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CONTRIBUTORS
Truckin in the Topics/Spy on the Road: Alf Wilson, 0408 009 301 David Vile, Graham Harsant, Geoff Middleton and Jonathan Wallis.
Big Rigs National Road Transport Newspaper is published by Prime Creative Media. It is the largest circulated fortnightly truck publication in Australia with 22,500* copies per fortnight.
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Truckies attacked while sleeping
BY DANIELLE GULLACI
A 61-year-old truck driver has told of how he was attacked while asleep in his truck at Shell Boggabilla on the Newell Highway in northern NSW.
“I was sleeping and woke up to a bloke hitting me on the shoulder with an iron bar.
ey were also carrying hammers and knives,” recalled Melbourne-based truckie Darren Pincini.
“ ere were three blokes, one was in my truck, one was standing on the ground next to the driver’s door and the other one was in a white Jeep waiting for them.”
e incident occurred in the early hours of the morning on ursday, October 24 – and according to police reports, this was just one of several attacks on truck drivers that occurred on the same day.
“I spoke to another truck driver who was attacked at Shell Boggabilla earlier in the night; and spoke to another guy in the servo too. He said the same guys went to have a go at him while he was stopped near the Wobbly Boot Hotel, about 500 metres down the road from the Shell.
“But he was driving twoup, so when they approached, the other driver got out of the truck, so they jumped in their car and got going.
“Police also told me there were another two attacks on drivers at BP Goondiwindi.”
Pincini says in all his years on the road, this is the rst time anything like this has ever happened to him. Luckily, he too wasn’t injured.
ough he lives in Melbourne, he’s currently based in Moree, where he’ll be for about six to eight weeks. “I drive tippers, as a triple road train, and we’re up here to work the harvest at the moment.”
As he spoke of what happened, Pincini said, “ ey took a box of beer, a 10-pack of Coca-Cola and a 24-pack of water. ey obviously don’t like ginger beer because they left that,” he joked.
“ en they wanted my wallet, so I got out of bed dressed in my jocks, sat in the driver’s seat and handed it over. I’m not silly enough to try and ght them!
“It probably took me 10 minutes or so to get my head together, then I called the police.
“ ey said they already had o cers coming from Moree to Boggabilla because of what else happened that night.”
To Pincini’s shock, the thieves came back again shortly after.
As he explained, “ ey had kicked a bag of rubbish onto the oor outside from my passenger seat, so after they left, I got out and tried to pick it up.
“When I saw them, I said you’ve got nothing left to take, got in the truck, locked the doors and couldn’t get going quick enough, so they’ve tried
to break the window with the iron bar before I’ve driven o . “ ey were so brazen. at same white Jeep came back again while the police were there at the service station.
“And the other truck driver who was set upon earlier in the night while parked at the back of the Shell Boggabilla, said they came back to him a second time too.”
Despite the alleged perpetrators getting into Pincini’s truck, he says he was surprised that the police didn’t check for ngerprints.
“I got the feeling the police knew who it was but it still doesn’t explain why they’re not checking for ngerprints.”
As this sort of violence continues in and around Boggabilla, Pincini says his fears are that someone could get really hurt.
ing in Boggabilla for the past 15 years. Obviously though, it has gotten worse. Is there a solution? I can’t think of one.
“For me, I’m lucky I don’t carry too many mental scars, it was what it was. But where does it escalate to? My fear is that if someone has a go at them one day, they’re going to ght back and someone is going to get hurt.
“I won’t be parking there again though. e next night I was supposed to stop in Goondiwindi but instead I parked up the road at Mooney.”
NSW Police released details of other attacks in the early hours of October 24.
O cers were called to Boggabilla after being told a 36-year-old man was asleep in his truck when a male came in and threatened him with
jewellery, again in a white Jeep Cherokee.
At about 3.05am, a 59-yearold woman was driving on the Newell Highway when she pulled over and a Jeep Cherokee stopped beside her. e attackers demanded money and threatened her with an object.
At about 3:10am, a 66-yearold man reported he was asleep in his truck, parked behind Shell Boggabilla when the driver’s window was smashed and someone entered, hitting his right knee with a claw hammer.
Darren alerted police of his incident at about 3.30am. en at about 3.45am a 46-year-old man told police he was with his truck near the petrol station when he was approached by someone in a Jeep. e perpetrator left when the man called out to his friend in the truck to come out
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WA operators slam sign costs
BY DANIELLE GULLACI
THE move by Main Roads
WA to introduce new road train signage for operators within the state has been heavily criticised within the industry.
It was announced in July that all operators of combinations between 22 to 60 metres in length would need to transition to the new signs by January 1, 2025 – at their own cost.
With the deadline looming, Big Rigs expects there could be some changes announced as we go to print or in the weeks that follow.
According to eet operator and former president of the Livestock and Rural Transport Association of WA (LRTAWA), Darran Bairstow, “ e cost to operators is going to be enormous.”
He has run his agricultural
for the past 22 years and says the biggest concern for operators is the huge cost to change over to the new signs.
Bairstow has a eet of 39 trailers and dollies. While his initial estimates to change over to the new signs was around $18,000, he’s since found out it will actually cost much more.
“I currently use the ip signs which are all riveted onto the back of my trailers so they don’t get stolen, because that’s another issue in our industry,” he said.
“I got a quote from my body builder and it’s going to cost me about $1000 per trailer and about $900 per dolly. I would need to turn over $500,000 in my business just to cover the cost to change all the signage.
“I’ve already paid for signs to be on the back of my trailers, which are all 100 per -
ary 1, those signs are going to be worthless.
“I’ve spoken to some of the bigger eets, including an operator that has over 4000 trailers. His cost estimation for the new signs is nearly $1 million.”
Bairstow was also among several operators and industry representatives to take part in a steering committee meeting on Friday October 18 at the transport minister’s o ce. Along with relevant ministers, Main Roads WA chief operating o cer Des Snook was also in attendance. “ ere were representatives from some big multi-national transport companies in the room as well as us from LRTAWA,” he said.
While no decision was made during the meeting, a new announcement is expected any day now.
“We voiced the industry’s view that a six month transition period to the new signage wasn’t going to be long enough. Hopefully, at the very least, we can push for the deadline to be extended out to a couple of years or for the new road train signs to be made voluntary,” said Bairstow.
“We know that some of the bigger operators have already changed over, so it would be unfair for them to knock this
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on the head completely, unless the government wanted to do a buy-back of all the signs already on the road.”
Like most operators in the industry, Bairstow says he’s all for improving safety out on the roads. However, he doesn’t feel this is the answer.
“Road safety needs to be followed through but this isn’t the way to do it. If someone in government tried to work out a cost analysis, this just doesn’t pass the pub test!”
Along with the cost, Bairstow says the new signs are also more di cult to read.
And his concerns have been echoed by many Big Rigs readers, who have shared their views via our Facebook page.
According to Matt Williams: “ e lettering and numbering is 20 per cent smaller. e contrast ratio, e.g. amount of black vs yellow is less, making the smaller lettering/numbers even more di cult to read.
e general public wouldn’t know what 8 car lengths is at the best of times, so it may as well be 168 emperor penguins,” he said, adding that the move places an unfairnancial burden on small and medium sized operators.
Fiona Burlison commented, “If that’s what it looks like, it looks ridiculous. e ‘Road
Train’ signs are easy to read, and if you don’t understand it, you probably shouldn’t be driving.”
Peter Newman questioned whether the move would have any e ect at all on road safety. “Totally stupid idea, they could easily have done more in education of the public and raised the safety of trucks without this BS ex-
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tra cost,” he said. “ is signage is not going to work in making it safer for all. I very much doubt it will have any e ect on accidents or near misses.”
While Daniel Bareli added, “Unless you’re on the bumper of the road train you can’t even read the car length so why do it. Seriously it’s an absolute joke.”
The fact signs can be split through the middle has also drawn criticism, as it makes it even more difficult to read. Image: Darren Bairstow
vehicle, depicted with an equivalent number of car lengths.
Image: Main Roads WA
Families unite for rail crossing campaign
TWELVE Australian families, who have all lost loved ones in rural and regional rail crossing crashes, have united in their calls for action.
Together they’ve launched the RailFail campaign, which is pushing for the Australian government to legislate mandatory train and rolling stock lighting and force the rail corporations to install proper safety measures at rural and regional Australian rail crossings.
Currently, 80 per cent of rail crossings outside metropolitan Australian cities don’t have ashing warning lights or boom gates, and many of the trains don’t have safety lighting.
In 2000, West Australian
pastoralist, Lara Jensen’s 20-year-old brother, Christian and his friends Jess Broad and Hilary Smith, were killed at night when a train smashed into their car at a railway crossing that was only tted with a give way sign. None of the occupants saw the train and no alcohol, speed or drugs were involved in the accident.
Christian’s family have campaigned for safer railway crossings ever since, but Lara says that all these years on, still nothing has changed.
“For decades, we have campaigned to save lives and been met with an obstructive rail industry, a toothless regulator and successive governments unwilling to force the most basic safety reforms,” Jensen said.
“As a result of this inaction, we’ve needlessly lost many more people at rail crossings and the gure grows every year,” she continued.
“In many industries, ashing lights and side lighting are used to warn people of an approaching hazard.
“It’s crazy that trains, which
hurtle across more than 20,000 level crossings in the country and can be up to 1.8km long, only have similar lighting to the tiny light you see on motorbikes.
“Coroners, safety reviews, the Monash Institute of Railway Technology and numerous committees have all rec-
ommended better lighting, such as rotating beacons or strobe lights on trains. e rail industry has refused to budge. is has inevitably led us to conclude that the rail industry and its safety regulator don’t really care and the only way they will bring in adequate safety measures is if the federal government mandates them.
“We’re now in 2024. My husband and I have four little kids. Little kids my brother will never meet. I’m beginning to fear railway crossings will still be as dangerous by the time my kids learn to drive. Are we really prepared to lose the next generation of kids to these poorly lit trains and needlessly dangerous
railway crossings?”
Jensen says that while she knows it’s a David and Goliath battle, as the families push for change, they’re prepared to continue the ght.
“In the interests of the safety of all Australians it’s a battle worth having. We’re up against ASX listed rail corporations with the deepest pockets and teams of spin doctors, lobbyists, and lawyers,” she said.
“We don’t have those resources but what we do have is the facts documenting the rail industry’s failings and love and grit in equal measure. Together, we’re giving our all to ensure the deaths of our loved ones count for something.”
Truck parking site ticks the boxes
LOCAL council in NSW’s Central West says a truck parking and amenities site it opened nearly 12 months ago has been well received by truck drivers travelling within the
e Lachlan Shire Council opened a long vehicle parking area at its visitor information centre, on the outskirts of Condobolin, to assist truck drivers in managing their fatigue, by providing a safe and convenient place to rest.
“We have provided free
showers and toilets and there is a café open at the visitor centre during the day,” a council spokesperson told Big Rigs.
“Truck drivers are welcome to stop, take a shower and have a sleep overnight or during their rest break.”
Since opening in November 2023, the council says the site has been warmly welcomed by truck drivers, with the vast majority using the facility as it was intended.
“ e parking area is well
utilised and there has been very little incidence of vehicles being parked for longer than a rest break. We are pleased that, in general, drivers share this facility well and the parking area has been successfully able to support them as they pass through our region,” the spokesperson added.
“ ere is currently no time limit and we have been reluctant to set time limits for parking at the site. We are currently relying on drivers
being considerate of other driver’s needs and using the space temporarily for rest only.”
e council had considered installing signs to let drivers know how long they can park in the area, however says that would only be necessary if the practice of unhitching and leaving trailers or prime movers for an extended period becomes a problem in the future.
“ e facility was not designed as a transport depot
and there is a limited number of parking spaces available, so we ask that drivers do not leave any unhitched trailers or unattended prime movers in the parking area for an extended period of time,” the council spokesperson said.
“Doing so limits the space available for other drivers to stop and rest when they need to.”
e parking area also includes three ensuite amenities for truck drivers, with showers and toilets.
DRIVING SOLUTIONS
The facility has been provided so truck drivers can stop and rest when travelling through the region.
Image: Lachlan Shire Council
Truckies’ campaigner takes up new fight
TENACIOUS truckies’ advocate Wes Walker has vowed to take on the ght to win toilets for truckies at the heavy vehicle interception site on the Bruce Highway at Federal, Queensland. Walker, best known for a successful three-year campaign for permanent facilities for drivers at the busy Gatton pads, was inspired to take up the battle after reading our online story last month about the unsanitary state of the site. He said he was appalled to discover from semi-retired
truckie Scott Miles that the pads just south of Gympie were now being used as an open-air toilet.
Although the heavy vehicle interception site on the Bruce Highway at Federal is not a designated rest area, it is being used as one, said Miles.
“As soon as you pull up, all you can smell is urine and when you look around all you see are dumps and toilet paper everywhere. It’s a real health and safety concern,” he said.
“And then towards Cooroy, on the highway, there’s a simi-
lar site and it’s just as bad.
“ e site at Federal is a part time weigh station come truck rest area, that’s frequented by truckies and grey nomads, and general tra c when not being used as an inspection site. ere are no signs saying trucks can’t park there.”
Walker said he plans to start a daily sit-in campaign just after Christmas – much like he did at Gatton from 2021 – to bring the issue to the attention of local media and authorities.
“I’ll sit there all day with a sign up as long as I can, then
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I can go into Gympie and free camp,” Walker said.
“I’ll make the same sign up as I did at Gatton – ‘Truckies, no toilets here’.
Scott says he’s concerned the issue is only going to get worse now that the Gympie Bypass has opened.
“ ere is a Puma service station further down the road, about 5-10 kilometres away. But a lot of drivers bypass the servo and stop here instead. So, this is where people pull up and have a rest and go to the toilet. I can’t understand why they can’t put toilets there.
“Now that the Gympie Bypass is open, more people won’t stop at Gympie. ey’re less likely to stop at the Puma Service Station too because they’d need to divert and go past roundabouts.”
Big Rigs contacted Transport and Main Roads Queensland (TMR) about the issue, however they said there is currently no funding or planning for facilities at the Federal interception site.
“ e Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is aware of the concerns at the heavy vehicle interception site on the Bruce Highway at Federal, and is investigating options to improve hygiene at the site,” a TMR spokesperson said.
“TMR provides a number of truck stops and rest areas along the Bruce Highway, and there are also commercial operations
let facilities.
“ e nearest facility is the Traveston Service Centre, which is accessible to both northbound and southbound road users. Drivers are encouraged to plan their journeys and use appropriate facilities.”
Scott added, “ at area is a real health concern and it doesn’t do anything for tourism either. It’s not a good look for the industry, and it’s not a good look for the government.”
Walker also now plans to lodge an o cial complaint with WorkSafe Queensland alleging the site breaches regulations requiring all worksites to have an onsite toilet.
He’s already led a similar complaint about the inspection pads at Nanango on the Burnett Highway.
Meanwhile, Walker only had one minor design note for authorities after his rst inspection of the site for the new
Gatton breakdown pads toilet block late last month.
Walker said he’d like to see towaway zone signage and yellow lines near the entry to discourage any drivers from inadvertently blocking the entrance to the wheelchair access with their trucks and make the new prefabricated block easier to spot.
“I’ve got to get a quote o a proper linemarking mob, so they’re listening to me a little bit,” said the disability pensioner who spent three long years lobbying for the facilities, which included an appearance on A Current A air. Walker was also pleased to hear that the three cubicles should be open for use by the end of November, and that TMR had also inquired about the feasibility of installing another single toilet on the opposite side of the site.
“I think it’s a great idea,” he said.
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Wes Walker and his trusty sidekick Storm inspect the toilet block progress at the Gatton pads. Inset: Walker’s long protest at Gatton captured national media attention. Images: Wes Walker
DAF has drivers top of mind
ORDER books are now open for the all-new driver-friendly DAF XG and XG+ models, the rst trucks in Australia to leverage the updated regulations allowing cab widths to increase from 2.5m to 2.55m.
