FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021
ONLINE www.bigrigs.com.au
EMAIL info@bigrigs.com.au
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THE GREAT EWD DEBATE DRIVERS SQUARE OFF IN ROADHOUSE ROUNDTABLE: PAGE 12-14
2 NEWS
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
CONTACT US Address: 11-15 Buckhurst Street, South Melbourne VIC 3205 Phone: 03 9690 8766 Email: editor@bigrigs.com.au Web: bigrigs.com.au Accounts: 03 9690 8766 Subscriptions: 03 9690 8766 Classifieds: 0403 626 353 Circulation and distribution queries: 03 9690 8766 info@bigrigs.com.au EDITOR James Graham: 0478 546 462 james.graham@primecreative.com.au REPORTER Danielle Gullaci danielle.gullaci@primecreative.com.au MANAGER Peter Hockings: 0410 334 371 peter.hockings@primecreative.com.au MEDIA SALES CONSULTANT Marie O’Reilly: 0403 626 353 marie.oreilly@primecreative.com.au CLIENT SUCCESS Katharine Causer: 0423 055 787 katharine.causer@primecreative. com.au CONTRIBUTORS Tassie Truckin: Jon Wallis, 0414 797 513 Truckin in the Topics: Alf Wilson, 0408 009 301 Brent Davison; David Vile; David Meredith; Ian Lee Big Rigs National Road Transport Newspaper is published by Prime Creative Media. It is the largest circulated fortnightly truck publication in Australia with 26,023* copies per fortnight. *12 month average, publisher’s claim November 2018
Autocare Services goes into voluntary administration
AUSTRALIA’S largest vehicle transporter Autocare Services has gone into voluntary administration, citing volatile market conditions, declining vehicle volumes and increasing operating costs as reasons. Big Rigs asked parent company LINX Cargo Care Group for more details on what the news means for the many truckies with Autocare, and exactly how they are impacted. But a media spokesperson told us they didn’t want to make any more comment. An earlier report said Autocare Services receives and processes more than half of the one million cars that are sent to Australia by OEMs and delivers them to the franchise dealers on a fleet of approximately 300 trucks. In a media statement, LINX Cargo Care Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Anthony Jones, said Autocare Services continues to be significantly impacted by the vehicle logistics market decline across the business’ portfolio of processing, storage and transport services. Despite slight increases in sales in November and December 2020, Australia’s new vehicle market continues to remain depressed.
Since a record year in 2017, there has been a sustained decline driven by weakening economic conditions, shifting market and supply chain requirements and changing consumer preferences, Jones added. This decline along with the impacts of COVID-19 has seen a 22.9 per cent fall in new car sales since 2017. In 2020 alone, results were down 13.7 per cent on calendar year 2019. “Autocare Services has been working closely with its customers, and the wider supply chain, to evolve the business in alignment with the changing market conditions however, the material movement and volatility has been heightened by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jones. “Voluntary administration can provide Autocare Services with a pathway for the tough, but necessary, change it needs for the evolution of its business model to keep delivering services valued by customers today, and into the future, to the Australian automotive industry.” Jones said LINX Cargo Care Group values Autocare Services as part of its wider Group portfolio and is hopeful for the future of the business after restructuring.
Falls in new vehicle car sales together with the impacts of COVID-19 have contributed to the decision.
The statement stressed that Autocare Services intends to continue operating and servicing its many customers across Australia during the administration process under administrator management. “The appointment of an
administrator is an unsettling time for our people, customers and stakeholders, for both Autocare Services and LINX Cargo Care Group, however we are confident in this process as the best chance for a profitable and sustainable Autocare
Services on the other side,” said Jones. Autocare Services has been a major player in Australia’s automotive industry for 60 years, with almost 600 employees currently working at 20 sites across Australia.
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BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021
Truckies asked to crash into bump truck
BY JAMES GRAHAM
TRUCKIES who lose control on the notorious South Eastern Freeway into Adelaide later this month are expected to drive into the back of a stationary rigid. While extensive road works are taking place on the down track, the usual arrestor bed area
at the bottom of the hill will be closed for approximately three weeks from the end of February. Steve Shearer, head of the South Australian Road Transport Association, said that if out-of-control truckies don’t commit to the truck-mounted attenuator to stop their progress, the results could be catastrophic for other motorists.
“There’s nowhere else for the trucks to go other than straight through the intersection and lights if they get into grief,” said Shearer. “Even though 99.999 per cent do not have a problem, that one in one-thousandth per cent can kill multiple people and has in the past.” With the opening stages of
A SA government graphic shows the stages of works and position of the closed arrestor bed.
roadworks on the busy highway already underway, a nervous Shearer is frantically trying to get the message out there to the industry about the changes ahead. He said SA authorities tried to assuage his concerns by telling him there would be plenty of signs on the road to alert truckies to the closure of the arrestor bed from February 28. “But you don’t start looking for signs when your truck is out of control,” said Shearer. “The biggest help they’ll get will probably be other drivers on the CB radio.” Shearer’s awarness drive also included having an attenuator on display for truckies to get familiar with at the official opening of the new SARTA HQ on February 13. He understands that the safety equipment is built to absorb the impact of a fully-loaded semi travelling at 100km/h. More than 650,000 trucks descend the busy South Eastern every year, and Shearer said the road works are sorely needed to future-proof the surface there. But he doesn’t believe it’s practical, or necessary, to di-
NEWS 3
A Truck Mounted Attenuator (TMA) will be used during the roadworks to provide an alternative safety solution for truckies in trouble on the descent.
vert all the heavy vehicle traffic through an alternative route during the upgrades, providing the necessary awareness steps are taken. “If every truck driver gets it right and they’re in the correct low gear for that load they’re carrying, and travelling at 40km/h or less, depending on their load, there should not be any issues,” he said. “The attenuator will have cost a lot of money to be there and not be needed, but you’ve got to have it there just in case.” Many bigrigs.com.au readers, however, were doubtful that the bump truck would have the desired effect in the event of an incident on the descent. “Whoever came up with this plan needs their head read,” writes Ray Parlett on our Facebook page.
“It’s criminal to think a semi-trailer or B-double will stop by running into the back of a little rigid truck. If they have to close the arrester beds for 3 weeks, close down the hill and no trucks run for that time. Just another government body saying the lives of truck drivers are worthless.” Nick Williams agrees: “A downhill b double will fling that little rigid aside like it wasn’t even there.” Stacy Wilkinson, however, believes the bump trucks are more resilient than they look. “They take a heap of impact in their design before any weight is passed on to the truck chassis. “Seen a rigid belt the back of one at 100k and it stopped the truck and only moved about a metre. Same size as that one.”
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4 NEWS
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Vital rest area upgrades for WA
WA has committed to giving its hard-working truckies the facilities they deserve.
rest stop win. “I saw for myself last year how run down some of the facilities were at rest and assembly areas in regional WA and they are not to the standard that our essential truckies deserve in 2021,” said Sterle. Key works identified include: • Provision of ablution facilities at ten locations on key freight routes, near Bunbury, Northam, Port Hedland, Northampton, Exmouth, Wubin and Marble
Bar (more than $2 million); • E xpansion of the Newman road train assembly area and new ablution facilities ($6 million); • Sealing of existing gravel parking near Auski roadhouse ($3.2 million); • Sealing and extension of parking at Leonora and provision of toilet facilities ($1.5 million); and • Sealing of an existing parking area near Karijini to separate heavy and light vehicles ($950,000).
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ENSURE BESTPRACTICE SAFETY AND PRODUCTIVITY STANDARDS ON NATIONAL HIGHWAYS BY ADOPTING INFRASTRUCTURE STANDARDS FOR REST AREAS, SAFETY AND HIGH PRODUCTIVITY FREIGHT VEHICLE (HPFV) ACCESS. DAVID SMITH
and greener. “Infrastructure investment should target projects that will improve road access for HPFVs, including upgrading the Sheahan Bridge on the Hume Highway,” Smith said. In the submission, the ATA has called for prioritising better outcomes and policy by investing in improved capability and resourcing of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, and Infrastructure Australia. “We recommend the Government should support industry and remove barriers to reducing emissions from transport, lead national reform agendas for removing stamp duty and payroll tax, and not proceed with the mandatory super increase,” Smith said.
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the working group and the contributions from key industry organisations, and am looking forward to working with the industry group and Commonwealth Government on delivering these upgrades,” added Saffioti. WA Senator Glenn Sterle congratulated Tim Dawson, Secretary of TWU WA, Cam Dumesny, CEO of the Western Roads Federation and David Fyfe and his team at the Livestock & Rural Transport Association of WA for their
THE Australian Trucking Association (ATA) is calling on the Australian Government to improve road safety and boost industry productivity by investing in safer roads, rest areas and bridges. In a statement to coincide with the ATA’s 2021-22 pre-budget submission, ATA Chair David Smith said upgrading the road network would have enormous benefits for safety and productivity. “While we welcome the Australian Government’s existing $110 billion infrastructure pipeline, it should be strengthened with further investment in truck rest areas, freight routes, regional roads and bridge upgrades,” Smith said. “Studies show that the road is the cause of about 30 per cent of all crashes, and plays a significant role in how severe all road crashes are. “The Government should ensure best-practice safety and productivity standards on national highways by adopting infrastructure standards for rest areas, safety and High Productivity Freight Vehicle (HPFV) access.” Smith added that investment in safer and more accessible infrastructure for HPFVs would reduce the number of truck movements, reduce congestion, lower freight costs, and use trucks that are safer, quieter
Valid to 31st March 2021
A new funding program is set to deliver $14 million worth of rest area upgrades across regional WA, and 17 rest area locations could benefit. The WA Government is currently working with the transport industry to identify and prioritise upgrades to rest area facilities in regional Western Australia, as well as minor road upgrades. The industry working group has identified 17 initial locations for improvements, with works to start in June 2021, subject to approval by the Commonwealth Government. “Freight drivers provide an essential service and we need to ensure we have the amenities and facilities available in regional WA these workers deserve,” said WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti. The program of improvements was determined by a working group involving Main Roads WA and peak industry bodies including the Transport Workers’ Union, the Western Roads Federation and the Livestock and Rural Transport Association of WA. “I commend the efforts of
More investment needed: ATA
7106521ag
NEWS 5
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021
New WA program to train 1000 new truckies in state
WITH a shortage of truck drivers in WA continuing to make headlines, a new $6.1 million program will help to train 1000 new truck drivers. Funded by the WA Government, the six-week program has been developed collaboratively by the WA transport industry through Western Roads Federation (WRF) Members, LRTA-WA and the TWU. With a booming mining and resources sector, record spend on road infrastructure projects and increasing demand from the online delivery market, demand for skilled truck drivers and operations staff has never been higher. Since the new program was announced just weeks ago, Cam Dumesny, Executive Officer at WRF said the response has been very positive. “We’ve already been contacted by 30-40 employers who are wanting drivers in the first round. Everywhere from around town to out in the bulk haulage run, there’s a desperate need for skilled drivers. “At the moment, there are
Students participating in the program will receive on-road experience with veteran drivers.
skills shortages in every sector in WA, so our biggest challenge is making sure we recruit the right people to come into the industry. We’ve also got the biggest ever civil road works projects taking place over the next six to seven years, so to support that we’re
needing drivers for deliveries that are rapidly growing.” Students participating in the program will receive their licences and industry qualifications, and mentorship by experienced drivers, from on-road coaching, to basic maintenance, reversing and
the myriad of other things a skilled truck driver needs to know or be able to do. “Advocating for a major investment in an industry designed driver training driver program to address the skills shortage has been a key focus of WRF for the last year,”
added Craig Smith-Gander, Chair of WRF. “We are therefore delighted with the announcement of such a significant funding commitment by the Government.” According to the WRF, a shortage of skilled drivers is seriously threatening the ability of the state’s transport companies to meet demand. Two programs will run, the first will take new people into the industry and train them to Heavy Rigid (HR) level. The second will take HR drivers up to Road Train (MC) level. Both programs run over six weeks with the aim that trainees will be ready for employment upon graduation. “Our members have already committed to employing the graduates of the program and will be taking an active role in the training,” added Smith-Gander. He said the industry will be taking a lead role, and working closely with TAFE, Dept of Transport and Main Roads. Announcements of industry partners to assist in the delivery of training in Perth
and across the regions will be announced in due course. “This training program sets a new standard for developing professional truck drivers in Australia and in the future we aim to move to a formal apprenticeship program, recognising the vast skill sets that are required by professional transport operators.” The first intake in the metropolitan area is expected to commence in March. Regional locations are also in development. The formal training component of the course will be free for job seekers and people under 25. A small contribution will be required for participation in separate practical driving lessons, which will accompany the training. Course participants will get a credit toward the Certificate III in Driving Operations traineeship and a leg up to complete the full qualification. For more information, visit https://www.jobsandskills. wa.gov.au or contact your local WA Jobs and Skills Centre on 13 64 64.
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6 FEATURE
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Outback truckie comes to the rescue
WHEN truckie Michael Thompson decided to take a different route than usual while travelling to a property to deliver fuel, little did he know that he’d be coming to the rescue of an elderly man lost in the blistering heat, deep in the harsh Australian outback. The seasoned driver, based in Quilpie in Western Queensland, has worked for Lowes Petroleum for over 13 years, driving a triple road train and covering over 100,000km a year. He was delivering diesel to the historic Cordillo Downs Station, near Birdsville, when rain in the east made him switch his route. He headed west and in doing so found 75-year-old Terry Stewart barely breathing. Stewart retired as CEO of Cystic Fibrosis Australia in 2011 but maintains a strong interest in helping to find a cure. He also co-founded The Great Escape Oz, a charity car rally for Cure 4 Cystic Fibrosis in 2002 and serves as Track Boss. He was mapping out a route for the upcom-
ing September rally when his Toyota Hilux broke down. “I have travelled this particular track three times alone, so I felt confident in what I was doing and where I was going. My engine blew up and I had to make some decisions about what I was going to do. I decided to set up a cabin. It was about 2pm and extremely hot so I shielded the cabin from the direct sun so the breeze could come through to cool me off. I had no electrics, no radio, no phone service. I went for a walk to a bridge about 2km away and took binoculars to see if I could find anyone. As the day went on, I thought I’d sleep there and work out what to do in the morning. When I woke up, I decided I was going to walk back to the station, about 27km away,” Stewart recalled. “I’m pretty fit, I run 5km every day and play tennis twice a week. I thought I could do 4km every hour, then rest for 15 minutes before taking off again. What I didn’t take into account was the extreme heat. About 3-4 hours in I was fatigued, weak and I just couldn’t
I FOLLOWED HIS TRACKS FOR 13KM OR SO. I KNEW HE WAS IN A BAD WAY BECAUSE THE LAST 200 TO 300 METRES HIS TRACKS STARTED GOING BACKWARD AND FORWARD, SO HE WAS CLEARLY DISORIENTATED.
