore and bushfire-impacted people on the South Coast; food hampers to the isolated and vulnerable during Covid-19 lockdowns; and supplies to the Salvation Army in central Queensland in the devastating wake of Cyclone Marcia.

Singh says things have been “crazy busy” with Turbans 4 Australia and Green and Gold Charity Logistics and hopes that his recent honour can help to further his cause.

He is now operating out of three warehouses, including a Sydney facility, along with a new Melbourne warehouse that has just opened in Thomastown, and an additional location in Woodburn, in NSW’s Northern Rivers region – the latter of which will act as a hub for the next six to eight months. Additionally, a food van has been running in Brisbane since July last year.

Green and Gold Charity Logistics has two of its own rigids with tailgates. The 8-tonner is based in Sydney, and a smaller 6 tonne truck is located in Woodburn.

Penske has also been supporting the charity by offering

free prime mover and rigid rentals to support its relief works, since 2019.

But with operations continuing to ramp up, Singh is hoping to raise enough donations to purchase a larger truck and semi trailer. “We’re looking for support. We also want

WE ALSO WANT TRANSPORT COMPANIES TO KNOW THAT IF THEY HAVE DAMAGED STOCK, NOT TO THROW IT AWAY – GET IN TOUCH WITH US. OFTEN WHEN PEOPLE WRITE FOOD ITEMS OFF DUE TO PALLET DAMAGE, IT’S STILL PERFECTLY GOOD PRODUCT.” AMAR

transport companies to know that if they have damaged stock, not to throw it away – get in touch with us. Often when people write food items off due to pallet damage, it’s still perfectly good product,” he explained. Adding to his busy schedule, Singh is also working towards getting another Harmony Day up and running in March. He joined forces with high-profile truckie Mike Williams to hold the industry’s first Harmony Day last year, with plans now taking shape for the next event.

He also presented the official Australia Day address in Western Sydney, where he shared his inspiring story.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese presents Amar Singh with his 2023 Australian of the Year Local Hero award.

Starting with a small group of people, the charity now has over 300 volunteers.

Mack caps remarkable makeover with prize haul

BY JAMES GRAHAM

AS anyone who has completed a major truck restoration will tell you, there are always a few unexpected surprises along the way.

Luckily for the Lara-based father-and-son duo of David and Andrew Derham, their biggest headache with their latest project is working out where to store all the trophies.

After just one public appearance with their show-stopping 1989 500 V8 Mack Value-Liner it’s quickly becoming obvious to the Derhams that they’re going to need a bigger cabinet.

With the ink on the registration paperwork and other finishing touches to the Mack less than a day old, the Derhams arrived in Koroit unsure of what to expect against a stellar line-up duelling for one of the best prize pools on the show calendar.

When the $40,000 of cash and prizes were dished out, the Derhams were the toast of the large crowd that turned out to support the first show held since 2020 due to a Covid enforced hiatus.

The Mack Value-Liner, which just five years ago was rusting away on a WA wasteyard, won the Best American and Best Restored Vintage categories before confirming what everyone already knew – this truck was a clear-cut choice for Rig of Show.

The major honour alone consisted of $1000 cash and $3500 worth of sponsors’ products, but for good measure the Derhams also walked away with the runner-up prize in the Best Restored Vintage category with their 1984 Kenworth K100, the winner of the Koroit Rig of Show in 2019, which shares the same livery.

Although proud of how the Mack presented, Andrew said it was still a pleasant surprise to be the recipient of such an impressive prize haul.

“It was the same sort of thing with our Kenworth Cabover in 2019; we just did it up because we wanted to do it up and they look cool,” he said.

“It sort of goes back to the good old trucks of the 80s and you just don’t realise how many people appreciate it until you get it out in the open arena.”

Andrew, 48, credits good mate Steve Thomas, who he’s known since primary school days, for spotting a then dilapidated Value-Liner in an online sale catalogue about five years earlier and buying it sight-unseen.

“He found it in Western Australia, and it was knackered, rooted, stuffed. If you

looked at it, you would have taken it down to the scrap yard except that Steven could see the potential in a good old V8.

“He talked to us about it and we said, ‘Yeah, if you’re happy to do it up and all the rest of it, we’ll buy it off you now and then we’ll just keep paying you to finish it’.

“It was 15 or 20 grand to buy it, but you probably don’t want to know what money’s been put into it now. I haven’t sat down to work it all out, but it’s had hundreds of thousands put into it.”

Andrew says the resto itself went on for a good 2-3 years, on and off.

“It’s been built from the chassis rails up,” he said.

“The only thing that’s still original in it is the motor and the guy that sold it to Thommo said that it had been done up recently.

“When we pulled it all apart it still had Never Seez on

for the name Stayin Alive, explained Andrew.

“One, we’ve rescued it, so it hasn’t gone to the scrap heap, and two, the old man kept saying to Thommo, ‘Am I still going to be alive when this thing is finished?’”

The rego V8Dero is also of personal significance, added Andrew.

“The old man was called Dero for a long time by his mates – always in a positive way – and I saw it was available, so I grabbed it.”

With yet more restorations in the pipeline, Andrew is proud to play his small part in preserving the heritage of the Australian transport industry.

He’s grown up hearing the stories of the road from his old man, and is rapt to do his bit to help David, now 74, keep those memories alive.

“The old man has been in it for over 50 years, so it’s more of an appreciation for him that he likes that sort of stuff and is

happy to spend the money in getting them and getting them done up and enjoying them.”

As for the next public appearance for Stayin Alive, Andrew said that’s likely to be in the Camp Quality Convoy in Geelong on February 19.

After that the Derhams, who run a mixed fleet of more than 40 trucks delivering quarry products all over regional Victoria and South Australia are spoilt for choice in terms of shows. But the only other confirmed engagement at deadline for this issue was an outing alongside the K100 up to Sydney for Haulin’ the Hume on March 25.

“I got it registered the day before the [Koroit] truck show and I wanted to get it to one before the old man put a trailer on it,” said Andrew

with a laugh.

“We’ve got a semi we can chuck on the back of it. Our other main work is tipper work so when the weather’s right and the day’s right and

there’s not too much pressure on, me and the old man will go and do some loads with it, just for a bit of fun.

“You might as well enjoy it.”

Continued on page 16

the bolts so you could tell that things had been out recently.

“The rest of it is all new, new gearbox [18 speed Roadranger], new diffs, new everything else. I keep telling everyone it’s a brand new 1989 model.”

To be able to save such a classic was one of the most satisfying parts of the whole process for Andrew, who, like Steve Thomas, could also see its potential.

Resurrecting an Australian classic from the golden era for Mack was also one of the two reasons the new owners opted

Aside from the V8 engine, everything else on the 1989 ValueLiner was built from the chassis rails up.

A beaming Andrew Derham with the massive trophy for Rig of the Show in Koroit.

The Derhams’ K100, the 2019 Rig of the Show, also came home from Koroit with a prize.

The stunning 1989 Mack Value-Liner was the truck everyone was talking about in Koroit. Photos: Diesel Fumes Photography

Just five years ago it was close to being assigned to the scrap yard, but today this Value-Liner is the early resto success story of 2023.

Bumper turnout for Koroit’s return

The category winners are:

Rig of Show

Winner: Andrew Derham, Mack Value-Liner

Runner-up: Rick Cornwell, Kenworth T908

Best farm truck

Winner: Daniel Perini, Kenworth T900 Classic

Runner-up: Jack Rigby, Kenworth T909

Best rigid

Winner: John Cozens, UD Quon

Runner-up: Brad Walker, Kenworth T909

Best rigid tipper

Winner: Brad Walker, Kenworth T909

Runner-up: Tyson Smith, Kenworth 404 SAR

Best customised

Winner: Rick Cornwell, Kenworth T908

Runner-up: Daniel Perini, Kenworth T909

Best crane or tow truck

Winner: Owen Roof Trusses, Hino

Runner-up: Hire Aust, Volvo

Best local truck

Winner: Annett Cartage Contractors, T909

Best fleet of 3 or more

Winner: Logans Transport

Runner-up: Boyle’s Livestock Transport

Best restored vintage

Winner: Andrew Derham, Mack Value-Liner

Runner-up: Andrew Derham, Kenworth K100

Prime mover 0-6 months

Winner: David Carter, Kenworth SAR Legend

Runner-up: Roth Trucking, Kenworth T909

Prime mover 6 months – 1 year

Winner: Jason Walter, Mack Super-Liner

Runner-up: Bampfords Transport, Kenworth T610

Prime mover 2-6 years

Winner: Nathan Stokes, Kenworth T909

Runner-up: Dallas Turner, Kenworth T610

Prime mover 7-11 years

Winner: Rick Cornwell, Kenworth T908

Runner-up: Bill McDonald, Kenworth T909

Prime mover 12-20 years

Winner: Jezza Edwards, Kenworth K108

Runner-up: Luke Watts, Kenworth T904

Prime mover over 21 years

Winner: Cooper Neal, Kenworth T900

Runner-up: Daniel Perini, Kenworth W900 Classic

Best Japanese

Winner: Budda Campbell, Fuso

Runner-up: John Cozens, UD Quan

Best European

Winner: Darren Robertson, Scania

Runner-up: Jayden Wilson, Volvo tilt tray

Best American

Winner: Andrew Derham, Mack Value Liner

Runner-up: Malcolm McCosh, Kenworth 609

From page 14

A bumper crowd turned out to admire the huge turnout of trucks competing for more than $40,000 in prizes at the Koroit Truck Show in Victoria late last month.

It was the first show after a two-year hiatus due to Covid and committee member Richard Allen was thrilled with the result.

“The public were flying through the gate and we as a committee were glad to be back,” said Allen, who shares committee duties with Graeme Morris, Janelle Hyland and Julie Houlihan.

“Sometimes the trucks can be a secondary thing, the social aspect of it is a major part and it was great to have everyone back together after a twoyear hiatus.”

Allen is also thrilled to announce that the show raised $2000 for the Food Share charity, which distributes food to local families in need

throughout the district.

The truck show has now been going since 2009 after originally being conceived as a one-off stand-in event for the agricultural show which had to be postponed that year due to a horse flu outbreak.

A standout highlight this year for Allen was the chance to just catch up with so many mates again after the Covid-enforced layoff.

“And to see the smile on so many people’s faces, from the exhibitors to the truck drivers to everyone walking through the gate.”

Allen said Andrew Derham’s Mack Value-Liner was also a standout amongst the approximate 120 trucks competing, and a popular winner of the Rig of Show title, along with Best Restored Vintage and Best American trophies.

“It was certainly a highlight to see that at our show, it was a real drawcard, and a very fitting, deserving winner,” he said.

We didn’t catch this gentleman’s name but reckon he deserves a trophy for best colour co-ordination on the day.

Daniel and Leo Kelly’s eye-catching Kenworths were a photographer’s favourite. Photos: Diesel Fumes Photography

This stunning Kenworth T909 won best local truck for Annett Cartage Contractors.

Logan’s K200 helped the operator win the best fleet of 3 or more award.

David Carter’s Kenworth SAR Legend was a popular winner of the prime mover 0-6 months prize.

The team at Boyle’s Livestock Transport was rewarded for a big clean-up job with the runner-up prize in the best fleet of 3 or more category.

Brad Walker won the best rigid tipper and was runner-up in the tipper category.

Koroit co-organiser Graeme Morris had every reason to smile after a bumper turnout.

Q: What changes to encourage females into the industry have you seen over those years?

A: When I came off interstate in my early thirties, I tried to get a job with one company. They were advertising for drivers and I wanted to come off interstate and do local. I had to practically talk them into hiring me. ‘We don’t have any other women driving; we’ve got no facilities for you; there’s only men’s toilets etc.’ Now that same company is advertising for women drivers and putting up traineeships for women drivers. So, it’s changed.

Hayley Defina – 59, Kenworth Driver Hicks Contracting, Somerton, Victoria

Impressive dump truck out-muscles WA rivals

Tatra’s greatest technical asset is of course its chassis design, which is why operators can mix and match drive, steer and lazy axles in any configuration. All the wheels drive, through Tatra’s modular swing-arm set-up, mounted on the unique tubular chassis pipe.

At the front, there’s air-bellows suspension with telescopic shocks, plus dis-engageable front drive and hub reduction. The rear bogie has leaf springs

instead of air, with its own diff locks and hub reduction. The pusher axle has air bellows, and steers as well, helping –just a little – with the turning circle.

The result is the smoothest off-road ride of any heavy-duty truck by far, especially on broken surfaces with undulating and uneven terrain. I drove a military spec 8x8 Tatra on the company’s test track in the Czech Republic a few years ago.

BY DAVID MEREDITH

IF there’s one thing to stay out of the way of, it’s a mining company boss on the hunt for savings – capital and/or operational.

The pressure on productivity, cost effectiveness and maximum use of capital is immense, driven in part by the demands of shareholders

for ever-increasing returns.