Both the XG and XG+ showcase elongated, aerodynamic cabs that not only enhance driver visibility but also signi cantly improve comfort and space.
e XG boasts an impressive cab length of 2.69m and an interior standing room of 2.04m, while the XG+ takes the height dimensions even further with a 2.17m ceiling.
Both come with an 800mm x 2.222m fully rectangular lower bunk, with an added push-button electric adjustable feature in the XG+.
e XG+ also has a second fridge and an added top bunk and air suspended passenger seat, ideal for two-up driving, said DAF.
e elongated cabs feature a redesigned front grille for improved cooling and aerodynamics, 220-litre toolboxes on both sides, and easy access with three evenly spaced steps.
e tapered cab narrows vertically at the front and widens gradually towards the back to enhance aerodynamic performance and e ciency and reduce fuel consumption.
DAF said this e ciency is further enhanced by innovative features such as closed wheel arch covers, the design of the side mirrors and an extensively curved windscreen.
e interior of the DAF XG and XG+ re ect a luxurious vehicle aesthetic, with high-quality materials and nishes throughout.
DAF said drivers will enjoy the high-end feel and convenience of the modern steering wheel, which can operate the various functions of the premium 12-inch central screen, displaying a wealth of personalised information.
To the left of the steering wheel, there is a 10-inch display that provides access to the DAF Infotainment System, o ering features such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation and more.
From inside the cab, the XG and XG+ are not just quiet – they’re very quiet, promise DAF. ey feature exceptional soundproo ng and isolation, along with an enhanced front suspension and damper design that minimises vibration in the driveline, seats, and steering.
Integrated into the dashboard is a spacious retractable table perfect for working or enjoying a meal. ere is also a generous storage tray for documents. Additionally,
there are multiple USB ports and 12V sockets.
Drivers will also nd an easily accessible storage area in the roof console, on top of the dashboard, and in the door pockets.
Inside the sleeping area, the XG+ boasts dual underbed refrigerator drawers, while the XG features one refrigerator drawer and one storage drawer. Both the XG and XG+ also o er generous space for a microwave and TV, along with additional provisions for phone storage and charging.
e rear wall panel has a multi-functional control centre enabling the driver to e ortlessly manage the lighting, temperature, windows, and roof hatch while relaxing in bed.
e PACCAR
Both models have identical powertrains.
PX-15 is DAF’s Euro 6-compliant new generation engine platform with a sculpted, ladder frame style block signi cantly enhances the performance levels of the 15-litre engine.
e PX-15 patented architecture allows it to operate at higher cylinder pressures, resulting in impressive performance – 660hp at 1800rpm and 3200Nm torque between 900-1400rpm. To harness the high torque
output from the PX-15 engine, the Australian XG and XG+ are equipped with the ZF TraXon 16-speed automated gearbox. Locally developed calibrations for high productivity combinations ensure that the perfect gear is always available, making both agship trucks a dream to drive, said DAF.
e New Generation DAF trucks o er the most extensive range of active and passive safety features ever provided by DAF. Both models are equipped with a 270
degrees corner view camera that e ectively reduces blind spots on the passenger side and the front of the vehicle.
Additionally, the trucks feature a robust cab structure that provides 360 degrees of impact protection.
e larger windscreen and lower dashboard beltline signi cantly enhance the driver’s direct vision. e new models come with DAF’s full suite of safety systems as standard, including vehicle stability control, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and an advanced emergency braking system.
Furthermore, the patented Programmed Cab Displacement (ProCaDis) design includes a cab/chassis shear-o mechanism to mitigate trailer rear-end collisions.
Both models will go into production at the Bayswater plant from January 2025.
“It was critical for this project to be led by an Australian team that has decades of experience engineering products in our market,” said chief engineer Brad May, who gave Big Rigs a close-up
look at the new XG+ at last year’s Brisbane Truck Show. “It’s about so much more than just the cab and engine. Frame layout, fuel and AdBlue tanks, air ltration, suspension and axles to name a few.
“Putting all this together without diluting our design for the needs of other world markets is the secret to making the XG greater than the sum of its parts.”
The XG and XG+ go into production at the Bayswater plant from January 2025.
The larger windscreen and lower dashboard beltline significantly enhance the driver’s direct vision. Images: DAF Trucks Australia
Two bunks in the XG+.
kenworth.com.au/legacy
Sign of
EDITOR JAMES GRAHAM
east and become a signatory to the Heavy Vehicle National Law.
But I have to say this Main Roads WA push to change the road train signage - see story on page 3 - has left me scratching the old noggin trying to understand the reasoning for this.
As the old adage says, if it ain’t broke, don’t x it. But someone in the halls of power seems to disagree. Where was the industry consultation?
Our readers on Facebook were certainly not polled on whether the idea was a good one. It must be especially galling for the livestock carters to have to wear this looming cost, especially as they are also trying to come to terms with the live sheep export ban in 2028 and what impact it may have on their lives.
HOT WEB TOPICS
Truckie’s lucky escape at servoWas
WHEN news came in that the Collins Transport truckie involved in a service station rollover was recovering, having sustained only minor injuries, many Big Rigs readers took to our Facebook page to o er well wishes and praise his actions.
e driver had su ered a medical episode. No one else was injured.
On Facebook, Danny Iuliano said: “Praise this brave and experienced driver for not only dealing with his medical episode, but his quick thinking in preventing further harm to himself and others at the servo! Speedy recovery driver.”
Banjo Heeler wrote: “ at’s
awesome news, considering every other post claimed that he had passed away. e driver seriously deserves an award for controlling it the way he did to save lives.”
Kylie Muir commented, “Fantastic news and to put the truck on its side to save
innocent people, deserves a medal.”
While Bevan Spence wrote, “He did a good job not to hit the servo. Watched the servo CTCC TV footage.”
Gavin Pritchard added, “All the best for a speedy recovery driver.”
Living the American dream
Aussie truckie who went from living in his truck to owning a 100-acre ranch in Memphis, Tennessee, is quite the character – and his fascinating story drew a great amount of interest from readers, with many sharing their own experiences.
“Winter in the US certainly has its challenges, especially driving in it! Had one mishap and a few other close calls,” explained Anthony Kurr, as he shared a photo parked up in Pennsylvania –and snowed in for three days.
Don Kopa wrote, “Was over there in the late 80s-90s based out of Missouri, was such a great experience trav-
elling the US driving trucks back then, not too sure it’s the same no more.”
While Tony Harvey spoke of his time driving over there, after moving to California in the late 1980s as a teen. “I ba-
AS the eagerly awaited $1.162 billion, 26-kilometre Gympie Bypass nally opened last month, many readers shared their thoughts on social media.
“Absolutely it was worth the wait… e reduction in risk is huge,” shared Trevor Warner.
“ e Tin Can Bay exit is awesome, no tra c lights in and out of Gympie North and East side with ease. Even Gympie Sale yard trucks can avoid all the intersections through town now,” wrote Mitch Bradley.
Max Sondergard said, “I went through there today. Saved about 15 minutes.”
Mike Fisher added, “It’s
great. You can still have a meal and rest break at the Gold Nugget [Roadhouse] and get back on at ood road, to bypass Gympie.”
Michael Whitty applauded the engineering that went into the build: “Given the topography of hills, gullies, creeks etc,
Wayne Housan, who has been married six times, lived in his 1999 Western Star for two years. Image: Wayne Housan
sically lived in my truck for those 15 years, got paid decent money to see the USA. Truck stops are amazing. ey were the best years of my life. I’d do it again in a heartbeat if I was in my 20s again.”
AS calls grow for toll relief on the Toowoomba Bypass, which is still not operating as it should ve years after opening, Big Rigs readers shared their views.
Clem Wheatley wrote: “It was always going to fail, shoddy work and corner cutting was rife during the build, many concerns from operators were raised and ignored, ine ectual government oversight to ensure proper standards were maintained.”
Neil Haywood agreed, “All the locals told them this will happen. No one listened.”
“Shouldn’t be a toll on it at all if it’s compulsory to go that way,” added Trevor Henning.
ing masterpiece we should all be proud of.”
However while many praised the new bypass, some criticised the fact it took 15 years to complete, and others said they would have liked to see more new rest areas.
Rod Sumner voiced he was concerned about potential toll increases, “Well it’s obvious the money is not going to x it so next they will charge more for tolls.”
While Regan Bow commented, “Shouldn’t be paying
for tolls in a heavy vehicle anyway. e prices are a joke.”
Brad Dean echoed a similar sentiment: “ ere shouldn’t be any toll roads in Australia. e government taxes the fuel and that tax is meant to pay for roads.”
THIS
The incident occurred at the Sutton Forest service station in NSW, last month. Image: NSW RFS
The bypass removes 53 intersections through Gympie and 106
As bypass repairs drag on, the trucking industry wants to see some toll relief for operators. Image: TMR
Sludge gets back on the road
After
more than 18 months on the sidelines, Sludge has been given the all-clear to get back behind the wheel of ‘The Phantom’.
BY DANIELLE GULLACI
IT hasn’t been an easy ride for truckie Paul ‘Sludge’ Andrews in recent times.
In March 2023, a horri c motorcycle crash left Sludge with signi cant injuries, including a bleed to the brain, fractured bones and torn ligaments.
before he was able to get back behind the wheel.
“I got my licence back in October,” Sludge told Big Rigs.
“It’s nice to be able to drive again but I don’t intend on going back into driving properly this year. I think I’m still about 12 months o – and even then, it might be two or three days a week. I don’t know if full time
Sludge’s rst taste of being back behind the wheel of e Phantom came during a recent trip from Perth to Merredin, transporting steel work for a new train station platform.
“ at trip was hard work. e tra c is what does it to me now, it just wears me out. We got to Northam at about 6pm and I was buggered so we stayed the night, and then I did the next two hours of driving the next morning,” explained Sludge.
“ at was probably a oneday job but I ended up turning it into two days. ere were two trailers to bring up but I can’t road train anymore so I had a mate come up with me in another truck.
“For now it’s just single trailer work, no oversize or anything until I pass another medical which is probably another three or four months away. I’m allowed to drive a semi, but I need another medical to drive a road train or oversize.”
For that rst trip back in the truck, the Outback Truckers production crew came along to document the journey for the next season of the show. Sludge has been a regular on the popular television series across many seasons.
Following that trip, Sludge also attended two big trucking events in the one weekend, on separate sides of the country – the Boort Truck Show in Victoria on Saturday October 12 and the Camp Quality Convoy for Kids in Perth on Sunday October 13.
“We were in Victoria for the Boort Truck Show and then left there at about 3pm, raced back to Melbourne to visit my grandson who lives there, then ew home to be at Perth Convoy for Kids on the Sun-
New Cleaning Wheel Solution
Helps
IT’S NICE TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN BUT I DON’T INTEND ON GOING BACK INTO DRIVING PROPERLY THIS YEAR. I THINK I’M STILL ABOUT 12 MONTHS OFF.” SLUDGE
day,” said Sludge, admitting he needed the following two days to recover from the huge weekend.
“Both events went right o . I didn’t drive in the Convoy For Kids, we went straight to the Hockey Stadium so we could park up and take it easy.
“I still need to be careful with my health the way it is, which kills me. But it was a beautiful event and a big weekend!”
Making his return behind the wheel even more of a milestone, Sludge revealed he’s also had to recover from yet another set-back to get to this point.
It was about four months ago that Sludge fell o a lad der at home after attempting to change out a light that wasn’t working. “I ended up breaking my back and was unconscious in the driveway. I woke up 45 minutes later with the ambulance there. at took it out of me for about another month or so.
kids hide the ladders from me too now because they don’t want me using them!”
“But I think that incident also put me back into line and made me realise just how serious I am. I thought I’d be water skiing and having fun again by Christmas. But I can’t see that happening for a long time. I can’t a ord to bang my head again because I know what it does it to me.
Looking ahead, while Sludge is planning to do some runs in the truck here and there, he’s also doing some work painting up containers. “I have a heap of containers to paint for now. I can do an hour of work or three hours of work, so that’s really good. I can do it at my own pace.
“I do lots of things at home too. I’ve been painting trucks and trailers for friends as well. ey know it’ll take me twice as long but they’re happy because I’m doing something. I’m getting better, because when I know I’m tired I can have a rest.
“I’m also hoping to drive e Phantom to Melbourne and do some of the truck shows on the east coast.”
e
Sludge and his wife Wendy.
IN BRIEF
Opening date revealed
The four-lane, 27-kilometre
Wilman Wadandi Highway –previously known as Bunbury Outer Ring Road – will officially open to traffic on December 16.
Wilman Wadandi Highway will connect Forrest Highway north of Bunbury to Bussell Highway to Bunbury’s south. It includes five new bridges and four grade-separated interchanges, while commuters heading to and from the south west will now avoid 13 sets of traffic lights.
The new road will slash commute times to and from the south west by up to 20 minutes, while also diverting an average of around 15,000 vehicles from local Bunbury roads each day.
$3.9m for 16 projects
An initiative by St John Ambulance to equip 50 trucks with new defibrillators, and train truck drivers to provide first aid is among 16 road safety projects to share in $3.9 million under Round 9 of the Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI).
The Australian Government and National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) HVSI program sees funding awarded to successful nominations. Since 2016, $41 million has been spent across 169 HVSI projects.
NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto OAM said, “There is still plenty of work to do to reduce road trauma in Australia, which is why I am looking forward to seeing these 16 new initiatives get underway, and the positive impact they are sure to have on heavy vehicle safety.”
Fixing Bruce ‘top priority’ Queensland’s peak trucking body is encouraged by news new state premier David Crisafulli has the Bruce Highway top of mind after LNP’s success at the polls last month.
Speaking to Big Rigs before the new cabinet was announced, QTA CEO Gary Mahon congratulated the new Crisafulli government and was heartened by news his first phone calls with PM Anthony Albanese was centred around the Olympics and the Bruce Highway spend.
Mahon said Crisafulli had committed to continuing the fight to have major road projects funded on an 80:20 arrangement with Canberra, rather than the new 50:50 split.
Truck and trailer stolen
A Melbourne owner-operator told of the gut-wrenching moment he realised his 2007 Freightliner Argosy, a trailer and the five machines it was loaded with, were gone.
Though the truck, trailer and three of the five machines were found shortly after, damage caused by the thieves meant he’d likely be off the road for at least a week.
“That’s the only truck I have,” said Rick Williams. “I’d just taken a road train load over to Perth, unloaded new machines, and brought those second-hand machines back.
“It was gut wrenching when I realised it was gone. They’ve also taken anything they could out of the truck, including about $3000 worth of tools.”
More EWD training needed, says Victoria police
BY KAYLA WALSH
A sergeant from Victoria Police has said there is a major lack of understanding around electronic work diaries (EWDs) amongst truck drivers.
Speaking at the Australian Trucking Association’s annual Technology and Maintenance Conference at the Kangan Institute in Melbourne recently, Robert Mitchell said he’s noticed an increase in uptake of EWDs.
He thinks this is a good thing – but much more training is needed.
“ e NHVR thinks EWDs are the way of the future and written work diaries won’t be here forever,” Sgt Mitchell said. “But a really common thing in dealing with drivers is that they have no training or understanding of the EWD.
“ e amount of times that we get an EWD handed over and the response from the driver is ‘Oh my boss just told me to give it to the coppers, they’ll know what to do.’
“Drivers are being kept on the side of the road and we’re spending our time trying to gure out how something works.”
Mitchell said that when EWDs were rst launched, there were only a handful of service providers.
“Now I think we’re up to 14 or 15, and that’s only going to get bigger,” he said.
“ e instructions and how to operate those platforms,
seemingly it all varies.
“With a written work diary, there are pages of instructions and it will walk you through. You’ve got a hard copy of what you have to do.
“EWDs are not as straightforward.”
Mitchell was speaking as part of the TMC’s signature session, the Technical Q&A, alongside Chris Blanchard from transport company Herb Blanchard Haulage in Grafton, NSW.