MICHAEL THOMPSON
go on. I found what I considered a reasonable place to rest – there are no trees in the desert, so there’s no shade. I think that was about 12.30-1pm. Then I collapsed. I had left a note on the steering wheel of the car indicating who I was, where I was heading and what time I took off in case anyone found the note.” And luckily that someone was Thompson, who came to his rescue at about 6pm. “I followed his tracks for 13km or so. I knew he was in a bad way because the last 200 to 300 metres his tracks started going
The actions of Lowes Petroleum truckie Michael Thompson saved Terry’s life.
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FEATURE 7
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021
backward and forward, so he was clearly disorientated. There were probably four to five sets of tracks. I kept doubling back and found him unconscious in a dry gully,” said Thompson. “The temperature that day was 47, 48 degrees Celsius: it was so hot I couldn’t touch the door handles to the truck. The stones on the ground were so hot they would burn your hand if you picked them up. “To be honest I thought he was dead when I found him, he was red raw. It looked like he wasn’t breathing, it was so shallow. I ran to the truck and got some cold water and poured it on his clothes and he groaned – so I knew he was alive. Lucky my satellite phone was working so I rang my wife who rang the cattle station and they contacted the Flying Doctors.” Apart from sun exposure and dehydration, Stewart suffered severe burns, which he is still recovering from. “The rocks in the dry creek bed I collapsed in were red hot from the sun and they burnt four holes straight into my legs,” he revealed. When we spoke with Stewart, he was still on the road to recovery. Since the incident happened in December, he has had skin grafts and still requires twice weekly visits to a burns clinic. “I have one leg out of bandages and the other hopefully will be out within the next two weeks,” he said. “The odds were all against me. For whatever reason, Michael came down that way and
Hero truckies first on the scene BY DANIELLE GULLACI
Terry Stewart is Track Boss for the Great Escape Oz, a charity car rally for Cure 4 Cystic Fibrosis, and was mapping out a route for the upcoming event when he landed in trouble.
IT’S WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE OUT IN THE BUSH. HIS WIFE AND FAMILY RANG ME AND COULDN’T THANK ME ENOUGH – THAT’S ALL YOU NEED. MICHAEL THOMPSON
drove until he couldn’t drive any more, then he got out of the truck and followed my tracks. All I can say is thank you. If it had of been two hours later, I don’t think I would have
been here.” Once the bandages are off and he is given the all clear, Stewart plans to catch up with his rescuer to thank him in person. “I’m lucky to have come out with just a few holes in my legs. He could’ve just driven past and kept on going, but he didn’t. He stopped, he read the note and then he put a rescue procedure in place. He found me, then he saved my life.” But Thompson doesn’t want to be called a hero. “It’s what you do when you are out in the bush. His wife and family rang me and couldn’t thank me enough – that’s all you need,” he said.
THREE heroic Lindsay Brothers Transport truckies have been praised for their actions at the scene of a crash that occurred last month at Heaslip Road, Waterloo Corner, SA. Craig Bensch was travelling at approximately 90 km/h when a car suddenly pulled out in front of him without any warning. “He came to a complete stop, but then out of nowhere hit the accelerator,” recalled Bensch, who suffered from severe whiplash and internal bruising. Luckily all five passengers from the other car walked away without injury, largely thanks to Bensch’s quick thinking moments before impact. “I come from a motor racing background. In the last split second before the crash, I quickly straightened my car up and let the incident happen, I knew I couldn’t avoid it,” said Bensch. “I was in a lot of pain and remember a truck driver stopped and was standing on the side of the road as I fell to the ground and collapsed.” That truckie was Bear Bolen. He along with two other Lindsay Brothers Transport drivers were the first on the scene. Bear immediately took charge of the situation and knew exactly what to do. “He
Truckie Bear Bolen took charge of the situation and knew exactly what to do.
instructed one of the other drivers, Michael, to climb into my car through the passenger door to support my head until the ambos got there. He passed on info to the ambos before they got there too. Once the firies rocked up, Bear requested straight off the bat for them to bring out some oxygen because I was in shock. That’s when I knew I was in safe hands. There was also another Lindsay Broth-
ers truckie who parked his truck to block oncoming traffic,” explained Bensch. “Bear took the lead and is a true leader, who showed me that the company has some great drivers that are of the highest standards. They opened my eyes up to see that there’s still nice people out there. With everything going on in the world at the moment, you don’t see a lot of that anymore.”
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8 OPINION
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
More results, less reports
EDITOR JAMES GRAHAM
WHERE do I get one of these sweet gigs conducting studies and writing lengthy pointy-headed reports? Since my last issue-rant about the lack of practical help for truckies doing it tough, two more taxpayer-funded dissertations hit the in-box fixing to tackle the serious mental health issues we have. The first was from Healthy Heads in Trucks and Sheds to tell us it’s partnering with Griffith University in Queensland on a road safety health and research pilot project. The next was from OzHelp about a review which draws on “national and international research findings into the poor health outcomes” of heavy vehicle drivers. All very worthy and with the best of intentions, I’m sure. But we need tangible actions out in the field today, not more paperwork with the promise of something down the track. You want to know what’s troubling truckies? Just read our Facebook page, and you can use that information for free.
HOT WEB TOPICS Self-driving truck road trials
SCANIA has begun testing its self-driving truck out on the road in Sweden, on the E4 motorway between Södertälje and Jönköping. In Australia, Scania has been testing self-driving trucks for mining transportation since 2017. Here’s what some of our readers had to say about the technology. “It’d be fine in well populated places in Europe, Asia and the US. Where if something goes wrong someone can be called out from the nearest town. But in Australia they’d need someone to ride along with it to keep an eye on the load, change tyres, fix mechanical issues and of course, put fuel in it,” said Ash Black. “That will go so great in Australia won’t it, I mean with the suicidal kangaroos we have right. Could you imagine the carnage from a computer operated truck trying to stop.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO READER CORNER? EMAIL US AT EDITOR@BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Can truckies be forced PBS safety technology THE NHVR recently sought industry consultation around proto wear PPE? posed changes to the PBS Directional Stability Under Braking (DSUB) Standard. FORCED to wear a fatigue-monitoring headband as PPE, a frustrated truckie contacted Big Rigs, so we asked our lawyer where he stood from a legal standpoint. “I remember when we were appreciated for our efforts, not dictated to wear a dog collar,” wrote reader Bob Burns. “I find it a little strange that drivers need a gizmo to alert them that they need a break (according to the article). My boss leaves my fatigue management up to me and I leave running the company to him,” said Trena Riches Sloss. “Maybe the people in the fatigue management sector need to wear this and wake the f**k up to themselves,” said Lee Hayter. “So we have log books, digital log books, cameras facing in and out of cabs, eye monitoring cameras, point-to-point cameras and now this,” added Tai Chuter.
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Our readers also shared their views around PBS on our Facebook page. “The 27mtr b-double rule shouldn’t just be a PBS thing. Should be the regular rule like WA. That way you can have a decent sized bunk and truck to live in,” said Chris Pearson. “Productivity before sleep. When is the Australian Government, National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, Main Roads Western Australia, etc going to start measuring combinations from the king pin back and allow for bigger bunks? I mean they all bang on about fatigue but think it’s ok for the people doing long distance to sleep on a parcel shelf,” added Tim Montague. Marty De Vos commented: “Issue is the brakes turn a corner in the wet with a good oil spill and see what happens then to the stupid system. It all works wonderfully in a controlled environment test track. The road is not a controlled test track and never will be.”
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10 NEWS
IN BRIEF Celebrating female truckies To commemorate International Women’s Day on March 8, Women in Trucking Australia (WiTA) is awarding its first Trailblazer Driver of the Year and Driver of the Year prizes. The Trailblazer category is reserved for women who no longer drive to earn a living. “Women who smashed prevailing stereotypes and established trucking careers at a time when societal norms expected them to stay home and keep house,” said organisers. The Driver of the Year is open to every other working female truckie. Prizes will also be awarded to runners-up in each category. Cummins opts out Cummins is one of the latest big names to pull out of the Brisbane Truck Show, which is scheduled to be held from May 13-16. The engine and powertrain giant made the decision due to the continuing impact and uncertainty COVID-19 has had on all aspects of business and lives globally. Cummins is the third main floor exhibitor to head for the exits, following earlier U-turns by Volvo and Scania. Suzi coil warning The NHVR has highlighted the dangers of using coiled brake system air hoses (suzi coils) on drawbar type trailers such as dog, pig or tag type trailers that use an ‘A’ type coupling system. The NHVR pointed to a number of decoupling incidents where suzi coils were used as air supply lines on these types of trailers. The design of the trailer, together with the use of suzi coils, it said, resulted in the suzi coils stretching, allowing the trailers to travel some distance before the emergency brake system has activated.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Driver licensing concerns logged at Senate inquiry TRUCKIES’ peak training body has doubled down on its call for an urgent overhaul of the driver licensing system. In a submission to the recent Sydney round of the Senate inquiry into the road transport industry, the Australian Driver Trainers Association (ADTA) said the national approach to licensing is too disjointed, and the education for both applicant and instructor is woefully inadequate. Lead author Mick Humphries, General Manager of ADTA, told the committee that new drivers are being “churned” out of driving schools in as little as half a day. “This includes drivers of B-doubles. I have spoken to a number of QLD license applicants that have upgraded from Class HR to MC in a group of three applicants in 5 hours.... for the lot,” he said his detailed submission. “A worrying, worrying outcome. We see groups of applicants that aren’t equipped to be put onto the road.” Some of the shortfalls and issues that he has discovered include: • G rossly insufficient training times (cost driven) • N on-compliance with video and assessor separation requirements • U nladen/under-laden train-
MANY RTO’S OFFER NO AUDITING, NO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND NO SUPPORT. IF WE WERE BACK IN THE VET SPACE THEY WOULD BE 100% REQUIRED TO OFFER THIS SUPPORT UNDER THEIR AGREEMENT WITH THE NATIONAL SKILLS REGULATOR. MICK HUMPHRIES
The Australian Driver Trainers Association is concerned that new drivers are being churned out in as little as half a day.
ing vehicles • V ehicles used are non representative of the license class He also told the inquiry that the pool of assessors is becoming polarised, with one group committed road safety professionals supported by an RTO with a good understanding of the industry, and the other not equipped with the methodology required to produce good drivers. “They run fleets of old technology trucks and every client is assessed in the absolute minimum time to the bare bones level,” he said. “These assessors generally struggle to even measure/determine competence.” He added that the financial
interest between RTO’s and assessors needs strutiny. “Many RTO’s offer no auditing, no professional development and no support. If we were back in the VET space they would be 100 per cent required to offer this support under their agreement with the national skills regulator.” Humphries goes on to recommend to the committee that Austoads develop and set a curriculum for the process of upgrading a license with expanded skills that reflect the task to be performed after obtaining new and upgraded qualifications. He also suggests the following steps: 1. A reasonable time frame to allow for skills development accompany the curriculum. 2. The concept of “tenure” be removed and a meaningful and relevant measure of both experience and skill be substituted and reinforced by provision of evidence of relevant industry experience. 3. The the state regulators not be permitted to conduct Heavy Vehicle license assessments unless the regulator staff meet all the requirements of VET assessors 4. That the scheme be fully immersed into, or fully removed from the VET space.
Research review sparks truck driver health program TO coincide with the upcoming launch of their new truckie health program, the OzHelp Foundation (OzHelp) has published a review which draws on national and international research findings into the poor health outcomes of heavy vehicle drivers. The program ‘Health in Gear’ will shortly commence its pilot phase and is informed
by the findings of the review. The review found the sedentary nature of the occupation combined with poor diet and a lack of exercise puts drivers at a higher risk of obesity and developing chronic diseases such as diabetes, mental-ill health, and cardiovascular health issues. Truck drivers are subject to constant time pressures, long
shifts, tight deadlines and isolation which can lead to depression, anxiety and sleeping disorders. Nationally truck drivers represent the second highest occupational group, after construction workers, at risk of suicide. On average, truck drivers work 49 hours per week compared to the average working week of Australians which was
32.3 hours in 2019. Long work hours have an adverse impact on social connection, which also impact on mental health outcomes. OzHelp Chief Executive Officer, Mr Darren Black said the review was the first step in developing program for drivers. “The constraints under which drivers operate have a direct bearing on drivers’ physical
health and wellbeing and there is a genuine desire from the driving community for things to change,” he said. OzHelp has been funded through the Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI), administered by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) to develop a health and wellbeing program for owner-drivers.
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12 COVER STORY
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
ROADHOUSE ROUNDTABLE
EWDs: Are they a solution, or just another headache? Meet the panel
Mike Williams Veteran NSW driver, Big Rigs columnist and host of popular industry podcast On the Road.
Trevor Warner Long-time interstate driver, National Road Freighters Association Qld delegate, and The Drivers Advocate on Facebook.
Daniel Thomas Ex long-time livestock driver in Victoria, now ‘mud-carter’ for Kyneton garden supplier.
Marty De Vos Experienced interstate truckie, now working for Freestones Transport, based in Sydney.
Welcome to the first Big Rigs’ virtual roadhouse roundtable, where expert industry panels meet online to debate and discuss the biggest issues of the day. Hot topic this issue: Electronic Work Diaries Where do you stand on EWDs Thomas: The company I was working for has been running the [Teletrac Navman] Sentinel system now for over 12 months in their meat trucks and hadn’t installed them in the livestock trucks due to the lack of information on the system regarding how it counted time, etc, and as a livestock operator I get an hour’s grace on top of my 12/14 hr book if something goes pear-shaped and I can’t make my destination in the allowed time and how was I to log that extra hour when the EWD was saying I’m out of hours. All these questions and more couldn’t be answered by my company, or the NHVR, so unfortunately, I handed in my notice to a job that I loved. I’m not against the whole idea of the EWD but there needs to be more clarification on what you can/can’t do. Now I I’ve left the job, I’m getting offers of help and direction but damage has been done. We even had a fatigue consultant come in and explain it to us but still couldn’t answer what I thought were basic concerns. Warner: I been working with the EWD Developer StepGlobal since early December, to provide the best EWD solution to the heavy vehicle driver and to understand what the EWD can and cannot do. The basic starting point was good. Most network issues and data sync’ing bugs have been sorted quickly. So far I have found it easy to use and has reduced my wasted or stolen work time by eliminating the rounding up/ down of time. I quickly realised the benefits of this and ditched the paper work diary. GPS location acquisition is still a challenge, but this is inherent with GPS data, but the record on the EWD is editable, so you can still record accurate locations. Williams: I’ve been using a Teletrac Navman for about three years. We don’t use it instead of paper. It’s just for management to review our work hours. We must match it up with our paper log though. I think they’re a good idea in general but not without issues. With an EWD all the mistakes you make there in black-and-
However, the real benefit is supposed to be with scheduling. Having the “real time” data of your work time in the hands of schedulers, SHOULD! allow them to allocate better and this should achieve a better Safety outcome.... Then there is the aspect of savings in the back office by reducing the paperwork and lost or missing data...
