Keeping rail lines in checkIt’s triple the fun for this livestock owner operator

WHEN Big Rigs saw owner-operator Mick Voerman early on June 15 he was hauling livestock in a triple from Reid River on the Flinders Highway to Townsville Port for live export.

Voerman, 38, is based at Mareeba on the Atherton Tablelands and drives a 2021 Western Star with a 600hp motor up front and an 18-speed Road Ranger gearbox.

Voerman has been an owner-driver for two years. His company is MJV Transport. Before that, he worked for Footy’s out of Charters Towers.

ALLAN Wenck, 36, drives an Isuzu tilt truck for Queensland Rail and was parked up at the sleepy hamlet of Mingela when Big Rigs saw him.

He carries tools and other gear for railway gangs working on maintenance of the line out west.

With him that day was his assistant Ian Burns who was in the passenger seat.

“I travel mainly between Townsville and Charters Towers but do get out to Pentland and occasionally to Mount Isa,” Wenck said.

He added that the Flinders Highway does get very busy at times. “A lot of trucks travel on it.”

His hobbies include playing darts in Charters Towers whilst Burns enjoys fishing.

Both these lads love their jobs supporting the gangs which keep the western permanent way in good shape.

The railway line between inland Mount Isa and Townsville Port has lots of trains which bring minerals for export.

Mingela is a tiny centre just off the Flinders Highway; located 87km from Townsville and 43km from Charters Towers.

“I have six decks of cattle and pick them up from the holding yards at Reid River,” he said.

Voerman had stopped at the Calcium Roadhouse which is 50km from Townsville and there was a large bull in a paddock behind him when I snapped the pics.

He rates inland roads as challenging to travel on, adding that one of the worst is between Clermont and Charters Towers.

I asked him which was the worst road he gets along from the Atherton Tablelands, a subject on which local truckies have divided opinions about.

He swiftly nominated the Kuranda Range section of the Kennedy Highway.

“It gets very busy with traffic and is winding,” he said.

He says he doesn’t have any hobbies and when he’s off work just enjoys spending quality time with his family. A Cowboys supporter in the NRL, Voerman said there could be more rest areas for drivers. Voerman likes stopping at the BP Cluden. “The facilities are good with clean showers and friendly staff,” he said. Voerman has descendants from Holland but is a genuine Aussie.