Brett Patterson, Peter Austin and Toby Merryfull from the NHVR made up the rest of the panel.
Blanchard, who is a mechanic by trade and manages 45 trucks and trailers at Herb Blanchard Haulage, said some of the company’s drivers have been slow to embrace the EWD.
“We still have some pushback from drivers who don’t want change, but those who have changed won’t go back,” he said.
“ ere’s been some teething issues with EWDs.”
He mentioned a recent incident in which one of his drivers was stopped by highway patrol but the police struggled to make sense
of the EWD.
“Victoria has a trained police side that specialises in heavy vehicles,” he said.
“Police forces in some of the other states haven’t had that speci c heavy vehicle training. I know police are struggling with EWDs on the side of the road in NSW. I don’t know if Queensland or SA are nding the same.
“It is very painful when new technology comes in and we’re having enforcement issues.”
Brett Patterson, who is the director of the Central Region at the NHVR, said he’s been happy to see more operators using EWDs.
“Some of the operators that embrace the EWD, it’s working for them in their business and the drivers are well aware of it,” he said.
“ ey are well informed, and the intercepts are quite e cient. ere’s a high compliance rate.”
He pointed out that in NSW over the past year, NHVR o cers have spent over 7000 hours undertaking “one-on-one education” of drivers at inspection stations and during on-road intercepts.
“ ere’s quite a few pages in the front of the work diary that tell you how to complete it, but everyone has di erent learning styles, so we really embrace that,” he added.
Patterson said the NHVR also provides training to police o cers that are pulling over heavy vehicles.
“Our trainers go out and
spend the day with the highway patrol, especially in New South Wales, to talk to them about the law.
“Whether it’s mechanical roadworthiness or how to read a work diary and whether it’s compliant or not.
“I think that’s going to grow over the next couple of years when we look at regulatory partners’ training, whether it’s all the di erent entities that are regulating heavy vehicles.”
At the same TMC session, the NHVR responded to complaints about the di erent inspection requirements in the various states around Australia.
A member of the audience pointed out that in Victoria you could be made to undergo a full roadworthy inspection taking up to four hours, while in NSW the inspection might only take 30 minutes.
Patterson admitted the different requirements across the states are “challenging”.
“Di erent inspection requirements will work under the Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual, that obviously has a list of reasons for rejection,” he said.
“In Queensland, we have a PVI, Programmed Vehicle Inspection. In NSW, we have a heavy vehicle inspection scheme mandated by the registration authority.
“Is that di erent nationally? Absolutely. Is it challenging for us? Yes, it is.
“We’re relying on what each state jurisdiction has in
place in relation to clearing a defect notice to take it o the register.
“We certainly know that’s a challenge and it’s something we are mindful of.”
Panelist Peter Austin, director of policy implementation at the NHVR, said that this particular issue has already been raised with the government.
“It’s still at the early stages of development, but a project called the National Riskbased Inspection Framework is asking that exact question - could we actually introduce a single national inspection system that would apply in all the states and territories?” he said.
“ at program has been endorsed nationally by all six shareholding ministers, and they’re now at the stage of starting to esh that out a little bit to see what it could actually look like.
“Now it’s a matter of establishing, in some jurisdictions, a brand-new inspection capability. If you look at Victoria as the prime example, there’s no annual inspection regime there.”
Industry veteran honoured with top tech prize
BY KAYLA WALSH
IT was an emotional night at the Australian Trucking Association’s technical awards in Melbourne recently, as transport industry veteran John Jenkin was honoured with the 2024 Craig Roseneder Award. Since 1998, the prestigious Craig Roseneder Award has recognised the professionalism and commitment of the men and women in Australia’s trucking workshops.
South Australia-based Jenkin, who co-founded Tatiara Truck & Trailers over four decades ago, told Big Rigs that he was overwhelmed by the win.
“I haven’t settled down yet,” he said. “I was nominated last year and missed out, so I wanted to say thank you to the ATA girls that wanted to nominate me again.
“I’m pretty happy that happened.”
Jenkin started out in the transport industry with “just a ute and a toolbox”, rebuilding engines at the age of 15.
Now in his 60s, he has grown his business into a thriving operation employing 60 people.
Tatiara Truck & Trailer has attracted major dealerships like Cat, Cummins, Detroit, Perkins, Volvo, and Scania, and also serves as a Kenworth sub-dealer. e company’s expertise includes general servicing, engine and gearbox work to brake over-
hauls, wheel alignments, engineering, tyre services, and a 24-hour breakdown service covering a 400km radius.
Part of the reason Jenkin won the Craig Roseneder award was his commitment to training apprentices, with a purpose-built training facility in Bordertown that works in collaboration with local schools, RTOs and government bodies that creates job opportunities for local youth.
“We do a lot in training and we have a lot of apprentices and we’re doing alright,” he said, modestly.
“I’m not a real good speaker but I just like to do things and x a few trucks and help the community go forward.
“ e community is the backbone of our business and
if you don’t look after that, you don’t have a business.”
He expressed his gratitude to his family, who couldn’t make it to Melbourne for the awards ceremony, but are a major source of support to him.
“We have a very good family behind us, who will take Tatiara Truck and Trailer into the future for another 50 years,” he said.
Jenkin’s prize included an all-expenses paid trip to attend the 2025 US Technology and Maintenance Council Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition in Nashville, Tennessee.
Also announced on the night was the winner of the 2024 Castrol Industry Achievement Award, Callum
from Ballarat-based engineering company
ation University of Australia, Callum joined Bisitecniks
clude testing, analysis and certi cation, giving him a unique opportunity to see ception and testing, all the way to in-service tment as an NHVR VSB6 AVE.
Alongside former ATA chief engineer and ITC honorary life member Bob Woodward, Callum represented the ATA on the Australian Standards Working Group assisting in the development of AS 22132022 and AS 4968-2023.
Boyce said the award was a team e ort and he couldn’t have done it without the help
of the people around him. “Like any prestigious award, this achievement comes on the shoulders of great people before me,” he said.
“Next month brings up 10 years for me at Bisitecniks, and I can’t thank Keith Mackinlay enough for taking a chance on me.”
Both winners were announced at the 2024 Castrol Awards Dinner at the Crown Aviary, Melbourne on October 22, held as part of the ATA’s 2024 Technology and Maintenance Conference. At the dinner, ATA Industry Technical Council (ITC) chair Dennis Roohan also announced the rst four honorary life members of ITC – Bob Woodward, Kel Baxter, Keith Mackinlay and Lance Fisher.
Image: Prime Creative Media
[L-R] Castrol GM Jane Carland, Callum Boyce and past ATA chair Geoff Crouch.
2016 Kenworth T909 6x4
Western Star 4700SXC 6x4
Lusty EMS B-Double Combination
Bruce Rock B-Double Combination
Hino prime mover impresses on V8 run
We take a Hino 700 Series SH 1845 prime mover from Bathurst to the Gold Coast following the big V8 Supercars event.
BY GEOFF MIDDLETON
HINO has had a long association with V8 Supercars, and one of the company’s hospitality features is the Hino Sports Deck.
e Sports Deck is a combination viewing platform, merchandise outlet and advertising billboard all rolled into one. e Sports Deck travels from track to track with the V8 Supercars circuit.
e Sports Deck folds up into a container-like module which is designed to sit on a conventional skel trailer with a gross combination mass of a little over 22 tonnes. at’s pulled by a Hino 700 Series SH 1845 4x2 prime mover.
is prime mover is powered by the Hino E13C-BL engine which has a displacement of 12.9 litres and puts out 450hp and 2157Nm of torque. at drives through a 16-speed TraXon automated manual transmission with an intarder.
We’ll go deeper into that later but su ce to say that it is as great combination for this, and many other applications.
We were fortunate enough to attend this year’s Bathurst 1000 motor race with our friends from Hino and then drive the Sports Deck rig from Bathurst up to the Gold Coast for the next round of the V8 Supercars.
We’re pretty familiar with the Hino 700 Series having driven it in many con gurations since the launch of this latest version in 2021. However, I have never driven a 700 Series in prime mover form, so I was quite looking forward to the drive.
e launch of the latest 700 Series saw many changes from the previous model. ose changes included comfort, safety, power and economy updates, and the new 700 Series is a thoroughly modern and versatile truck.
A Euro 6 nine-litre engine became available from the launch, in addition to the 13-litre engine which has also been updated to meet Euro 6 exhaust emissions compliance which kicks in next year.
At launch time, Hino Australia’s manager of product strategy, Daniel Petrovski said key new models launched in
2021 included 4x2 and 6x2 rigid trucks suitable for distribution applications as well as the 6x4 and 8x4 models, which cater for customers at the heavier end of the distribution and vocational application spectrum.
Another signi cant change is in the braking department, where the 4x2 scores four-wheel, 434mm-diameter disc brakes, in contrast to the tapered-roller, wedgetype drum brakes tted to the multi-axle models.
Other safety features of the 700 Series include autonomous braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, stability control, traction control, and anti-lock brakes, among others.
A new Driver Monitor, set into the o side A-pillar, constantly scans the driver’s face to ensure he or she is alert. If it
detects the driver’s face dropping, for example – which could be the case due to drowsiness or distraction – it triggers an audible and visual alert.
Another one of the big steps forward with the new-model 700 Series is the interior. Climbing up into the big Hino, the driver is greeted by a top-shelf Isri driver’s seat with integrated seat belt.
Like all Isri seats, it’s multi-adjustable and that, combined with the steering wheel being adjustable for reach and rake, make it really easy to get into a comfortable driving position no matter what your size.
e driver is then faced with a wrap-around dash that has everything close to hand. Instrumentation includes a new 7.0-inch central driver information display nestled between the analogue speedo and tacho. is display features several pages of tabbed trip and vehicle data, navigated via the integrated steering wheel controls.
I found it super-simple to use and I could scroll through trip data including fuel usage, which is handy on a long trip. ere is a sleeper but it’s more just for a rest while you’re waiting to load or unload rather than a proper sleeper for a night or two away. I confess that I didn’t use it on the trip, taking the o er of a hotel room instead.
Vision is a high point for the Hino. e windscreen is deep and wide and the A pillars are narrow minimising blind spots. e rear-vision mirrors
are great with solid mountings and no vibration. ere’s a at mirror on the top and convex spotters on the bottom and they supply the driver with a great view aft.
e wipers are also worth a mention as they got some use on the trip. e wipers are a triple set that give a great sweep of the bit screen and really get it clean. e washers are integrated into the wipers and do a great job of bug cleaning as well.
On the road, I found the Hino 700 Series to be comfortable and roomy. Some trucks seem to close in on you a bit, but the Hino has a feeling of spaciousness, and you can move around and get different positions which is good for the long stints behind the wheel.
Driving the 700 Series in prime mover form with the Sports Deck on the back was a dream. e big 13-litre engine with 450hp and nearly 2200Nm of torque hauled the load without a problem often overtaking other trucks on the hills with ease.
On the lesser gradients, the
Hino never left the overdrive top gear and it took a fair hill to get it to kick down to the 1:1 15th gear. On the really steep climbs in the Blue Mountains, I found I could get it to kick down by hitting the accelerator down to the oor past the détente that gives it an extra boost.
Of course, you can also drive the Hino 700 Series in manual mode by pressing the button on the smaller of the stalks on the left of the steering column and shifting up and down, but I found that the TraXon gearbox works so well that it’s really not necessary.
e Hino 700 4x2 has the same Jacobs brake and automated-manual transmission as the multi-axle models, along with the ZF Intarder, a hydraulically-actuated retarder, as standard.
On the downhills and even in tra c, the intarder is fantastic. It works o the larger of the left-hand stalks and has ve positions: the rst click down gives the Jake brake, and the next four bring on the intarder in stages.
I found that if you’re driving ahead of the truck and anticipating what’s coming up, you can virtually dive with one pedal. e service brakes become redundant.
I used it constantly and got fantastic results whether I was moderating speed on the highway or descending steep gradients.
Many trucks have these, but this is up there with the best I’ve used. It must save a heap on brake pads and rotors over the life of the truck – and it’s a great safety feature as well.
After the trip from Bathurst to the Gold Coast, I came away impressed with the Hino 700 Series.
e engine and gearbox are a great match. e interior is modern and comfortable and the ergonomics are great.
Covering just over 1000 kilometres, I averaged 3.1km/litre (about 32.6 litres/100km) which is really good economy for a 13-litre truck.
If you’re after a good, reliable intrastate or even light interstate prime mover, the Hino 700 Series is well worth a look.
The driver is faced with a wrap-around dash that has everything close to hand.
Vintage showstopper is a tribute to dad
An immaculate 1987 Mercedes, once owned by Kerry Packer, is being noticed as it makes its way around the truck show circuit.
BY DANIELLE GULLACI
IMPECCABLY maintained, one owner and with low kilometres for its age, this 1987 Mercedes 2233 V Series is a rare nd – and one that owner John Carroll is glad he got his hands on.
Growing up in Ireland, John was surrounded by trucks and heavy machinery throughout his entire childhood. He came to Australia in February 2007 and worked in construction, before starting his own machinery and truck hire business in 2013, called Carroll Plant and Haulage. As he explained,” I came to Brisbane for a one year working holiday and never went home.”
John says his father Pat Carroll was a truck driver and “always had a thing for Mercedes”.
He set out to nd a Mercedes truck he could do up and use as a show truck.
“I searched for months and months, but couldn’t nd one I liked,” he revealed.
“ en I found this one for sale at the Mack Volvo dealership in Newcastle. I rang and enquired about it, then purchased it o them and got it delivered here. I bought it based o the pictures – I hadn’t actually seen it for myself.”
So when it arrived, was the truck what John had expected? “It was all that and more,” he said.
John purchased the truck in October 2018. It had come from the Ellerston Pastoral Station in the Hunter Valley, which was owned by the late Kerry Packer.
It was one of two Mercedes trucks the Packer family had originally purchased brand new and used to transport horse oats.
ose trucks were traded in for newer models and that’s when John came across the V Series.
“ ere was only about 508,000 kilometres on the
clock when I purchased the truck, so it’s a bit special to have it in that original condition. All the interior is original, other than having the seats reupholstered because they were ripped,” explained John.
“Obviously we’ve done stu to the exterior to make it look ashier for the truck shows, but it’s still pretty unique.”
Mechanically the truck was already very sound, so didn’t require much work. However John spent the next couple of years doing the truck up.
“It took me nearly two years to get the truck to where it is today. I started working on it in early 2019, then didn’t take it to its rst truck show until 2022. at was the Matty Hillcoat’s Truckies Day Out, and we got third place in the Best of the Rest – Cabover category. Rather than doing everything all at once, I did the truck up bit by bit,” he said.
“I haven’t touched the engine or anything mechanical. I’ve done things like replacing the fuel tanks, the front bull bar, new mudguards, new
wheel rims, new tyres and things like that – so nothing major.”
John named the truck ‘Hiker’ after his dad, who is now 73. “When he was driving trucks, that was his nickname. It’s what everyone knew him as.”
Asked where the name stemmed from, John explained, “Dad used to do drama, acting in plays and stu , and he did this play once where he was the main character – the play was called e Hiker. And that name has stuck.”
And his father Pat is a big fan of the truck too. “He absolutely loves it. He was supposed to come here while I was doing the truck up around 2020-2021, but with Covid, he couldn’t come out, so we sent him a video. He came here in July last year and that was the rst time he got to see the truck.”
Since John began taking e Hiker to truck shows, it’s been to around 10 so far and has taken home numerous awards along the way. He also takes the truck to
the St Patrick Day Parade each year too.
e most recent truck event
John attended was the Bris bane Convoy For Kids ear lier this month, as we went to print, where he drove his Mercedes in the convoy.
In October he attended the Matty Hillcoat’s Truckies Day Out, where his truck won the award in the Best of the Rest – Cabover catego ry. While at the Gold Coast Truck Show in September, the truck won the Best Euro pean Truck category.