Four EWD alternatives have now been approved by the NHVR as voluntary alternatives to the paper work diary.
white for authorities to see. I don’t care who you are or how good you are there’s no way you can predict what is going to be happening in a rest area 100 200 km up the road. You could be left high and dry with nowhere to park at no time to go anywhere else De Vos: Teletrac Navman is utter rubbish. Monday I get into truck. System’s been apparently updated, glitches fixed, [but] can’t show me a speed, nothing. I have been told that in Victoria that the police will use the data collected for any infringement offence relating to over speed offences. If this is such then I will be looking for another job as it’s given me speed breaches
climbing hills and it’s impossible to speed when limited and the truck has never been tampered with. Will they help with fatigue? De Vos: It won’t change and the major issue for any driver we all know this what accidents has this American system stopped. The answer is simply it hasn’t, it never will and it won’t stop ignorant people in smaller motor vehicles from causing accidents with us in the job we do. It’s not about safety it’s all about revenue and responsibility shift. Warner: Correct Marty, It has nothing to do with safety of the driver.
Williams: The whole problem is it’s change. We have been working with paper log books for years. Drivers are comfortable with them. We’ve learned how to manipulate our way through the day. Make the thing work to our advantage as much as possible. We all believe, I think, that the logbook, paper or electronic, has not very much to do with fatigue management and more to do with regulatory need. Drivers often see a logbook as a restriction on what they can do without understanding that the logbook actually protects them from unscrupulous employers pushing for more. The EWD will record work that is done. Just as we should be doing now. I don’t see a problem with that. The problem we face with an EWD is that we can’t “adjust” the time. That creates the concern that each time we run over we’ll end up with a fine.
The Smart eDriver from Step Global was the first NHVR tested and fully certified EWD in Australia.
We also know and believe that the authorities won’t miss the chance to write us up. As I said we can’t predict where our day will go. This also creates a problem. In order to comply with the EWD drivers may be required sacrifice time to not risk going over in time. This creates a whole raft of ongoing issues. Not least of which is lost income. (Trip money etc) I hope the EWD will pave the way to hourly pay for long distance drivers. I hope, once the companies have it recorded and in front of them, they’ll come to grips with the fact so much time is wasted things will need to change. Warner: Trip money is fine, as long as its depot depot, which was the original intent. Then it got bastardised and now we have Trips up to 17hrs a day... The EWD should stop the “ancillary task” happening at both ends..... which in essence SHOULD reduce the work day to 1214hrs, as intended... but the way things are looking Hourly pay rates are in the crosshairs....there is too much unpaid and untaxed work happening.... EWDs and the 15-minute rest block Warner: Even the EWD won’t record a rest in the Breach engine if its less than 15minutes.. ...Continued Page 14
Truckie Trevor Warner says the Smart eDriver is easy to use and a time-saver.
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14 COVER STORY
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
ROADHOUSE ROUNDTABLE
Mandatory use is on the way
Marty De Vos sent us a video highlighting the GPS issues he was having with his device.
...From Page 12 The issue comes down to where on the clock, the 15minutes occurs. Ie if you stop at 4:05 and get going at 4:20, that is 15minutes on the EWD. But on the paper WD it must be recorded at 4:00-4:30. The paper WD has stolen 15minutes from you... If this happens 4 times a day, the paper WD has stolen 60minutes from you. All my rest breaks are 15-3045-60 minutes by the EWD. this functions outside the 15min blocks on a clock. ie 4:00-4:15-4:30-4:45-5:00. I started to run my Paper WD like this, which satified the the block of 15 min rest rule, BUT it breached the round up/ round down rules. Do you think EWDs will become mandatory? Thomas: Ah, there’s no doubt
it will be mandatory in the future the problem I see is the older drivers will just leave the industry because they won’t be able to operate the system ( some blokes still can’t operate a phone properly) so they will just retire or leave the job ... unfortunately u still need these old school blokes for the outback/ remote area work who know how to look after the gear and freight... I just can’t see those blokes hanging around for the money that companies pay now.... unfortunately with all this electronic stuff around at the moment there’s just no enjoyment in the job with companies/ authorities looking over your shoulder 24/7.. Also heard last week mandatory in all interstate truck within five years is the word coming from a few organisations in Victoria, but who knows.
Williams: I absolutely see a day when EWD will become mandatory. I believe that the authorities see the EWD as a catch-all, difficult to circumvent and being able to expose every breach. It’s a mistake, in my view to say this is about revenue raising. It’s not that. That’s not the motivation. For the authorities the motivation is to be seen to be doing all they can to make the roads safer. This is the latest tool. The effect on the industry is harder to predict. Drivers who come into the Industry with these in place will simply accept it as a matter of course. It will lead to a cultural change in the industry. in the initial stages I expect that there will be considerable pressure on both companies and drivers as the realisation hits that the way we’ve been doing things for years simply will not match the new paradigm. People will also realise exactly how long all this free work that gets done takes! drivers will not willingly expose themselves to the huge fines to satisfy a customer or employer. employed drivers income will go down. that has been the case in the US according to the articles I’ve read in Overdrive mag. trucks will be parked up in weird and wonderful places until drivers come to grips or the infrastructure catches up. Warner: Yes very soon. Once business understands the benefits, I feel it will be employer driven... The chatter from Global tech providers is that it is coming. Big tech is pushing for it, just like the EPIRB with offshore boating...Corporate CoR officers will be pushing for categorising subordinate links in their CoR....I am certain Insurance companies will be offering incentives to go EWD soon.. The writing is on the wall... Telstra recently purchased MT Data. why?…follow the money!
The NHVR-approved MTData’s Talon and Swift system runs on either a Samsung Galaxy Active Tab or Samsung Galaxy Active Tab 2.
I feel the Drivers need to be proactive and use the EWD which best suits them. Reading and listening to the chatter, Smart eDriver is the favourable one at this stage.. De Vos: All I personally can say is the issues of system failures far outweigh any apparent gain. There is nothing to improve safety on the road, it is just a device developed to cut out shonky operating businesses. Is that a bad thing no, yet those who do run good businesses are going to be responsible and accountable for the system failures also driver’s as you know the proverbial scapegoat and then will also be required to do his homework on where he was or has been, end of the day. My personal opinion and from many who have concerns about this matter is it shouldn’t be implemented at all. Because you try to prove that the system is wrong with what it says. Everyone is worried about it. Should we all stand up to get it out? Yes, we should. Paperwork is the only thing it will reduce. Well at least the paperwork can be checked for what was written. Williams: It seems we all agree that the day is coming where EWD will be mandatory. I put the position that this isn’t a problem as long as several things happen as well. 1. This rest area infrastructure
Mike Williams believes the logbook, paper or electronic, has more to do with regulatory need than fatigue management.
is improved. 2. Trip money is replaced by hourly rates. 3. Trip scheduling gets increased attention. 4. Drivers are indemnified from EWD failure as long as they’ve commenced a paper record from the time of the failure. 5. Truck wheelbase laws are reviewed to allow for larger sleeping quarters for long distance drivers. 6. Engine off climate control systems are mandated in trucks drivers are required to rest in. I won’t hold my breath waiting for all this to happen. Is there a better system? Williams: If I had my way, we’d all move to something like the more pragmatic system of WA. I’d actually vote for a system that granted a driver 144 hours to us in 14 days in any way they chose. No regulated breaks. No minimum break times. Once you start you’ve got 14 days. Then it resets. That would be a bit too radical for many though I think. Warner: I reckon scrap the lot and just have 16hrs a day, 8hrs rest, split however you like.... If the schedulers did their job and were ONLY ALLOWED TO SCHEDULE A 12HR DAY....then most other things would fall into place.... It’s all in the scheduling......a
12hr schedule would put a stop to this 17hr load/drive/ unload Fiasco. There seems to be an increasing amount of paperwork buffering management from the driver. I know I will get SHOT for this...but here it goes.....If you were not pushed to the ragged edge with time, why would it matter how you recorded your work time? As they found in the USA, the illegal work is no longer getting done, because you are locked down. The focus needs to be on schedulers and not the drivers. The schedulers make the decisions to push the long-distance drivers to do the pickups and deliveries.... It’s the scheduler who says, ‘NO drop your trailers and the local driver will deliver’. All this “REFORM” only came about once CoR - Primary Duty came into effect. These companies know who is pushing the drivers and they are ducking for cover. The EWD does not give schedulers a way out. They MUST know what you have done because it’s there in REAL TIME.... Trev’s 15hrs, he can’t deliver that freight...Take it to the depot or a drop point and go to bed! Thomas: Spot on. The above is an edited extract of a discussion that took place in a closed Facebook group over four days.
Trevor Warner says the EWD does not give schedulers a “way out” and will help stop truckies being forced to do ‘illegal’ work.
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16 NEWS
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Unreserved auctions return for Richie Bros. this month
RITCHIE Bros. will hold its first unreserved auction for 2021 from February 24-25, with a range of trucks, stock crates, log trailers, tippers and flat decks set to go under the hammer. The auction will feature 77 trucks including 41 prime movers, with some unused, low kilometres and late models; as well as 65 trailers. “We’re fielding calls daily from customers chasing trucks and trailers. People want to gear up and get to work, and this auction provides that opportunity. No wait times, you can put this gear straight to work,” said Finlay Massey, Director of Sales – APAC. Ritchie Bros. is well known for holding unreserved auc-
The auction will feature 77 trucks and 65 trailers including livestock, logging, tipper and flat deck trailers.
tions, which means every item will be sold to the highest bidder on the day. Sellers also get certainty of sale. Like many businesses around the world, COVID-19 had an immediate impact on the Ritchie Bros. business
Ritchie Bros. will hold its first unreserved auction for 2021.
model. With social distancing measures in place, it was impossible to hold large-scale public auctions with thousands of people attending. In response to COVID-19, Ritchie Bros. Australia moved all auctions to its online plat-
form IronPlanet. This gave sellers and buyers confidence when transacting used equipment and machinery throughout the pandemic. “COVID-19 is disruptive. Like every other busines in the world, we’ve had to find new ways of doing things to support our customers. Moving auctions online to IronPlanet was the beginning, and in 2021 we are returning to what we’re known for, and that’s Ritchie Bros. unreserved auctions, though the auctions will continue to be 100 per cent online,” explained David Fanning, Director of Marketing – APAC. Ritchie Bros. has also expanded nationally, with new sites in Perth, Adelaide, Dub-
bo and Mittagong, joining the established sites of Brisbane and Geelong. The online auction can
be accessed at https://www. rbauction.com/heavy-equipment-auctions/australia-aus-2021210.
Solid start for Kenworth in 2021 PERENNIAL heavy duty sales winner Kenworth has picked up where it left off in 2020 and announced its intentions early in the first Truck Industry Council’s T-Mark figures for the year. Kenworth takes the early sector lead with 112 registrations for January – just five fewer than the same month in 2020 – and comfortably clear of last year’s early frontrunner Volvo on 93. Isuzu rounds out the top three with 81 units, compared with 88 last year. The big mover amongst the heavies was Mercedes-Benz, bolting into fourth spot with 70 sales, a massive 32 truck spike when compared with the same time in 2020, and its second best result in the
last five years. Its Daimler stablemate Freightliner also had plenty to celebrate with 34 units for the month, that’s more than twice what it moved last year (16) and almost three-times the 2019 volume of 12. An encouraging start to 2021 put Freightliner in fifth spot in the sector, just one above Scania whose January tally – 33 – is nearly half of what it moved in the same month last year. In all there were 597 prime movers sold in January, which represents a 1.5 per cent growth rate compared to the same month in 2020. As expected, Isuzu again leads the medium and light duty sectors with totals of 143 and 276, respectively.
1. Strong one piece handle operation 2. 160x100 Bolt Pattern 3. Heavy duty Australian bushes 4. Rotating locking pin 5. Reinforced funnel 6. The ability to fit air operation, sensor options and jack knife sensor options
NEWS 17
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021
Legendary Wagga Wagga operator makes final run
BY JAMES GRAHAM
IT was a year in the making but Maureen Smith finally got the message through to her hard-working husband – it
was time to put their health first. After 55 years as a livestock transporter and a lifetime of predawn starts – more often than not seven days a week –
Ross and Maureen celebrate their retirement from the livestock business after more than 50 years.
FE B — MAR 2021
Ross, 74, made his last run to the Wagga Wagga sale yards just before Christmas. With a successful auction of all his gear and plenty of shed clearing to do since, Ross admits he’s been too busy to miss the non-stop pace he’s known for so long. But he already concedes that he’s starting to see the upside to waking up without a cattle farm or sheep sale to race to. Maureen, who worked shoulder-to-shoulder with Ross from day one, said she could see the job starting to take its toll. Ross said Maureen’s stroke in October 2019 – she’s since made a full recovery – also made him stop and think seriously about making a change while they were still young enough to enjoy the next chapter together. Livestock transport is really the only life they’ve known as a couple since marrying more than 50 years ago, Maureen doing the books around raising two daughters, and Ross always on the road, travelling up to 3000km a week until recently.
Change hasn’t been easy for Ross of late, he admits. Everything is getting bigger and faster – he can’t see the point of EWDs – and no one wants to give up a cushy lifestyle for the rigours of driving livestock, he said: “I can’t blame them. It’s hard work pushing sheep on and be expected to do three or four pick-ups to get them loaded.” Now, said Ross, he just wants to focus on building a new house in Wagga, and making up for lost time with family. Covid permitting, Ross and Maureen are planning to hook up the caravan and head north to Queensland in March to see their two great grandkids. After that, if all this newfound leisure time isn’t quite what Ross envisaged, he’s got a prime mover stored at a mate’s property, just in case. “Maureen gives me a funny look every time I mention it, but I might put a tipper on and cart a bit of grain to keep my hand in,” he said. “I’m still fit enough and if I’ve got to go and do something, it’s a good way to keep the bones moving.”
The Smith’s prized Dieseline Drover was a regular attraction at the annual Riverina truck convoy. Pic credit: David Vile.
After leaving school at 15, Ross tried his hand at shearing, graduated to hay and grain carting at just 17, before switching to livestock soon after. As Ross puts it, it’s been “nose to the grindstone” ever since. “You’d start Sunday afternoon, or Monday morning, and go all week,” recalled Ross.
“Most nights I never came home, and once we were into semi-trailers, I was gone all the time.” Ross struggles to offer up too many highlights, but he does concede that he’s grateful for the handful of loyal clients who have been by his side since the start. That kind of loyalty is rare nowadays, laments Ross.
