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Deals News
Deals News
9 Volvo launches fuel-saving Aero range
Deals Upfront
12 A very special K100E restored
Deals Opinion
18 NatRoad on the looming driver shortage crisis
Top Deals
20 2024 Hino 300 Series Hybrid
22 2012 Vawdrey 2010 CIMC
24 2005 Mack Vision CX
28 2018 Fuso FV54
32 2004 Barry Stoodley A Bogie Chassis Tipper
Deals Data
36 A m ixed bag for truck sales so far this year
Deals Showcase
34 Complete Tracking's newest product
40 The buzz around Collins Honey's Isuzu trucks
42 Shell Card now accepted at more than 1,500 sites Australia-wide
44 H ino hits the mark for B&J Reeves Transport
Deals Events
46 Get set for Castlemaine
49 Truck shows for your calendar
56 Making the Rounds
60 Truckies honoured at Lights on the Hill
72 One Brighter Day draws a crowd
74 Trucks line up in Ivanhoe
76 Perth rallies for kids
80 Truckies make a stand against bullies
84 R igs roll up in Boort
88 Sydney's annual Convoy for Kids
90 Ross Transport hosts open day
98 Truckies' Day Out for a good cause
Deals Restoration
108 1971 International comes up a treat
118 Vintage ambulance brought back to life
Deals Features
106 I nside the Tamworth Truck Drivers Club
112 Former truckie's flamin' hot Peterbilt
122 A special rig hits the big screen
126 Our writer heads to Belgium for the story behind an eye-catching fleet
Regular
132 Marketplace Trucks, trailers, buses and more for sale
133 Parts Trader Parts, wreckers, engines and more for sale
150 Hot Deals
Hot hand-picked truck deals!
207 Plant & Equipment
Forklifts, tools, generators and compressors for sale
216 Private Advertising Coupon Sell your item!
217 Index
209 Hands up
Founded to offer brand new access equipment for hire across Australia’s east coast, today
Skyreach provides a range of elevated work platforms to the market, including scissor lifts, boom lifts, telehandlers and forklifts among others.
What a month! October is by far the busiest month of the year when it comes to truck shows around our great country and thousands of trucks were on show as organisers took advantage of the mid-spring weather and five weekends to play with.
While we simply don’t have enough pages to cover all of the events held in October, we’ve done our best with stories and photos from the Lights on the Hill, Ivanhoe Dry Times, Perth Convoy for Kids, One Brighter Day, Truckies Against Bullying, Boort Truck Show, Sydney Convoy for Kids, Ross Transport’s Open Day and Matty Hillcoat's Truckies' Day Out in Gympie. Be sure to check out the trucks, the
crowds and the shows and keep them in mind while you start planning your 2025 adventures.
On the new truck front, we share stories about Volvo’s new Aero models getting ready to go on sale and meet owner-drivers who have customised their Hino and Isuzu trucks to suit the needs of the businesses they conduct.
Our South Australian and country Victoria readers may be keen to know more about the Viva Energy / OTR tie up that has made Shell Cards now available at 180 OTR sites in Australia.
The passion for restoring trucks is captured in great style with Kayla Walsh’s story on Queensland truckie Mick Lee’s popular Kenworths and Tiane Gavillucci’s catch up with Iain Cann and his 1971 International.
From an old ambulance given a new life to a European Scania with a unique nose, there’s plenty more to read in this edition.
If you haven’t done it already, don’t forget to line up a Deals on Wheels Christmas subscription for the truckie in your life.
Trucks for as far as the eye can see at this year’s Lights on the Hill. Image: Warren Aitken
Aero set to land down under
The latest and greatest in fuel-saving technology from Volvo Trucks is coming to Australia in 2025
Volvo Trucks has launched its all-new fuel saving Aero range to the Australian market with the FH Aero soon to be available.
Australians will have a choice between the 13-litre and 17-litre Euro 6 ICE powerplants as well as Volvo’s heavy duty electric driveline.
Volvo Truck Australia vice president Tom Chapman says the team are super excited to be launching the Aero range here in Australia.
“This truck represents a critical step along the path to sustainable transport as well as lowering running costs for operators along the way,” he says.
The Aero range includes the FH-Aero I-Save, a turbo-compound unit rated at 500hp, punching out 2800Nm of torque, as well as the 13-litre 540 and D17 powerplant in ratings from 600hp and 3000Nm up to 700hp and 3400Nm, remain as option for Aero as well.
Aero cab options span sleeper, Globetrotter XL and Globetrotter XXL options and 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, fixed reverse panning and an infra-red mode for low light conditions.