Adding to the trophy cab inet, the truck also took out Best Tribute Truck at Wond ai Truck Show last year; and for the past two years’ run ning came third in the Best Mercedes category at the Brisbane Convoy for Kids.
John added that his kids Saoirse (11), Erin (8) and Niamh (5) also love the Mercedes truck too. “Every now and then, I’ll take one of them with me when I do the convoys. ey know if one goes to this show, then someone else gets to come next time!”
John’s kids with the Hiker at the St Patricks Day Parade, which they attend each year.
Restored Mack is a proud piece of transport history
BY KAYLA WALSH
Giacci family were re united with this very special truck in 2017, but it’s been a long road back to its former glory.
e Giacci family’s beautifully restored 1966 Mack R600 isn’t just nice to look at – it has been on an extraordi-
Best Vintage Mack at this year’s WA Mack Muster and Truck Show, and James Giacci couldn’t be prouder.
“ e Mack is very special to our family,” he says.
“My grandfather imported it from the US back in 1968 –and it has found its way back
Group has seen huge growth, with a bulk division (MGM Bulk) being added in 2015.
Mario is now something of a legend in the trucking industry, especially in WA – and at 85 years old, he’s still very active in the business.
is year he was also inducted into the Wall of Fame at Alice Springs where he was joined by his family and friends who chartered a private jet to be part of the celebrations.
e R600 Mack was one of the rst semi-trucks he ever bought, and it was totally by chance that it came back into the family’s possession.
“ e R600 was our family’s rst American Mack, imported directly from the Mack factory in Allentown, Pennsylvania in the US,” James said.
“It was my grandfather’s truck at the time, and clad in our family’s iconic green, white and black.”
But as the company expanded, they needed to modernise their eet.
So, they sold the truck and it went to the east coast, where it was put to work for multiple companies over the years.
“Initially, it was used to cart grain for Jones Transport in the Young Arena,” James con-
“After that, the truck was doing some farm work for a local farmer in Queensland.”
e Mack was licensed until 2006, and in 2012 it was auctioned o , nding itself in the stewardship of Melrose Cranes in NSW.
ey had big plans to restore it, but life got in the way, and it gathered dust in the corner of their shed for many years.
James Giacci’s grandfather is Mario Giacci, an Italian immigrant who started a small transport business with his at business, which was named Giacci Bros, grew from humble beginnings in Bunbury, WA, to operating across
In 2004, Mario founded another company – MGM Group – with his daughter Giuditta and son Michael.
Giacci Bros was sold to Qube Holdings in 2014, but MGM
Eventually, the truck was rescued by a Mack enthusiast called Dallas Fabian.
“He did some digging and found out that the truck had been issued to Giacci Bros from the Mack factory in the US back in the day,” James said.
“He got in contact with our family because he wanted to see photos of how the truck was presented when it rst got to Australia.
“ e colour scheme had changed multiple times over the years and he wanted to restore it to its original glory.”
When the Giaccis saw the
truck in question, they real ised that it was Mario’s old rig.
“We recognised it because my grandfather welded the bullbar with his hands and it still had this ugly bullbar on it,” James said.
“Once we realised the sig ni cance of the truck, Dallas agreed to sell the truck back to us.”
e Giacci family were re united with the truck in 2017, but it’s been a long road to get ting it restored.
“ e responsibility for re storing it fell on the shoulders of “Shotgun” Charlie, a Mack restoration expert.
“He stripped it down into a thousand pieces and was getting ready to put it all back together again.
“Unfortunately, he ended up passing away during the process, and receivers came in and froze all his assets – including the truck and all the pieces.”
e Giacci family had to go to auction and buy the truck back yet again, and spent over two years dealing with lawyers, trying to prove that the parts belonged to them.
Once they nally got all the pieces back, they handed it over to City Panel Beaters in Bayswater, who performed a full restoration from the ground up.
“Everything is OEM+ to the era,” James said.
“ ey did a fantastic job; it probably looks better now than when it came out of the factory!”
James adds his grandad has incredible attention to detail when it comes to his trucks.
“As an example, the fuel tank had a dent in it,” he said.
“When it was being rebuilt, they told us that the fuel tank was damaged and it would be a lot easier and cheaper to get a replacement than to repair it.
“My grandfather said they had to repair it because when he was a kid, his left foot used to step up on that fuel tank as he would climb into the truck to start his shift.
“He didn’t care if it cost $15,000 to repair it!”
e highlight of the Mack’s journey post-restoration has been its presentation at the WA Mack Muster and Truck Show, where it caught the eye of the judges.
James said the family were delighted to go home with the award for Best Vintage Mack, and they have big plans for showing o the truck in the near future.
“We’re going to be taking it to local truck shows and meets, and creating some cool content around it.
“We’re also working on a short lm about the story of the truck.
“Finally, we are building a new workshop in Bunbury, and we plan to have the truck on display in the o ce.
“ at way the general public can come in and have a look at this piece of transport history.”
The rig was stripped right down to the chassis rails before restoration.
It’s been a long road to restoration for the R600, but it was worth it.
The truck impressed the judges at the WA Mack Muster and Truck Show.
The truck will be on display in MGM’s new workshop.
The Mack was known as “Number 5” and driven by Mario Giacci back in the day.
The Giacci family can’t wait to show off their shiny piece of history at more truck shows.
Tributes for legendary truckie
The trucking community pays their respects to one of the true icons of the road freight transport industry in Australia.
RAZORBACK legend Barry ‘Sleepy’ Grimson passed away on October 18 with his family by his side.
Daughter Donna Britton shared the sad news on her Facebook page later that same day.
“It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our legend Barry ‘Sleepy’ Grimson,” Donna wrote.
“He was a devoted husband to Lesley and father to Brett, Kim, Donna, Michelle and Justin. A much-loved Pop to his 11 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
“We are absolutely devastated by the loss of the man who was the centre of our universe.
“He will be forever missed by his family and many friends.”
Donna later thanked the industry for the outpouring of love, support and “amazing tributes”.
“As you can understand it has been a very di cult time for my mum, our family and all that were close to Baz.
“For those close to him you would know that it was his wish not to have a funeral and had chosen to be privately cremated.
“Baz was a very humble, family man who did not want the attention that comes with a funeral.
“We appreciate your understanding and acceptance of his wishes.”
A driver for almost 60 years, Sleepy is perhaps best known as one of the ve legendary stalwarts from western Sydney whose brave stand against a proposed road tax at Razorback Mountain in 1979 changed the course of trucking history.
“Back in those days, things were so di erent. Everyone used to help each other,” recalled blockade co-organiser Spencer Watling, who stood side-by-side with Sleepy, Ted “Greendog” Stevens, Colin Bird and Jack Hibbert.
“We were all in the same area, worked in similar jobs, and we would see each other on the road and travel together. We were all in the same situation and that’s why Razorback drew a lot more people together.”
ough they somewhat lost touch as the years progressed, they got to see each on numerous occasions held in honour of the Razorback Blockade.
Most recently, in September last year, the ve Razorback legends were presented with the History Makers Award in Alice Springs. Unfortunately, Sleepy wasn’t able to attend due to ill health, so Spencer revealed they got together afterwards.
“ at was the last time we got together. A few of us went to Alice Spings but Barry couldn’t attend, so we had a lunch with him afterwards down by the coast – and he was very happy to see all of us.”
Former truckie turned Senator, Glenn Sterle, said the industry owes Sleepy a massive debt for the part he played in the seminal blockade, which some have described as the greatest act of insurrection in Australian history.
“Barry is an absolute icon of the Australian transport industry and will go down in history as a legend for Aussie truck drivers following his role in organising the Razorback Blockade of 1979 against proposed road taxes,” Sterle wrote on his Facebook page.
Sterle said it was a shame that Sleepy couldn’t make it to the Alice Springs ceremony to acknowledge the brave stand.
“It was a personal privilege to be there with all of them except Barry who unfortunately couldn’t travel due to poor health,” he wrote.
“However, almost a year ago to the day I had the amazing opportunity to travel to Shellharbour to meet Barry and Lesley. It was absolutely terri c to spend a few hours with Barry, talking about his career and involvement in the infamous Razorback Blockade. I will never forget that afternoon.
“Barry - thank you for everything you have done for the trucking industry over the years mate. We will never forget.”
Sleepy told Warren Aitken in Owner Driver magazine in 2021 that he and the other blockade organisers expected that their trucks would simply be bulldozed o the road.
At the time, the road over Razorback was the only route between Sydney and Melbourne so this protest action had a major impact on supplies getting through.
e blockage brought together around 200 trucks on Razorback and inspired a huge protest that stretched across the country.
It’s estimated that some 3000 truck drivers staged blockages of major highways at nearly 40 locations in Queensland,
Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia to protest against ton-mile taxes and low freight rates.
According to Sleepy, the road tax was supposed to go into road and infrastructure funding, but was actually going into general revenue, leaving the roads in a less than satisfactory condition. Road transport was booming in direct competition with the rail network which the government was heavily invested in.
Some of the larger road transport players were also shifting road freight onto the rails, which left those exclusively in the road transport sector feeling as though they were subsidising rail transport via the road tax.
Many impromptu meetings and rallies were held in the years preceding the eventual blockade, with supporters’ concerns largely being ignored.
A general meeting of the Long-Distance Road Transport Association at Liverpool RSL was where the blockade idea was rst discussed. ose in control of the meeting were imploring attendees to write to their local members to highlight their plight, but the letter writing had done nothing to address the situation and it seemed radical action was the only way forward.
Eventually a meeting was arranged to take place at Liverpool Speedway. According to Sleepy, 500 or more people turned up to that and another subsequent meeting at that same location, with pressure being placed upon the union for support. Under the prevailing Labor government, union backing was not forthcoming, leaving those in the industry to face the battle on their own.
e blockage nally ended when NSW premier Neville Wran agreed to scrap the road tax and just after lunch on the 10th day, Stevens announced to drivers: “We’re going back to work.”
ere were mixed feelings
on the mountain, according to reports. Many were happy with what was achieved, others frustrated that they had been close to getting so much more.
“We’d changed the rules, we’d got rid of road tax, there would be no jail, we got extra two tonne loading, the public was aware of our humanity, we would no longer be considered just truck drivers,” Stevens later re ected.
“We’d showed the world you don’t have to just cop whatever a government felt like doing at the time.”
FAREWELLS FOR SLEEPY
Unanderra Tanker Hire
It is with great sadness, the team at UTH have learned of the passing of Barry ‘Sleepy’ Grimson. Barry walked into UTH in his signature overalls and mutton chops and never left.
No matter where he went, he was loved and respected but he found his home on Highway 31 heading to Hastings, Victoria. Often, he could be found living up to his monicker up and down the Hume but you would always be met with a smile and a wave.
We are fortunate to have him feature in many platforms so that his stories are not lost to the sands of time and we can hear his voice and see him whenever we miss him.
He was an outstanding operator, a teacher, a mentor and most important of all, a friend. He became part of the family of UTH and will forever be ingrained in everything we do.
RIP Sleepy, keep driving the highways of the sky good buddy, your shift is done
Tess Pretty-McMahon
Today the transport industry lost a member of its royalty, a very humble man especially when it came to stories of the Razorback Blockage, a true Aussie larrikin with a belly laugh you could hear for
blocks and an absolute gentleman who would give you the shirt o his back.
So many stories that will live on through this incredible man.
RIP Sleepy, you are loved and already missed by many.
Warren Caves
Very sad news.
I had the privilege of interviewing “Sleepy” on a cou-
ple of occassions, a staunch industry advocate and a top bloke. RIP.
Terry Washo RIP Sleepy. You wouldn’t nd a nicer bloke and humble. Worked with him and truely a gentleman of the highway . e industry has lost an icon.
He became part of the family of UTH
Sleepy and Spencer Watling got together to reminisce.
Sleepy was an outstanding operator, a teacher, a mentor and most important of all, a friend, said UTH. Image: Owner Driver
The 1979 blockade at Razorback helped change the course of trucking history. Image: Razorback...The Real Story
Leaving a better future for kids
BY COLIN HENDERSON
ON a picture-perfect Sunday morning in Western Sydney, over 200 vehicles, one NETS ambulance, trucks, utes, buses, motorcycles, cars, two retrucks and one man wearing Bluey pyjamas joined the 2024 Convoy for Kids Sydney at the Sydney Dragway, setting o for a family fun day at the Hawkesbury Showground.
Funds from this year’s Convoy, held on October 27, will support he Newborn and Paediatric Emergency Transport Service (NETS), the emergency service for sick or injured babies, infants and children needing transfer to specialist care centres.
is year’s Convoy also raised funds for the work of Kids x Rally who are supporting sick and disadvantaged Aussie kids.
Convoy for Kids Sydney has a long history of supporting the NETS NSW Ambulance service, which serves an area of over 815,000 square kilometres across NSW and the ACT.
“Truckies and their families are continuing to care for kids,” said Mark Smallwood, president of Convoy for Kids Sydney.
“ is year I am pleased to report that more joined the convoy helping us to raise more funds for sick kids across NSW.”
Mark said the Convoy is the industry giving back.
“It’s not just about the trucks and the gleaming chrome. Seeing the transport community come together like this is incredibly moving.”
“Each truck, each driver,
leaving a better future for kids.”
“It’s evident that truck drivers are as dedicated as ever to supporting kids and proud to be part of this Convoy, but we always want more to take part.”
Convoy for Kids have many companies to thank whose donations and sup port which will see Convoy this year hand over $40,000 in donations.
Organisers thanked this year’s sponsors and sup porters who helped make a di erence, namely: DSE, Winston Express Haulage, AirRoad, Gilbert & Roach, Latitude Accountants, Sydney Dragway, Hawkesbury Showground, Bannerworld, Radio SWR 99.9 FM and Sydney Childrens’ Hospitals Foundation.
With the increased costs of running the Convoy for Kids Sydney, organisers are actively seeking more sponsors to help increase the funds raised.
“Every contribution makes a di erence, and we encourage businesses to join us in
Shout out to Luke who jumped out from the crowd to show everyone how to pull a Winston Express Kenworth.
The team from Johnstons Transport showed their support for a great cause.
The lads from WFL Transport stood out from the crowd.
Dr Andrew Berry (second from right), state director NETS NSW with crew from NETS and volunteers from Sydney Childrens’ Hospital Foundation.
Rallying in the Riverina
BY DAVID VILE
THE central Riverina town of Urana has once again played host to a diverse range of trucks, both old and new as part of its an nual Vintage Machinery Rally.
Held on the third week end in October, the event drew vehicles from as far away as Western Australia, Melbourne and the wider Riverina districts, and with Volvo the feature brand this year, the Swedish marque was well represented.
e trucks on show were presented to a high stan dard so it made the judge’s job a tough one, with the Kenworth K108 Aerodyne owned by Scott Menz from Wagga taking out the major prize of Truck of the Show on the day.
Prizes were awarded across a number of other cate gories making it a happy trip home for a number of participants. Planning for the 2025 event will commence in the new year.
Scott Menz’s Kenworth K108 took out Truck of the Show honours.
Jeff Johnston’s 1986 F-12 Globetrotter won the Most Original Volvo award.
A couple of old Internationals made the trip to Urana, with a D1610 keeping close company with a well-travelled AR-148. Images: David Vile
Three heavy-hitters from a bygone era lined up: a Mack The Urana event drew a diverse range of makes and models both new and old.
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Henry Geyer took this fantastic photo of his 104 down at Portland.
Owen M Weir took this great shot of Nicholson & Page Transport in the outback. Cheers to Aaron Girdler for this cool shot - parked up at Springsure for the night.
Aaron Maher captured this memorable moment with a Wickham’s K220 out near Condobolin, NSW.
When
the going gets tough, truckies keep everyone going
Shaun Payne snapped this pic of a midweek wash in Shepparton, Victoria.
We love this shot from Bruce Wells - enjoying some dry weather before the rain.