FEB—MAR
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Prices herein are recommended selling prices, inclusive of GST. Recommended selling prices are a guide only and there is no obligation for Dealers to comply with these recommendations. Freight charges may apply. All items have been included in good faith on the basis that goods will be available at the time of sale. Prices and promotions are available at participating Dealers from 1 February to 31 March 2021 or while stocks last.
18 FEATURE
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Tribute for Detroit legend
BY JAMES GRAHAM
WHEN it came to working with Detroit Diesel engines, Tom Kaufmann reckons his lifelong mate Craig Woodcroft was untouchable. There was nothing the venerable owner of south Brisbane workshop DDEC Detroit Specialists didn’t know about them, or how to fix. His phone would ring hot, seven days a week, with cries for help from those wanting to tap into Woodcroft’s uncanny affinity with the engines. No problem was too big or too small, and Woodcroft always had the answers. Kaufmann said Woodcroft’s gift was evident from the moment their paths crossed as youngsters – Woodcroft in the final throws of his apprenticeship at CDR, Kaufmann just out of his – until illness forced the workshop whiz to reluctantly hang up his tools just over a year ago. After a long and brave battle with pancreatic cancer, Woodcroft passed away on January 15, aged just 60. “There will never be another one like him – he was an absolute freak when it came to Detroit engines,” recalled Kaufmann fondly. “There must have been hundreds of thousands of part numbers and he’d just walk
Big-hearted Craig Woodcroft was always generous with his time and encyclopaedic knowledge.
up to the parts counter and rattle off the numbers, saying ‘I need this and this’. He just had a photographic memory for them. “He absolutely dominated everything with those engines – it was just amazing.” Kaufmann recalls the day when the first Detroit Series 60 came out in the 1980s with what for many was a new confounding array of electronics. “Craig just picked it up instantly. Then Kenworth got him to go to Melbourne to work the wiring harnesses on it, and build up all the wiring looms to run all the electronic engines that no one’s seen before. “Just whatever there was to
do with the Detroit engine, he was in front and on top of the whole scene.” Kaufmann, who later in life lived behind Woodcroft’s workshop in Coopers Plains, said Woodcroft’s other great love was hot rods and rebuilding classic cars. His many achievements included working on The Mean Machine, a celebrated Detroit-powered Mack drag truck of the late 70s and early 80s, and rebuilding a 57 Chevy and 47 Chevy tow truck from scratch, the latter repurposed as the workshop ute. Perhaps his proudest moment in that arena, however, came when he worked his magic on the family-owned EH Holden Premier that had fallen into disrepair. “Craig got hold of it, stripped it down like he did with the 57 Chevy; down to nothing, and brought it back to factory finish, right down to the last master cylinder cap,” recalled Kaufmann. “He put in a show and won, and the day they handed the trophy over he got his father to come up on the stage and said: ‘Dad it’s yours’. The number plate said POPS EH.” “He just gave, and gave, and gave the whole time that bloke…he honestly did.” Woodcroft is survived by wife Yvette, and sons Cameron
and Brendan. A former apprentice with his dad, Brendan took over the keys to the shop earlier last year, rebranding as DDEC Australia to put his own stamp on the operation, but very mindful of the goodwill and industry-leading reputation he’s inherited in the process. “Craig’s legacy he’s left behind is just awesome – everyone knows who he is – and I wasn’t ready to let that go,” said Brendan proudly.
Woodcroft’s pride and joy, the classic 57 Chevy he rebuilt from scratch.
Proud Craig with son Brendan on his first day of school. Brendan has now taken over the workshop.
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FREECALL* 1800 TRPART (877 278) TRUSTED | RELIABLE | PROVEN ONE PHONE NUMBER TO CONNECT WITH 59 DEALERS AUSTRALIA WIDE Prices herein are recommended selling prices, inclusive of GST. Recommended selling prices are a guide only & there is no obligation for Dealers to comply with these recommendations. Freight charges may apply. All items have been included in good faith on the basis that goods will be available at the time of sale. Prices & promotions are available at participating PACCAR Parts Dealers & TRP outlets from 1 February to 31 March 2021. For more details contact: Freecall* 1800 877 278 • Email: info@trpparts.com.au • www.trpparts.com.au
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20 FEATURE
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Mick Dwyer, 62, has a few years and miles to travel
The veteran NSW driver reflects on more than 40 years behind the wheel, and reveals the story behind his unusual nickname. BY DAVID VILE IT is quite a contrast from a petrol-powered Dodge horse truck to a current spec Kenworth T909 with a quad fridge van, but it reflects the continual evolution of transport over the last 44 years, the length of time in which Mick Dwyer has been running the highways and outback tracks around Australia. Driving for Churchill Transport of Holbrook, Dwyer and the Kenworth were putting in a Saturday evening making their way down the Hume to the Woolworths DC at Truganina. Loaded with produce out of Sydney and with a bit of time up his sleeve Dwyer was more than happy to have a chat about his times in the transport industry. “I kicked off up in Maitland with a rigid Dodge horse truck on local and interstate… it was a ‘660’ with a 360 V8, 5-speed/2 speed diff and a big exhaust pipe out the side and she looked really neat. My family them moved to Dapto where my father was the secretary at the Dapto Dogs, so I worked local there for Heggie’s and when I got my semi licence, I got a start with Murrell Freight Lines in a plastic -cabbed Atkinson,” he explained. Spending a number of years in the familiar red-and black Murrell fleet colours, Dwyer worked his way along operating a variety of trucks including an International S-Line and then a number of Kenworths, which included highway work from coast to coast and running road trains to remote parts of Australia. “We would run bricks to Perth, freight into the rocket range at Woomera and a lot of gas pipe all over Australia and into Moomba in particular… we would go in with a single trailer from Yunta or as a double road train from Lyndhurst up the Strzelecki track - we did a helluva lot of work up there, but it is really remote and out
Churchill’s Kenworth T909 and quad van: “Some of the nicest gear out on the road”.
After 44 years on the road Churchill driver Mick Dwyer still loves it.
in the middle of nowhere!” he said. Along the way Dwyer also drove a Peterbilt for Alan Lever, worked for John L.Pierce, spent time carting paper reels for Visy and had a stint on tipper work around Holbrook before reuniting with Anthony Churchill around two years ago, an operator with whom he has had a long association. “I have probably worked with Anthony for the last 30 years over a few different stints, I’m on here as a permanent casual and work the back end of the week to give the drivers their time off especially at
Nothing like a big Pete: Dwyer drove this Peterbilt for Alan Lever.
this time of the year the trucks are kept fairly busy running between Griffith, Sydney and Melbourne,” he continued. “I will give it back to the regular driver tomorrow night. He has had a good weekend, so he is nice and fresh. Anthony looks after his drivers really well and he has some of the nicest gear out on the road.” With so many years and miles passing under the wheels Dwyer has many good memories of times past but appreciates the advances in technology over that time. “The old Atkinson with the Hendrickson rear end… she was rough! She used to do a bit of kicking! Now we have a Kenworth with airbag suspension, a microwave, fridge and all the gear like mobile phones….we don’t have to chase around looking for a phone box to find the phone not working. We worked hard in those days; everyone did big days back then. The gear was reasonably good but the places along the way we would go through when the roads weren’t so flash - the Cullerins, Little Sydney Harbour and so on. But it was the mateship, I made a lot of good mates out on the highway and there’s still
a lot of good fellas out there,” he reflected. On the flip side of the coin the Dwyer reckons the unity amongst truck drivers has largely disappeared. “Everybody has a different attitude these days, that can get on your nerves a bit - you used to have someone flash you in when you passed them, nowadays you’re flat out getting a flash…I miss the old school ways - you would look after those that look after you on the highway and it will never come back,” he lamented. The Kenworth Dwyer was steering down the Hume is one of a number of fridge van units in the Churchill operation, and with a 550hp Cummins providing the motive power Dwyer reckoned the truck was more than suited to the job. “The Cummins goes well pulling the quad tailer - it’s a 26-pallet unit, I was a bit iffy with the extra length when I first started loading them but now I’m used to them I find them really good. I wasn’t sure about doing fridge work when I went back to Anthony but maybe I have matured, I just open the doors and away I go, no doing straps or rolling up tarps,” he said with a smile.
As is the case with a lot of people in transport, Dwyer was christened with a nickname which has endured over his time over the road, being somewhat curiously known to all and sundry as ‘Wonder Woman’. “I got that at Murrell’s,” he explained. “I used to do three a week down the coast from Wollongong to Sale in the S-Line which only had 230 horsepower, so they christened my ‘Wonder Boy’ in the Murrells yard…of course Wonder Woman was on TV back in those days, so it soon
got changed so now I have been stuck with it for the last 40 years.” Away from the highways Dwyer and his family have been involved with show horses, with the family having a long association with the Sydney Easter Show, with the Champion Hackney Pony awarded each year with a trophy in his grandfather’s name. Having presented the trophy in years past, in 2021 Dwyer will be one of the judges. “Dad showed ponies for a number of years and my brother was on the shortlist for Olympic selection in show jumping with a horse he had - as a family we have all been involved with horses, it’s just horsepower and trucks that have occupied most of my time.” At just 62, Dwyer reckons there is a few years and miles left to be travelled, and with his home at Woomargama not too far from the Churchill depot he thinks he is in a pretty good position to keep at the wheel for a while yet. “Mostly its 3-4 nights a week, I might do a week here and there especially when it’s busy …I will keep it going as long as the passion is there! I can’t complain, you take the good days and the bad days you take on the chin - that’s transport.”
“She used to kick!” Murrell’s Atkinson, his first interstate truck.
Remote trucking to outback South Australia with gas pipe for Murrell’s.
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22 READER RIGS
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
After unloading 700 lambs, Shane Roche headed back to the west to pick up another load.
Neil Davey and this 2018 FH16 Volvo and 100t pocket road train were unloading fertiliser in Wagin, WA.
Share your truck pics THE trucking game is as diverse as the terrain on which our truckies travel. If there’s one thing we know many of you love, it’s a good looking rig – and sometimes life on the open road brings some golden photo opportunities. The Big Rigs #PicOfTheDay competition is a chance
to share your best snaps through our Facebook page (@BigRigs). We’ll choose a weekly winning shot to feature as our Facebook cover photo and a selection of the best pics will be featured in the next edition of Big Rigs Newspaper. So get snapping and keep those great pics coming!
Alan Shuttleworth shared this shot of a 1984 Kenworth K125 still looking the goods.
Chris Head sent in a great shot of this road train cruising the Tanami Road out to the Granites gold mine.
Darcy Kirley and this Runnymede Trucking Company Kenworth K108 take in a glorious sunset at Lockington, Victoria.
Ben Tangas shared this shot of the Mack he drives for Geoff Richards Transport, carting produce from Northern Queensland to the southern states.
Jared Scull shared this shot of his 2006 Freightliner with a 22 tonner on the back.
David Clay and this Western Star 4800 FX cart water for road works in western Queensland.
READER RIGS 23
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021
Rob McLaren was hoping to beat the rain with this immaculate set-up, at Weethalle NSW.
Beau Lux shared a great shot of this 2018 Kenworth K200 Big Cab on the Belyando stretch, pulling a road train from Gatton to Townsville.
Steven Morgan shared this pic of two Kenworth T909s side-by-side in Moama, NSW.
Kellie Dugdell shared this shot of a 2018 Kenworth T900 and 2019 Kenworth T610, owned by Paddo and Sons Transport. The artwork is dedicated to family members.
Jake Cleeland shared a pic of this 1998 Kenworth featuring artwork that pays tribute to soldiers past and present.
This Kenworth road train set-up was looking the goods at the Dugald River mine. Thanks for sharing Chris Moore.
Tyson English snapped this 2005 Western Star 4900 at the Nullarbor Roadhouse, while bound for WA.
Ben Heath snapped this Kenworth T409 SAR hard at work at harvest time, at Woodchester, SA.
Ben Stamatovich snapped this great pic of three HPS Transport Mack Super-Liners on the Balladonia airstrip in WA.
24 AD FEATURE
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Helping to ensure the right weight, every time
RIGHT Weigh onboard digital load scales from Smart Truck Solutions are designed to help ensure maximum payload and drivetime, without sacrificing safety or incurring costly overweight fines. TCA Type A certified, Right Weigh onboard load scales feature Bluetooth connectivity and a free mobile app, providing real-time data about payload from inside the truck cab. “Users can view on-ground weight of their truck and trailer either from the heads-up-display on the unit or anywhere within Bluetooth range. They can also share that information with fleet operators via email – promoting a safer and more productive way to monitor and maintain legal payload limits,” said Leigh Noske, owner of Smart Truck Solutions. Right Weigh’s onboard load scales use simple technology to assist fleet operators to feel confident about axle group weights without the need for weigh bridge stops. It means more time spent on the road, without the risk of overweight tickets, safety issues or additional delay. Noske said that Right
Weigh’s exterior digital load scales are compatible with various truck and trailer air suspension and axle configurations, which is crucial for observing Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM). “The 201 Series is one of the most versatile exterior onboard digital scale systems from Right Weigh. It is available with a dual air input that can be used to monitor a single axle group with two height control
valves or it can be used to monitor two separate axle groups on the same vehicle,” he added. Right Weigh’s 201 Series exterior digital load scales, including PIN code protection and an overweight warning feature, is user-friendly and ideal for maintaining legal weights efficiently and safely. They change everything about the vehicle weight management process – removing
unnecessary side-trips to check a load, eliminating the risk of expensive tickets and delays for non-compliance, and saving thousands per truck. Several competing factors play into the demand of maintaining safety and operational efficiencies: optimising load balance, utilising payload capacity, dealing with the costs, time losses and hassles that come with weigh bridge stops.
Monitor weight by axle group and more via the Right Weigh mobile app.
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NEWS 25
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021
PM gets behind wheel of first Volvo FL Electric truck
Prime Minister Scott Morrison praised Volvo for continuing to manufacture locally.
PRIME Minister Scott Morrison got behind the wheel of Australia’s first Volvo FL Electric truck, during a recent visit to the Volvo Group Australia manufacturing plant in Wacol, Queensland. While visiting the plant,
Morrison praised Volvo for manufacturing trucks in Australia for almost 50 years and reiterated his support for local manufacturing. “We make things in Australia, and we make them well,” Morrison said. “At the
Volvo and Mack factory in Wacol, southwest of Brisbane, they’ve been proudly making trucks for Australia and beyond for almost 50 years. “Each and every truck that rolls off the assembly line proudly wears the Australian
made logo and because of their continued investment they employ more than 1,400 people and support 90 local manufacturing suppliers, some of whom I met today. “Our modern manufacturing strategy is all about supporting business to continue to invest in making things in Australia and ensuring there’s a big future for manufacturing in this country.” Along with the Prime Minister, Assistant Minister for Road Freight and Safety, Scott Buchholz; Minister for Science, Technology and Industry, Karen Andrews; Councillor Sarah Hutton; and Volvo Group Australia President and CEO, Martin Merrick; were also in attendance. “Clearly as you can see here, manufacturing in Australia is alive and well,” said Merrick. “We are so proud to have made significant investments to build these new trucks here in Australia at this facility.”