That’s why Tatra’s latest import, the thoroughly ripped 62t GVM 10 x 10 Phoenix dump truck has opened some eyes on sites where it is comprehensively outperforming articulated dump-trucks.

The positives are plentiful, especially as the Phoenix is a road-legal truck that can

move itself between sites without the need for a heavy-haulage rig with a float. Presently, that’s only possible in WA, where the expanded limit of 12-tonnes for the front twinsteers has been a boon.

Work-wise, a comparison in the table below between two popular artic jobs is helpful – we’ll leave the other brand names off to be polite.

The tubular chassis is clear here.

The VS-mont body is made in Czech Republic.

Manage Mi Operations’ owner Jason Hooper with his latest Tatra.

Fully loaded with 40-plus tonnes of pretend weapons on board, I carefully steered the truck along the pothole-strewn goat track to the edge of the test property with no hint of traction loss. My co-driver was one of Tatra’s non-English speaking and manic test drivers. At the end of my run, he clearly indicated “swap seats” in sign language, aimed the rig in the general direction of the factory and floored it.

Each axle did its job, keeping the load platform relatively level. Needless to say, we got back in half the time with no real difference in ride quality or indications that the chassis was taking a hammering.

And that’s one of the benefits of this suspension system. Each sub-axle handles the road surface independently of its mates on the other side, in front, and behind. Truck bod-

ies on Tatra’s experience minimal twisting moments when off-road, or indeed on some of Australia’s bitumen nightmares. That’s also the secret to its traction capability, and the reason Tatras are pretty much unstoppable.

Jason Hooper has personal experience with the new Tatra configuration. He owns WA-based Manage Mi Operations and has three of the new trucks working, with another two on order. Two are in Port Hedland on dry hire, and the other is based in Perth.

He is on his way to building a fleet of the 10x10 configuration as his business grows and is currently having alternative body solutions designed around the platform. The Phoenix has worked in cycle with 8x4s, 6x4s, semi-tippers, 6x4 with dog and 40t articulated dump trucks (ADTs) in

soft sand and limestone.

The truck generates a lot of comments on site, generally about speed of return, number of trips and in particular the smooth ride whether full or empty. Hooper has frequently jumped the queue at the loader when other trucks have traction problems.

He wouldn’t bother with another truck or even an Articulated Dump Truck (ADT) for any of his contracts.

“I get more loads than other tippers on site as this thing takes six buckets of material versus the four buckets on 8x8s. It does five times the volume of the 6x6s,” said Hooper.

He said the current regulations in WA allow him 12-tonnes on the front steers. The truck’s tare weight is a hefty 16.7t, which means he can only carry 7-8t on highway: “But I’m only on-highway moving between sites, so I’m running empty.”

The advantage of never needing a heavy-haulage float to shift the truck between jobs is huge.

The truck is imported with a tipping body by VSMont, also a Czech company well experienced in heavy-duty off-road applications. The cable operated tailgate saves on hydraulics and servicing.

Hooper hardly uses the service brakes on-site, as the engine brake and Allison’s retarder do most of the work. Tyres are another economy. They cost between $1200 and $1500 each, a lot less

than the several thousand dollars for a loader tyre. Tyres on typical mine site plant are not designed for long transits at speed, and this is where the Phoenix cruises comfortably between loading and drop-off.

Fuel is a major saving –between 8-14l/hour, around half the rate of an ADT. It also helps the equation that the up-front cost of a dump truck can probably fund close to two Phoenix 10x10s.

The Perth-based truck has clocked up 2000 hours, or around 13,000km with no downtime. Tatra’s distributor, OffRoad Trucks Australia keeps parts for every component on the ground in Perth, so he’s never had an issue with service delays.

“I enjoy driving this truck,” said Hoopers. “The steerable tag axle lets me navigate anywhere on site without having to do point turns around the loaders. But I can also disengage the steering on the tag axle for transit sections on-highway.”

The Phoenix model range has been a huge boost for Tatra in Australia. Tatra’s standard eastern European styled cab, which is still available on certain models, is what you might call “functional,” although even that’s a little kind.

Phoenix’s DAF-sourced cab on the other hand brings the latest European digital trimmings, as well as the PACCAR MX-13 530hp

2600Nm turbo diesel six, with an Allison 4700 7-speed auto transmission bolted on the back. The drive transits through Tatra’s own auxiliary gearbox which delivers two ratios and up to 1.435 reduction.

Hooper first experienced Tatra before launching Manage Mi, when Chevron used some Tatras on Barrow Island for the tasks other trucks couldn’t handle.

He got to know OffRoad Trucks Australia owner, the late Larry Gill who brought Tatra to Australia, and they developed the idea of the 10x10 tipper together.

The long-term performance of the Tatra deserves a close look in a year or so.

The Phoenix 10x10 services the biggest tipper loads on site.

A steerable tag axle means high manoeuvrability in tight spots.

Peak NSW trucking body outlines election priorities

AS the state’s voters head to the polls on March 25, Road Freight NSW (RFNSW) has issued its list of election priorities, which it says will deliver a range of positive outcomes for truckies, all road users and the wider NSW community.

RFNSW has identified seven critical issues currently facing its members. Importantly, the peak body also recommends what needs to be done by the incoming government to ensure a safe and sustainable trucking industry. The priorities identified are:

Priority 1: Maintaining and strengthening PBLIS RFNSW strongly supports the continuation of the Port Botany Landside Improvement Strategy (PBLIS) in its current Regulation, with some minor improvements to further strengthen operations. RFNSW believes the incoming NSW government must be wary that any sale or administration of PBLIS by a third party would potentially undermine productivity gains delivered by PBLIS across the supply chain and the broader economy. PBLIS must remain a fully funded function of Transport for NSW.

Priority 2: Port reforms

Stevedores’ unfair landside port charges continue to compromise the viability of many NSW truck operators. RFNSW is calling on the incoming government to ensure that terminal access charges or infrastructure surcharges and other fixed fees for delivering or collecting containers from a terminal are regulated so that they can only be charged to shipping lines, not transport operators.

Priority 3: Pallets

The current pallet hire system is hurting the NSW economy, small business and consumers, with higher prices and low stock availability. Truck operators continue to deal with complicated and unfair contract arrangements from pallet companies for the use of pallets. RFNSW recommends the incoming government makes representation to the federal government regarding the inequity of pallet contracts for freight operators and look to commence a federal government review.

Priority 4: Road repairs and safety

RFNSW is committed to ensuring that NSW road safety

is the cornerstone of what our truck drivers do each and every day and is calling on the incoming government to invest in a new community road safety education campaign. The incoming government must also collaborate with the federal government to strengthen a commitment to delivering a robust infrastructure pipeline across the state, with sustainable funding for truck rest areas, bridge upgrades, freight routes, regional and rural roads.

Priority 5: Tolling

Tolls in NSW are impacting road freight businesses, workers and their families. Heavy vehicle tolls have progressively

been increased on most routes to three times the rate of light vehicle tolls. The recently announced NSW Government Toll Rebate Scheme offers nothing for the majority of the NSW freight industry who coincidentally carry most of the cost and deliver most of the profit on toll roads.

RFNSW is calling on the incoming government to consider a range of tolling options for heavy vehicles, ensuring costs and benefits of toll roads are better aligned, including off-peak/ time-ofday discounting; a ‘per km’ distance-based tolling system; incentivising truck companies to use toll roads by way of rego relief and/or a cash-back

scheme; consideration of tolls based on a truck’s mass and consideration of tolls based on a truck’s environmental features (the cleaner the truck, the lower the toll). RFNSW has welcomed the widening of the M7 Motorway.

Priority 6: Rest areas for truckies

The lack of rest areas in the Sydney metropolitan area is of significant concern for NSW freight operators. Rest areas also represent dignity and respect for a profession that kept the Australian economy and community in food, medicines and PPE during the Covid pandemic.

RFNSW recommends that

the incoming government convene a summit to examine the lack of rest areas in the Sydney metropolitan area.

Priority 7: Skills and education

Road freight in NSW faces significant shortages of labour for the foreseeable future. Not only skilled labour, but also low skilled young and new entrants at the beginning of their career. RFNSW recommends that the incoming government commence a review of the role of TAFE to best utilise fully-funded placements in partnership with the industry operators we represent.

RFNSW CEO Simon O’Hara said: “Our election priorities are informed by the day-to-day experiences of hard-working truck operators – they’re the critical issues which continue to impact the NSW freight industry.

“Ahead of the March election, RFNSW is calling on all political candidates to listen to the concerns of truck operators and commit to actions which ensure better safety and economic outcomes not only for truckies, but the wider NSW community.

“As the Covid pandemic has shown, without trucks Australia stops – the new government will need to improve its support of the freight industry.”

The Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway, MLC, and the Shadow Minister for Roads John Graham, MLC will be attending the 2023 RFNSW Conference on March 2, where O’Hara will be presenting the Election Priorities Submission to members.

RFNSW is calling for regulation to ensure shipping lines incur charges and fees, not transport operators.

Owner rekindles ties with heyday for famous fleet

It’s all peaches and cream for this Mercedes-Benz enthusiast who keeps a celebrated era alive with an immaculately restored 1924.

BY DAVID VILE

OVER the decades of road transport in Australia, many haulage operators who are no longer turning the wheels become known throughout the country by their choice of paint schemes and colours adorning their trucks as much as their name.

Think Buntine Roadways with its green and white hues, the brown and orange of Kitco, or the red and black of Roccisano. Back in its heyday during the 1960s to the 1980s the peaches and cream colours of Thomas Nationwide Transport (TNT) were a common sight across the country, and today these colours live on in Lebo Blekic’s immaculately restored Mercedes-Benz 1924.

The 1975-model Mercedes has been under Blekic’s ownership for the last decade and having undergone a full overhaul is now a familiar sight at historic truck shows and road runs throughout southern Australia.

Blekic and the Mercedes had made the trip up into the southern Riverina town of Urana in late 2022 from his home at Benalla to attend the annual Vintage Machinery Rally, which last year featured Mercedes-Benz as the headline brand, and he gave a background to the truck and the restoration of it.

“I bought it about 12 years ago off a friend of mine and started the restoration about nine years ago,” Blekic explained.

“It has been completed for about eight years. Mechanically it was pretty good and it had a good cabin with no rust. I pulled it apart and put it back together and a good mechanic

friend of mine in Benalla did most of the work.”

New items such as windscreen rubbers, door locks and glass were acquired to help complete the project and compared to other restorers who have had trouble sourcing componentry, Blekic’s was quite straightforward.

“Mercedes-Benz made that cabin for overseas production right up until the early 1980s so that certainly made it easier to source bits. We got it back together and Chris Bourke from Complete Body Craft at Rutherglen sandblasted and painted it, put all the glass in and did all the hard stuff,” he explained with a smile.

When it came to painting the ‘Benz it was an historical personal connection that resulted in Blekic going with the distinctive TNT peaches and cream colours to complete the restoration.

“I worked for TNT as a subbie in the early 80s with my own truck when I was a young fella. Back in the ‘old’ days it was all about the ‘peaches and cream’ colours so because I worked for them I went with the old TNT colours againand it stands out.”

The Mercedes-Benz is pretty much all original, save for the 15-speed Overdrive Roadranger gearbox and a few modern touches such as improved mudguards and LED lights.

Blekic ran the ‘Benz up to Urana bobtail, but when going on a longer trip he usually hooks on a drop-deck trailer loaded up with one of his restored Ford Falcon cars to make the outfit period correct.

Currently Blekic runs Australia-wide on heavy haulage for Rob Stribley Transport of Wangaratta as a sub-contractor, with his current weapon of choice a Kenworth SAR Legend. However, his links to the famous ‘three-pointed star’ goes back a number of years.

“I have been Mercedes-Benz mad since I was about 12 - I grew up with them, my uncle had one and all my dad’s friends had them in my old hometown of Mildura,” he explained.

Needless to say, he holds the brand and the model range from that era, including the 1924s ‘little brother’ the 1418, in high regard.

“I restored a 1418 back in 1993 and subbied for Glen-

rowan quarries for two years, that was the only time I drove one for myself. But back in the 70s everyone had a 1418 - they were easy to maintain and good on fuel.

“I wouldn’t say they were cheap, a brand new one back around 1975 would have been about $20,000-$22, 000, or so, whereas an International or a Dodge would have been a lot less, but they have proved their worth. They are a long-laster; there’s a lot still going.”

And still going they are, as evidenced by the three other Mercedes Benzes he has at his shed in Benalla, having built

up somewhat of a collection over the years. “They all go but you can only drive one of them at once!” he said with a grin. “People buy Kenworths and Macks to do up which I grew up with and drove - but this sort of stuff means more to me.”

Over the years Blekic has taken the Mercedes to the Alice Springs Reunion in 2015 and done a couple of ‘Crawlin’ the Hume’ runs as well as being a regular at the Show ‘n Shine when the Super Trucks are on track at the nearby Winton Motor Raceway.