Michael Roels took this great snap of the sunrise after the rain at Pennsylvania, NSW.
Aaron Fuller sent us this fantastic snap of two icons - the Anzac Bridge and a trusty T600.
Thanks to Kimberley Milczarek for this great shot featuring the Aurora Australis.
Trevor Wilson snapped this off while getting reloaded with scrap bales at Yeppoon.
Matt Reed snapped this on a little run to Sydney.
Deniliquin Truck Show goes o
A new venue set the scene for another epic rendition of this popular event in NSW’s Riverina region.
BY GRAHAM HARSANT
AT the end of October, the Deniliquin Truck Show was back for 2024, this year with a change of venue, to the hallowed grounds where the famed Ute Muster is held, a couple of kilometres south of the township.
e move gave the organisers a set-up with infrastructure already in place – tables and chairs, undercover areas, sheds for food and bars, all with the aim of giving visitors a better trucking experience.
e venue also o ers greater space for trucks and vendors as they look to the future.
As with any show of this kind, there can be only one Truck of the Show, but the winner has been there before. Scott Congram won back in 2014 with his then
brand new Kenworth C509. Ten years later and he’s done it again with the same truck, a testament to the condition in which he’s kept the big banger, which spends its days hauling livestock.
Scott’s reason for buying the C509 – his rst new truck – was simple. “I just wanted one! e truck has over a million kilometres on it and has treated me well over its life. It’s been a really good truck.”
Growing up on his parent’s farm, there wasn’t enough
income to support the wider family, so Scott followed big brother, Craig into trucking.
“He was ten years older and was instrumental in helping me set up and go out on my own, a process I’m repeating with my son, Riley.
“My rst truck was a T-line 2670. It’s a long way to Longreach in a T-line! As least it had a big bunk in it.
en came a 1989 Western Star 4964, a T904 and nally this C509, my rst new truck.
“It will also be my last. I’m getting to the age where I’d like to work to live, rather than the other way round.”
Ten years ago, then 10-yearold Riley helped prepare the C509 for the show. “I didn’t expect to be doing it again all these years later,” he quipped. Riley now drives Scott’s previous truck, the Western Star, and is carving out his own trucking future.
Graham ompson Motors – the Shepparton Kenworth/ DAF dealer – also recognised the value of the show, arriving with a couple of K220s, a T610 SAR, a DAF CF and DAF’s much anticipated XG model with its new Paccar (read Cummins) motor. e
new customers.
Unsurprisingly, the Kenworth brand was in abundance, but there was plenty of other product to gaze one’s eyes over, including ‘Old Timer’, a blast-from-the-past Ford 800. e Ford brand was joined by Bedford, International, Chevrolet, Scania, Mercedes-Benz, Western
worth T604s and a 904, is a Mercedes-Benz fan from way back and has six – yes six –1418s, “because I just can’t help myself!” he said.
Tony also has a short-bonneted 911, four 2228s and a 1988 2244 which he brought along to the show, winning the Best Euro Truck award.
“I started o with Mercedes-Benz back in the 1418 days around 1982. I’ve been a Benz man for a long time.
Stepped up into a 2632 which is an old V10, then I went to a 2238, on to the 2244 and then a Freightliner.
“I guess I’ve had this truck over 10 years. It’s been very
of interest – and positive comment.
reliable. It’s a V8 twin turbo 440hp. e V10s were a long stroke, naturally aspirated, but they were heavy on fuel. en they went to the 2238s which were turbo’d. ey were a pretty good truck which never really took o . en the 2244s came along.”
Tony’s truck is road registered he uses it on his farm, carting grain to the silos. It has been in demand by Mercedes-Benz as well, with the company taking it (and Tony) to Cairns in 2016 to celebrate the introduction of the Actros. Continued page 34
Scott Congram (left) and his Truck of the Show C509, poses with his son Riley, who inherited Scott’s Western Star. Images: Graham Harsant
‘Old Timer’: This Ford 800 could spin a few yarns.
Scott Congram’s Truck of the Show Kenworth C509.
Frankling Transport of Koondrook took out Best Truck (4-9 years) with this T909.
Tony Rinaldi won Best Euro Truck with his Mercedes-Benz 2244, one of many Benzs he owns.
The Deniliquin Truck Show was held at a new venue this time round.
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Servicing your business needs
HEAVY duty truck and com mercial vehicle repairers need fast access to quality replace ment parts ranging from en gine, suspension and chassis components to consumables like oil, lters and brakes.
Imagine how much easier it is for Capricorn Members with workshops and trans port companies to access all of their parts requirements and have it all billed to the one single invoice each month.
is is the reality for many truck repair specialists and transport companies across Australia and New Zealand, who maximise the time and cost saving bene ts of Capricorn Membership within this specialised repair and service sector.
out having to identify yourself and being able to access parts easily are another two big plusses of Capricorn Membership,” Bunker stated.
Take Heavylec, auto electrical specialists to the trucking industry, as a prime example.
According to managing director, Philip Bunker, “We have been a Capricorn Member for 11 years and have found that the convenience of using a single trade account and having access to so many Preferred Suppliers has been great.
“Getting a trade price with-
Scott Quinn, general manager of Quinn Transport, is also very pleased with how Capricorn Membership has worked for his trucking business.
“We put as many parts purchases as we can through Capricorn because of the ease and time saving. Our accounts team appreciates Capricorn because it makes life easy.
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allows us to access a great discount for all our needs and we’ve been able to build a great relationship with Cap ricorn Preferred Suppliers for purchases such as parts, tyres, oil and the other supplies we need to service our eet of highway trucks and trailers,” Quinn said.
Sean Carren, managing director of Goldstar Transport, believes that joining Capricorn was one of the best business decisions that he has ever made.
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people employed and over 500 pieces of licensed equipment on the road. Capricorn has been a key part of our success story over the past 20 years,” he said.
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Capricorn’s Commercial Vehicle team is taking care of its Members’ parts and business essentials requirements across many di erent sectors of the industry including agricultural, auto electrical, bus
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To nd out more visit capricorn.coop/join.
Attracting the new and old at Deniliquin
From page 32
KADE McLachlan is a young fella with a penchant for the old gear – in his case an International S-line with a Cummins 350 Big Cam and 15 direct on Hendrickson.
“I was always around S-lines as a kid. My father used to drive an S-line with a 400 Big Cam, so I guess that’s where the attraction came from. My pop used to work for Pioneer in Wagga and he drove one with a 444 in it. ey are an odd truck – a glori ed farmer’s truck, but I love them,” Kade explained.
“ ere was this one at Warragul and another at Avenel. Glad I went for this as it’s been reliable and has many more lights than that other one!”
Yep, lights will do it for ya, Kade. A polarising feature of the truck though is the enormous bull bar, but Kade loves it so who are we to argue? Bought for $18,000, Kade reckons it owes him around $23,000 all up. With 400,000km on the speedo – and that’s probably on it third or fourth cycle – the S-line has been super reliable, taking Kade to Casino and other truck shows, plus Crawlin the Hume, without incident.
When not toying with the Inter, Kade spends his days hauling logs out of the Snowy Mountains behind the wheel of a 2012 Kenworth T909.
e Deniliquin Truck Show attracts the new and the old and a large variety of makes and models, certainly enough to keep the average truck lover entertained for the day, especially in its new surroundings.
Sean Carren is managing director at Goldstar Transport.
20 years. Images: Capricorn
There was plenty of room for the old as well as the new at Deni.
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No job too big for specialist operator
STARTING as a one-man operation in 2007, ECS Project Logistics has grown in leaps and bounds, with its impressive eet operating right across the country.
When founder Alan Leslie rst began his business, he worked as a logistics consultant for a single national client. Fast forward to 2024 and ECS now employs over 100 sta ; and has a sizeable company owned eet of over 60 prime movers and 200 pieces of trailing equipment. It also operates from four depots, located in Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Roma.
ECS’s core operations are centred around project-related logistics for the oil and gas, mining, renewables, defence, infrastructure and heavy construction industries. e diversity of its operations calls for a range of specialty trailers to get the job done, from super heavy-duty side loaders, rig trucks and oats, to extend
ables, low loaders, double and triple road trains and more.
ECS owns and operates the only super lift extendable road train rated side loaders in Australia, which provide a safe alternative to winch trucks and are more cost e ective than using cranes. ese impressive machines can lift and manoeuvre a variety of skids or containers up to 42 metric ton and 60ft in length.
ECS has also become a leader in large drilling rig relocations, boasting a highly experienced management team that specialises in this eld.
ECS has conducted some of the largest rig locations in Australia with some rig packages requiring more than 100 truckloads, many being oversized, moving up to 4000km within a two-week timeframe as they cross Australia from one contract to another.
Its trucks are regularly involved in moving prefabricated and imported equipment,
materials, machinery and relocatable camps and accommodation to a variety of sites around Australia. Often ECS’s skilled drivers will need to navigate some of the most notorious stretches of road and toughest terrain to get the job done.
ECS places a strong focus on customer service, with many repeat customers being testament to this through impressive references from large scale entities such as Ausco Modular who provided information on a large development project in the Northern Territory.
As Ausco explained, “ECS Project Logistics transported 110 pre-fabricated buildings 2800km from our factory in Adelaide to Delamere in the Northern Territory. ese were over-height and overwidth requiring police and power authority clearances, supervision, speci c times and dates of travel and (each convoy requiring) four separate wireline lift crews on route to location.
“We highly recommend ECS Project Logistics as a potential vendor for any other similar projects requiring similar transport requirements.”
By o ering a comprehensive supply scope and nding niche requirements in the project transport market, Alan set his business up for phenomenal growth from the beginning. Key to ECS’s success is not only its ability
vest in asset acquisitions and sta retainment.
Whether it be oversize, overmass, OOG (out of gauge cargo), remote or rural work, ECS always delivers options and competitive solutions to its client base.
As a specialist in complex transport, safety and compliance is at the forefront of every job ECS undertakes. rough the customisation of market leading internal training and compliance software and accredited management systems. ECS ensures all sta are trained and regularly revise their competencies in the key elements of transport compliance. ECS operates under nationally accredited fatigue management systems to ensure appropriate rest is governed not only by driv-
access subcontractors and this ensures all personnel and equipment onsite operate at the highest standards.
Sta advancement is determined by experience and training levels in key competencies and ECS strives to acknowledge and reward its loyal drivers as they advance with the company.
ECS is accredited with National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation (NHVAS), Western Australia Heavy Vehicle Accreditation (WAHVA), ISO 9001:2015, ISO 45001:2018, and Safer Together membership and is audited and quali ed by some of Australia’s largest companies.
A key area providing a substantial advantage in ECS’s business has been the investment in company mechanical
lishment of ECS Mechanical. people, ECS Mechanical upholds rigorous standards in preventative maintenance, servicing, and repairing all assets within ECS’s sizeable eet. With two major established workshop facilities in Adelaide and now in Brisbane and plans for further development in progress, ECS’s eet is in good hands. Along with its transport services, ECS o ers its customers other services including project supervision, route scoping, planning and scheduling, storage and laydown, lifting and associated transport studies and risk related investigations.
ECS is more than a standard trucking service – always willing to go above and beyond to ensure the success of its valued clients.
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Almost 100 years in business
PENRITE has been serving the lubricant market in Australia for close to 100 years.
e company provides a broad range of products, including engine oils, gear and transmission uids, coolants, greases, heavy duty oils, hydraulic and industrial oils, farm and construction products, fuel treatments and additives, brake and clutch uids, power steering, suspension uids, cleaners and equipment – and much more.
Key to its success – apart from producing the highest quality, world class products of course – is that it still remains Australian owned and operated.
At a time when so many other companies and industries are choosing to manufacture overseas, Penrite Oil continues to invest in local manufacturing and production.
Penrite Oil employs Australian workers, to produce its products right here in Australia – and it’s been do-
ing so since 1926. e Penrite ‘Convoy’ range of heavy-duty engine and transmission oils are no exception to quality and performance.
e range consists of heavy-duty engine oils, transmission uids, coolants and additives blended here in Australia for our tough and trying conditions.
Penrite Convoy engine and transmission oils are developed for both on and o highway use to maintain eet pro tability by reducing wear, improving fuel e ciency, lowering maintenance costs and reducing downtime for repairs.
ey provide protection against oxidative breakdown, acid corrosion, soot control and the prevention of buildup of harmful deposits in all conditions.
e Penrite Convoy range covers heavy-duty vehicles from new to old with the latest speci cation API and ACEA grades, OEM approvals and industry licenses.
180 new trucks for Toll Group
TOLL Group has ordered 180 Western Star and MAN trucks from Penske Australia, with deliveries to begin immediately.
Penske revealed the contract includes the supply of A-double, B-double, and single trailer-rated prime movers in
bonneted and cab-over congurations – with the potential to supply prime movers capable of pulling quad congurations in the future.
“Our national eet team worked very closely with the Toll Group to tender a submission that was a bespoke t
package that is highly attrac-
Winner of the prestigious Truck of e Year Australasia (ToYA) award for 2024, the Western Star X-Series has been built for exceptional durability and comfort in mind. It also features an advanced safety package and an e cient
Backed by a 250-year history, MAN’s truck generation has excellent safety features, is highly e cient and environmentally friendly, and provides a comfortable driver
Lee continued, “Given Toll’s commitment to safety, we are con dent that the Western Star and MAN safety pack-
ages will surely exceed all requirements.
“Our team is excited to commence this strategic partnership with the Toll Group, particularly given the synergies in our overarching corporate values that guide our operations.”
Shaun O’Flaherty, general manager of global eet management at Toll Group, added that fuel e ciency, safety
features, and ergonomics were key factors in the selection process.
“Following a rigorous selection process, we’re thrilled to be working with a global organisation such as Penske that shares our values, in particular, our focus on safety.
“We’re con dent that the combination of Penske’s partnership together with eco-
nomical, safe and modern Western Star and MAN eet will improve the driver experience, safety for all road users, and yield a successful partnership for Toll and its customers for years to come.”
e Western Star and MAN trucks are further backed by the service o ering of Penske Australia and its comprehensive dealer network.
of 180 trucks.
PT Blueboys’ new coupling covers
QUEENSLAND-BASED coupling cover manufacturer
PT Blueboys has launched its new half inch and three-quarter inch hydraulic coupling covers and plugs, adding to their existing portfolio of air and 1-inch hydraulic covers. the new products are com patible with almost every truck coupling in the market, continuing their e orts to help truck drivers and owners signi cantly reduce down time and coupling turnover.
“We started with air and the 1-inch hydraulic as they were the highest in demand, with these new sizes, you will be able to put them on almost all your ttings,” he said. ci cally designed to t at face couplings, ISO poppet couplings, 5675-4000 series, 7241-1 series A and many
e sleeves are available to purchase online and through over 99 distributors across
e coupling covers are made of high-grade silicone to ensure exibility and durability, and are sold with matching plugs to ensure full coverage on the ttings while disconnected.
Darren added that PT Blueboys have been working on perfecting the design and running tests for quite some time.
“We had the design ready some time ago, but as with all new products in the market, you have to test them for months to ensure that when you launch them, they work as expected,” he said.
e half inch and three-quarter inch coupling covers will also t a wide range of couplings on other types of machinery such as earthmoving equipment, skid-steers and tractors.
“We know a lot of companies that operate a range of machinery besides trucks. is will be a game-changer for them,” Darren said.
For companies looking
to maximise their savings, these coupling covers o er signi cant bene ts. ey not only reduce costs but also alleviate common frustrations faced by machinery owners and operators.
PT Blueboys provides market leading coupling covers for air hose and hydraulic connectors in the transportation, construction, agriculture and mining industry.
It is a family-owned business founded in 2017 by Goondiwindi locals Darren and Anna Dillon. All products are designed and manufactured in Australia.
WE KNOW A LOT OF COMPANIES THAT OPERATE A RANGE OF MACHINERY BESIDES TRUCKS. THIS WILL BE A GAME-CHANGER FOR THEM.”