First Volvo FL Electric to begin Australian trials THE first Volvo FL Electric to arrive in Australia is set to begin trials and evaluation with Linfox from April. Fitted with an 8-pallet body and tailgate lift, it will undertake metropolitan deliveries within BevChain, Linfox’s leading beverage logistics business. “It is very clear that both our customers, and our customer’s customers, are demanding a cleaner and quieter urban transport environment,” said outgoing Vice President, Volvo Trucks Australia Tony O’Connell. “Momentum is building globally to create safe and
clean cities and the arrival of this truck in Australia marks the first step on that journey for Volvo Trucks Australia.” Linfox Executive Chairman Peter Fox said the introduction of electric vehicles opens an exciting chapter for Linfox and Volvo. “Our investment in sustainable vehicles will significantly help reduce our emissions in the foreseeable future,” he said. “Adopting a greener fleet is an ongoing part of our commitment to act sustainably, as we strive for zero net environmental emissions and play our part to mitigate climate change.”
Along with supporting more than 1,400 jobs, Volvo Group Australia also supports 90 local suppliers. “We spend more than $400 million in the local supply chain every year. And our intention is to increase that local investment in the fu-
Morrison affixes the Australian Made logo to a new Volvo truck.
Gary Bone new VP
Linfox is set to begin trials with the Volvo FL Electric from April.
The 4×2 Volvo FL Electric is powered by 600 Volt, 200 kWh battery packs which power a 200kW/425Nm motor. Power gets to the drive wheels via a 2-speed I-Shift automated transmission. In late 2020 Volvo Trucks
PROUDLY MANUFACTURED AND BUILT IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA SINCE 1986
announced its intention for all Volvo Trucks to be fossil fuel free by 2040. It also announced that pre-sale for the European market of a complete range of electric heavy duty truck models would begin in 2021 with production to start in 2022.
WITH the recent promotion of Tony O’Connell to Managing Director of Volvo Trucks Malaysia, Volvo Trucks Australia is pleased to announce that Gary Bone has taken on the role of Vice President, Volvo Trucks Australia. “In a rapidly changing transport environment I am delighted to see Gary back at the helm of the Volvo Trucks brand,” said Martin Merrick, President and CEO, Volvo Group Australia. “We have just launched an amazing new line up of Volvo Trucks onto the Australian market and Gary will be well placed to steer the Volvo brand into a future that will see significant advancement in the next decade.” Bone has 17 years’ experience with Mack and Volvo Group Australia, initially start-
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Gary Bone
ing out in Mack retail sales. Since then he has held a number of roles, including two years in the USA with the Mack brand, before assuming the position of Senior Vice President of Mack Trucks Australia from 2005 to 2008, and as Vice President of Volvo Trucks Australia from 2009 to 2013. Bone rejoined Volvo Group Australia as Vice President, Mack Trucks Australia in March 2020 after more than five years at the helm of Chesterfield Australia.
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ture,” Merrick added. “Aside from the challenges that the world has faced in recent times one thing that has been reinforced here in Australia has been the importance of both road transport and truckies.”
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26 NEWS
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
QTA launches short course series for road transport
THE Queensland Trucking Association (QTA) has received funding for a two-year micro-credentialling initiative, under the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training Micro-credentialing Pilots Program. Designed specifically for transport and logistics operators and businesses, the Road Freight Resilience Program (RFRP) will support online learning through shorter courses focusing on improving safety, efficiency and productivity. QTA CEO Gary Mahon said the funding would support road transport with courses providing technical, digital and soft skills. “Based on the needs of our industry we have selected ten course topics, from critical incidents to effective job costing and social media management,” Mahon said. “We know it’s been a difficult year and many businesses simply don’t have time to invest in training or upskilling. So, the courses are designed to be delivered online and the majority only take one hour to complete. “We are also excited to an-
The program will support online learning through shorter courses focusing on improving safety, efficiency and productivity. Picture: PACCAR Australia.
nounce a trial of a digital Skills Passport will be included in the program. One thousand places will be available to support our workforce to track
and manage their skills and training. “The trial is an important step in supporting our workforce being recognised as high-
ly trained and skilled in their roles, for professional drivers and the wider industry.” Pre-sale for the Road Freight Resilience courses
is open and courses will be delivered across the coming months. The full 10-course bundle is available for $99 and gives you access to the live and
interactive webinar or watch later on-demand. For more information, please visit https://roadfreight-resilience.thinkific.com/.
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Efficient Business Practices Road Freight Job Costing Interpreting Employee Awards Fuel Tax Credits Covid-19 Driver Awareness Critical Incident Management Recruitment and Training Managing Change Maximising Technology Social Media
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28 SPY ON THE ROAD
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Extreme care needed at Bruce Highway rest stop SPY ON THE ROAD WITH ALF WILSON
Wine, spiders and snakes ONE family-owned road transport company at Swan Hill in Victoria has had a contract to haul grapes to a wine making establishment about 300km away for the past 64 years. Spy spoke to the boss man last week and he said the grape season had just started and would continue for about 10 weeks. “We have our own farm and will harvest about 180-tonne of grapes. Also using nine trucks, mostly B-doubles, our drivers will pick up another 8000 tonne from properties along the way to Wangaratta where they will be used to make top shelf wine,” he said. The lad himself loves a nice glass of wine after a hot day and said grapes on his farm were machine picked. “It is around 40 degrees here today, so it is bloody hot and a cold glass of wine goes down good,” he said. He said whilst his workers came across lots of spiders during vine growth it was nothing like an incident he had encountered whilst delivering general freight interstate. “It was near Cardwell in Queensland and I stopped for a leak at a rest area toilet and was confronted by an aggressive snake. I took off and later found it had been a harmless green tree snake but I didn’t know at the time,” he said. Dangerous exits REST areas around Australia are often in the spotlight for various reasons such as having not enough trucker friendly facilities. During the past year Spy has noticed a lot of drivers mention that numerous such sites around Oz have danger-
The bull behind the Frances Creek Rest area exit north of Ingham.
ous exits. For example, there is a flash near new renovated rest area at Frances Creek which is beside the Bruce Highway and 10km south of Ingham. The stop off area includes new toilets and shaded areas under which are concrete seats and tables. A driver reviver is open at times making it a great place to have a break and as a bonus there is also a picture taking opportunity. Just behind the rest area is a fenced off property where a large bull with big horns can be seen regularly and is often photographed. Whilst the rest area does tick off most of the boxes there is one warning that users need to be aware of. It is right beside the busy Bruce Highway and extreme care is required when exiting. To head south you have to cross a lane and all travellers need to be extremely cautious because of the closeness to the road. Fishy tale no bull FISHING is a popular recreation for truckies. That was never more evident when just after 6am one morning last month, Spy was enjoying his cornflakes for breaky when the mobile phone rang. The call was from a driver who was heading with his rig on a barge to Stradbroke Island and was reading a piece from my then latest column
The exit from the Frances Creek rest area on the Bruce Highway.
about fish jumping into boats. “This is called Mulleting punt and it happens a lot even these days in creeks around Logan City,” he said. A mullet is a fish and a small dinghy is often referred to as a punt – in this instance not to be confused with somebody having a flutter on a racing horse, trotter, greyhound or football. My article centred on a conversation between a WA truckie and another from the Northern Territory about small fish jumping into boats which have a bright light on board. It was an ideal time and place for this knowledgeable gent to talk about this subject as he headed across the briny. “But anybody who does this has to place a wire net on the back of their dinghy to stop the fish jumping right over it,” he said. At the time of writing the original pars, Spy thought it was a menial subject. Spy only penned it because I had seen incidents myself as a youngster whilst with my dad. But having received at least 20 communications about it from truckies it seems that anything fishing is of extreme interest. The Stradbroke Island based driver was looking over the bonnet of his Western Star 4900 as it was aboard the barge heading from Brisbane when he snapped a pic and
sent it to Big Rigs. The 70-year-old who would only give his Christian name as Neville and works for North Brothers which is contracted to the Redlands Shire Council to deliver waste. Bin fire SOS NOBODY would have ever heard of this act by a truckie if Spy hadn’t been told about it. A South Australian truckie who was travelling along a road frequented by many saw a fire coming from a rest area he was about to pass. It was in a bin which is in place for the travelling public but ALAS - nearby was dry grass. Definitely a hazard especially with a fire ban in place. Armed with an extinguisher he carries in his rig the gent soon sprung into action and soon the fire was past history. That in all probability prevented a bush fire from breaking out and Spy has great praise for his performance. Up the highway he was speaking to other drivers about the incident and they were adamant that somebody unknown may have unexpectedly placed a cigarette butt into the bin which ignited other material. Unusual races off PENNY Farthing racing is certainly not included amongst Australia’s biggest sports but however it does have a following in the road transport industry. National Penny Farthing races have been held at the small Tasmania hamlet of Evandale during February for many years as part of the famous Village Fair. But that won’t be the case in 2021 due to Covid-19 as Spy has been told by an official of the organising committee. “Our committee decided not to undertake the event this year due to Covid-19 and the restrictions it placed. But we have scheduled our next one for February 19 of 2022. The new committee members who joined us for 2020 are remaining and
Penny Farthing bike beside the highway as trucks speed past in NSW.
The Golden Gumboot at Tully which is Australia’s wettest town.
are working towards to improvements in the Fair area for 2022,” said Village Fair secretary Lyn Louis. NSW truck driver Robert Strang had competed in recent races individually and also as part of a NSW team. Lots of Tassie road transport people have watched the races over the years when the streets of the Evandale CBD have provided the track. Wet weather advantages BEING a truckie who lives in Australia’s wettest town Tully can have positives and negatives. Tully which is 200km north of Townsville and 140km south of Cairns has claimed the title of Australia’s wettest town to win the coveted Golden Gumboot award. It beat Babinda which is not far north as you head towards Cairns by just 47.44mm to claim the latest annual title.
Well known Tully truckie Neil Messina was asked by Spy what were the positive and negatives aspects of living in the country’s wettest town and I was impressed with his reply. “Well most people hate the rain and floods, but I have had my whole life to get used to it, every year without fail. To me it’s exciting and relaxing and a chance to run my boat to the pub and park it out the front and hook up to the stairs then get on it. It’s also a forced holiday, no use being annoyed about it, it don’t change a thing, just roll with it, there is good in it, makes the fish move, prawns come on, cleans the creeks up, etc,” Neil said. One negative is that from time to time the Bruce Highway which runs past Tully floods cutting off traffic. Seventeen years ago Tully erected a 7.9m high gumboot with a green frog on it in honour of a record rainfall recorded in 1950.
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30 DRIVER PROFILES
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Tassie Truckin’ Tim Rigby PASSING through Epping Forest the other day we were fortunate to catch up with Tim Rigby, from Launceston, for a quick chat. He had just pulled in driving an eye-catching Rayner Transport’s 2020 480 Hp CF Daf Euro 6, with all the bells and whistles, and towing a B-double and he was on his return leg from Hobart back to Launceston. “Then it’s a case of unload, get it set up for tomorrow’s run, and then knock off for the
day. I’ve been here with Chris for nine good years now, they are genuinely a great outfit, look after us and run top gear, and did I mention, just look at the Daf? “It’s his first B-double, and I got into it last December, and am very happy with it so far. Mind you there is a lot of splitting between destinations, but basically, it’s a great job. I began working with Chris on forklifts and have been here ever since, with no regrets at all. I enjoy the driving and the work, and
with Jonathan Wallis
Neil Shires it’s great being out on the open road and watching the scenery go by. Well except for the road works and the crazy drivers, for some reason they seem to be increasing now days.” We asked him about his time off, and he smilingly told us he enjoys fishing, out of mainly Port Sorrell and Low Head, but also Weymouth. We would like to join Tim and the Rayner’s crew in saying “G’day” to Simon Austin, and wishing him good luck with his new career.
WE were enjoying a drop of perfect Tasmanian Summer weather the other day when we caught up with Neil Shires from Launceston taking a refreshment break near the Tassie Truckies Memorial Wall Inc at Epping Forest. He was driving a pretty smick TFA Contracting 2013 T-909 with a 600 Signature up front, with “High Rollin” on the bug deflector at the time, and he was tow-
Jarrod Lamprey “IT’S a great job, and I have been here for three very good years now, and what more can I say,” said Jarrod Lamprey from Wynyard when we caught up at the 24hr Caltex roadhouse at Kempton. He was driving Craig Walker’s 2014 Stralis 500 EEV Fridge Pan at the time, and towing a refrigerated trailer on his return leg from
Hobart to Wynyard. “The Stralis is a good comfortable truck, and perfect for getting around in cities and tight places, and we do get to all sorts of interesting places all over Tasmania, and there is always plenty of variety to keep me interested. “I’ve been on the road now for seven years all up, and I have never regretted
ing a load of plantation logs from Maydena up to Bell Bay. “I’ve been here for 12 months now, and so far I reckon they are a top outfit, look after us, and run great well-maintained gear, I mean look at this truck, and it’s great to be back in the forest, especially in weather like this.” He added that he has been on the road for a lifetime,
“For too many years now, but I don’t have any regrets, especially when you are getting out in the forest and on the open road, and importantly out in the open air, and basically it’s a good honest way to earn a living. We asked him about his time off, and he laughed and asked “what is that?” Then added he likes to spend quality time off with the family.
Nigel Armstrong taking it up for a living, besides it was sort of in the blood too, as my father was Gerald Gleeson and he had trucks, so I was sort of in and around trucks since I was a little fella.” We asked about how he spent his time off, and he said he spends it with family, 4-wheel driving, or on motor bikes, and camping whenever possible.
IT was very nice to catch up with Nigel Armstrong from Devonport again the other day, and under happier circumstances than last time we met, when he dropped in for a welcome cuppa at Kempton’s Mood Food Caltex 24-hour truck stop and roadhouse. He was driving 2020 “C & I Hire” G500 Scania with only 43,000 on the clock, and towing a Tri-Curtainsider at the time, working for Wyn-
yard Transport, and he was on his return leg from Dover with fish from Tassal, on his way to Petuna’s depot at East Devonport at the time. “I have been here with Wynyard Transport for 12 months so far, and must admit I am finding them a really top outfit, and they are certainly looking after me, and keeping me busy, which is always good. “In a strange twist of fate I
am a fitter by trade and used to work for Petuna back before I decided to take up driving as a profession, a decision I have never regretted, especially on a beautiful Tasmanian summer’s day like this.” He told us he really enjoys riding his Yamaha MT10 whenever he gets the chance, as he loves the freedom, and the rest of any time he has free is taken up with family stuff.