He was in his element at

the Urana event, meeting and chatting with a number of like-minded enthusiasts.

“There’s never been a dedicated Mercedes-Benz show and I just could not miss this one.”

It was indeed a worthwhile trip with the 1924 taking out ‘Best Overall’ honours on the day. With his work schedule Australia-wide keeping him on the go he was not sure when he would be wheeling the ‘Benz out in 2023 but it would be fair to say the old 1924, with its distinctive TNT colours, will draw a crowd wherever it goes.

The TNT name is another that will soon disappear from Australian roads.

A proud Lebo Blekic with his stunning 1924 at Urana. Photos: David Vile

The peaches and cream colours were a dynamite combination.

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Flood response reinforces truckies’ essential status

in WA that the Australian Defence Force would be stepping in to aid with the recovery effort, supplying 200 personnel and eight aircraft.

Images last month of triple road trains reaching over 50 metres in length, making their way through the inland sea left in the wake of ex-tropical cyclone Ellie, brought home the amazing skill of our truck drivers and the importance of our transport industry, especially in times of crisis.

The destruction in the Kimberley is devastating. Homes uninhabitable, businesses unable to operate, immeasurable levels of stock lost, vital road infrastructure damaged, and the Fitzroy Bridge – which connects the West, Central and East of the Kimberley to the rest of the country – destroyed by the relentless and mighty Martuwarra Fitzroy River.

After evacuation efforts by air were completed, attention turned to how to address the impending shortages of food and fuel as well as the welfare of the people who had to leave their homes.

Assisting the efforts of the McGowan government, the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on the ground

It was humbling to see images of the prime minister visit Fitzroy Crossing and meet people, and I know his visit would have meant a lot to the community, many of whom have lost everything.

While all of this was happening up north, the trucking industry united to identify how it could assist to transport vital goods to the flood affected areas and what issues needed to be addressed to allow that to happen.

The most immediate issue was navigating the necessary permits required for heavy vehicles to travel on road networks that they would not normally travel on. The usual road networks were damaged or closed off.

After a phone call to the office of the federal minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, I was very pleased to see an agreement forged between the Australian, WA and SA Governments as well as the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator which ensured that the flooding would not cut off northwest Australian communities from essential supplies like food.

Temporary access was provided to Class 3 vehicles which ensured the delivery of essential goods to north-western Australia and the Northern Territory via South Australia.

It was this swift action and cooperation across governments and, more importantly, through the assistance, willingness and generosity of our essential transport operators and truck drivers that has seen the Kimberley supplied again.

They say that everything valuable and required in life

is delivered on the back of a truck, except – in very unusual cases – babies. In the case of the support that we have seen from the trucking industry in response to the devastating floods in our northwest, never a truer word has been spoken. We saw the resilience of our truck drivers on display during the worst of the pandemic. Some truckies faced horrible conditions and still they showed up to work every day to get the job done, ensuring that the shops were stocked,

the medicines were delivered and that we kept Australia moving.

The response that we’ve seen from the transport industry and our essential truckies in recent weeks to support those most in need following the devastating floods in our northwest is no different. It is because of this that our truckies have once again earned their respected status as essential workers.

Fitzroy Crossing is a place very close to my heart. Before

I entered the union movement and then the Senate, I made my living as a furniture removalist driving road trains between Perth and Darwin for 11 years. I used to stop regularly in Fitzroy.

After I became a Senator, my focus turned to doing whatever I could to support employment opportunities and outcomes for local people right across the Kimberley.

This focus ultimately led to our Waste to Wages campaign where my office, over the last three to four years, has collected mattresses, bedding, clothing and second hand furniture from across Perth which I have driven to the Kimberley to support local families and indigenous training and employment opportunities through recycling.

In total, I’ve done six runs to Kununurra and Fitzroy Crossing and I can’t wait until I’m able to get back behind the wheel to do another run to support families in need and the wider community.

To everyone in the transport industry who has helped in responding to the floods in the Kimberley – we say thank you!

The destruction in the Kimberley is devastating with the usual road networks damaged or closed off. Government agencies worked swiftly to ensure supplies could get through.

Images like these brought home the amazing skill of our truck drivers.

Photo: Centurion/Facebook

Honouring our trucking legends

Celebrating Australia’s unsung transport heroes

BY AINSLEIGH BILATO ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER

BORNE largely out of necessity given its equidistance between the major ports of Adelaide and Darwin, Alice Springs, boasts an extensive road transport history.

From the ‘Afghan’ camel drivers who used these hardy beasts to transport passengers, supplies and mail from Oodnadatta to Alice Springs and every construction camp along the way, to the birth of Kurt Johansen’s modern road train and its ongoing story, Australia’s geographical heart saw it all.

This makes Alice Springs the ideal home of the National Road Transport Hall of Fame, an initiative of the Road Transport Historical Society Inc.

Officially opened in 1995 by a group of hardworking volunteers intent on honouring the region’s transport history, the National Road Transport Hall of Fame, more than two decades on, remains a time capsule of the individuals who built Australia from behind the wheel.

The National Road Transport Hall of Fame differs from most other road transport memorials in that it isn’t seeking to only preserve the machines in pristine, off-theproduction-line condition, but instead also prides itself on showing the vehicles as they were in their working lives. Each crude modification and adaptation made to these vehicles gives us an insight into the harsh environment, the isolation, and the unrivalled skill of their operators to simply make it work when there was no other option.

The National Road Transport Hall of Fame, through its displays, allows visitors to follow a visual timeline of the transport industry, starting in the 1930s with the Associated Equipment Company’s road train.

Also housed at the National Road Transport Hall of Fame is Kurt Johansen’s Diamond-T road train, ‘Bertha’. Kurt, having grown up around and, later, in Alice Springs, epitomises innovation and pioneering in the transport industry. He is

credited with the development of the first modern road train, used for cattle haulage. Using surplus equipment from WWII, such as a Diamond T980 and bren gun carriers, and taking inspiration from the self-tracking trailers seen on the AEC road train, Kurt revolutionised haulage as we know it today. Following its careful restoration by Road Transport Historical Society members, Bertha has returned to its 1942, driveable glory.

Located at the National Road Transport Hall of Fame is the Kenworth Dealer Hall of Fame, dedicated to capturing and sharing the Kenworth story and that of the individuals who have carried the Kenworth name throughout Australia, from suppliers to customers.

The evolution of Kenworth in Australia begins with George Blomfield and Ed Cameron, who, on a trip to America, identify the Kenworth as a worthy opponent to the harsh conditions of road transport post-WWII. In the 1960s, the first Kenworth arrived in Australia. By 1971, the first Australian-made Kenworth sees its way onto Australian roads.

The cabover K125CR, aptly named the Grey Ghost, forms part of the display in Alice Springs, along with the first Australian-built chassis. Contrasted against the T909 Director Series Kenworth and tri-drive C509 also on display, the Grey Ghost is an impressive memento of the growth of the Kenworth brand in its 60 plus years in Australia.

The range of vehicles on display is a reminder of the reality that the machinery tends to outlive its driver, equally as sad as it is a testament to the fact that these vehicles were maintained as the pride and

joy of their operators. In the same way it honours the vehicles, the National Road Transport Hall of Fame recognises the industry’s pioneers and game changers through its Shell Rimula Wall of Fame.

The Wall of Fame highlights the contributions of individuals, blue and white collar alike, to the industry that keeps Australia moving economically, industrially, and literally. Since 2000, the National Road Transport Hall of Fame has acknowledged well over 1500 individuals from many different facets of the transport industry as inductees into the Wall of Fame.

For many inductees and their families, the Wall of Fame serves as the sole recognition of the sacrifices made for the sake of the industry and for Australia generally –the long hours away from the comforts of home to open mines in the most remote parts of the country, moving cattle and sheep thousands of kilometres to market, haul-

ing produce from the tropical north to the southern states or transporting building materials to ensure safe housing in cities and towns across the nation.

The Shell Rimula Hall of Fame guarantees that the stories and contributions of these otherwise unsung heroes are preserved as part of our rich transport history.

The National Road Transport Hall of Fame aims to show the importance of heritage in our industry. Understanding where the industry started and its evolution to the present day allows us to appreciate the far-reaching efforts made by those who came before us and the impact they made.

In the forward-looking industry that is transport, heritage is an irreplaceable part of the future we intend to build, showing potential industry members that a career in transport is not only a pay cheque, but an opportunity to be part of a legacy.

However, maintaining the National Road Transport Hall of Fame and the history within it is not without challenges. The tense social climate of its home, Alice Springs, an aging and under-resourced transport industry and an ever-increasing cost of living all put strain on the National Road Transport Hall of Fame.

We encourage those interested to consider membership, visit our website and Facebook page, and engage with our upcoming events, including the Transport Women Unite Red Ball held in collaboration with Transport Women Australia and our annual Festival of Transport.

We urge you to nominate industry members who you believe deserve to be recognised by the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame.

With continued support, the National Road Transport Hall of Fame will maintain its preservation and celebration of the transport history.

The Kenworth exhibit is always a popular one with visitors.

The Wall of Fame recognises the many sacrifices made for the industry.

Kurt Johansen’s famous Diamond-T road train, Bertha.

The Kenworth Dealer Hall of Fame is dedicated to capturing and sharing the many Kenworth stories.

The Shell Rimula exhibition hall and Wall of Fame recognises the industry’s many pioneers and game-changers.

Reader Rigs proudly supported by

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Each month, the Big Rigs team will choose a #PicOfTheMonth, with the lucky winner receiving a $500 Shell Coles Express Gift Card.

Keep an eye out for our regular posts on the Big Rigs National Road Transport Newspaper Facebook page, calling

for your best truck photos and add yours in the comments, or email them to editor@bigrigs. com.au.

Don’t forget to include a brief note about the truck and where the photo was taken. We’ll feature some of the best photos in each edition of Big Rigs Newspaper, with one winner announced each month. Keep those amazing truck pics coming!

Ashley Simpson shared this awesome pic of the crew from Curley Cattle Transport enjoying a cookup while waiting to load at first light north of Julia Creek.

Brock Greenhill and the Volvo 600 make a stop for a quick load check in Ouyen, Victoria.

Maihi Dixon transports profilers around Victoria on the back of the Kenworth.

Doug Goldsworthy shared this historic pic of an early road train, snapped near Croydon, Queensland in the mid 1960s.

Mark Humble snapped this shot near Pimba, SA, running hay and a tractor up to a station.

Truckie Tony Charles, who works for Haddad Transport in Moree, says there’s always plenty to see while carting grain, cotton or oranges between Griffith and Warwick.

Dan Hawkeswood snapped this ripper sunset pic while heading out towards Dalby.

Wade Delardes snapped this great photo while travelling eastbound on the Barrier Highway.

Mitchell Bishop enjoys this epic sunset at Mt Magnet, WA.

Kev Cameron shared this great shot of his Western Star 4800 hard at work during harvest.

Ready for another week – a ripper shot from Shane Roocke, snapped in the picturesque Barossa Valley, SA.

Dave Hely shared this great shot, carrying around 35 tonne of logs near Burraga, NSW.

Beej Munro snapped this cool photo while cruising the outback.

Steve Gruis snapped this shot of the BJR Transport K200, while crossing the Nullarbor.

When the going gets tough, truckies keep everyone going

‘It’s a boy’: Old girl’s resto in time for gender reveal

AFTER spending three years out in the paddock, this old girl has had a makeover and was front and centre for a recent gender reveal.

The 1998 Freightliner FLB, which is running on an N14 Cummins engine, belongs to Aaron Zuydam of Zuydam Transport.

He started the company with that truck almost a decade ago and through hard work, he has built the business up to what it is today.

Based in Violet Town, the company runs about half a dozen trucks, doing tautliner

and flat top work, both locally and interstate.

Company driver Darcy Kirley, 26, who is expecting a son with his partner Jordan Donohoe at the end of June, decided he wanted to use the truck for the big reveal.

As blue smoke plumed out of the truck’s exhaust, Kirley was excited to learn he’d soon be welcoming a baby boy.

The second-generation truckie has been behind the wheel for over three years. He joined Zuydam Transport late last year and currently drives a 2006 Sterling – however he has

his eyes on the restored Freightliner FLB, which he’s hoping will be back on the road within the next few weeks.

Kirley got the trucking bug from his late father, who was also a truckie. “After Dad passed away, Mum said I wasn’t allowed to drive trucks until finished apprenticeship, so I completed my arborist apprenticeship and then went and got my truck licence,” he said.

It was about a month ago that Kirley sprung the idea of using the FLB for the gender reveal on his boss Zuydam. “It was a bit of a rush to get

it ready for the gender reveal,” Kirley admits.

After three years of sitting on the sidelines, the truck needed some love to get it ready for the day, so as well as getting the truck up and running again, the duo put a new bumper on, new guards, painted the chassis, added new steer rims and a drop down tail-light bar.