DARREN DILLON
Volvo launches new range in Australia
VOLVO Trucks has unveiled its all-new fuel saving Aero range for the Australian market, available with a choice of 13-litre and 17-litre Euro 6 ICE powerplants as well as Volvo’s heavy duty electric driveline.
e FH Aero range debuted in Europe earlier this year and European testing has shown e ciency improvements of up to 5 per cent.
Boasting the highest fuel savings for the range is the FH-Aero in I-Save guise. is turbo-compound unit is rated at 500hp and punches out 2800Nm of torque.
e proven 13-litre 540 also remains an option for Aero as does the new D17 powerplant in ratings from 600hp and 3000Nm up to 700hp and 3400Nm. Aero cab options span sleeper, Globetrotter XL and Globetrotter XXL options. Volvo’s newly launched Camera Monitor System (CMS) is also standard equipment on FH Aero.
CMS features a zoom out
function, automatic panning that tracks the rear of the vehicle while negotiating intersections, xed reverse panning and an infra-red mode for low light conditions. CMS drastically improves the driver’s eld of view around the truck.
e system’s camera lenses are heated and will automatically activate depending on the outside temperature to ensure a clear view in all weather conditions.
“ is truck represents a critical step along the path to sustainable transport as well as lowering running costs for operators along the way,” said Tom Chapman, vice president, Volvo Trucks Australia.
“ e performance of our new generation I-Shift transmission coupled with our rened Euro 6 engine range or our powerful electric drivetrain will nd no complaints from drivers.
“ e range of powerplant options allows operators to tailor their Aero perfectly for
their application. From our I-Save engine to our fantastic new D17 powerhouse, we can choose to gear this truck for maximum line haul eciency.”
Aerodynamic improvements have been achieved by extending the front of the existing FH cab by 240mm, allowing for a smoother more rounded frontal area to reduce drag and energy consumption whilst remaining within the 26-metre B-double envelope.
Chapman added, “ is is a remarkably smooth and quiet vehicle to drive. However, safety as always is paramount for us, with added features like Pilot Assist and Front Short Range Assist for detecting vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians, which are available across the Volvo heavy duty range.”
ICE powered FH Aero variants will be built at Volvo Group Australia’s Wacol manufacturing facility from mid-2025. Order books open December 2024.
PT Blueboys coupling covers are made of high-grade silicone.
Anna and Darren Dillon started PT Blueboys in 2017. Images: PT Blueboys
Order books for the new FH Aero range will open in December. Image: Volvo Group Australia
PT Blueboys Big Rigs
Secure couplings every time
WHEN you’re heading out in the truck, no matter how long or short your journey may be, you’re going to need to know that your trailer is securely attached.
JOST’s innovative LocLight Fifth Wheel Light, with its dual-sensor moni toring setup and LED throat illumination, can give you that peace of mind.
It ensures a reliable cou pling every time, reducing the risk of dangerous and expensive errors and making pre-trip inspections more ef cient.
How it works e fth wheel light du al-sensor system, integrated
Hino on right Euro 6 track
Against the backdrop of the famous Bathurst 1000 race weekend, our correspondent gets a rundown on what lies ahead for Hino.
BY GRAHAM HARSANT
RICHARD Emery, president and CEO of Hino Australia, recently gave an update on the state of play for the business currently and moving forward, as the company transitions towards Euro 6.
Refreshingly honest, Richard spoke of the companies supply problems, particularly with their ‘Ready To Go’ range – as well as a stronger emphasis going forward on the Hino Hybrid Electric product, currently available in the 300 Series, and possible testing of the 700 Series Hybrid Electric (available in Japan) in Australia in 2025.
e Hybrid Electric demonstration eet on display showed various applications that the company is honing in on in terms of where they think this propulsion form is at its best – the eet to be used for drives and training with dealerships and customers going forward.
Using the famous Bathurst 1000 race weekend as a platform, Richard spoke about the company’s involvement in motorsport. For the same reason that journalists were keen to attend the weekend, the company uses their involvement as an attraction for customers and dealers who continue to be engaged in Supercars.
e company has been involved in the sport for a long time on a number of di erent levels. ey are a major sponsor of the Supercar Championship itself including the iconic Hino Hub (technology) and the Recovery Team (safety), sponsoring the Toyota 86 Series and a partnership with Team 18 (performance).
e company believes that all these elements provide a great connection to the Hino brand. “ ese are all brand attributes fundamental to our business,” said Richard. “And we can execute and activate them with our relationship with supercars.”
In talking of the company’s market outlook and performance, Emery was candid in his comments.
“We have seen a softening of the market in the last six
bly manifesting itself mostly in the light segment while the corporate levels are still consistent and robust. PostCovid government incentives pushed sales dramatically, causing supply chain issues. 2024 is settling back down due to some structural issues, supply and the market is coming back a bit.”
Hino sees problems in getting bodies built, and believes that key to any opportunities going forward is the OEM’s working to control and increase capacity of the nished product.
As an example, the time to build up a nished truck (trays, tippers,etc) has stretched out to an average of over 120 days currently whereas only a few years ago it was 90 days.
“We have many examples of customers having to wait six months or more for a body build slot and get a body put on a truck. So the local bodybuilding industry has not been able to keep up and adjust to the surge that has occurred since Covid. Whilst settling down a bit it is still going to be a problem going forward and has put the company on the back foot.”
Hino believe they need to take greater control of the nished product, especially as – unlike many other manufacturers – they warrant the bodies on their trucks. Whilst the company does not receive a great number of warranty claims, the far larger proportion of these is related to these bodies, hence the company’s desire to be able to exercise greater control and in uence in this area.
“All the customer sees is a Hino. ey don’t see the truck and the body as two separate entities so it is obviously in our interest to ensure that the body supplied to our trucks are simply the best.
“Our bodybuilding industry in Australia is majority mum and dad, a shed and some welders. Hino build their tippers out of Kyoto in Japan and it is a production line like building a truck, with robots et cetera. We don’t have that scale in Australia and when we spoke to a lot of our body
were reticent to commit to a bigger share because of sta ing problems et cetera. So the capacity hasn’t grown to keep up with the demand.”
e company has invested heavily in their parts distribu tion business recently and has seen the impact the invest ment has had on the business over the past three or four years.
is was a signi cant invest ment in the middle of Covid which doubled the capacity of their parts capability. O the back of that, the company has seen the parts business in crease by 40 per cent.
When supply of new vehi cles was under severe pres sure through 2021, 2022 and 2023, clients were keeping their old trucks longer to meet customer demands and Hino was able to supply the neces sary parts and equipment to enable them to do so.
is led to pressure on work bay capacity and quali ed sta – problems common to the trucking industry as a whole. Hino has worked with dealers to get more young people into the industry but it remains an issue, albeit slight ly easing. ese problems ex ist across bodybuilding and auxiliary industries that feed the company’s business.
Dealers have also invested some $50 million on their fa cilities since Covid, showing their faith in the company’s product.
Richard Emery went on to discuss the company’s sales projections for the future, predicting a drop from the current high 5000s to around the 4000 mark for 2025 due to the tooling up and intro duction of Euro 6 vehicles
“Late next year Australia will move to Euro 6. In that transition will see a produc tion gap between our Euro 5 o ering and the incoming Euro 6 supply. is in itself is not unusual as you retool.
“We have been working through this with our dealers and customers and whilst not ideal we have managed to balance this approach and the challenge in terms of our conversations with dealers and customers.
“Beyond that, 300 series will also have a gap in availability although not as severe as the 500 series. Whilst the dealers are somewhat frustrated and disappointed they remain committed to our joint business despite this hiccup in 2026. A normal trading environment is expected to return in 2027.”
e company has two products which are already Euro 6, these being the heavy duty 700 Series and the 300 Series Hybrid Electric. e company is concentrating on these two products over the next couple of years.
“We think there is signicant growth opportunity in Hybrid Electric, and the 700 has never really hit its straps.
Our supply line for the 700 series has been restrained over the last couple of years and that is now opening up. We will be working hard to increase sales well beyond the 500 or so per annum that we are currently moving.”
Hino believes that sales of 1000 plus for both the 700 Series and 300 Series Hybrid Electric are eminently achievable. Hybrid Electric is a no-brainer in that whilst requiring a greater outlay of capital (approximately $16,000), the bene ts in terms of fuel saving and greater power far outweigh cost and relatively minor weight penalties
Customers that would not look at Hybrid Electric a year ago are now coming to Hino with renewed interest.
Given the consistently high price of diesel, the only surprise is that they didn’t investigate earlier. Adding to their con dence should be parent company, Toyota’s solid rep-
utation in the eld of hybrid electric.
In further news Hino have announced that with the Euro six change the company will move totally to two-pedal operation, deleting manual transmissions as an option. ey will also be rationalising the range, reducing product variants from 164 to 99. e
box will also be o ered for the rst time on various products. Hino is not ignoring full electric or BEV, having one on display at Bathurst. However the company sees huge market advantage in being able to provide Hybrid Electric vehicles with their attendant bene ts as a method of transitioning.
Hino is a major sponsor of the V8 Supercars Championship. Image: Hino Australia
Hino is not ignoring full electric or BEV, having one on display at Bathurst for trucking journalists to get a first-hand look at. Image: Graham Harsant
The Hybrid Electric tow truck - an important tool for one of Hino’s most important market segments. Image: Hino Australia
Why understanding your truck’s GPS data is important
you’d think, so it’s helpful to know how GPS works and when it can be inaccurate.
What is GPS?
We use GPS every day. It’s what helps us with directions, tracks our steps, and shows us where shops are. But what is GPS?
GPS stands for Global Positioning System. It works by sending signals from satellites in space to devices here on Earth, like your phone, a GPS tracker in a truck, or even a smartwatch.
ese devices, called GPS receivers, “listen” to signals from satellites. ese signals tell the receiver exactly where it is. But for GPS to be accurate, it needs good signal strength. Signal strength is based on two things: SatCount and HDOP.
Understanding SatCount and HDOP
Let’s start with Sat-Count. Sat-Count is just a fancy way of saying, “How many satellites is your GPS receiver using?”. e more satellites a receiver uses, the better the GPS accuracy.
en there’s HDOP, or Horizontal Dilution of Precision. is is how well the satellites are spread out in the sky and obstacles on Earth, like buildings and hills. When the satellites are far apart from each other, the GPS has a clearer picture of your location. But if they’re too close together, or if there are things in the way, HDOP can move
SOMETIMES, PEOPLE DON’T KNOW HOW GPS DATA WORKS. THIS CAN LEAD TO UNFAIR WARNINGS OR DISCIPLINARY ACTION FOR DRIVERS.”
outside the preferred limits, and your GPS result might not be as accurate.
For GPS to be considered accurate, here’s what you need:
- Sat-Count should be more satellites
- HDOP should be between 0.5 and 1.0
Why does this matter for truck drivers?
If you’re a truck driver, your company probably has a GPS receiver in your vehicle. is system lets your company track where the truck is, how fast it’s going, and sometimes even how much weight it’s carrying.
Some companies set up their GPS systems to check if drivers are speeding. For example, here’s how some of these limits might look:
- Going over 104km/h but under 109km/h for more than 10 seconds
- Going between 109km/h and 115km/h for over 5 seconds
- Going over 115km/h for any time at all
In these cases, the GPS receiver will alert the company if you go over those limits. GPS can also track if you’re taking breaks when you’re supposed to. is works when someone checks your speed and location against your work diary to see if you’re resting when you say you are. Let’s say you’re moving slowly around a worksite at under 5km/h—maybe loading or parking. GPS can still show small movements, therefore recording this as rest will be a breach. is is why it’s helpful to know if the GPS data is correct, so you can clear up
any misunderstandings.
Can GPS make mistakes? Yes!
Sometimes, the GPS data isn’t accurate. is happens when the numbers are outside the parameters shown above (SatCount – 4 or more; HDOP –between 0.5 and 1.0).
If these numbers aren’t accurate, the GPS might show speeds or locations that aren’t accurate. For example, a GPS receiver sent an alert for a vehicle travelling at 126km/h in a small lane in a city. But the GPS data showed low SatCount and a high HDOP, meaning the reading was wrong. In other words, it was unlikely the driver was going that fast in such a tight space!
How to protect yourself with GPS data
If you get a warning for speeding or not taking breaks, it’s okay to ask to see the GPS data. Here’s what to look for
in the data:
- Latitude and Longitude: ese are the coordinates, showing exactly where you are. ese can be copied into Google Maps to pinpoint the location.
- Street Address: is tells you the closest street to where the GPS thinks you are.
- Date and Time: is shows when the reading happened.
- HDOP: Check if the HDOP number is between 0.5 and 1.5. If it’s higher, the GPS accuracy might not be reliable.
- Sat-Count: 4 or more for good accuracy.
- GPS Speed vs. ECM Speed: ECM Speed is data from the truck’s engine. It’s more accurate than GPS speed. If the ECM speed is di erent from GPS speed, always use the ECM speed. If the HDOP or Sat-Count isn’t good, the GPS might be showing the wrong speed
or location. In cases like this, you can explain to your boss that the GPS data may not be accurate enough to rely on.
What if GPS data shows you’re breaking rules? Sometimes, people don’t know how GPS data works. is can lead to unfair warnings or disciplinary action for drivers. So, here’s what to remember:
1. Check the HDOP and SatCount: If these numbers aren’t right, the GPS data could be wrong.
2. ECM Speed is Better: If your truck has ECM speed data, use that — it’s more accurate because it comes from the truck’s engine, not the GPS.
3. Ask for a Copy of the Data: You have the right to see the GPS data if you get a warning. It’s important to review the data carefully, especially if you think you’re being blamed unfairly.
What else should you know about GPS?
GPS isn’t perfect and doesn’t always work well everywhere. If you’re driving in hilly terrain, in the bush, or through a city with tall buildings, the GPS might not be accurate. is is called “interference”, and it can a ect the HDOP reading, meaning the GPS location isn’t as precise.
How can you avoid GPS problems?
e best way to stay out of trouble with GPS is to follow your company’s speed and rest rules. But if you ever get a warning, and you think there’s been a mistake, remember to check the numbers. If the GPS shows errors, it’s your right to ask questions and get help to understand it better. You don’t have to take the blame for something the GPS might have gotten wrong.
More rail investments will bene t road freight operators
freight more cost-e ective for exporters, particularly in the agricultural sector.
AS the CEO of the Victorian Transport Association (VTA), I have witnessed rsthand the transformative impact that targeted government investment can have on our freight systems.
Two initiatives stand out for their e ectiveness and necessity: the Mode Shift Incentive Scheme (MSIS) and the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme (TFES). Both programs play crucial roles in enhancing the e ciency, safety, and sustainability of freight transport across our regions, and it is imperative that we continue to maintain and invest in them.
Since its inception in 201213, the Victorian Government has allocated over $51 million to the MSIS. is program has been instrumental in making regional intermodal
e MSIS facilitates the efcient export of vital produce such as meat, dairy, grain, fruit, and wine. With terminals located in key regional areas like Dooen, Mildura, Tocumwal, and Warrnambool, the MSIS not only boosts local economies but also enhances Victoria’s standing as a major exporter.
e bene ts of this scheme extend beyond just economic growth. Each intermodal freight train can carry goods valued at approximately $2.25 million, with bene ts for road freight operators as well in the form of less congestion and improved road safety, lower greenhouse gas emissions, which aligns with our collective goal of sustainable transport solutions.
In the 2022/23 budget, a commendable $181 million was set aside for regional rail maintenance and an additional $3.5 million to extend the MSIS.
However, as we look toward the future, the need for sustained investment in these programs cannot be overstated.
e transport sector is evolving rapidly, facing challenges such as increasing freight demand, regulatory changes, and the urgent need to reduce emissions. Without ongoing support, we risk stalling the progress we’ve made and jeopardising the e ciency of our supply chains.