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RT ERTON
AT THE WHEEL DAVID MEREDITH
TRUCKIN’ ON THE BORDER DAVID VILE
contributors@bigrigs.com.au
32 COLUMN
contributors@bigrigs.com.au
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Pushing for more respect in our industry EDITOR JAMES GRAHAM
TASSIE TRUCKIN’ JON WALLIS
james.graham@bigrigs.com.au
contributors@bigrigs.com.au
TWU NEWS
TWU NEWS RICHARDOLSEN OLSEN RICHARD TWU NSW State Secretary TWU NSW State Secretary
SHAPING a stronger future for transport workers is the shared responsibility of the industry and the clients who use the industry. We must focus on the future, and work together for a safer, fairer day at work for all drivers and operators. We are telling our members that 2021 must be the year when we push for the changes our industry needs. We are pushing for some decency in our industry, respect for the driver, respect for safety at work and respect for the financial impact heavy vehicle operators face every day. Sensible road safety decisions need to be made. The TWU in recent weeks visited Dubbo, to take a stand with driver advocate Rod Hannifey and locals to tell the NSW Government that their waste-
ful decision to spend around $260 million on a bridge that simply moves congestion from one part of Dubbo to another, LEGAL EAGLEwould be better spent on a bypass. ROWAN KING The city in which three Principal Lawyer RK Law major highways intersect needs a bypass that will create a safer route for heavy vehicles and Dubbo locals. I hope that the NSW Government is listening. The financial difficulties for truck drivers are on the increase. Contracts are not increasing their rates of pay, but the deep dive by the NSW Government through the RMS and Transport for NSW into your wallet is getting deeper. We know that small businesses are struggling from delays in payments, increasing business expenses and government charges. Families are struggling. We are looking for relief for the small businesses in the transport industry. Toll road costs, insurance costs, rego costs, permit fees, fuel costs and more are the financial strain that the NSW Government are ignoring when they continue to charge
drivers more on the roads to do their job. Already this year, Sydney has been subjected to another toll road price hike, a whopping 4% rise that will continue to be applied quarterly until 2048. Toll increases on toll roads across Sydney are a burden that will affect transport families across the country at a time they can least afford it. Adding insult to that catastrophic injury, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has now said “no” to giving evidence to the Federal Government Inquiry into Road Transport. They have not given a reason. Truck drivers have a right to have their concerns raised with the organisation that is creating an increasing financial burden for truck drivers. Fines for simple spelling mistakes in logbooks is the classic example of the bullying faced by drivers from the NSW Government. The arrogant disregard towards safety is another problem TfNSW refuses to face. The West Australian Government recently announced $14 million is being invested into a program that will de-
Rod Hannifey leads the convoy in Dubbo, organised to highlight the need for a bypass in the NSW city.
liver rest area upgrades for heavy vehicle drivers across regional WA and in the meantime, the NSW Gov-
ernment has nothing. Now is the time more than ever to stand united and make the changes necessary, if you
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have had enough, help us create a strong united voice for our industry. We welcome you joining us in the fight.
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BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021
The industry deserves better bang for its buck VTA COMMENT PETER ANDERSON CEO, Victorian Transport Association
MOST transport operators are aware of the perceived disparity between heavy vehicle drivers and the rest of the motoring community across a multitude of issues all motorists confront. The industry for decades has well and truly paid its way for the privilege of using the road network, and providing a vital and essential service for consumers, businesses, and other users of freight. We pay a massive premium to contribute to the maintenance and upkeep of transport infrastructure, particularly roads, in the form of the road user charge and diesel fuel excises, as well as a high premium on registration and other regulatory fees and charges to keep fleets on the road. Add to that infrastructure charges paid to the stevedores, premiums paid on tolls for us-
ing private roads, bridges and tunnels, and growing business as usual costs to insure and maintain prime movers, trailers and other plant and equipment, and operators can easily be forgiven for asking whether they deserve a better bang for their buck. Considering the effort and expense operators go to keep transport costs as low as possible for consumers of freight, the answer is a resounding yes. Freight operators are consistently over-delivering on three of the key areas their customers assess them on – productivity, efficiency and safety. We understand customers need productivity and efficiency gains to keep their costs down and delight consumers because as businesses we need to constantly strive for gains of our own to maximise profits and reinvestments back into our people and our businesses. We deliver productivity and efficiency gains by constantly looking for ways to do things better, faster and smarter, without cutting safety corners and endangering drivers and other road users. Often these gains are achieved at a significant
cost to the operator – possibly in the form of investing in new technology, more regular training and education, and other investments to yield a greater productivity and efficiency dividend. The VTA does its bit to help the industry be more efficient and productive by advocating for policy and regulatory settings that make it easier and less onerous for operators to serve their customers, and that keeps increases in the cost of doing business to a minimum. We have ongoing dialogue and discussions with the state and federal transport bureaucracy about how we can reduce the amount of red tape involved with running a business and ensuring operators get fair and cost effective access to use the road network we disproportionally pay to maintain. The industry pays out millions in higher fuel excises and permit fees to use the roads, and the Association consistently advocates for heavy vehicles not to be discriminated against when it comes to determining where and when a truck can travel. Successfully capping the increase in the road user charge
The VTA continues to advocate for policy and regulatory settings that keep the cost of doing business to a minimum.
operators pay to use the roads to 2.5 per cent last year was a great example of how we work with other industry advocates to keep cost increases to a minimum. We are also working hard to correct the misconception that the transport industry does not pay its way by amplifying the value the transport industry provides to customers and consumers at every point in the supply chain. This was on national display during lockdowns and border closures that crippled the national economy last year, with the transport industry working
uninterrupted and without any serious incident to keep supply chains fully functional despite a global pandemic. It is a credit to freight transport drivers who were – and continue to be – subjected to stringent conditions and requirements such as regular COVID testing, quarantining and self-isolation, in order to work across borders, that freight has continued to move unabated by road, rail and sea for the better part of 12 months. Professionalism such as this has been second to none and drivers deserve the thanks of a grateful
nation. These and other transport economic issues will be the subject of a number of interesting presentations at the annual VTA State Conference being held next month at Silverwater Resort, Phillip Island (Victoria). Every transport operator employee has a vested interest in seeing their organisation do well financially, and we welcome operators of all sizes to join us for two days from March 21-23. To register your attendance, visit www.vta.com.au.
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Countdown is on for 2021 conference COST CUTTER CHET CLINE
AT THE WHEEL DAVID MEREDITH
WOMEN IN TRANSPORT TRANSPORT WOMEN IN JACQUELENE BROTHERTON JACQUELENE BROTHERTON
IF YOU ARE FEELING DEPRESSED, REACH OUT TO A MATE, A FAMILY MEMBER EDITOR OR MENTAL HEALTH JAMES GRAHAM PROVIDER, YOU ARE NOT james.graham@bigrigs.com.au ALONE AND THERE ARE MANY PROFESSIONALS AVAILABLE TO ASSIST.
AIR CTI founder/owner
Chair of Transport WomenWomen Australia Chair of Transport
contributors@bigrigs.com.au
Australia
ISN’T it sad that we think we have things so bad, when we have all the essentials of life like food, clothing and shelter, and most of us have a job to go to even if we don’t love it? However, there are so many worse off than THE OZmuch TRUCKER ourselves and it is only while MIKE WILLIAMS contributors@bigrigs.com.au we’re talking with them or observing them as we go about our daily lives, we think, “How lucky am I?” and yet depression does not discriminate, it doesn’t care whether you are rich or poor, in a loving home or living on the streets. It just means you have better resources available, but they are only available if you reach out and ask for LOBBYIST help. STEVE SHEARER SA Road Transport Association The question to ask Executive Director someone who has or may have depression is not “What have you got to be
JACQUELENE BROTHERTON
depressed about?” as no one knows the intricacies of a person’s life and should not TWU NEWS judge them by the facade RICHARD OLSEN TWU State Secretary theyNSWshow. If you are feeling depressed, reach out to a mate, a family member or mental health provider, you are not alone and there are many professionals available to assist and many people surrounding you on a daily basis who are prepared to listen and to lend a helping hand. Music has always been of great benefit to me and a reminder from Travis Tritt that “It’s a Great Day to be Alive” can change the mood of my day. On a more positive note,
TRUCKIN’ ON THE BORDER DAVID VILE contributors@bigrigs.com.au
the countdown is on for the 8th Transport Women Australia Limited Conference which is being held in Melbourne from May 28-30, 2021. TRUCKIN’ TASSIE With several speakers JON WALLIS contributors@bigrigs.com.au announced, Melissa Strong of Lindsay Australia and former vice chair of TWAL is the MC for the conference with Kerrie Challenor of NTI and Jodie Palmer of Volvo Group Australia joining the speakers, as well as Paul Simionato and Kim Denyer of the NHVR, Sarah Balmer of Balmer Agency LEGAL EAGLE and Gillian ROWAN KINGBristow of Bristow Legal, more to be Principal Lawyer RK with Law announced very soon. Also returning are many loyal sponsors, including our Foundation Business Partners Volvo Group Australia and NTI, plus TWUSUPER, SRT Logistics, Ron Finemore Transport, Austbrokers AEI Transport Pty Ltd, PACCAR, Cummins, Teletrac Navman, Daimler Truck and Bus Australia Pacific and the NHVR. I hope you have downloaded the IETV app and have watched the Driving the Difference show as I
Melissa Strong of Lindsay Australia and former vice chair of TWAL is the MC for the Transport Women Australia Limited Conference from May 28-30.
have had wonderful guests with interesting stories. Two episodes have been released with the third out in a few weeks. Be sure to join us at an event, tune in to the TV
show or plan a trip to the conference and check out the SafeT360 truck. We also have our Melbourne and Sydney International Women’s Day dinners and our Brisbane Truck
Show Breakfast to look forward to in coming weeks. For inquiries about any of this or for membership, mentoring or sponsorship, email chair@transportwomen. com.au or call 0417422319.
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Driving diversity change in the trucking industry In 2020, the Australian Trucking Association partnered with Teletrac Navman to launch the Driving Change Diversity Program – a ground-breaking initiative that’s about celebrating diversity within trucking and developing diversity champions to promote the meaningful opportunities our essential industry offers. While diversity can be identified along the dimensions of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, and religious beliefs, it also encompasses diversity of thought and personal experiences. Diversity has proven benefits in the workplace, like increased productivity and competitive advantages, as well as having access to a greater range of talent. Diversity Champion in the 2020 program Tanya De Landelles said there are many opportunities in the industry for all people. “In the past I have been overlooked for roles and experienced the culture of ‘it’s a job for the boys’ and that a female can’t do it, but we need to get
ATA CHAIR DAVID SMITH Australian Trucking Association
AUSTRALIA’S trucking industry is well-known for its diverse types of businesses and career opportunities; however, this diversity is not reflected in workforce demographics. While Australia is experiencing a big shift in the perception of transport, there is still a lot of ground to cover when it comes to diversifying the workplace. Data shows the average Australian truck driver is a 47-yearold male, with females accounting for only three per cent of the driver workforce. Close to 60 per cent of truck drivers are aged 45 years or older. Diversity plays a significant role in influencing industry image and attracting new entrants, with potential employees in search of workplaces that understand, value, and celebrate an individual’s differences.
Diversity Champion in the 2020 program Tanya De Landelles said there are many opportunities in the industry for all people.
young people and women involved in all aspects, as well as those with a disability as there are so many fulfilling roles,” she said. Nominations for the 2021 Driving Change Diversity Program are now open, and I encourage all industry members to consider putting forward an inspiring diversity champion. This program is an oppor-
tunity to set a new standard for workplace diversity in Australia. Showcasing diversity champions to the trucking industry and wider community, this is a way of promoting a positive perception of industry and encouraging a range of new entrants into the workforce. Teletrac Navman are strong leaders in the diversity
and inclusion space and have demonstrated a commitment to drive positive change in the trucking industry. Participants in the 2021 program will learn how to create change and facilitate diversity in their workplace and community, share personal insights into the development of a marketing campaign that highlights diversity within in-
dustry and develop a strong professional network with like-minded individuals. The 2021 program will consist of filming participant stories in their workplace in April and a promotional campaign, as well as a diversity training and development workshop and participation in Trucking Australia 2021 in October. Together with Teletrac Navman, our ambition is to support an inclusive industry made up of all people of diverse communities. The benefits of diverse workforces are well known, and we want to include all people in the future of transport. Our 2020 Diversity Champions highlighted what can be achieved, and we look forward to what our 2021 Diversity Champions will bring and how we can all help build Australia’s transport industry. For more information on how to participate, contact your ATA member association or visit www.truck.net.au/drivingchange. To find your member association, head to www.truck.net.au/ associations.
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Truckin’ In The Tropics Josh Scott
JOSH Scott was carrying bananas from Tully to far away Melbourne when Big Rigs caught up with him. Scott, 35, who works for Blenners, had pulled up in his Kenworth K200 at a rest area near Rollingstone on the Bruce Highway. “I will pick up a backload of frozen goods down there to deliver to Brisbane,” he said. Blenners has a big depot beside the Bruce Highway, near
Tully, and I had seen scores of their trucks on the roads during the past days. “It is a good company to work for and the boss Les Blennerhassett is very fair,” he said. Scott said the company drivers use electronic log books. “When you get used to using them they are good,” he said. Scott, who has many impressive tattoos on his arms, said the worst road he travelled
Kurt Mispelkamp
on was between Gympie and Rockhampton. Asked about his favourite roadhouse, Scott nominated the one at Gilgandra. “That is good and it is hard to get a good shower at many,” he said. Earlier in the week, Scott got held up for three hours near Proserpine due to heavy rain. When he gets time off, Scott likes riding his 1999 Harley Night Train motorbike.
Kylie Holdsworth
KYLIE Holdsworth had picked up supplies at Ravenshoe when Big Rigs saw her in rainy weather earlier last month. The 46-year-old truckie had parked her Hino FD outside the service station in the main street after I saw it earlier entering the local hardware store around the corner. “I have had a licence to drive this since I was 19 and we have an agistment property at Innot Hot Springs which
is not far from here. It carries cattle,” she said. Innot Hot Springs is a small centre along the Kennedy Highway between Mount Garnet and Ravenshoe. At first Holdsworth was a bit coy about having her photo snapped but soon agreed. “You should go and do a story on Louise Smith from around here who has a trucking company,” she said. I told her that Big Rigs had done a recent yarn on Louise
with Alf Wilson
OF German descent, some reckon that Cairns driver Kurt Mispelkamp bears a resemblance to new American President Joe Biden. When I commented on the resemblance he smiled but didn’t comment further. A loyal worker, the 64-yearold has worked for Bells Cranes, based in Cairns, for 18 years. He was driving a 2010 Volvo which carried a four tonne
PK-14 Palfinger crane when Big Rigs saw him at a pull off area near Ellis Beach. “I’ve been lifting workers who are doing rock stabilisation work on the Captain Cook Highway with the crane,” he said, Mispelkamp added he planned to continue to work with Bells Cranes for at least two more years. “They have been good to me and by then I will have 20
years service up,” he revealed. Mispelkamp also said he believed that more pull off areas were required for trucks along the Captain Cook Highway. “This one we are at is the only one really suitable for trucks,” he said. The quietly spoken Mispelkamp has been in Australia since 1958 and in Cairns for 26 years. When he has time off, he likes to go camping.
side the Kennedy Highway when Big Rigs saw him last month. It had been raining heavily just before we stopped to yarn to Pitts, who is one of the many drivers I have spoken to recently who likes to stay fit. “I work out at the gym and also look after my
daughter’s horse which keeps me busy,” he said. Pitts likes to pop into the Cornett’s IGA at Ravenshoe when there for a bite to eat. “They serve up the best lunch,” he said. Brisbane-born, Pitts said the Kuranda Range Road was challenging to travel on especially when it is busy.