“It’s still a work in progress,” said Kirley. “We cleaned it up and added some new shiny bits for the day. Now it’s soon to be back on the highway,” he said.

The ‘Snake Man’ and the crocodile

BY ALF WILSON

SMALL fleet owner Jim Symes from Cooktown in Far North Queensland is known as the Snake Man – and was recently stalked by a 4.5m long man-eating crocodile.

Symes, 66, is a genuine character. He travels on some of the most remote roads and is a long time registered snake handler and breeder.

He owns and runs Cooktown Pest Control and has three trucks including the Mitsubishi Canter I saw him with at the Goldfield Ashes Cricket Carnival at Charters Towers in January, supporting his former Townsville club, Wanderers.

The Canter was parked beside one of the fields, where the Wanderers were competing.

“It took me eight hours to drive the truck down from Cooktown. I like to meet up with the boys and watch my old team play,” he said.

Symes possesses a wonderful and witty sense of humour. Written on his truck are the insects he does pest control for: “lazy husbands, mothers in law, rodents and ferals”.

Symes has a property near the Lion’s Den Hotel, an iconic Australian pub near Cooktown, with a loyal bunch of locals, which is also visited by thousands of tourists each year.

“I travel to remote communities such as Kowanyama, Pormpuraaw, Lockhart River, Aurukun and Mapoon to name a few, over some very rough dirt roads. The worst one is the 120km stretch between Kowanyama and Pormpuraaw. It once took me eight hours,” he said.

On his travels, Symes likes stopping at the Laura Roadhouse.

He also told me how he almost became a meal for a hungry crocodile at a remote water-

Truckspotting page takes off

FROM photographing famous musicians, photographer Darryl Edwards has now switched his focus to trucks, and he’s quickly gaining a loyal following.

If you’re travelling through Ararat in Victoria, you may well see Edwards and his eagle eye by the roadside.

Up until Covid hit, he was a live music photographer, snapping the likes of James Reyne and Rose Tattoo among others.

out the street one day and took one photo of a truck and caught the bug,” he explained.

That was just four weeks ago. From that he created a Facebook group, Truckspotting Ararat, which has already gained over 700 followers.

Edwards has also had numerous truckies get in touch to let him know when they’ll be passing through.

way at Lakelands Downs.

It was about 7pm at Kalpower Crossing and Symes was about 1m from the water and about to grab the rope to haul in a pot.

“I saw the crocodile which had been stalking me and if I had of grabbed the rope it would have got me and it would have been all over,” he said.

So Symes beat a hasty retreat.

But he did have his phone in his hands and managed to snap a pic of the giant reptile.

Kalpowar Crossing’s dayuse area is in the central part of Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park (CYPAL), on the southern Cape York Peninsula. It lies on the western bank of the Normanby River.

Symes has been a snake handler and registered breeder for 42 years and has been in Cooktown for the past 22.

“When I first came here I used to catch and relocate about seven snakes a week on average and now it would be about two dozen a year. I don’t charge a cent to remove them from people’s houses or property and sometimes I have to do a round trip of 70km to relocate them in the bush. Some of them are venomous Taipans, brown snakes and big Mulgas,” he said.

Symes added that he had only been bitten once by a snake in his long career. “It was a red belly snake here at Cooktown and I ended up in hospital.”

As for his pest control business, the Mitsubishi takes Symes

to many isolated communities.

“I mostly treat for termites and cockroaches and everybody sees me arrive in my truck and they call me snake man,” he said.

The Mitsubishi has clocked up more than 300,000km and is still going strong.

Symes said there had been many male and female legends who travelled the highways and byways of the far north.

We spoke about female truckie Toots Holzeimer who died at Weipa in 1992, aged 58. There is a monument in her honour near the Archer River Roadhouse.

Toots was one of Australia’s best known truckies and her Blue Man prime mover has pride of place in the National Transport Hall of Fame at Alice Springs.

Toots and her truck were the lifeline for the communities the length of Cape York, wet or dry, until she was killed in a loading accident on the wharf at Weipa.

Another legend was Laurie “The Birdman” Friswell who was a hawker who drove weekly on the 900km run from Townsville to Mount Isa.

Friswell, who sold just about everything legal, was also known as the Condom Man because he serviced such vending machines.

A former quality cricketer,

Symes played for Townsville Club Wanderers for many years before moving to Cooktown.

With him that day at the Goldfield Ashes was former champion cricketing allrounder Ray Tolley. “It is good to catch up with Jim and Wanderers have been coming to this carnival for 51 years,” Tolley said.

Some of the former champion players who lined up with Wanderers were Aussie Test stars Mitchell Johnson, the late Andrew Symonds, and Joe Scuderi who played Sheffield Shield for South Australia.

“I never played with Johnson or Symonds but did score 11 centuries for Wanderers in reserve grade and third grade,” he said.

As testimony of how well known Symes is, I was sitting on my front veranda when a neighbour Anthony Stout walked by.

Stout is a Townsville police officer and I told him of meeting up with Symes.

“I know him well and we both played for wanderers. He once removed a snake from a clubhouse,” Stout said.

For the record, Wanderers finished third in their category at the Goldfield Ashes, which is Australia’s biggest cricket carnival and this year had more than 220 teams.

Edwards moved to Ararat in February 2021 and more recently he discovered a passion for truck photography.

“I was looking for subject matter and a truck came through. I literally walked

“The reaction and feedback I’m getting from the drivers is making it all worthwhile. Thumbs ups, waves, headlight flashes and the odd honk always makes my day,” he said.

“I’m having a lot of fun and the truckies are enjoying seeing their trucks, which they take great pride in.”

A croc at a boat ramp in the area.

Jim Symes with Ray Tolley near his Mitsubishi at the Goldfield Ashes cricket carnival in Charters Towers. Photo: Alf Wilson

He now gets truckies contacting him ahead of their travels through Ararat.

The blue smoke coming out of the truck’s exhaust indicated a boy was on the way.

Previously, you’d be more likely to find Edwards at a rock concert than the roadside.

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Truckin’ In The Tropics

Andrew Macpherson

FORMER long-time chef Andrew Macpherson said becoming a truck driver five years ago was the best career move he could have made.

Aged 42, Macpherson drives a Scania 500 for Multiquip based at Tamworth and was parked up at the Branxton Rest Area at about 11am when we spoke.

“I have 130,000 one-day-old live chickens to take from Tamworth to Sydney. The trailers are heated to the correct temperature to keep them healthy,” he said.

Macpherson says he loves the Scania, which has a 500hp motor and an automatic transmission.

“This a great truck and I really love this job,” he said.

I quizzed Macpherson about his former life as a chef and the reason he switched to truck driving.

“I was a chef for many years at many places like Tamworth and Port Macquarie and for numerous years was an executive chef. But I worked 18 Christmas days in a row, also at nights and public holidays and wanted to spend more time with my family. I have three children,” he said.

Macpherson said the move turned out to be a wonderful decision.

“The pay is much better driving trucks than it was as a chef. I earn much more now,” he said.

When I yarned to Macpherson he was sitting in a shaded part of the Branxton Rest Area.

“This is a really good rest area and even has a space for refrigerated trucks, clean toilets and lots of space. I am waiting here to do a changeover of trailers,” he said

His favourite stop-off when

in the area is the Branxton Hotel, which is popular with many drivers.

Being fair skinned I asked Macpherson if he’s had any skin cancers or solar sun keratosis.

“Not yet but I have my skin checked and have none but I still use sunscreen and wear a hat,” he said.

The first truck Macpherson drove was a MAN 506 and outside work he enjoys mountain bike riding.

“Around Tamworth is the best place to go riding,” he said. His New Year’s Resolution was to spend more time with family.

On the subject of roads Macpherson did not have a bad one to nominate but was glowing in his praise for one stretch near Sydney.

“The NorthConnex tunnel into Sydney is beautiful for truckies,” he said.

Macpherson is one of the friendliest truckies I have interviewed over many years and was responsible for a kind act involving myself.

It was a steaming hot day and during the past eight days I had smothered my face and arms with sunscreen.

However, that morning I could not find my tube of 30+ and had failed to find a place at several small centres we passed to purchase some more.

I asked Macpherson if he knew of a place down the track that would be open where I could purchase some.

Graham ‘Spence’ Spencer Clint Marchant

KEEN golfer Graham Spencer pulled up outside the Calcium Puma Roadhouse and walked in to purchase a piece of fish and a cold soft drink.

The 51-year-old was driving a Western Star 4964 powered by a 600hp Cat motor and with an 18 speed Road Ranger gearbox.

Most people refer to him by his nickname Spence.

Friendly Spence works for Charters Towers based BRT and generally drives triple road trains to Mount Isa.

“I transport scrap steel between Townsville and Mount Isa,” he said.

That is a 900km trip along the Flinders and Barkly Highways. Spence likes stopping at the Lights on the Hill Roadhouse just outside Hughenden.

He rates the worst roads he travels along as between Rollingstone on the coast and Injune.

“I have been driving trucks since I was 19 and used to do

it in the Kimberley region of WA,” he said.

I asked Spence if he had a good rest area in which to have a break along the way.

“There is one 130km east of Mount Isa at Cloncurry which is very good,” he said.

His hobbies include cooking and playing golf at the Charters Towers Club.

“I am not very good at golf and my handicap is 27 and my best foods to cook are fish and pasta,” he said.

30 years IN BUSINESS

A SMALL Leyland Mini Minor car was being towed on a trailer behind an Isuzu 200 Series light rig when Big Rigs saw it along Picton Road in NSW.

I had followed it for some kilometres and saw it pull up at a rest area so I asked the driver Clint Marchant if I could talk to him and snap some pics.

He was delighted to and said he was travelling from Wollongong to Newcastle.

“I am moving to Newcastle and have the company Isuzu to move some of my stuff,” he said.

Marchant works for CMA Hydraulic and said the Isuzu was great for moving.

“I was towing some other gear and got caught yesterday in a traffic jam on the M1 Highway into Sydney after a crash on the Hawkesbury River Bridge,” he said.

Marchant added that the Isuzu was easy to drive.

He walked over to his Scania cabin and I thought he was going to give me a company business card.

Instead he handed me a container of 50+ sunscreen and wouldn’t take any money.

It was a great kind act which I totally had not expected.

I asked him about the unregistered Mini. “It is a project and I intend to restore it,” he said.

It sure turned the heads of passing motorists along busy Picton Road.

With him was his brother Ben Marchant who proved to be a great assistant as they checked the Mini at the popular rest area.

A bit later on I saw them travelling on the Hume Highway on the way to Newcastle.

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with Alf Wilson

Graham Spencer works for BRT, based in Charters Towers.

Andrew Macpherson hasn’t looked back since making the switch from the professional kitchen to the open road.

Clint Marchant (right) with his brother Ben.

Floodwaters and road damage add to driver woes

in late 2022 and early 2023, I travelled over a fair distance and got to check out the claims.

I would have to agree with them as many of the southern roads are first class compared to some up north including stretches of the Bruce Highway.

Toilet call

Dam solution

A veteran owner-operator, who like many was left stranded by floods in the north, contacted Spy with his long term solution.

“Been in Emerald, waiting to load from January 11 and no load due to rain. Possibly load January 18 but cannot get where we need to unload due to flooding and roads closed. The waterways, floodways and road infrastructure are in such disrepair. It seems every time it rains that there is flooding, roads closed somewhere in Queensland. This ultimately causes drivers of all calibre to be stranded somewhere,” the truckie said.

“Ultimately it gets the brain to thinking, is there no way that we can build a man-made dam or dams to capture this water. After all it is one of the main ingredients of life’s survival. The other factor is during drought affected times there would be ample water supply.”

The driver said it would have other benefits too. “In effect we would be securing our farmers, crop growers, a sustainable future in drought times. Surely there is something we as a country of high esteem can do to rectify and use this to our advantage. After all millions of years ago was there not certain areas of Australia’s inland country that was covered in water,” he added.

South better than north

For decades, truck drivers Spy has yarned to have been outspoken about roads in southern Queensland being better overall than the ones in the north of the banana bender state.

A general comment has been that because the south has a bigger population, it provides more votes come election time.

Of course, Brisbane is by far the biggest centre and is the home of the State Government.

During a trip through southern Queensland for two weeks

Some switched on drivers have told Spy that heavy vehicle inspection stations around this vast country should have public toilets provided. They figure that when truckies are pulled over for a check, it often takes a fair amount of time.

Often drivers feel like a call of nature and at certain locations can walk over to an area out of view for a Jimmy Riddle.

But if they require a number two that is not possible.

“Such toilets could be used by the scalies and traffic cops manning them as well as drivers,” one told Spy.

There are some stations where there are toilets but these are strictly for the use of the enforcement officers.

Our truckie mates figure that it wouldn’t cost much for governments to provide a small portable dunny for use by everybody who needs one.

