Rising Star winner kicking goals for TGR Transport

AT the joint Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) and Livestock and Rural Transport Association of WA conference in Busselton, WA, the winner of the inaugural Rural Transport Rising Star (RTRS) award was revealed.

Amy Throckmorton, who works at TGR Transport in Victoria, was named the winner and was presented with a trophy, a $5000 cash prize and a GME GPS Personal Location Beacon.

She currently works as operations manager for TGR Transport in Victoria.

Throckmorton came out at the head of a very strong field of nine nominees, with entrants from all over Australia being put forward by their employers and associates. The panel of four judges admitted that it was difficult to single out the winner, as the quality of nominees was so high.

Growing up in rural Victoria, Throckmorton’s father owned trucks and her grandfather had a farm.

This introduction to the industry saw her washing trucks to pay for phone credit. Her first real role in transport was with Wettenhalls, where she started processing run sheets.

Over time she moved into other roles, gaining experience in fleet maintenance administration, and then going on to manage both the workshop and fleet maintenance. We now find her as an operations manager at TGR Transport. The fleet handles grain cartage as well as heavy haulage around Australia.

Throckmorton’s job involves most parts of the business, including scheduling trucks, organising loads, managing drivers, co-ordinating with customers, scheduling maintenance, processing payroll, completing invoicing and even organising work training functions. She describes her role as being, “a jack (or jill) of all trades role” and says she loves it.

“I learnt early on that trans- port is about learning on the job,” Throckmorton said. “You learn quickly when things go wrong! My roles have varied from scheduling milk trucks at McColls to running the Kenworth service office. I take every chance to attend truck shows, conferences and courses as this industry always changes.”

TGR transport director, Tom Allen, described Throckmorton as, “A country girl with a strong passion for the transport industry. Very content working with trucks in the rural sector.”

Damian Swalling, a livestock transport operator from Toowoomba in Queensland, was the runner-up for the RTRS award and also received a GME GPS Personal Location Beacon.

The RTRS award was developed by PowerTorque Magazine, in association with the ALRTA, and this year is sponsored by BP.

The aim of the award is to shine the spotlight on, and encourage, the best in young people who are working in the industry and driving it forward into the future.

PowerTorque editor Tim Giles said the the RSRT initiative was developed because, like many sectors of the economy, the rural trucking sector is crying out for bright new entrants into the industry.

“The award is designed to highlight young people currently working in many roles across this sector, creating change and improving the industry, with the aim of demonstrating the possibilities for other young potential entrants into our industry,” Giles said.

“The RSRT award is intended to extend and complement the young persons awards, which some rural transport state associations already have in place.

“This award can bring those involved at state level to national attention and emphasise the wide variety of roles rural transport offers. It’s not just about truck drivers, but anyone involved in rural transport – and in any capacity.”

HEAVY VEHICLE DRIVER/OPERATOR POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Due to company expansion, we have multiple positions available providing heavy vehicle support to CSG field operations in South West QLD.

About the position:

• Semi, road train and truck & dog combinations

• Water and vac tanker operations e.g., dust suppression/road watering, transporting drilling fluids, water etc

• Specialised landspray operations

• Managing fluid transfer operations on the lease

• On the job training provided

• 12-hour shifts

• Roster is either 2/2 or 2/1 weeks (depending on the operation)

• Meals and accom provided

• This role can be labour intense which requires applicants to be physically fit and have a sound knowledge of positive manual handling techniques

• Sign-on incentive/bonus (conditions apply)

• Above award wages, with the potential to earn up to $52/hr plus super

Requirements of the positions:

• Heavy vehicle licence required

• Min 2 years (recent) heavy vehicle driving experience

• Competently drive an 18-speed road ranger transmission

• Mandatory medical assessment and traffic history checks

• Commitment to health, safety and environmental practices and standards

• Knowledge and understanding of heavy vehicle maintenance

Please direct all applications and enquiries to: careers@coho-resources.com

Craig Davis: 0455 538 253