Similarly, the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme (TFES) is a vital initiative that deserves continued backing. Established to alleviate the freight cost burdens faced by Tasmanian businesses due to their geographic isolation, the TFES o sets the cost disparity between sea and road transport across the Bass Strait. is ensures that Tasmanian businesses can compete on a level playing eld with their mainland counterparts.
e TFES provides essential support for a variety of shipments, including outward shipments of Tasmanian-produced goods, inward shipments of materials for local production, and interstate transshipments that may even reach international markets. By mitigating the high costs of transportation for Tasmanian businesses, the TFES
fosters local industries and supports job creation.
e geographic challenges faced by Tasmania should not be a barrier to economic participation. As we move forward, it is crucial to ensure that businesses in Tasmania can continue to thrive and contribute to the national economy without being disadvantaged by their location.
Continued investment in the TFES will not only bolster Tasmania’s economy but also enhance the resilience of our national supply chain.
Both the MSIS and TFES represent strategic investments
that yield signi cant returns in terms of economic growth, job creation, and environmental sustainability. As we advocate for these programs, it is essential that stakeholders from all sectors come together to demonstrate their importance to our local and national economies.
I urge policymakers to prioritise maintenance and investment in the Mode Shift
Incentive Scheme and the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme. ese initiatives are not merely budget line items; they are the backbone of our
businesses to operate e ciently while contributing to a more sustainable future.
Let us work together to ensure that our freight systems continue to evolve and thrive for generations to come.
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VTA COMMENT
PETER ANDERSON CEO, Victorian Transport Association
The MSIS program in Victoria has been instrumental in making regional intermodal freight more cost-effective for exporters. Image: Alistair/stock.adobe.com
Brown and Hurley opens new TRP store
THE town of Tolga, situated in the Atherton Region of Queensland 88km south-west of Cairns, is now home to a brand-new truck and trailer parts store under the globally successful TRP brand.
e new store is owned and operated by the Brown and Hurley Group and it is the sixth TRP store the company has opened since 2021.
Brown and Hurley held an open day event at the new TRP Tolga store on Friday, October 18, where attendees enjoyed trucks on display, parts specials, an opportunity to meet suppliers, a BBQ lunch, and giveaways.
e TRP brand, positioned as an a ordable all
makes supplier of high-quality parts for prime mover, rigid trucks, and all types of heavy trailers, now has 333 outlets worldwide, including 19 in Australia.
Open day attendees enjoyed trucks on display, parts specials, an opportunity to meet suppliers, a BBQ lunch, and giveaways. Image: Paccar Parts Australia
e store stocks wellknown brand consumables for all major truck brands, ranging from ltration, lubricant, and electrical products, to brakes, suspensions, steering, wheel ends, trailer parts and accessories. All TRP parts come with a minimum 12-month warranty.
“Brown and Hurley are excited to be adding a TRP
franchise to the existing parts store in Tolga,” said Brown and Hurley aftermarket general manager, Darren Rawson.
“ e Atherton region has a strong presence of Kenworth and DAF product of which was being serviced via a sublet dealer, however it made sense to integrate into a recently purchased Brown and Hurley dealership.
“Our team at Tolga are very excited and look forward to supporting the customers of that region with truck and trailer parts and building new relationships for future growth.”
e TRP Tolga store is located at 10 Beantree Road and is open from 7am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
PACCAR Financial welcomes new MD
PACCAR Financial Services Australia has announced the appointment of Peter Gavaller as the new managing director. With more than 20 years of experience in the nancial sector and seven impactful years at the company, Gavaller is well-equipped to lead the team into the future, said PACCAR. roughout his career, Gavaller has held several key positions, including national
nance sales manager and most recently, managing director of DAF Trucks Hungary and a PACCAR-owned dealership.
His extensive experience in nancial services and automotive industries uniquely positions him to oversee PACCAR Financial and PacLease in Australia, the company said.
“I am truly honoured to step
into the role of managing director at PACCAR Financial Australia,” Gavaller said.
“ is is an exciting opportunity to lead such a talented team and continue driving innovation, excellence, and growth. I am committed to working collaboratively with all external and internal stakeholders to build on our strong foundation and take our success to new heights.
“Together, I believe we can achieve remarkable things for our company and to our customers.”
Gavaller succeeds Roland Hollingsworth, who retired earlier this year.
“ e team at PACCAR extends its gratitude to Roland for his leadership and contributions during his tenure,” said a media release announcing the appointment.
Trucking, Transporting… The work never stops
Peter Gavaller succeeds Roland Hollingsworth, who retired earlier this year. Image: PACCAR Financial Services
Open day attendees enjoyed trucks on display, parts specials, an opportunity to meet suppliers,
VICTORIAN truckie Andrew Nelson had delivered a jet engine he had picked up at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport to Cairns Airport in the far north.
Andrew, 47, was driving a Western Star 4900 for Regent Logistics which is based at Altona.
“I have to pick up an engine lifter from Cairns to take south,” he said.
A truckie for 15 years, Andrew has been with this company for the past six months. He said he likes stopping at BP roadhouses, with his favourites being at Brisbane and Cluden.
On the road for 15 years Not enough rest areas
But Andrew does take a lot of meals with him, prepared by his wife, and was cooking one in a pie warmer when we spoke.
“It is a chicken kiev and veggie pie,” he said. Andrew added that he rates the Hume Highway as the worst road he travels on, along with some others around Melbourne.
As for rest areas, he said many more were needed that have toilets and facilities for drivers.
BO Chandler drives a Scania R650 for Rockhampton based Sunstate Heavy Towing and was ready to pick up a 12m long steel support at Townsville when I saw him.
e 41-year-old has been a driver for 14 years and before arriving back in the north 24
months ago had been based at Warrnambool in Victoria.
Asked if there are enough rest areas for drivers, he said many more with toilets are needed in Queensland.
Bo rates the worst highway as the Beef Road out from Middlemount in Central Queensland.
I asked Bo if he had carried any loads which stood out in his mind.
“ ey didn’t do too well this season,” he said.
His main hobby outside work is old cars – and he has lovingly restored a 1966 Falcon XP.
“ ere are so many which are just pull o areas,” he said. Andrew barracks for Collingwood in the AFL and loved their premiership win in 2023.
Popular sight on a hot Queensland day
WITH the temperatures in the tropics sitting at more than 30 degrees in the middle of the day when we spoke, Andrew Harris is a popular truckie.
e 44-year-old drives a Mitsubishi Fuso for NQD Transport and delivers beer and other alcohol.
It is a family-owned and operated general freight and re-
frigerated transport business. Andrew is based in Townsville and the company also has a depot at Ayr, which is 90km south.
I saw Andrew with a load of beer cartons which he was ready to deliver to a South Townsville pub.
At the hotel’s public bar, the drinkers quenched their thirst knowing they would
have a plentiful supply for several more days thanks to Andrew.
at day it was so hot that sweat was pouring o him.
“I mainly deliver around Townsville to pubs and bottle shops and it is a very good job. I have freedom as I drive around,” he said.
Andrew rates the Mitsubishi highly and said it was
comfortable.
“It has 120,000km on the clock,” he said.
I had to ask Andrew if he enjoyed a cold beer or spirit when he gets time o ?
“I like having a few Jack Daniels,” he said.
In the football season parochial north Queenslander Andrew barracks for the Cowboys.
“ ey are pretty good in -
“I had to retrieve a backhoe from a waterway out from Barcaldine which had been submerged for six days. It went in as the operator was working on a boat ramp,” he said. His hobby outside work is watching motor sports such as the Bathurst event and V8 Supercars.
“I have a WRX14 sports car which is on-road registered,” he said.
Andrew Nelson drives a Western Star 4900 for Regent Logistics. Images: Alf Wilson
Andrew Harris delivers beer and other alcohol to pubs and bottle shops around Townsville.
BY DANIELLE GULLACI
ORIGINALLY from Adelaide, outback truck driver
Russell Spiller made the move to Darwin around four years ago, after visiting for a friend’s birthday trip – and deciding to stay.
As he explained, “We came here for a 60th and never left! We had been travelling around in our motorhome and I saw a sign on the side of the road advertising for truck drivers at Northern Stock Water.” Russell, 61, has been working with the company for two and a half years. He recently upgraded his Kenworth T909 for a newer model, that’s only six months old.
A veteran driver, he says he got his truck licence at 18, as soon as he was old enough. “ ere was a friend I went to trade school with and his old man owned Mcdonald’s Transport in Adelaide, so I started out doing dog runs from Adelaide to Port Augusta, and then it all went from there. en I went on to the Adelaide ing for Transtar Express.
Thriving on remote tree change
“But I’ve been in and out of it over the years. I owned a service station, mechanical workshop and Bridgestone tyre shop in Adelaide at one stage too. en went back to
driving, doing all sorts of bits and pieces.”
His current work though is de nitely not for the faint-hearted. It sees him travel some of the most treacherous outback roads – tackling corrugations, creeks and more.
Based in Livingstone in Darwin, Northern Stock Water is a manufacturing and sales business that specialises in water infrastructure and installation. “ e company manufactures all of the poly pipe and produces the troughs and feedlots out of concrete, and that’s what we deliver,” explained Russell. “We cart our products to stations, most of which are in the middle of nowhere – throughout the Northern Territory, all through Queensland and more recently we’ve started going into Western Australia too. I also transport their dongas around to wherever they need to go.”
Kenworth T909s. “ is new one is pretty ash,” said Russell. “It’s got plenty of room in it, a big bunk, two fridges, a microwave, shower, water and all that sort of stu .”
as he was heading down south on the Barkly Highway, near the Queensland border. When asked what he enjoys most about the work, he said, “I love the station people, the open road and being out
going anywhere that’s not in a big town. ere are so many great people out there, who are always willing to give you a hand.
a challenge. All the way down to Birdsville is really narrow.row is Austral Downs Road, which is 180 kilometres down to Nash and that will take
While he’s only been able to head back to Adelaide a handful of times since his move up north, Russell says he’s looking forward to taking some time o over Christmas to spend some quality time with
“Because of where we go, weally from around the end of November, so I’m going back to Adelaide and will come
Russell Spiller moved to Darwin four years ago. Images: Russell Spiller
His work takes him throughout the NT, Queensland and into WA.
Enduring roadhouse romance
He was a truck driver and she was a roadhouse cook – and now this happy couple have just celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary.
BY DANIELLE GULLACI
FOR many truck drivers who spend a lot of their time on the road, a good old-fashioned roadhouse can o er comfort, friendly banter and a decent home-cooked meal.
But for this retired truckie, one particular roadhouse holds a special place in his heart.
Years ago, Ron Williams, 68, often frequented the Caltex Benaraby in Queensland’s Gladstone region, while working for Galmack Transport. He was with the company for 13.5 years, up until it closed down in 2019, when the owner retired. His role involved delivering poly pipe all over outback Queensland.
Back in 2009, while stopped at Caltex Benaraby, Ron met his future wife, who he proposed to just three months later.
Tracy Williams, now 55, was one of the roadhouse’s cooks and kitchen hands. Her late mother Cynthia was also a cook there, working the morning shift, with Tracy taking over in the afternoon.
Ron had been a regular at that roadhouse for a number of years.
“I’d been stopping at Benara-
by since 2006. Before I met Tracy she had been working at the Caltex Ilbilbie – and thinking back I knew I had seen her there, but never had a chance to speak to her,” Ron recalled.
“Tracy started working at Benaraby in 2007, so I’d seen her but never had anything to do with her. I was just another customer.
“I’d often have certain meals I ordered at certain roadhouses, because I knew that’s what they did well. en one day
Tracy said, I’ve got something on the menu you haven’t tried yet. She put a chicken kiev in front me – and I love chicken kiev and I’ve loved it ever since.”
e pair got to know each other better while sharing a meal. And before long, Tracy began travelling in the truck with Ron whenever she got the chance.
“At the time I was driving a 1985 Kenworth K100C. I loved that job with Galmack and Tracy would come with me all the time on her days o – when I knew I could go from Benaraby and back – to get her there in time for her next shift.”
And it was in that K100C, just three months after shar-
ing that special meal, that Ron proposed to Tracy. “ at’s the truck I was driving when I met her and that’s the truck I proposed to her in, in January 2010, while we were parked at the BP in Burpengary.”
e couple were married on October 9 of that same year.
“Tracy actually told me one night that her father always said, don’t you ever bring home a truckie,” laughed Ron. “He actually drove trucks and worked as a mechanic among other things, and has an incredible amount of knowledge when it comes to all the me-
chanical stu .”
Ron revealed he also enjoys writing poetry, and often writes poems for Tracy – particularly on birthdays, wedding anniversaries, at Christmas time and for other special occasions.
Tracy was originally from Sarina in Queensland. While Ron grew up in the western suburbs of Sydney, then spent almost two decades living in New Zealand, before returning to Sydney and then moving to Queensland in 2005.
e couple now reside in the small regional town of Black-
butt in Queensland’s South Burnett region, however now that they are both retired, they love to hit the road in their vintage caravan.
“We have a 1969 Olympic Debonair caravan. Before that we had a 1958 Carapark 12/9. It was also a good caravan but had been in the shed for 40 years when I pulled it out. I did a fair bit of work on that one before selling it about 12 months ago to buy this one.
“Tracy and I have travelled with it through Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia and we have a few more trips planned for next year too.”
caravan.
A vintage car enthusiast, with a particular love for older Holdens, Ron currently owns three. He has had his 1970 HG Holden Kingswood ute for over 25 years. “It’s original and unrestored but needs a little TLC,” admitted Ron. “I also have a 1970 HG Holden panel van, which is partly restored, and a 1958 FC Holden panel van.”
Ron says he’s hoping to take the FC Holden on a few road trips with the caravan next year once he gets it registered. “I just need to work out the
Retired truckie Ron met his wife Tracy while she was working as a cook at a Queensland roadhouse. Images: Ron Williams
Urgent need for rest area along busy Qld stretch
ANOTHER rest area is urgently required for use by truck drivers along the Charters Towers to Clermont stretch of the Gregory Development Road in north Queensland.
is is an SOS from many drivers Spy has spoken to, who frequently drive the boring route.
ere are only two decent rest areas on the 370km stretch at Cape River and Frank eld.
e Cape River rest area has toilets and a shaded area and is near the Charters Towers end of the highway.
e other decent one is 80km from Clermont at the opposite end.
e only other place trucks can stop safely is at Belyando Roadhouse which is about halfway between the towns.
ere are plenty of pull o areas but these are mostly beside rough shoulders.
36 years on the roadhouse night shift
It was 4am when I phoned the BP Black Mountain Roadhouse in NSW to speak to William Nash who has worked the night shift there for more than 36 years.
this was the best time to catch William, who has met tens of thousands of truck drivers
over the decades. William, who turns 60 in December, said on average about 30 trucks would stop there during his shift, which commences at midnight and normally nishes at 8am.
“We get a lot of interstate drivers who pull up doing the run from Brisbane and further north and also from Sydney. But when there is wet weather, a lot come here from Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide. Every morning before I nish the local drivers drop in,” he said.
William added that the big breakfast was popular but was
co ee and sandwich and it is ready when they arrive. e logbook laws have changed it all,” he said.
e roadhouse has clean toilets and showers as well as a sit down area inside for meals o the menu.
“We are undergoing renovations to the toilets and showers and after they are completed, inside will get an upgrade,” William said.
Located 10km south of Guyra on the New England Highway, the roadhouse is privately owned and numerous drivers had told Spy they like stopping there and yarning to William. I asked William what time he sleeps after his shift.
“Mostly I have a few hours sleep when I get home and then four or ve hours in the afternoon,” he said.
On the odd occasion William gets called in to do a day shift if somebody is o sick.
And over the years William has served food to some famous Australians.
“Slim Dusty used to come in here way back and Angry Anderson often stopped here,” he said.
It was around 4.30am when
Crackdown along Bass Highway
My numerous truck driver contacts down in Tasmania tell me there has been a blitz on heavy vehicles along the busy Bass Highway.
Especially around the seaside city of Burnie which hundreds of trucks pass through daily along the Bass.