I know of some rest areas where scalies and cops conduct blitzes that have public toilets.

Sleeper box bonus

It is no fun being stuck beside a highway because rain or floods have cut the route to your destination.

That happened to thousands of motorists in North Queensland during heavy rain and that number included many trucks.

However some truckies have told Spy that despite the inconvenience, they did have some “luxuries” not enjoyed by car occupants.

“At least we had a sleeper box whilst those in cars were much less comfortable snoozing in their seats,” one said.

A Victorian truckie who spent some time in a long queue of traffic beside the Bruce Highway said having a gas cooker and some food also was an advantage.

“I felt sorry for people in cars who walked past me as I was cooking and they smelt the aro-

ma,” he said.

Both said having insect repellent was vital as many of the areas where traffic was stuck had swarms of mosquitoes.

200 years

In 1823 construction commenced on the Richmond Bridge in southern Tasmania and almost 200 years later trucks up to 25 tonne travel across it.

Richmond is 25km north of the capital Hobart and the Richmond Bridge is a heritage-listed arch bridge.

It is the oldest stone span bridge in Australia and the foundation stone was laid on December 11 of 1823, although planning and work on the site over the Coal River commenced early that year.

I have been to Tasmania 16 times since 1996 and on each occasion have visited the bridge.

Every year tourists visit, snapping pictures of the bridge and the ducks below.

Like most historical buildings the Richmond Bridge has a “ghost story”.

In 1832, an employee of the Richmond Jail George Grover was murdered at the bridge after being pushed off the edge.

Grover was employed as a jailer whose duties included

flogging the prisoners and was unpopular due to his ferocity.

No one was convicted of his murder.

A celebration is planned for the bridge later in the year and another bigger one in 2025 to mark the 200-year anniversary of when it officially opened to horse and drays, and pedestrians

Old trucks popular

Old trucks which are left on properties around the country are proving popular for tourists to photograph.

I saw one at the Kooralbyn Valley area in southern Queensland which stood out like dog’s you know what and was being photographed by visitors when I was there.

Kooralbyn, whose colourful Aboriginal name means ‘The Place of the Copperhead Snake’, is situated 22 kilometres from the town of Beaudesert.

Another on a property called Wattle Vale near Lithgow was also popular.

Spy saw numerous passers-by stop to take pics of the vehicle as I did myself.

Lithgow is on the Great Western Highway, about 150km west of Sydney.

Another was a rusty wreck at Maryvale with a church in the background.

Maryvale is a small community nestled on the edge of the scenic rim close to the eastern edge of the Southern Downs and is the first community encountered when travelling west along the Cunningham Hwy from Cunningham’s Gap.

Some of those old trucks display advertising signs for businesses in their area.

Massage chairs

Two large massage chairs inside the Puma Calcium Roadhouse have proven popular with many truckies.

Spy was there recently and saw several truckies who pulled up to enjoy a relaxing time in the chairs.

Half a dozen truckies had previously told Spy about them and how they provide relief for nagging aches and pains.

Some of the drivers use a chair whilst they wait for a meal. There is also plenty of parking space outside.

Having enjoyed a couple of pieces of battered fish there I can say that it is amongst the best I have ever eaten.

They were big pieces of Spanish Mackerel and were at least equal to any I had devoured at fish shops and roadhouses around the country.

Belly banter

The Bellevue Hotel in Townsville is a popular place for off duty truck drivers, and many attended a farewell party for the publican of the past 17 years, Wayne Hornby.

This watering hole is located in the South Townsville suburb near the Port and the nearby industrial area where many drivers work from.

Some truck drivers who are parked up at the BP Cluden during fatigue breaks even get a lift or a cab to the “Belly” for a soft drink, a reasonably priced meal, a flutter on the TAB, or even have a go on the pokies.

It is particularly popular on Monday nights when more

than 100 pack into the eatery for a chicken schnitzel, salad and chips for $8.

They can listen to a live singer and the following night the ukulele club entertains there.

I spoke to transport owner-operator Dean Anderson who is a regular for tea at the Belly.

“The food is good, staff are friendly and the service is quick. You don’t have to wait long to get your meal. It is a good family atmosphere here,” Anderson said.

He added that he enjoyed speaking to other road transport people there too.

Whilst Hornby has sold the pub to a family from Ballina the good news for patrons is that super friendly barman Jesse Ruedin will be staying on there.

Truckies love having a yarn with Ruedin who often comes in early before his shift and helps the bar person on duty if he or she gets busy.

The Belly’s former publican was local rugby league legend Marshall Colwell who still pops in from time to time.

Real horse power

As trucks of various sizes cruised past the Little Hartley Roadhouse on the Great Western Highway in NSW they were surprised to see horse power of a different type.

A man on a horse boldly rode up to the Little Hartley Roadhouse, tied up his trusty animal outside and entered to make a purchase.

Spy saw a couple of the drivers a bit further on when they stopped at a pull off area and they expressed their amazement.

“The motor of my truck is 600hp and I wonder what his is?” one driver quipped.

Another joked that the horse would require less maintenance than his vehicle.

It shows that lots of our truckie mates possess a great sense of humour.

Outgoing Bellevue Hotel publican Wayne Hornby with friendly barman Jesse Ruedin.

This rusty wreck on Wattle Downs near Lithgow gets photographed regularly.

An old truck at Maryvale with a church in the background.

An old truck in the Kooralbyn Valley is used for advertising.

Richmond Bridge in Tasmania.

SPY ON THE ROAD WITH ALF WILSON

Truckin’ In The Outback

Melinda Leeds

BASED in a rural town about an hour and a half north of Perth, Melinda Leeds, 45, carts everything from cattle to grain, lime sand and fertiliser.

She originally got her truck licence about 20 years ago and progressed to her MC three years ago, to help her husband Matthew Leeds, 46, during harvest time.

“Before getting my HC, I was using 8-tonners to cart sheep, cattle and horses. Back then I used to work on stations – one at Kalgoorlie and then I went out to Springvale, just out of Halls Creek, to cart horses and cattle,” she said.

Melinda drives a 2005 Scania R580 and Matthew has a Mack Titan and Mack ValueLiner. They also have their own tippers and recently purchased a moving floor trailer.

“We purchased the Scania about three years ago with the intent that it’d be my truck. Before that I was driving my husband’s Titan. I love my truck, it’s so comfortable and it’s got a big V8. You always hear about the Kenworths and Macks, but I’m proud of my Scania,” she said.

Matthew’s father has his own livestock transport business, called Leeds’ Cattle Transport, which has been running for around 40 years or so. “They run about eight

trucks and do the big seven decker 53.5m road trains. When we need cattle crates, we use the family ones,” Melinda explained.

While the couple predominantly carts grain, fertiliser and lime, they also have a contract to transport chicken manure. Generally the travel is within about a 150km radius, however when they do the cattle runs, that can sometimes send them further afield.

“I really enjoy the cattle runs. It’s obviously a lot more work, but I love cattle anyway. I’ve worked with cattle for 25 years and grew up on a sheep station north of Carnarvon, which is right on the coast,” Melinda added.

When asked what she loves most about the work, Melinda answers without hesitation.

“It’s the camaraderie – especially because a lot of the drivers around the local area know my husband so well, they’ve really taken me under their wing. I do silly things like wave like crazy when I drive past them and put tinsel on the truck at Christmas time,” she said.

“The people we deal with are really nice, but some of the other drivers on the road can make it hard. The road conditions can sometimes make it pretty tricky too, especially getting into some of the farms where the roads are

IT’S THE COMRADERY –ESPECIALLY BECAUSE A LOT OF THE DRIVERS AROUND THE LOCAL AREA KNOW MY HUSBAND SO WELL, THEY’VE REALLY TAKEN ME UNDER THEIR WING.” – MELINDA LEEDS

like billy goat tracks! Blowing a steer tyre is always on the back of my mind.”

Melinda says she loves being a husband-and-wife team and being able to work together. The couple have three kids too – Harrison, 11, Ethan, 10 and Mac, 6. “Our kids love going in the trucks. Our eldest son is truck-mad. They love travelling with my husband. The younger two love going in the truck too because they won’t let him pass a roadhouse without stopping to fill them up with lollies.

“I can definitely see Harrison getting into truck driving when he’s older. He can tell you what trucks and trailers are from a mile away and knows all the details. I have a picture of him at three years old, tying down ratchet straps. He loves everything his dad does!”

Our advice is based on practical and proven knowledge of the needs and challenges facing the transport industry.

We are a full-service brokerage. This means providing you with a full review of your operation, meeting with you face to face, simplifying all the jargon and - if things turn a little pear-shaped - access to a dedicated team to manage your claim.

Melinda Leeds with her 2005 Scania R580.

Harrison is poised to be a future truckie. Here

Road transport can be quite a dirty business

KEEPING road transport equipment washed and glittering isn’t just about cosmetics! Sure, everybody likes to see a big Kenworth or Mack/ MAN/Scania/IVECO looking good on an interstate run, but really it’s about safety and improving maintenance efficiency.

A clean undercarriage

and engine bay helps service technicians identify hydraulic leaks and wear issues ahead of failures.

One company, Australian Pump Industries, understands this. “We’ve surveyed truckies around the country to find out what gear really works for them,” said Aussie Pumps chief engineer John Hales.

Cold water machines –time is money

“One of our truck driver mates told us recently that using his pressure cleaner to clean a vehicle can get tedious after the fifth hour. We believe that!” said Hales.

His problem was using a small Bunnings-style toy to clean a big piece of gear.

Aussie’s formula is simple: Your time is valuable. Buy the right machine and it will get the job done quickly, efficiently and with the minimum amount of physical effort.

Aussie Truck Wash Specials

That’s why the company has developed both 3000 and 4000 psi ‘Truck Wash’ cold water pressure cleaners. Called the ‘Aussie Scud’, this line-up is powered by 13hp Honda recoil start or electric start petrol engines. Yanmar 10hp diesel powered versions are also readily available.

The Scud pressure cleaners are handsome machines with a sculpted stainless-steel frame, four big 13-inch flat free tyres with steel wheels, that are set up to do serious work.

“The Aussie Scud is designed to be serviceable for years. Yes, they’ll need basic, regular maintenance, but in return will last for decades and get the job done fast,” said Hales.

‘Big Berty’ pumps, heavy-duty gear

Aussie’s heavy-duty Truck Wash Specials use ‘Big Berty’ Bertolini triplex pumps running at 1450rpm through a 2:1 reduction gearbox. These pumps feature a huge fin crank case for cool running. The bigger the crank case, the more oil, the cooler the unit will run.

“That’s why they work so well and last so long,” said Hales.

Extra reach cuts your cleaning time

More recently the company introduced a range of stainless-steel reels that can take up to 30 metres of top quality Aussie Blue Pro pressure cleaning hose. That extra 30 metres of hose gives the operator a reach of up to 60 metres in total.

A hose reel adds real con-

Getting

venience for the operator, cuts wear on the hose and reduces the risk of trip hazards.

Labour saving kit

When cleaning the undercarriage, washing down wheels and axles, a turbo lance will knock off caked dirt and mud in half the time over a standard lance.

The turbo has the effect of almost doubling the impact of the machine without increas-

ing the pressure or making the pump work any harder. It’s a spinning nozzle that accelerates the velocity with which the jet hits the surface.

For more information on the Scud Truck Wash specials or a copy of Aussie’s free guide on understanding how pressure cleaners work, called ‘Service Fundamentals’, call the team at Aussie Pumps on 02 8865 3500.

The right machine will help you get the job done with the minimum amount of physical effort.

DGL AUSblue: A proudly Australian AdBlue solution

ADBLUE is a very important product. You only have to think back to this time last year to consider how much we now realise this fact in Australia.

FOR more than 20 years, the original Chemtech RL18 Super Blue Truck Wash has been a staple product for owner drivers, fleet managers and truck detailers.

The Chemtech range of vehicle care and protection products has been developed to meet the many demands of the extreme climatic and environmental conditions that commercial and domestic vehicle owners are faced with right across Australia.

“Our Super Blue RL 18 Truck Wash has developed the well-earned reputation as a gutsy, no-nonsense, down-to-earth, value for money, quality product that consistently works,” said Daniel O’Brien, marketing manager at Chemtech Australia.

Biodegradable and solvent-free, RL18 Super Blue Truck Wash easily removes dirt, mud, oil film and road grime.

“The Chemtech RL18 wash has been used extensively by the professional de-

THE CHEMTECH RL18 WASH HAS BEEN USED EXTENSIVELY BY THE PROFESSIONAL DETAILING, HEAVY VEHICLE TRADE, CAR, 4WD AND TRUCK ENTHUSIASTS FOR OVER 20 YEARS, AND IS MADE TO WORK. THE POWERFUL FORMULATION ACTS FAST TO REMOVE THE TOUGHEST ROAD GRIME, LEAVING THE TRUCK AND TRAILER WITH A STREAKFREE, SPARKLING CLEAN FINISH EVERY TIME.”