Rob Pitts
and her family company D&B Smith Brothers Transport. “Kylie is one of the truest people I know, hardworking and a lovely person to boot,” Louise told Big Rigs. Holdsworth was happy that heavy rain had fallen around her region in the past few days. She was also surprised to hear that official figures revealed that females make up just 4 per cent of the total number of drivers in Australia.
SUPERFIT truckie Rob Pitts is based at Mareeba on the Atherton Tablelands and drives a Hino Euro 5 for Steggles. “I deliver chickens to places all over the Tablelands and Cairns and get to Cooktown sometimes,” he said. The 63-year-old driver had parked at a rest area be-
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How switching to paperless revolutionises your business
FROM contracts, reports and receipts to customer forms and work diaries, drivers across Australia’s transport industry are faced with a lot of paperwork to stay on top of, often having to sift through dozens of pages to find the relevant info they need. In the wake of COVID-19, many fleets have shifted their operations online to reduce their paperwork. Making physical documentation a thing of the past and moving to a paperless in-cabin experience will free you from stacks of unnecessary paperwork and will benefit you in more ways than one. Data at your disposal Australia’s transport sector will see rising freight demand in the coming years and generating paper documents for every task and driver is a daunting undertaking. This increasing workload leads to more pressure on drivers to get jobs done, however, businesses need to carefully manage driver fatigue and workloads to keep all staff safe. Now approved as an alternative to written work dia-
Truckies can rest assured all documentation is up to date, and everyone across the business is working with the same information.
ries, Electronic Work Diaries (EWDs) streamline manual fatigue and compliance processes. Drivers record their work and rest hours by tapping an in-cabin device that automatically calculates their fatigue levels. No more entering data from paper diaries, days or weeks after the job is done. With all this information
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available to admin workers in real-time, businesses will ensure safety standards are met while slashing admin time. Access to this data also enables management to make more effective decisions quickly. If an urgent job arises, fleet managers can view current workloads across your fleet to see who can pick up the task.
Efficient business practices Time-consuming processes involving paper permits and contracts can quickly eat up time and money, but can also lead to important information getting accidentally overlooked. Digitising your documentation allows employees to instantly view the data they need most, keeping them compliant while
OUT THE
enabling jobs to be completed faster. Recording job details can be tricky at times, and leaves you open to accidentally jotting down incorrect info or potentially misplacing important documents. In-cabin devices safely secure all your worksheets and accurately record info in real-time. Even details
that are difficult to manually monitor, like fuel usage, are all captured. You can rest assured all documentation is up to date, and everyone across the business is working with the same information. Going paperless with EWDs lets operators view current fatigue hours of each worker at a glance. Any compliance issues that arise are tackled proactively to secure the safety of all. Having access to real-time data also enables transport businesses to rapidly improve their response time to tasks. If a new job comes in, the nearest driver can be assigned to the jobsite, which in turn leads to improved customer service. As Australia’s transport sector slowly shifts towards digitisation, many businesses are starting to understand the significant long-term benefits going paperless brings. Not only is it good for the environment, shifting your documentation online ensures everyone across your fleet has the same access to information, boosting customer service, slashing admin costs and streamlining jobs.
READ THE LATEST EDITION ONLINE NOW
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EXPERT ADVICE 39
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021
Highways and the health of our trucks and truckies COST CUTTER CUTTER COST CHET CHETCLINE CLINE AIR CTI Air CTIfounder/owner Founder/ Owner
TODAY I want to talk about something completely different: our roads and the damage they do to our health and our trucks. Our roads are shocking. What a disgrace. Once upon a time, well WOMEN my IN TRANSPORT within memory, our JACQUELENE BROTHERTON roads were directly mainChair of Transport Women Australia tained by state and federal governments. In Victoria, the Country Roads Board had workshops, trucks and equipment to maintain roads in their areas. Inspectors regularly patrolled roads ensuring potholes, damaged signs and damage was fixed immediately. They did a good job. But privatisation took THE OZ TRUCKER over. Shires don’t have any MIKE WILLIAMS contributors@bigrigs.com.au road repair depots. They don’t have any inspectors. And our country roads are falling apart. Now shires rely on complaints to highlight road problems. Then they check it out, put up a rough road sign, and advertise for tenders to fix the issue. Of course this takes time, during which hundreds or thousands of vehicles must LOBBYIST dodge the issue or damage STEVE SHEARER their SA Road vehicle. Transport Association Executive Directorroads are ignored Rough because no responsible person drives on most of the roads. And, if they do, they drive in modern cars that ride well, not in a truck that doesn’t. Information from an Aussie national road test facility told me: “Eighty per cent of our country roads do not meet our Australian road standards for roughness. Twenty percent of the Hume Highway doesn’t meet our road roughness standards.”
I’ve watched our roads slowly become goat tracks. We know that rough roads hammer our trucks. The tyres suffer, the suspension suffers, the entire truck is AT THE WHEEL stressed and fatigues. And DAVID MEREDITH our drivers’ stress levels go contributors@bigrigs.com.au through the roof, wearing them out too. My research uncovered a health issue caused by continuous vibration: Whole Body Vibration. Constant vibration for hours on end damages our brains, our eyes, our backs and our stomachs. The worst vibration is the sideEDITORvibration. Car drivto-side JAMES GRAHAM ers sit down low, with soft james.graham@bigrigs.com.au suspension, and virtually don’t feel the side-to-side vibration. Truck drivers sit high up, often directly above the steer wheels. Many sit higher above the road than the width of the truck. This height increases the side-toside movements, hammering the driver’s body side-toside, TWUfurther NEWS damaging his or her health.OLSEN Our rough roads RICHARD TWUamplified NSW State Secretary are by over inflated tyres, further increasing driver stress and health damage. It’s no wonder that truck drivers have the shortest life expectancy and suffer from numerous health issues. How bad are our roads? International research classifies Aussie roads at between 35 and 42 in world standards. That means 35 to 42 countries have better roads. Our roads are far worse than many third world countries. Of course, governments tell us that we are a big country with a small population and simply can’t afford good roads. On the surface, this makes sense, but in reality, most of us live near the coast, and only on half of that coast. Our road network is not substantially larger per population than many other countries that have far better roads. I believe that good roads simply don’t buy votes. Let’s look at road funding. Again, governments
don’t tell us the truth. I remember when the fuel tax was brought in. Politicians promised and promised that this tax would be used 100 per cent for roads. Malcolm TRUCKIN’ Fraser was ON the THE firstBORDER governDAVID VILE ment to start stealing our contributors@bigrigs.com.au road money. And then it got worse. In 2004 or 2005, John Howard got in trouble for under-spending the mandate of 3 per cent. Yep, he stole 97.4 per cent of our fuel tax, and then privatised our roads. Now, our governments are telling us that they are TASSIE TRUCKIN’ overspending on roads. The JON WALLIS fake accounting they are contributors@bigrigs.com.au doing is simply riddled with lies. How can road spending change from 1.6 per cent to over 100 per cent? It simply can’t happen. But that doesn’t stop them from hammering us to reduce accidents, with roadside checks, maximum driving times, etc, while ignoring input to road LEGALtheir EAGLE safety completely. ROWAN KING Principal Lawyer RK Lawand bad road Rough roads design kills people everyday. A four-lane divided highway is between three and five times safer, yet we only have one four lane highway connecting our major cities. America built divided highways back in 1958, because they knew that bad roads increase costs for every citizen, and every business. How much do bad roads cost us? Rough roads reduce fuel economy by 6 to 8%. Rough roads double or triple truck wear and tear. And rough roads kill and maim our drivers. Transport costs our wheat and grain producers 28% of the value. Fuel, food, machinery, clothes, building materials and everything else we use costs more. It affects everything we grow and manufacture. Bad roads reduce our quality of life and living standards, while causing more accidents, more deaths and more suffering.
Figure 1: The driver’s daily exposure to vibration exceeds the EU Action Value.
The primary elements in the link between truck ride vibration and safety.
Unfortunately, we do not complain enough. We’re too busy carting everything to everyone. We must make more noise, write more letters and force our unions and associations to embarrass our politicians and bureaucrats. Our governments are getting by with murder. What else can we do? We can run the right tyre pressures. One hundred psi is not right. Steer tyres are under-inflated, and all the others are 25 to 300 per cent over inflated. Over inflated tyres wear out faster, get more punctures and
blow outs, and amplify every bump and roughness, hammering our drivers and trucks into an early grave. Over inflated tyres also hammer our roads, causing corrugations, potholes, rutting and roughness, making our roads even worse. Let us make noise. Let’s force our unions and trucking associations to lobby our governments and ensure they are not blindsided by fake accounting and dangerous practices. If you need any information to push this issue, let me know. I will gladly help wherever I can.
The above charts were shown to a conference in Scotland that I attended over ten years ago. It is part of the ROADEX III Northern Periphery Research paper. They produced several reports over numerous years. The daily exposure chart (Figure 1) is on relatively good European roads in smooth riding Euro trucks. Whole Body Vibration is very important in the northern hemisphere; so important that the US and EU road roughness standards have been halved. Australian roughness standards don’t come close to theirs.
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40 PUZZLES PUZZLES 40 1
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ACROSS 1 If you are a collector of Clarice Cliff, what do you collect? (7) 4 What Latin American dance is performed by several people in single file? (5) 7 What are lengthwise threads on a loom? (4) 8 What is the capital of Liberia? (8) 10 In 1982, who made the first televised 147 break in snooker? (5,5) Across Which inventor (Thomas ____) took out more than a 3 12 Name an earlierinEnglish stage thousand patents his lifetime? (6)and film actor, Charles 13 What is the last word of “Rule Britannia”? (6) ... (8) The Misfits in 1961 was the last film starring Marilyn 7 15 What do we call a flock of geese (6) Monroe and which other actor? (5,5) 8 18 What aretolarge systems of stars held together is by Native Central and South America, a tamandua what type of animal? (8) gravitation (8) 19 What cloth is spread over a coffin? (4) 9 20 Which game for twoforplayers light rackets What court is an informal word “a very uses long time”? (5) 21 What disease is also known and a small rubber ball (6) as lockjaw? (7)
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GENERAL KNOWLEDGE 7
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Fill the grid so every column, every row and 3x3 17 contains the digits 1 to 9. box
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QUICK 1
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10 Name a poisonous evergreen shrub with handsome white or rose-coloured flowers (8) 15 Which term describes the highest in rank or authority 11 What was the given name of a president of South (7) Africa ... Mandela (6) 16 What might we call an object of art of a former 14 Which term relates to financial matters in general (6) period (7) DOUBLECROSS 17 What are conceited dandies (8) CROSSWORD 18 Which the 3 4zone lies between 5 6 tropics of 7 Cancer and Find a finished crossword by deleting one of Capricorn (6) the two letters in each divided square. 8 19 To equip or array, is to do what (8) 10 for a halo (6) 20 Name another term M I L A U G H T O N 21 Name small Pacific flatfishes often eaten as food U R O G A G G L E R U G A L A X I E S (4,4) R A T S Q U A S H
Down: 1 Marquee, 2 Iguanas, 3 Leghorn, 4 Guarani, 5 Triadic, 6 Nostril, 11 Nectars, 12 Lexicon, 13 Orotund, 14 Fastens, 15 Supreme, 16 Antique.
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QUICK CROSSWORD Across: 1. Iffy 3. Forgiven 9. Partner 10. Inner 11. In the long run 14. Owl 16. Cacti 17. Eon 18. Hierarchical 21. Brute 22. Maudlin 23. Election 24. Ants. Down: 1. Imprison 2. First 4. Oar 5. Going without 6. Venture 7. Nark 8. Undercurrent 12. Occur 13. Inclines 15. Leisure 19. Colon 20. Able 22. Moo.
TODAY: Good 13 Very Good 18 Excellent 24
Across 1 Shatter 4 Consume 6 Summit 7 8 Sovereign 9 Prevalent 11 Minute particle 9 10 12 Tracks 15 Postpone ALPHAGRAMS 18 Walk through water 11 Solve the anagrams. Each solution is a one-word 20 Dry anagram of the letters beside it, and the five solutions 21 five-letter Courage solution are sequential. For example, if the starts with J, the six-letter solution with K, and so 22starts Serpents on. 23 No score 24 Water pitchers EASEL
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DIM RAY 16 GRANNIE ROASTING TRANSPOSE
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24 S M A S L C R U L E O A P A T H J E W A D E A R I D A S R N I L
GK CROSSWORD Across; 1 Pottery, 4 Conga, 7 Warp, 8 Monrovia, 10 Steve Davis, 12 Edison, 13 Slaves, 15 Clark Gable, 18 Anteater, 19 Pall, 20 Yonks, 21 Tetanus. Down: 1 Pawns, 2 Turmeric, 3 Yeoman, 4 Cardiology, 5 Nova, 6 Amadeus, 9 New Orleans, 11 Eva Braun, 12 Estuary, 14 Argent, 16 Ellis, 17 Eton.
H A P R P S D E N P S E
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Down 1 Fragment 2 Parcel out 3 Stringed instruments 4 the Way outletters to Insert missing make5ten — five reading words Rain heavily across the grid and five reading 7 Efface down. 10 Golfer’s warning Note: more than one solution Partly open may 13 be possible. 14 Pays attention 15 Thick 16 Smithy 17 Emits Allfumes puzzles © The Puzzle Company 18 Caution 19 Clock face
SOLUTION QUICK CROSSWORD amir amrita aria arum atria atrium attar aura auric carat cart Across: 1 Smash, Eat, 6 Apex, 8 Ruler, 9 Rife, 11 Atom, 12 Paths, 15 Defer, cram curt marc maria mart raita rata rimu tarmac tart4tiara Wade, 20 Arid, 21 Nerve, 22 Asps, 23 Nil, 24 Ewers. tract trait tram trauma TRAUMATIC18 trim Down: 1 Scrap, 2 Allot, 3 Harps, 4 Exit, 5 Teem, 7 Erase, 10 Fore, 13 Ajar, 14 Heeds, 15 Dense, 16 Forge, 17 Reeks, 18 Warn, 19 Dial.