Whilst there are those notorious speed cameras on the Bass, drivers say there are more police patrols.
“ ey are booking people for minor things such as a broken light bulb which we didn’t even know about. Surely a warning to get the bulb replaced would be su cient,” one driver said. e Bass Highway usually makes the list of being amongst the most dangerous routes to negotiate in the country.
Humpty
Doo
e iconic Humpty Doo Hotel in the NT is a place where truckies stop for a meal and cold soft drink.
O duty drivers also pop in for some relaxation.
Veteran South Australian driver Doc Holliday has been to the pub many times and loves it.
occurred when he was driving to the pub.
“I saw a box in the middle of the road not far from there and tra c was driving around it. So I checked it out and found a stack of Humpty Doo t-shirts in it. So I took them to the pub and they gave me one. ey had fallen from the back of the delivery truck,” he said.
North Queenslander Anthony Stout dropped in with his wife Kylie and sons Milton and Lane and loved it.
“It is a great place with lots of atmosphere,” Anthony said.
Established in 1971, in the front bar you’ll nd the largest bu alo horns in the south-
Trucks divert after fire closes Bruce A bush re which forced the Bruce Highway to close for some time at Julago forced some trucks to divert and travel a lot of extra distance. Julago is 20km south of Townsville. e re occurred at around 1.20pm on October 15 and the highway was not opened to tra c again for several hours. ere was a big line of tra c including trucks on both sides of the road.
“A customer has just walked
and friendly sta ,” Doc said. story about an incident which
But with no indication on just how long they would have to wait, some truckies turned around and headed south down the Bruce to Guru, ey then drove the 40km along the Giru/Majors Creek
Slim Dusty’s ‘Humpty Doo Waltz’.
Cape River rest area is located between Charters Towers and Clermont.
Long time night shift worker William Nash.
The Black Mountains Roadhouse in NSW. Images: Alf Wilson
stock on the western Flinders Highway.
To link up with the Townsville Ring Road so they could travel north to Cairns, it was another 50km.
Eight re engines and their crews were required to get the blaze under control.
WA roadhouse
Many truckies have told Spy they like stopping at the Ampol Nanutarra Roadhouse which is a family operated business in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
Manager Valeska Molina, who is from Chile, has been there for two years and said numerous truckies stop there daily.
daily and o ers 24-hour diesel.
At the moment the shop section is being renovated.
It is located approximately 1275km from Perth, and the closest town of any signicance is Karratha, approximately 280km away.
Nanutarra Roadhouse is situated on the banks of the Ashburton River and is surrounded by large cattle stations, including Nanutarra Station (operated by the Minderoo Group).
In summer, temperatures over 50°C are common and drivers love relaxing in the roadhouse’s air conditioning.
Small world for Spy e adage that it is a small
info that the email had meandered its way to a relative who works for the TMR.
But he is based in a city which is 1600km from his home town.
“When I saw the email was from you I passed it on to a supervisor because we are not allowed to handle info requests from relatives,” my brother-inlaw said.
e info came through about ve days later.
Pulling your leg at NT
roadhouse
Do the ingredients in camel pies served up at Stuart Wells Roadhouse in the NT come from a dromedary standing out the front there?
which has just three legs.
After a NSW driver who stopped there sent me a pic of the camel I had to ponder that sta were “pulling the leg” .
So I phoned the 76-year-old owner Spud to get to the bottom of the matter.
“It is a breglass camel which I got from a bloke who I sold my Kenworth cabover to a few years ago. e fourth leg went missing when we moved it here. We sell heaps of camel pies and tell customers who order them that the lling comes from the camel because it looks like a real camel,” he said.
Nothing like a bit of good old fashioned Aussie outback humour to brighten up your day.
New garbage trucks for Top End
Fifteen new garbage trucks will soon be in service at some of Australia’s most remote communities in the Torres Strait.
ese outer islands are Torres Strait Island Regional Council (TSIRC) communities and will be shipped to the islands between now and the new year.
City of Gold Coast donated 12 of the vehicles and the other three were purchased by the council.
Some of the islands which will receive the trucks include Boigu, Dauan, Saibai and Warraber.
TSIRC CEO James William said the trucks would soon be hard at work regularly picking up community household waste.
“ e rollout of the 15 garbage trucks underscores the Torres Strait Island Regional Council’s commitment to community health, safety and e cient waste management,” he said. “We’re really excited about this move forward in waste disposal and know it will make a positive di erence to our communities. We’re looking forward to the new garbage trucks lightening the load for all.”
Well that is what sta at the popular stop for truckies, which is 100km from Alice
el which can be seen at the entrance to the roadhouse
Boigu Island is in sight of PNG and the 300 residents will welcome the truck.
Mack Dash
Gauges to suit
Macks
Trucks travel along the Tasmanian Bass Highway through Burnie in gloomy weather.
Workers from various Torres Strait islands who will operate the garbage trucks.
Save the date for these great shows
BY KAYLA WALSH
TRUCK shows aren’t just a fantastic way to bring the transport community together – they also raise money and awareness for important causes.
e upcoming ‘She Won’t Be Right Mate’ show, held at Yarra Glen Racecourse in Victoria on November 23, highlights one of the most pressing issues for truckies – mental health.
Raising money for Eastern Health Hospital’s mental health department, the event features a car and bike show, live music, food trucks, free kids’ activities, a ra e, racing simulators and much more.
Trucks have also attended the show in the past, and show director Marcus Reeves would love to see more this year. For more information, contact Marcus on shewontberightmate@gmail.com.
NOVEMBER
Goulburn Convoy for Kids
November 9, 2024 Goulburn, NSW convoyforkidsgoulburn.com. au
e annual Goulburn Convoy for Kids and carnival day will take place on November 9, with vehicles departing at 10am sharp from Goulburn Gateway service station (North Goulburn) and ending up at Goulburn Racetrack (Braidwood Road). Truck entry is $60, which includes a showbag for each truck. is year, cars and utes are also welcome to join the convoy. Entry for cars/ utes is $60 with a showbag or $20 without.
Historic Commercial Vehicle Club Display Day
November 10, 2024
Yarra Glen, VIC hcvc.com.au
Fans of retro rigs are in for a treat at the Historic Commercial Vehicle Club Display Day. Attendees can check out rows of vintage trucks and cars, while there’s also plenty to keep the kids busy, from face painting to a petting zoo. Public admission $10, children under 14 free, camping $20. BBQ and pizza on Saturday night – BYO drinks. Entry from 3pm on Saturday August 9. All vehicles must be in by
Dane Ballinger Memorial Truck Show
November 16, 2024
Bathurst Showgrounds, NSW bathursttruckshow.com.au
e Dane Ballinger Memorial Truck Show is back this year, with plenty to see and do for the whole family – including over 200 market stalls, food stalls, entertainment and kids’ rides. For more information email info@bathursttruckshow.com.au
Rudd’s Pub mental health event
November 16, 2024
Rudd’s Pub
45 Tooth Street, Nobby, QLD Facebook: Westbrook Truck Drivers Association
e local trucking community will come together for a special event, raising money for mental health charity Our House Our Haven. Organised by the West Brook Truck Drivers Association, together with Rudd’s Pub, there will great food, ra es, auctions, a beard shave-o , live entertainment and more.
Entry is $10. Tickets available at the door. Entry fee includes a
steak burger or sausage – along with entry to be in the running for a $500 debit card for the rst 300 people to arrive. e event will run from 9am until late.
Mount Gambier Family Truck Show
November 30, 2024
Mount Gambier Showgrounds, SA mgfamilytruckshow.com.au
e Mount Gambier Family Truck Show is back, kicking o with a convoy from Penola to Mount Gambier, with more than 80 prime movers
expected to take part. Back at the Mount Gambier Showgrounds, attendees can enjoy a gold coin entry family fun day from 10.30am to 3.30pm, raising funds for the less fortunate within the community.
JANUARY
Geelong Classic Truck and Machinery Show
January 11-12, 2025 Geelong Showgrounds classictruckandmachinery. com.au
e Geelong Classic is back, featuring trucks, classic cars
and bikes, vintage tractors and steam engines. Various clubs will also be in attendance, from Lego Club to Model Clubs. Entry for adults is $15, kids under 15 and exhibitors go free.
Koroit Truck Show
January 25, 2025
Victoria Park, Koroit
Facebook: Koroit Truck Show
Koroit comes alive at its annual truck show with a large truck display, motorcycle performance, state wood chopping competition, live music, market stalls and more. Don’t miss the popular truckie sprint and the tug of war!
FEBRUARY
Lardner Park Heritage Vehicle Display
February 1-2, 2025 Lardner Park, VIC Facebook: Heritage Vehicle and Machinery Display
e dates have been set for next year’s Lardner Park Heritage Vehicle Display. Historic, classic and veteran vehicles (25 years and older) are welcome, from trucks and cars to tractors, motorbikes, caravans and more.
Have you got an event you’d like included in the next Save the Date? Email all the details to kayla.walsh@ primecreative.com.au.
The Geelong Classic Truck and Machinery Show attracts truckies from all over.
Image: Truckspotting Ararat
Andrew Derham won Rig of the Show at the Koroit Truck Show earlier this year with his 1989 Mack. Image: Koroit Truck Show
The ‘She Won’t Be Right Mate’ show will raise money for Eastern Health Hospital’s mental health department. Image: She Won’t Be Right Mate
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
TNA Towing stands loud and proud
Her business name may have started as a joke, but this inspiring mum-of-four’s commitment to success is no laughing matter.
BY KAYLA WALSH
WHEN Ally Sweeney decided to set up the rst female-owned tow truck business in the ACT, she didn’t hold back.
UD and a name that might raise a few eyebrows, the 39-year-old isn’t afraid to stand out.
“My company is called TNA Towing – and yes, it stands for Tits and Ass Towing!” she
“ e name started as a joke, and it just stuck.
“I said, if I’m going to do this, I’ve got to go all in –hammer and tongs.”
e Kaleen mum’s interest in vehicles started at a young age – you could usually catch
3 steps to getting new employees
12-year-old Ally helping her dad to x cars around the side of their house, or “paddock bashing” with her mates when she got into her teens. at passion for cars has stayed with her throughout her life, and when she met her partner Heathen, she took things a step further.
“My partner had a tow truck previously and I spent a lot of time in the truck with him,” she said.
“I ended up learning a lot along the way, and from there I got a job as a tow
truck driver with another company in Canberra.”
Ally fell in love with towing – and after getting some years of experience under her belt, she launched her own business in 2019.
She admits going out on her own was daunting, but the biggest challenge in her career so far has been navigating a very male-dominated industry.
“You cop so much shit,” she said. “I’ve had people on Facebook calling me a ‘blow in’.
“I’m always getting asked
if I need a hand when I clearly don’t.
“ en people assume I am the person who has been in a crash – even if I’m wearing my TNA Towing uniform.
“ ey are looking around for the tow truck driver and I’m right there. It’s ridiculous.”
Apart from these frustrations, Ally enjoys the challenges and variety the work brings.
“Every day is di erent, and there’s lots of problem solving,” she said.
“It gives me a great sense of accomplishment to show people I’m good at what I do.”
The kids love getting to ride in the truck.
When someone is calling a tow truck, it’s usually because something bad has happened –and Ally has a lot of empathy for her customers.
“ at’s one of the key things that I really pride myself on,” she added.
“I’ve done countless free tows for people who are short on money but need to get their cars xed.
“I’m always willing to help people out if I can.”
She shared a story of another di cult situation she tried to help with.
“One Friday afternoon, I had nished up early and was nearly home when I passed an elderly woman on the side of the road.
“ e look on her face, I just knew something was wrong, so I turned the truck around.
“Her husband had just died in the passenger seat of the car.
half an hour and got him to come back a couple of times, but in the end he sadly didn’t make it.
“ ere are so many di erent kinds of situations that you come across in this job.”
Outside of the daily challenges of her work, Ally juggles a busy family life, with two children and two stepchildren. Her three-year-old daughter Blake travels to school in style every day, with her very own car seat in her mum’s pink rig.
“She absolutely loves it!” said Ally.
“When she sees I’m towing a car she asks me what happened, and she gets up and does the levers with me.
“She has her sunglasses on and a little bit of sass and everyone around here knows her.”
Ally admits it can be hard being on call 24/7 with a 3-yearold, 8-year-old, 12-year-old
and 16-year-old at home, but she and her partner are a great team.
Sharing her advice for young women who are interested in entering the road transport industry or starting their own business, she said: “Balls o and go for it!
“If you’ve got the tenacity, have a crack – you never know what you’ll come up with.”
PEOPLE ASSUME I AM THE PERSON WHO HAS BEEN IN A CRASH –EVEN IF I’M WEARING MY TNA TOWING UNIFORM. THEY ARE LOOKING AROUND FOR THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND I’M RIGHT THERE. IT’S RIDICULOUS.”
to go to school in the pink Nissan every morning.
GTS Freight Group (GTS) is a privately owned business operating since 1980 and is a market leader in linehaul transport and logistics solutions. GTS services a range of blue-chip companies nationally and has a strong commitment to customer service, safety and compliance.
Having recently expanded our fleet, we are currently looking for new Team members who can continue to build that reputation. We have some great opportunities for the right professional person looking to begin a new career with our iconic Mildura based business.
Does this sound like you?
•I am looking for an employer who values and respects me
•Wanting to drive fresh, well maintained equipment (predominant Kenworth based fleet)
•I have a great attitude, and I am looking for a stable, secure future
•I would like to have work patterns that suit my lifestyle and personal circumstances
•I am a safe, professional driver that cares for my equipment and the freight I am carrying
•Great earnings potential
•MC Licenced with night highway driving experience and a good history as an operator
If this is you, then GTS can provide that opportunity!
GTS currently has career opportunities for roles around the country for MC Interstate Drivers.
For more details and application forms, please go to gtsfreight.com.au and clickon the Careers drop down menu, online at seek.com.au or call (03) 5051 0100 or email your resume and cover letter to hr@gtsfreight.com.au
Cascadia donated
stitute of TAFE to help support the hands-on training of Victoria’s next generation of heavy commercial vehicle mechanics.
Valued at an estimated $450,000, the truck is part of a collaboration between Chisholm Institute of TAFE, Swinburne University of Technology, and Daimler Truck Asia Paci c. To be based at Chisholm’s Dandenong campus, it provides a platform for students to develop essential skills.
e prime mover is equipped with the latest technology, including AdBlue and DPF emission systems, ABS stability control, radar, automat-
Varty said he’s grateful for this generous gift, that will enable Chisholm to continue to develop graduates who are highly skilled and well-positioned to meet evolving industry needs.
“It is vital that our heavy vehicle mechanic students are trained with the latest technological advancements, ensuring they are equipped for the jobs of the future,” said Varty.
Chisholm o ers the Certicate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology as an apprenticeship.
Swinburne University of Technology’s Pro Vice-Chancellor of Vocational Education, Madelyn Bolch, added,
like Daimler, can address critical skill shortages and contribute to research that will shape the future of transport.”
As Swinburne’s heavy vehicle emissions research work continues, Chisholm has agreed to support Swinburne with access to the Daimler truck for research purposes.
“ is partnership is forging new pathways to advance heavy vehicle education and research, supporting both workforce development and research in advanced heavy vehicle technology,” said Dr Hadi Ghaderi, Professor of Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Swinburne Business School.
Easter Group Pty Ltd 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 & 2-UP DRIVERS WANTED
(Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide Based)
Come and work for us as we are committed to:
• Training and further education • Your safety
• Maintaining an impressive Fleet
On offer arepermanent 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
WORKSHOP
MECHANICS
To apply for the Operations/Driver positions please contact Operations Manager or by emailing your resume to
& TYRE FITTERS WANTED (Brisbane based only)
To apply for Mechanic positions please forward your resume to Workshop Manager via email to employment@kseaster.com.au
The name ‘TNA Towing’ started as a joke, but it’s stuck ever since.
TRUCKERS’