DANIEL O’BRIEN

tailing, heavy vehicle trade, car, 4WD and truck enthusiasts for over 20 years, and is made to work,” O’Brien explained.

“The powerful formu-

lation acts fast to remove the toughest road grime, leaving the truck and trailer with a streak-free, sparkling clean finish every time.”

In addition to effectively removing dirt, mud, oil film and road grime, RL18 is also safe to use on glass, rubber, aluminium, chrome, vinyl and tarpaulins, making it the intelligent choice for truck owners, as well as professional detailers.

“RL18 Truck Wash is specifically formulated for commercial purposes,” O’Brien said.

“While many cheaper options are available, the small savings made at the checkout are quickly eroded when you consider how much more time and elbow grease will be required to get the job done in the wash bay.

“It’s critical to note that Super Blue RL18 will not cause paint to fade and effectively inhibits rust and corrosion, so there is no doubt that it’s a sound investment,” he added.

Free from caustics, Super Blue Truck Wash is formulated for use on all painted and bare metal surfaces, as well as copper and plastic, and is available in three sizes, 5 litres, 20 litres and 200 litres.

From vehicle washes and detailing products, degreasers, fuel additives, wheel and tyre care, and metal and aluminium cleaning and polishing products, Chemtech has all applications covered.

Chemtech employs a ‘Clean Routine’ across their portfolio, dedicated to protecting your vehicle against the ravages of dirt and distance both inside and outside. With a clearly labelled exterior and interior Clean Routine highlighted on each pack, you will always know you’ve got the right product for each job.

The legendary Chemtech range is available at all good auto and fleet retailers and outlets.

To learn more about the extensive range of Chemtech products, visit the website at itwbrands.com.au.

Removing the toughest grime, every time Indigenous art adorns Toll quad fuel tankers

TOLL has unveiled indigenous artwork on two new quad fuel tankers used in operations in Port Hedland, Western Australia.

Local Indigenous artist Bobbi Lockyer was commissioned to design the artwork for the tankers.

“My painting titled ‘Journey’ depicts travel stories over our great country and throughout Western Australia,” Lockyer said.

“The dark blue is used to represent integrity and teamwork, whilst the red ochre tones represent the red dirt

WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE STUNNING ARTWORK GRACING OUR TANKERS. IT ACKNOWLEDGES THE FACT THAT OUR WORK INVOLVES TRAVERSING FIRST NATIONS LANDS AND PAYS OUR RESPECTS TO THE TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS.”

PETER TETLEY

of the Pilbara and Kimberley, and the light blue represents our thriving river systems often seen on long journeys on the road.

“The yellow lines portray a journey from different locations, the people met and the stories heard along the way,” she said.

Toll general manager fuels and gases, Peter Tetley, said the company was proud to be working closely with the

Indigenous community. “We are very proud of the stunning artwork gracing our tankers. It acknowledges the fact that our work involves traversing first nations lands and pays our respects to the traditional custodians.”

The artwork was revealed at a community celebration at Port Hedland in early November, which was attended by the artist, local community groups and company representatives.

Toll has been transporting fuel in Western Australia’s Pilbara region since 2013. Each year we deliver around 1.8 billion litres of diesel to the various mines and sites around the remote mining region, some 1600 kilometres north of Perth.

The new quads represent an investment of $3 million to Toll’s existing multimillion-dollar fleet in the Pilbara region.

Super Blue Truck Wash is available in three sizes: 5, 20 and 200 litres.

Artist Bobbi Lockyer and branch manager at Port Hedland Drew Davies.

(l-r): Peter Tetley (GM Fuels & Gases), Niel Erasmus (HSE advisor); Mark Doig (GM business development); Trish Johnson (branch manager Karratha); Richard Bosely (GM finance); Ryan Farley (ops analyst); Drew Davies (branch manager Port Hedland); Chris Carbone (EGM resources and industrials) and Clinton Davey (regional manger west).

Taking a shine to your Kenworth

KENWORTH drivers take great pride in keeping their rigs looking good and a new range of genuine cleaning products that has been specifically formulated for Kenworth trucks makes it easier than ever to keep your truck’s paint and chrome gleaming.

Marcus Dunn, senior product manager at PACCAR Parts, said the Kenworth Genuine Cleaning Range has been specially formulated to ensure compatibility with Kenworth trucks, ensuring operators can use premium cleaning products on their premium rigs.

“We needed to move away from traditional truck washes and offer customers a cleaning range that will thoroughly clean their Kenworth truck, yet still be safe for use

on the variety of heavy vehicle applications.”

The chemistry in synthetic polymers and detergents has evolved considerably in recent years, and with the inclusion of ceramic Silicon Dioxide (Si02) technology, the Kenworth Genuine cleaning product range is now the industry’s most advanced.

“This has resulted in more concentrated formulations that are softer on paintwork, plastics and alloys than traditional truck washing products. Several formulas also offer the latest ceramic technology that offers exceptional protection, gloss and water beading.”

By combining nano synthetic polymers with Silicon Dioxide (Si02), the main

ingredient used in the manufacture of glass, the Kenworth team has created a durable protective coating that resists environmental contaminants and harsh UV.

“This formulation creates an extremely hydrophobic (water beading) surface. The microscopic polymers provide a much smoother finish creating a higher gloss on all surfaces. With consistent use of the Kenworth wash, road grime will be removed much easier and the gloss will improve with repeated use,” Dunn said.

There are two different wash products in the new Kenworth Genuine Cleaning Range – Kenworth Genuine PRO Wash and the flagship wash product, Kenworth Genuine Wash & Wax.

The cleaning range also includes two advanced Kenworth Genuine finishing products, a new ‘no-sling’ Kenworth Genuine Tyre Gloss, and a non-flammable, low caustic Kenworth Genuine Degreaser. Environmental and OH&S considerations were carefully considered in the

development of the Kenworth Genuine Cleaning Range, Dunn added.

“All these products are biodegradable and phosphate free. They can also be used where interceptor pits are in use. The washes are pH neutral, non-acidic, non-alkaline, non-corrosive, and do not

contain harsh ingredients.”

The team is particularly proud of the Tyre Gloss products, which use a waterbased emulsion instead of traditional highly flammable solvents and silicone oil.

“The Kenworth Genuine Tyre Gloss is completely non-hazardous, non-flammable and doesn’t ‘sling off’ silicone onto the vehicle. We think users will be very impressed with this product.”

To find out more about the new Kenworth Genuine Cleaning Range, drop in for a chat with your nearest PACCAR Parts Dealer. With their extensive dealer network spanning right across Australia and New Zealand, expert advice and the best quality products are always available to keep your rig looking great.

Scan the QR code for more information or to find your nearest dealer.

The range’s more concentrated formulations are softer on paintwork, plastics and alloys than traditional truck washing products.

The Kenworth Genuine Cleaning Range has been specially formulated to ensure compatibility with Kenworth trucks.

When will all these price rises on parts end?

IT isn’t news to anyone that prices have been increasing rapidly across the board for pretty much everything we buy – bread, milk and of course, truck and trailer parts. In the past 12 months Australia has had an inflation rate of 7.8 per cent (so something which cost $100 last year will now cost $107.80).

The causation of our inflation across the world varies naturally by sector, but in the case of the transport industry and in particular parts, it has been caused by:

• Limited supply primarily caused by factory shutdowns due to Covid

• Huge increases in sea and air freight

• Increases in running costs for businesses (think electricity, rising wages and rents and more)

When it comes to parts, Australia unfortunately manufactures very few, so the vast majority are imported from around the world. The parts sector has experienced the

huge increases in freight and limitations to supply, perhaps more than most sectors, resulting in some very significant increases in prices.

Cameron Black, managing director of Tranzmile, Australia’s leading independent truck and trailer parts supplier, can see however that the tide is now starting to turn.

“After three years of constant price update letters and emails from suppliers, I was pleased to get my first email last week announcing a reduction in prices – in rags of all things,” Black said.

“I was pleasantly surprised by this. We had been talking internally that we hoped that this year things would stabilise, but a reduction in price I must admit was a nice surprise. We immediately passed this on to our customers naturally, and I know we got a couple of comments from customers straight away. No one has been reducing prices, so I was really pleased to say that perhaps we were the first.

WE IMMEDIATELY PASSED THIS ON TO OUR CUSTOMERS NATURALLY, AND I KNOW WE GOT A COUPLE OF COMMENTS FROM CUSTOMERS STRAIGHT AWAY. NO ONE HAS BEEN REDUCING PRICES, SO I WAS REALLY PLEASED TO SAY THAT PERHAPS WE WERE THE FIRST.”

“As a family owned independent, we think keeping a competitive market going is one of our key responsibilities,” Black added.

“As the industry around us consolidates, what we see is our competitors are increasingly being driven primarily by financial considerations alone. They reduce their stock holdings and increase prices.

This might be good for them but is bad for the transport industry.

“We are working really hard with our suppliers to stop or limit any price rises, and if we can, get some price reductions coming through. Wouldn’t that be nice – it will ease the cost of doing business pressure on transport operators which is significant at the moment and only getting worse.”

Black encourages anyone who was local to a Tranzmile branch to get in touch for a price check.

“It costs nothing but a bit of time to make sure you are not paying too much. Simply call or email a list or a competitive quote to your local Tranzmile branch and we will happily supply a competitive quote so we can save you some money!””

Tranzmile operates branches in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney, Townsville and Kingaroy.

Tranzmile encourages customers to get in touch for a price check.

Tranzmile operates stores in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney, Townsville and Kingaroy.

Taking the BS out of equipment finance

WITH over 30 years of experience financing both vehicles and equipment for a diverse range of clients in many industries, we thought it might be helpful to take the BS out of the equipment finance stories we’ve heard over the years.

Interest rates

If you’re a solid company with good trading results, the interest rates available at present ranges from 7-8 per cent, depending on the asset and term. If you’re paying more than this, it may be a

case of what your provider would LIKE to charge you, as opposed to what is actually available in the market. Although interest rates have essentially doubled in the past 6 months, the effect on the actual monthly payment for equipment and vehicle finance has been much less than for home loans.

When the payments don’t seem to reflect the interest rate

We’ve seen circumstances where the interest rate quoted

by another financier is not actually reflected in the monthly payment. The problem here is that unless you have a finance calculator to work it out, you’re none the wiser. There are plenty of “online” calculators where you can check, including one on our Finlease website.

Take heed, unless you actually check, there’s really no way of knowing, so it’s worth spending five minutes online to ensure you’re getting what you have been told.

Banks don’t finance used or private sale machines

There are plenty of competitive financiers who will finance used machines at good interest rates. Often, there are significant savings to be made by going down this track.

Yes, there are extra steps in the finance process, including an inspection of the asset, but these are easily arranged. Care needs to be taken to ensure that the asset being purchased is not currently either under finance or under a GSA (fixed and

floating charge). This is easily checked through a company search on the vendor.

My bank won’t provide any further finance until they have reviewed my accounts

That may be the case with your bank, but there’s plenty of other competitive financiers out there who will finance vehicles and equipment at good rates without the need for financials. Where assets are being upgraded, there are no financials policies that can finance replacement equipment up to $500,000.

We use our bank, as brokers are more expensive

This is simply not the case and easily tested by obtaining finance quotes so you can compare the monthly finance costs. Larger broking firms place large volumes to market ($700 million p/a in our case) driving substantial discounts. Any decent broker should be looking for a 20 year relationship and will act in a manner to ensure that. Brokers should have plenty of feedback from clients on independent review websites, such as Product Review and Google.

Money is a raw material, no different to fuel. It must be accessed in the easiest, cheapest manner, backed by good service. In a world where margins are tight, it’s more about the leftover than the turnover, so it’s essential to keep all costs under control, including finance costs. A good equipment finance broker will gladly help give you clarity around the options available to you as a business. At Finlease, we pride ourselves on taking the BS out of equipment finance so ensure you talk to an expert who has your best interests front of mind.

When it comes to vehicle and equipment finance, Finlease can separate fact from fiction.

A good equipment finance broker can offer clarity around the options available to you as a business.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF COMPETITIVE FINANCIERS WHO WILL FINANCE USED MACHINES AT GOOD INTEREST RATES. OFTEN, THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS TO BE MADE BY GOING DOWN THIS TRACK.”

Golden partnership with Prime Creative Media

be presented later in the year, this will be an award for an outstanding woman under-30 working in any capacity in the transport industry.

WITH the Transport Women Australia Limited planning weekend over, we have set most of the plans in motion for the remainder of 2023 and started planning for the conference for 2024.

We have chosen our speakers and panellists for International Women’s Day events, planned the Learning Initiatives breakfast series and set the dates for most of our EOY functions.