ALPHAGRAMS: LEASE, MYRIAD, NEARING, ORGANIST, PATRONESS.
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How many words of four letters or more can you make? Each letter must be used only once and all words must contain the centre letter. There is at least one nine-letter word. No words starting with a capital are allowed, no plurals ending in s unless the word is also a verb.
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Down 1. Jail (8) 2. Initially (5) 4. Paddle (3) 5. Abstinence (5,7) 6. Dare (7) 7. Informant (colloq) (4) 8. Feeling, atmosphere (12) 12. Happen (5) 13. Leans (8) 15. Free time (7) 19. Punctuation mark (5) 20. Competent (4) 22. Low (3)
Across 1. Uncertain (colloq) (4) 3. Absolved (8) 9. Associate (7) 10. From inside (5) 11. Over time (2,3,4,3) 14. Night bird (3) 16. Succulent plants (5) 17. Immeasurable period of time (3) 18. Arranged by rank (12) 21. Violent person (5) 22. Tearfully sentimental (7) 23. Poll (8) 24. Colony insects (4)
SOLUTIONS
EASY
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N I T R E
Fill the grid so every column, every row and 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.
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116 What is a large tentlike shelter 17 (7) 2 Name some tropical American lizards (7)
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6/6 DOWN 1 Which chess pieces are most numerous? (5) 2 What bright yellow powder is used for flavouring in Asian cookery? (7) 3 In early England, what was a small landholder between gentry and labourers? (6) 4 What branch of medicine is concerned with diseases and abnormalities of the heart? (10) 5 A star that suddenly brightens then gradually fades is called what? (4) 3 Name a breed of domestic fowl† (7) 6 Which film, 1984’s Best Picture Oscar winner, was 4 inName an (7) important central South American tribe of filmed Prague? 9 WhereTupian was Louis Armstrong born? (3,7) family and affiliation (7) 11 Which woman was married on 29 April 1945, and died 5 following Whichday? term implies a group of three (7) the (3,5) 126What is theis widening of a river where saltwater What one of channel the external openings of the nose (7) mixes with freshwater? (7) Which what drinkisisthe said to be the (6) food of the gods (7) 1411 In heraldry, colour silver? 1612 Millions of records which immigration Name anotherfrom term for aUS dictionary (7)entry island are accessible on the internet? (5) 13 To be pompous or bombastic, is said 17 Which English college was founded by Henry VItoinbe what (7) 1440? 14 (4) When one fixes something firmly, one does what (7)
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE Across: 3 Laughton, 7 Gaggle, 8 Galaxies, 9 Squash, 10 Oleander, 11 Nelson, 14 Fiscal, 17 Coxcombs, 18 Torrid, 19 Accoutre, 20 Nimbus, 21 Sand dabs.
G E N E R A1 L 7 K N O 9W L E D G 11 E
FRIDAY JUNE 12 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
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ROADHOUSES 41
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021
Fuelling up Mobil Corowa Diner, NSW
Jacqui Kuschert manages the Mobil Corowa Diner.
THE COVID-19 pandemic hit many businesses hard – and roadhouses weren’t immune. The Mobil Corowa Diner was forced to close its doors and after overcoming various obstacles, it’s now well and truly back, reopening on 1 February with a new menu and new offering. Located on Honour Ave in Corowa, just opposite the sale yards, the diner’s menu features many of the favourites, including burgers with the lot, chicken schnitzel burgers and lasagna. “We’ve designed brand new menus that include a lot of the old stuff we previously had but we’ve also come up with many new ideas too. We’ve created the new Mobil Corowa Burger for the local trucking companies, the Hard Knocks Burger for a local kickboxing group and the Cougar
WE’RE TRYING TO BRING IN FRESH IDEAS AND TRYING TO ENTICE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT US, SO WE IN TURN CAN SUPPORT THEM. SO FAR THE FEEDBACK HAS BEEN BRILLIANT SINCE WE REOPENED. JACQUI KUSCHERT
Burger for a local rugby league club we sponsor,” explained Mobil Corowa Diner Manager Jacqui Kuschert. “We’re trying to bring in fresh ideas and trying to entice the local community to support us, so we in turn can support them. So far the feedback has been brilliant since we reopened. Customers have been giving
us lots of ideas. If they want a special meal, we’re also more than happy to accommodate that.” The diner is currently open from 6am to 2pm, though the team is looking to extend their hours later into the afternoon and on weekends, as demand increases. While the diner was closed throughout COVID, staff cooked up numerous takeaway meals that were available in the service station – and this will still be the case after hours. Expect to find things like fresh salad rolls and sandwiches, lasagna (which staff can warm up), and pies and sausage rolls from the nearby bakery. There are also toilets, showers, laundry facilities, microwaves and a toasted sandwich maker available for use 24/7.
The Tuckerwagon, NSW NEARLY two years ago, husband and wife duo Garth and Jo Wilby decided on a change of direction and took over what was formerly The Milestone Café. After closing its doors for only a week to make it their own, they reopened under the name of The Tuckerwagon. Jo had been working in the service station section next door and could see potential in the café, while Garth is a truck driver himself, an owner operator who works at The Tuckerwagon when he’s not on the road. “Truck drivers need to eat while they’re out on the road and there’s getting fewer and fewer roadhouses. I was willing to work to make some changes so we gave it a cleanout and a revamp. “Trucks have been in our family my whole life. My dad and mum had their own company, now my brother drives a truck too.
TRUCKS HAVE BEEN IN OUR FAMILY MY WHOLE LIFE. MY DAD AND MUM HAD THEIR OWN COMPANY, NOW MY BROTHER DRIVES A TRUCK TOO. I KNOW TRUCKIES WANT A GOOD HOMESTYLE TYPE MEAL, SO THAT WAS MY AIM – TO BRING THEM HOMESTYLE COOKING. JO WILBY
I know truckies want a good homestyle type meal, so that was my aim – to bring them homestyle cooking,” said Jo. The meat dishes are a popular choice (such as the rump steak or mixed grill), as are the mouth-watering burgers and the Big Breaky. Mains are served with a choice of chips and salad, or veggies. For those stopping
for a quick bite the ‘On the Go’ menu and coffees are fast and fresh. Truckies are unsurprisingly the café’s main clientele and it’s easily accessible off the highway, as per the sign that reads ‘Easy on, Easy off ’. “It’s like a drive through service. Trucks can come in one direction and go straight out the other,” added Jo. As for facilities, the toilets and showers are clean and well kept, with a designated section for truck drivers. “Once they have the code, they can use it 24/7. There’s also ample parking so they can sit down and stop to enjoy a nice meal. There’s plenty of room to park up and have a sleep too.” The Tuckerwagon is located on Jericho Road Moorland, NSW, and is open Monday to Friday from 6am-10pm, Saturday 7am-2pm and Sunday from 10am-10pm.
Putting the Brakes on... s
ms with Service and Claim
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Owner Drivers
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When Garth and Jo Wilby took over the site, they revamped it and reopened under a new name.
42 CAREERS AND TRAINING
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
New course targets aspiring VET sector needs young mechanics serious overhaul
Nowra Truck and Tractor owner Ron Arthur has welcomed the new course from TAFE NSW.
A new course for aspiring mechanics, designed to act as a potential pathway to an apprenticeship, has been welcomed by a local industry veteran, who believes it could help to fill the crippling skills gap in regional areas. The Certificate I in Automotive Vocational Preparation at TAFE NSW is a six-week course that aims to bolster apprentice mechanic numbers. According to the Australian Automotive Aftermarket
Association (AAAA), over 40 per cent of mechanics are over 50 years old and about a third of service and repair workshops are turning away customers because they don’t have enough staff to meet demand. The AAAA figures revealed a national shortage of 27,377 skilled positions in the automotive industry – the highest ever recorded. And this is forecast to rise to over 35,000 in the next few years. Nowra Truck and Tractor
owner Ron Arthur, who has been in the game for around 40 years, said a skills shortage is suffocating the industry. “We’re certainly being forced to turn away a lot of repair work because we can’t get skilled tradespeople. These courses are a huge positive if they can find kids who want to be part of the industry,” he said. “Being a mechanic can be a challenging job but it’s very stable work and can be rewarding financially long-term.”
TAFE NSW Team Leader Automotive Dan Severino added: “This is about creating opportunities for young people to become familiar with a workshop setting, the tools used and safety protocols. “TAFE NSW works closely with industry to identify and address skills gaps and I applaud Mr Arthur for his advocacy work in lobbying for courses such as this.” More information about the course can be found at www.tafensw.edu.au.
THE Productivity Commission’s final report into Australia’s vocational education and training (VET) sector has called for a serious overhaul around its confusing and underperforming aspects. The commission found that the multi-billion-dollar sector’s funding agreement between the Commonwealth and the states needed major change with lack of transparency, targets not met and poor accountability for monetary allocations. Rod Camm, Group CEO for the Motor Trades Association of Queensland, said the report creates an important evidence base for the reform road ahead. “There remains enormous skill shortages across the automotive industry, so it is critical that apprentices and those seeking upskilling are able to access training solutions suitable for their work,” said Camm. “Many of the current structures of the VET sector have had their day. Australia needs a system that keeps pace with the rapidly changing skill demands of industry. “To remain internationally competitive, the fundamental
building blocks of reform need to include genuine industry engagement, targeting of funding to industry and job needs, a qualification system that keeps pace through recognising stackable micro-credentials and nationally consistent pricing and contractual terms. “Incentivising and supporting employers to take on apprentices will also create real jobs post government support programs.” MTA Institute General Manager Paul Kulpa said he is encouraged by the recommendations to better link funding to high demand job areas that have high growth potential, like the need for specialist technicians to service and repair hydrogen and electric powered vehicles. “While encouraged by the logic of market approaches to the allocation of funding, the current system is too complex at all levels to truly enable informed choice.” The recent report also said that the pandemic has highlighted the importance of VET and why ‘getting the system right’ is critical to meeting Australia’s changing skills needs.
Easter Group Pty Ltd 73 Formation St, Wacol 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 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 Leanne Braid (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 Michael MacRae (Workshop Manager) via email to employment@kseaster.com.au
F & A Scarcella Pty Ltd (Scarcella Transport) is a family owned and operated transport company based at Campbelltown NSW with depots in Dubbo NSW and Yarrawonga (Darwin) NT We have been operating a twice a week express road train service into Darwin for the past twenty two (22) years. We are looking for Roadtrain experienced MC drivers, who are prepared to join/be part of a two (2) up driving (express) team. Our express teams depart Sydney on either Tuesday or Friday evenings for Darwin, returning on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons/evenings. All express trucks are late model Kenworth T909s, fitted with double bunks, 240 inverters, microwave ovens. Your duties require you to collect your loaded trailer from one of our customers around Sydney. You will travel to Dubbo and collect the 2nd trailer and then to Bourke and collect the 3rd trailer. Once in Darwin, you will be required to either drop the trailers at our depot or to the various customers around Darwin. Returning from Darwin, your trailers will either be loaded for you or you will be required to travel to one of our customers and load produce or general freight and then return to Sydney. If you load produce you will be required to unload at the Sydney fruit markets. As mentioned you MUST have experience in road train work, be able to use a road ranger g/box, being mechanical minded is an advantage. Both our Campbelltown and Darwin depots have air conditioned motel style (individual) sleeping quarters. If you ‘fit the bill’ then telephone Cody (ops manager) 0418 461 115 during business hours
CAREERS AND TRAINING 43
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 2021
Canadian truckie dreams of returning down under
BY DANIELLE GULLACI
HALFWAY across the globe, in freezing conditions, this off-road truckie navigates through ice and snow, dreaming of coming back to Australia and getting behind the wheel of a road train. Kaylee Roberts has been driving trucks across northern British Columbia in Canada for the past five years, working in the oil and gas industry, and documenting her travels from the lens of her camera. A stint on the Gold Coast when she was 23 left a lasting impression on her. “I actually lived on the Gold Coast for a year when I was 23 and have always wanted to move down under, but it’s actually really, really hard if you’re not married to an Aussie. I just love Australia and one of my dreams is to drive a road train one day,” she said. At the moment, Roberts is behind the wheel of a tri drive International, while she awaits the delivery of a brand new Kenworth T880, powered by a Cummins 550 engine. Originally from Quebec,
Canadian truckie Kaylee Roberts would love to get behind the wheel of an Aussie road train.
Roberts has called British Columbia home for the past 12 years. “Trucking has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. We most definitely need more women in trucking. I love to see the lifestyle challenges other women truckers from around the world face,” she said.
Her current driving gig involves hauling potable water for drilling rigs and work camps, with around 90% of her work being off-road. Prior to that she worked in the US, doing long haul transport. “But after a year on the road, I only had five nights out of the truck the whole time – that’s what they do there. A lot of truckers live in their rigs. The truckstop lifestyle isn’t for everyone and eventually it does your head in,” said Roberts. “Winter’s great because there’s no mud and everything stays cleaner. In fall and spring, the roads are just straight mud and we gotta chain-up pretty much every day – multiple times a day. I love the challenges and the hard work, despite the fact that it gets pretty cold here in the great white north. “The coldest I’ve ever seen is -53°. When it’s that cold, we leave the trucks running 24/7. Last winter our trucks ran pretty much three weeks straight. Technically winter is three months, but realistically, it can snow here any month of the year. You’ve just gotta layer it up and take lots of warm up breaks.”
The view from her windscreen in Canada.
Kaylee is currently behind the wheel of an International, with around 90% of her work off-road.
R&K HAUL AGE General Freight & Bulk Drivers Rodney’s Transport Service is seeking experienced MC/B Double General Freight & Bulk Drivers to work out of Victoria and NSW • Permanent & Casual Roles • Great working conditions Working within fatigue management guidelines you will perform interstate line haul duties whilst adhering to all OH&S, legislative, site and contractual obligations. RTS requires professional drivers with – • Strong customer service experience • A safe driving record • Mature attitude • Minimum 2 years’ experience MC endorsed Reporting to the Manager Group Operations this is an exciting opportunity for highly motivated and experienced MC/B Double drivers who will be required to display a commitment to RTS safety and compliance standards and values whilst maintaining your equipment in good order. You will be required to provide a copy of a current Licence and meet RTS employment criteria which will include a medical with drug and alcohol test. Experienced drivers who can demonstrate: • Proficiency in all aspects of B Double truck operations • The ability to work within a team • A clear understanding of road transport legislation. • A clean history of driving ability If interested in applying for a position please complete the application form on our website www.rodneystransport.com.au or for further information please contact Anna on 03 9311 2300.
Due to company growth we are looking for Professional MC Drivers and a Qualified Diesel Mechanic above award wages paid For more information please phone 07 4692 2264