We have chosen the dates for the 2024 conference which has been extended to a full two days and have commenced looking for a venue. Expressions of interest to present at the conference or to sponsor an event, a session or be the major conference sponsor can be sent to chair@transportwomen.com.au

We are also seeking a sponsor for a new award to

We have some exciting news plans in the coming months, the second version of our video is set to be released, we have the Transport Woman Unite Red Ball in Alice Springs, www.roadtransporthall.com and follow the ‘book now’ prompts for tickets; our wonderful Brisbane Truck Show breakfast www.trybooking.com/CFBSJ and the pre Trucking Australia lunch, and much more.

We are nominating members in the RFNSW and the ATA awards, as well as Women in Industry awards. We will be nominating for others as nominations open, it is so great that we have such depth in the membership that we can showcase our members in this way.

TWAL have just announced a gold partnership with Prime Creative Media and will be announcing the second partnership in the coming weeks.

We are so proud of our relationship with Prime Creative

and look forward to working with them in the years ahead. This has been a very exciting beginning to 2023 and I’m looking forward to sharing all the good news with you as it happens.

When I was at Koroit, flying the TWAL flag at the annual truck show on January 28, we were playing Australian Truck Radio and it gave our vice chair Coralie Chapman and I such a thrill to hear TWAL song Living the Dream playing over the radio station.

In the past few weeks, I have returned to my roots in the livestock transport industry and I will be hearing much more of Australian Truck Radio as I travel between Melbourne and Wodonga every week and I look forward to sharing more on Australian Truck Radio as time progresses.

With the Foundation Business Partners NTI and Volvo Group Australia, our Gold Partner, Prime Creative Media, and our Driving the Difference scholarship sponsor, Daimler Truck Australia Pacific, the Trish Pickering Memorial Award sponsor,

Wes Pickering and of course all other sponsors who support us throughout the year by sponsoring events, raffles, lucky door prizes amongst other things and who are too

numerous to mention in this one article, we are now able to do much more.

And of course, with our wonderful supportive members and they’re ongoing

membership we can only go from strength to strength. I am truly grateful to everyone out there who supports us every day. We hope to see you at an event very soon.

Prime Creative Media CEO John Murphy and TWAL chair Jacquelene Brotherton are thrilled to announce a new gold partnership.

DURING the past 10 years as Australia’s heavy vehicle regulator, we’ve learnt a lot about driver fatigue, and one thing in particular that stands out is the need to better recognise individual driver needs.

The prescriptive (or standard hours) approach to fatigue will always be available for those in industry who want to use it, and it’s long been an accepted community standard.

However, just like all other aspects of your business, fatigue is an area where you can invest in tailoring a solution to better suit your business and individual driver needs.

Advanced Fatigue Management (AFM) can provide operators with a tailored approach to work and rest hours, provided they put in place additional controls and offsets to

manage fatigue safety risks.

Effectively managing fatigue – and underpinning AFM – is a business’s genuine commitment to work with its drivers to better understand their needs and to put safety first.

Under tailored fatigue options, drivers can have better quality rest periods, are working when they’re most alert, and can take more rest in a shift if they need to.

Indeed, from our data, we

know that AFM is typically used to get drivers to somewhere where they can get better quality rest at the end of their shift.

Even though AFM has been around for a long time, we’re aware that some operators may be put off by the amount of paperwork and process involved in seeking accreditation.

To help address this, we’ve launched a dedicated project to remove unnecessary admin-

istrative barriers and make the process more user-friendly for businesses of all sizes.

Through this AFM improvement project, we’ll be sharing examples of the types of tailored options that other companies are currently using, so operators can decide whether there’s a pre-made example of hours that would suit their business.

We’ll also be sharing the types of controls and offsets operators can use to man-

age fatigue risks. There’ll be a library to choose from, and we’ll provide guidance on which best manages a particular risk.

We’ll be providing a collection of templates and tools for operations manuals, and other required safety systems, that operators can implement in their business – just like with our approach to Safety Management Systems.

In addition, the AFM application form will move to

the NHVR Portal, and there’ll be a built-in risk calculator, into which applicants will simply have to enter what hours they need to work.

Importantly, we’ll have a dedicated AFM case manager to step applicants though the process.

Over the coming months, we’ll release more information about how industry can get involved in AFM using the new process.

I also recommend reading our Regulatory Advice – Fitness to drive: Fatigue , which provides guidance to all parties in the Chain of Responsibility on managing fatigue in the heavy vehicle transport industry and outlines their obligations under the HVNL. Our free Safety Management System guidance material also provides tools and templates to help operators assess their fatigue safety risks and communicate effectively with their employees about their fitness for duty.

I look forward to keeping you up to date with the progress of our AFM improvement project, and contributing to safer drivers on safer roads.

A dedicated project aims to remove unnecessary administrative barriers for those wanting to take advantage of AFM, and make the process more user-friendly.

Think tank’s proposal is a disaster for our industry

cents per litre to 47.7 cents per litre.

IT’S no secret that many trucking operators are reeling after the events of the past few years. Escalating fuel prices, Covid-19, rising costof-living, bushfires, floods and heavy rain have all taken their toll.

Big Rigs is constantly publishing stories about long-standing operators who’ve had to shut their doors.

I fear that’s not going to stop anytime soon, especially if the Grattan Institute gets its way.

Institute released a report on fuel tax and the fuel tax cred its system, Fuelling budget repair. If adopted, the report would dramatically increase the effective fuel tax paid by trucking businesses by 20.5 cents per litre, from 27.2

I don’t need to tell you that this would be a disaster for the transport industry. I can’t see how any transport business would survive. Diesel is the biggest cost for a trucking operator. Fuel prices are steep enough now, but this on top of it would be the end.

At best, the report is misinformed. At worst, it’s utterly irresponsible. Many trucking businesses would fold.

It’s a common misconception that trucking businesses are huge multi-million dollar enterprises.

However, trucking is an industry of small and medium businesses. In June 2022, almost 58,000 of the industry’s 59,100 business

The ATA’s research shows that only a third of trucking businesses can pass on increased fuel costs (including reductions in fuel tax credits).

The businesses that can raise their charges are rarely able to increase charges by more than CPI.

Of course, there are trucking companies who would pass on the costs...and they would.

This makes a mockery of the Grattan Institute’s claim that its proposal would only have a small impact on consumer prices. Its modelling is misguided because it’s based on an average figure. The tax hike would have a much greater impact on rural and remote communities, where the cost of transport is higher.

DAVID SMITH

will be consumers in rural and remote Australia. These are consumers who are already struggling with the rapidly rising cost of living.

Benjamin Franklin once famously said that nothing is certain except death and taxes. In this case, he’s right.

I am certain that the Grattan Institute’s proposed increase to the effective fuel tax would result in the death of so many trucking businesses.

The ATA argues that Aus

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FUEL PRICES ARE STEEP ENOUGH NOW, BUT THIS ON TOP OF IT WOULD BE THE END.”

Stars are finally aligned for heavy vehicle reform

of national heavy vehicle law theoretically should be completed, with draft law due to be presented to state and federal ministers this year.

This is essential to restore credibility and confidence in the NTC from transport groups frustrated by little to no decisions, direction, or development in years.

AS we enter the dog days of summer and state and federal politicians and policymakers return to work for the start of the parliamentary year ahead, it’s worth reflecting on the tremendous opportunities that exist in 2023 for genuine heavy vehicle reform after years of delay.

The election of the Albanese government last May, along with state elections in 2022 that saw Labor win or retain government in South Australia and Victoria, means the ALP now occupies the treasury benches federally and in six of the seven Australian states and territories. And that number may grow to seven of seven if Labor wins the New South Wales state election next month, as current polling suggests it will.

This would see the same party in government in every state and federal jurisdiction, providing an opportunity for consensus and action in numerous policy areas, including heavy vehicle reform.

This opportunity presents in the context of state and federal transport policy-making that has generally been in a holding pattern for over eight years, particularly in the critical areas of heavy vehicle national law, licencing, and productivity.

The National Transport Commission’s latest review

Licencing laws are also in a box seat for overhaul, with several transport groups aligned on the need to focus attention on skills and training as qualifiers for heavy vehicle licencing instead of experience alone.

Whilst predominantly a state or territory issue, our licencing regulations and requirements must be changed to attract new and young people to the transport profession, with minimum thresholds introduced to require days – not hours – of practical, behind the wheel training by qualified instructors for candidates to be granted a heavy vehicle licence.

This is a key policy area for the VTA in 2023, with our time-based graduated Driver Delivery program licencing model validated through its extension by the Victorian Government, and funding for forklift and other drivers and logistics workers allocated involving a similar minimum threshold model when it comes to time spent in the classroom and under supervised, practical instruction.

It is essential that we change the narrative that experience alone makes a driver better or safer. This can only be achieved by introducing new licencing laws in as many jurisdictions as possible that prioritises skills and training

over experience.

These years of delay by some state and federal bodies have had massive productivity implications for operators that are already being hammered

by rising costs, chronic worker shortages, and a shrinking capacity to grow or at least maintain slim margins.

This is exacerbated by some of the safeguards in place to protect operators being under attack, such as we saw earlier this month with the Grattan Institute’s short-sighted calls for the Fuel Tax Credit (FTC) to be halved to reduce the budget deficit and reach reduced emissions targets sooner.

As well as increasing prices for households already under pressure from higher interest rates and inflation, all such an FTC reduction would achieve

to is increase the tax burden on operators that already pay higher registration fees and a Road User Charge, forcing them to raise their prices, which ultimately gets passed back onto consumers through more expensive goods and services.

Often overlooked in discussions around heavy vehicle reform is that transport operators and the industry groups that advocate for them are the customers of the bureaucracy, and as customers we’ve generally been poorly served in recent years.

Through all this we’ve continued to service the needs of

our customers and Australian consumers, getting the job done and servicing the growing freight task.

With there now being general political consensus in place across the length and width of Australia there has never been a better or more opportune time to attain the reforms that have evaded the transport industry for years.

The results will be a safer industry that provides productivity, efficiency, and sustainability dividends for parties to every freight transaction including operators, customers, and consumers.

Through the many recent challenges, the industry has continued to service the needs of customers and Australian consumers, getting the job done and servicing the growing freight task.

LICENCING REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

DID you know that many business owners don’t realise that their businesses are valuable?

Often business owners simply close down and walk

away from their business without cashing-in on the goodwill that they have built up in their business over many years. What a shame, all those years of hard work;

and no reward for their efforts. If they had only known that there was a buyer out there for their business.

Some business owners never plan for the day that

they will sell out. Oh! They plan to sell, but they just don’t know how, or when, or who they will sell to, or how much the business should sell for. There is no plan in place,

just a vague intention that one day they will sell.

Do you fall into any of these groups? Or do you have an exit plan for how you intend to maximise the reward that you deserve when it is time to move on?

What is an exit strategy?

Having a plan on how and when you will sell your business is an exit strategy. An exit strategy allows you to sell your business on your terms, when it suits you, and when you are ready. Without an exit strategy in place you will be a passive seller waiting and hoping that a buyer will come along and solve all of your problems. Having a proper exit strategy in place will allow you to cash-in quickly, easily, and scientifically.

Having an exit strategy will enable you to:

• Get the best possible price

• Avoid disruption to daily trading

• Avoid time wasters

• Save money

• Sell quickly

How to create an exit strategy

So how do you create an exit strategy? You can talk to an accountant, business coach, lawyer or business broker. Business brokers work in the market every day, and they know what your unique busi-

ness will require to be ready to sell for maximum value. They can advise on the 17 areas that you need to consider when selling, and how to implement your plans.

An exit strategy includes:

• A target date

• Listing targeted potential buyers

• Knowing what potential buyers want

• Setting an appropriate asking price

• Preparation of financial accounts and data

• Creation of a marketing plan and tactical execution timetable

Many business owners never get around to planning how and when they will sell their businesses. They procrastinate, and let other issues take priority.

Business owners with an exit plan in place are proven to be more effective business owners. This is because they have focus and direction. They are not aimless, because they know where the business is headed, and exactly what they must do to achieve their goals. Having direction provides confidence, and confidence enhances performance.

Free e-book: Twelve Tips for Selling Your Business

Download our free e-book called ‘Twelve Tips for Selling Your Business’ at benchmarkbusiness.com.au.

Bruce Coudrey is principal of Benchmark Business Sales & Valuations.

KNOWLEDGE

ACROSS

1 If youare a collectorofClarice Cliff whatdoyou collect?

(7)

Across

4 WhatLatin American danceisperformed byseveral peopleinsinglefile?(5)

4 What is an optical illusion (6)

7 Whatare lengthwisethreads on a loom? (4)

DOWN

1 Whichchess piecesaremostnumerous?(5)

2 Whatbrightyellow powderis usedfor flavouring in Asian cookery?(7)

3 InearlyEngland,what was a smalllandholderbetween gentry and labourers? (6)

18 What is a narrow passage between islands (5)

8 Whatisthe capital ofLiberia? (8)

7 Which term describes tea, or the like (8)

8 Name a renowned movie dog (6)

10 In 1982 who madethe firsttelevised147 break in snooker? (5,5)

9 To be rich, is to be what (8)

12 Whichinventor (Thomas ____)tookout more than a thousandpatents inhis lifetime?(6)

11 What is an onslaught (7)

13 Whatisthelastwordof“RuleBritannia”?(6)

13 When something explodes, it does what (5,2)

15 TheMisfits in1961 was the last film starring Marilyn Monroeand which otheractor? (5,5)

15 To be devilish, is to be what (7)

17 To see or recognise, is to do what (7)

18 Native toCentral and South America, a tamandua is whattypeofanimal? (8)

20 Name a fireproof mineral (8)

19 What cloth isspreadover a coffin? (4)

20 Whatisaninformal wordfor“avery long time”?(5)

23 Which term suggests very nearly (6)

21 What diseaseisalso knownaslockjaw? (7)

24 What is payment paid for the use of money borrowed (8)

25 What is an atelier for an artist (6)

Down

1 To be hard of hearing, is to be what (4)

QUICK CROSSWORD

2 What is an alternative name for a chap (6)

3 Name a rabbit-like mammal (4)

4 When something dissolves, it does what (5)

5 Name another term for a knave (6)

6 To question deeply, is to do what (5)

9 To have walked with an easy pace, is to have done what (6)

10 What are nappies called (7)

12 Name a renowned court game (6)

14 To be in harmony, is to be in what (6)

16 To be indecisive, is to be what (6)

4 Whatbranch ofmedicine isconcerned with diseasesand abnormalitiesofthe heart?(10)

19 Name the relation between two similar magnitudes (5)

5 A starthat suddenly brightens thengraduallyfades is called what? (4)

21 What are small pieces of things (4) 22

6 Which film,1984’s BestPicture Oscar winner, was filmed inPrague? (7)

9 Where wasLouisArmstrong born? (3,7)

11 Whichwomanwasmarried on 29April1945, and died the followingday?(3,5)

12 Whatisthe widening channel of a river wheresaltwater mixes with freshwater?(7)

14 Inheraldry what isthecolour silver?(6)

16 Millionsofrecords fromwhichUS immigration entry islandareaccessible onthe internet? (5)

17 WhichEnglish college wasfoundedby HenryVI in 1440? (4)

DOUBLECROSS

Findafinishedcrosswordbydeletingoneof thetwolettersineachdividedsquare.

Solvetheanagrams.Eachsolutionisaone-word anagramofthelettersbesideit,andthefivesolutions aresequential.Forexample,ifthefive-lettersolution startswithJ,thesix-lettersolutionstartswithK,andso on.

Insertthemissinglettersto maketenwords—fivereading acrossthegridandfivereading down.

Note: morethanonesolution maybepossible

SOLUTION amiramritaariaarumatriaatriumattarauraauriccaratcart cramcurtmarcmariamartraitaratarimutarmactarttiara tracttraittramtraumaTRAUMATICtrim

Third-generation truckie Living the dream at just 23

BY ALF WILSON

AGED just 23, William Brecht drives a Volvo from Redlands. Big Rigs saw him at a pull off area near Beaudesert and he was happy to chat.

Brecht said he travels about a 200km radius from his depot, picking up rubbish, recycling, and other items.

“I have been a truck driver for about three years and en-

joy it,” he said.

He knows that he is very young to be a driver but was surprised when I told him the average age was in the late fifties. Brecht however does not have any ambitions to move up to drive much bigger trucks.

“I love this job too much and the company is great to work for,” he said.

I asked Brecht if he has to travel along many rough

roads in the beautiful part of Queensland he gets to.

“Some of the dirt roads to rural properties can be corrugated,” he said.

His hobbies include riding motorbikes and he has a Royal Enfield which is his pride and joy.

“I also like fishing but haven’t had time to do it for a while,” he said. Brecht said he would recommend truck driving to other young people.

BY ALF WILSON

COOPER Anning has the bloodlines to be a truckie as his dad Ray and grandfather Brian were drivers too.

I saw the 24-year-old near his Kenworth 601 parked up a rest area beside the New England Highway, near Branxton.

Anning lives at Narromine and works for Aaron Pearce Transport which is based at nearby Trangie which is in the Orana region of NSW.

“I cart wheat from farms to Cardiff and can travel 500km. Usually we get a backload of fertiliser,” he said.

Anning said he always wanted to follow his dad and granddad into the road transport industry.

“I love the job and wouldn’t do anything else,” he said.

His favourite stop off is the Sandy Hollow Roadhouse and the most challenging road he travels on is between Branxton and Dunedoo.

The first two trucks he

drove were a CH Mack and a Kenworth T400.

“I learnt to drive in the Mack and have fond memories,” he said.

A Parramatta Eels supporter in the NRL, Anning likes fishing when he gets leisure time.

“My best spot is in the Macquarie River,” he said.

Amongst the younger truckies in Australia, Anning urged more people of his age to seek a career in the industry.

Cooper Anning at the Branxton rest area. Photos: Alf Wilson

William Brecht, 23, is not in a rush to move into bigger trucks.

Refining the art of welding

inspected and finished off by the welding team.

Rowena works on the wide range of trailers that are built at the Ballarat plant: semi-trailers, tautliners, vans for refrigerated and dry goods, as well as roll-back lead trailers.

“We also fabricate the main rails for our Hamelex White tipper products produced at our Ballarat site, whether they go through the automatic welder or if they are off-set. For off-set tipper rails we have a jig we use to tac-weld them, before they are fully welded down the line.”

When she became pregnant, Rowena says MaxiTRANS supported her through 18 weeks of maternity leave and the opportunity to extend the leave for a further 12 months.

WHILE studying an Arts degree, Rowena Kilbourne’s dream was to sculpt steel into works of art. Today she is a welder at one of the country’s biggest trailer manufacturers.

Rowena is close to finishing a welding apprenticeship with

ry a million tonnes or more of freight on Australia’s highways.

Her career began when she enrolled in a TAFE course for welding to further the creative side of her arts degree. With her husband, Nathan, the couple learned the craft and

and today she is a proud mother of Colt, her 19-month-old son. She is on the cusp of completion of her apprenticeship after seven years with MaxiTRANS.

As a welder, Rowena works mostly on the main chassis

working out well so far.”

Working three days a week at present, Rowena has trade school on Friday, so the flexibility of shifts afforded by MaxiTRANS works for her.

“I only have two units to complete. I’m pretty close to finishing and that’s really exciting.”

Rowena’s husband Nathan worked for some years with MaxiTRANS and he then completed a Cert 4 Training and Assessment course and now teaches welding at the Federation University TAFE in Ballarat.

Rowena says the workplace culture is great and continues to change for the better since

Australian Trailer Solutions Group (ATSG) took over the MaxiTRANS business in September 2021.

“I really enjoy working for the company. The new MaxiTRANS under ATSG is continuing to make improvements and creating a very supportive environment for its staff.”

According to Rowena, there are numerous career paths open to MaxiTRANS workers.

“I’d like to become a welding inspector or even go down the training route. Be a mentor even, I’d love to go there. I’m excited about it, but I have to get confidence in myself first.”

She chose to take 10 months of leave and returned to work.

“They were happy to have me when I was ready. They never pushed or anything, which was really nice.”

Balancing motherhood and work is definitely a learning challenge, says Rowena, and finding a balance can be difficult.

“But it’s something I enjoy,” she said, “having time to watch Colt grow on my off-days is really good. It’s all

Easter Group Pty Ltd Easter Group Pty Ltd

73 Formation St, Wacol

GTS Freight Group (GTS) is expanding our fleet in 2023, and as a result currently have some great opportunities for transport professionals (direct employed and Tow Operators) living in the Sunraysia district and Adelaide looking to begin a new career with an iconic Mildura based business operating since 1980.

Does this sound like you?

• I am looking for an employer who values and respects me

• Wanting to drive fresh, well maintained equipment (predominant Kenworth based fleet)

• I have a great attitude, and I am looking for a stable, secure future

• I want to drive new, modern equipment that is well maintained

• I would like to have work patterns that suit my lifestyle and personal circumstances

• I am a safe, professional driver that cares for my equipment and the freight I am carrying

• Great earnings potential

• MC Licenced with night highway driving experience and a good history as an operator

If this is you, then GTS can provide that opportunity!

GTS is a privately owned, market leader in linehaul transport and logistics solutions, servicing a range of blue-chip companies nationally. GTS is about customer service, safety, and compliance, and we are looking for new Team members who can continue to build that reputation.

GTS currently has career opportunities for roles around the country, but specific to our Mildura and Adelaide office:

• MC Interstate Drivers

• Tow Operators who are looking for consistent, secure work with a weekly pay cycle and

Easter Group, located in Wacol, provides time sensitive road transporting solutions to many companies throughout Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. We are a family owned business, operating since 1976. We currently have the following positions available:

OPERATIONS ALLOCATORS (Brisbane

based only)

You will be required to work on a rotating roster including Days-Nights-Weekends

Previous Operations experience preferred.

MC LOCAL, LINEHAUL & 2-UP DRIVERS WANTED

(Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide Based)

Come and work for us as we are committed to:

• Training and further education • Your safety

• Maintaining an impressive Fleet

On offer are permanent full time and roster positions including paid leave entitlements and public holidays. Drivers will need to be available to be scheduled for work falling across the 7 days of the week.

The successful Applicant will:

• Hold a current MC licence (minimum two years)

• Have knowledge of the HVNL and Load Restraint

• Be professional • Be reliable

To apply for the Operations/Driver positions please contact Operations Manager or by emailing your resume to

WORKSHOP MECHANICS & TYRE FITTERS WANTED

(Brisbane based only)

To apply for Mechanic positions please forward your resume to Workshop Manager via email to employment@kseaster.com.au

Kilbourne originally enrolled in a TAFE course for welding to further the creative side of her arts degree.

Rowena Kilbourne has been with MaxiTRANS for seven years and is close to completing her apprenticeship.

Girl power at PACCAR Parts

“JUST jump straight into it, don’t hesitate.” That’s the advice of Caitlin Boyle, a 17-year-old apprentice technician at CJD Equipment – a PACCAR dealer in Albany, WA – when asked what advice she’d give women considering a career in the industry.

Boyle is one of the new cohort of women enjoying the newfound diversity in an industry long the domain of men.

“Everyone I’ve worked with has been very accepting. They’ve sort of put me under their wing and helped as much as they can. Mates outside work think I’m crazy. Most of them are beauticians, so we’re completely different. But they still reckon it’s awesome.”

Bec O’Donohoe, the truck service administrator at Barry Maney Group in Mount Gambier, also enjoys her work and the diversity of the knowledge required.

“There’s always something to learn; different trucks have different problems. I used to work with other truck makes, and now I’ve come to Kenworth and DAF. It’s the same principles but very different engines, different trucks,” she said.

Victorian truck driver Hay-

ley Defina, 59, is a veteran of the industry, having first obtained her truck licence and started driving when she was 24. She remembers having to talk a company into giving her a job some two decades ago, “When I came off interstate in my early thirties, I tried to get a job with one company. They were advertising for drivers and I wanted to come off interstate and do local. I had to practically talk them into hiring me. Now that same company is advertising for women drivers and putting up traineeships for women drivers.”

Kerrie Ingram, director of Ingram Transport in Central Queensland, is another who is full of encouragement for women considering a career in transport.

“We can do it, there’s no holding us back,” Ingram said.

“Here in Central Queensland, we’re big in the mining industry. And people prefer women. We get the job done. We look after our gear.”

It’s these and the many other women like them working in the Australian transport industry that PACCAR Parts is proud to be celebrating as part of International

Women’s Day on March 8.

With its theme of ‘Embrace Equity’ the initiative marks the positive changes occurring here and abroad, where greater inclusion and sense of belonging for women in traditionally male-dominated industries is helping drive business success.

Tricia Carter, a driver with Victoria’s Carter Transport, says females no longer need to be daunted by a career in the transport business.

“Things now are reasonably

easy to do. You’ve got all your lift ramps, so you don’t have to be that big strong, tough, manly man to do a lot of jobs anymore,” Carter said.

It’s a sentiment echoed by 17-year-old Bella Cree, an apprentice technician at CJD Equipment in Hobart, Tasmania.

“I’d say just give it a shot, you either like it or you don’t. And if you do, it’s a great place to work. There’s plenty of opportunities in this business.”

We are looking to sell our 2014 K200 Kenworth with work towing company trailers. We are willing to provide finance to the operator.

This position would suit an enthusiastic, self-motivated person looking to get into truck ownership.

Our business was established in 1996 and over that time we have built up a large client base over which we can source our work.

If you would like to discuss this great opportunity to become an owner operator:

Hayley Defina of Hicks Contracting in Somerton, Victoria.

Caitlin Boyle is an apprentice technician with the CJD Equipment team in Albany, WA.

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