CMS drastically improves the driver’s field of view around the truck, the system’s camera lenses are heated and will
automatically activate depending on the outside temperature to ensure a clear view in all weather conditions.
“The drive experience of this vehicle is nothing short of astonishing," he says. "The performance of our new generation I-Shift transmission coupled with our refined Euro 6 engine range, or our powerful electric drivetrain will find no complaints from drivers."
Aerodynamic improvements have been achieved by extending the front of the existing FH cab by 240mm, allowing a smoother, more rounded frontal area to reduce drag and energy consumption while remaining within the 26-metre B-double envelope.
“The 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 efficiency.
“This 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 are opening in December 2024.
The FH Aero is on its way to the Australian market. Image: Volvo Trucks
Unit 1/71 Axis Place, Larapinta, Brisbane, QLD, 4110, Australia
Mick Lee has two very special restorations under his belt — including his dad’s old K100E
Words: Kayla Walsh
Images: Mick Lee / Julie Munro
For Brisbane truckie Mick Lee, who runs transport company Dumping Dirt Munruben with his partner Julie, restoring trucks is a family affair.
Here, he talks us through two of his favourite projects — an award-winning Kenworth T950 and a sentimental Kenworth K100E.
Award-winning rig
Back in December 2016, Mick bought a 1993 Kenworth T950 that was previously owned by Gascoyne Trading Company in Western Australia and used in the mining industry.
“The owner was selling it because he was moving to Bali or somewhere,” says Mick.
“It was pretty hard to get hold of him to buy the truck because he was over there!”
Mick intended to do the truck up and bring it to Alice Springs in time for the annual Festival of Road Transport in 2021. Unfortunately, things did not exactly go to plan.
“The young fella flew over to Perth to have a look at the truck.
“He came home and said ‘Yeah, it’ll be right, Dad.’
“Then when I saw it, I said ‘Wow. You should have left it there!’”
The Kenworth was in a fairly dismal condition when Mick got his hands on it, requiring a full rebuild.
Thankfully he had help, teaming up with his son Matt and wife Julie to get the job done.
The truck was stripped back to the chassis, with a new gearbox put in.
The K100E is a popular sight at truck shows
The K100E had been sitting in a front yard in Melbourne for over a decade
A 50-inch sleeper was also installed, and Mick got a boat builder to stretch the top of it to fit.
“You could buy one, but it would cost you a fortune,” Mick explains.
“So, we got some fibreglass and stretched the top out.”
The rebuild took three to four years in total, with the family slowly chipping away at it on weekends.
“Instead of romantic Sunday drives, Julie and I were working on trucks,” Mick laughs. Mick put the truck on the road for a while
before getting some new additions to the fleet, and his son now uses it to move gear around locally.
It has collected plenty of awards in its time, impressing the judges at multiple truck shows.
“The very first weekend we took it out, at Mt Gravatt, it won there,” he says.
“We’ve got heaps of trophies for it now.”
Most recently, the family were chuffed that the T950 took out Best Paint at this year’s Gold Coast Truck Show, with another of their rigs, a Kenworth T509,
The T950 was in a bit of a state when Mick first got it from Perth
Mick is proud of his prize-winning T950
Getting down to work on the K100E
The T950 restoration was a family effort
Before the paint on the T950 was finished
The cab paint on the K100E is all still original, but Mick and his family got it relined and scrolled
winning Best Bling. “We weren’t even going to go to the show because the weather looked so bad,” Mick says.
“But I rang my son at 6.30am on the day and said: ‘We’re going!’
“We quickly washed the trucks and headed off.
“It was a great show, we always enjoy it.”
Like father, like son
Like many truckies, Mick has strong family ties to the transport industry. His father
Lester Lee was a driver for 50 years, carting chlorine and gas cylinders up and down the east coast.
About three years ago, a friend of Mick’s stumbled upon a 1988 Kenworth K100E his dad had driven for over a decade, at the end of his career.
“Dad bought the truck when it was four years old, he was its second owner.
“He had a stroke and decided to sell it, and then it went missing for about 15 years.
“It was actually in a front yard in Melbourne,
Mick polished the fuel tanks up a treat
Even anti-shine can’t stop this truck from looking good
Mick is proud of his prize-winning T950
“A mate came across the truck online and let me know.
“My family said: ‘You have to buy it!’”
After Mick brought the rig home, he gave it a
bit of a revamp, while keeping it as original as possible.
“I didn’t do too much,” he says. “We repainted the chassis and polished the fuel tanks.
“The cab paint is all still original, we just got it relined and scrolled.
“Some parts you just can’t get any more, but it’s pretty close to how it was back in the day.”
Mick was on a deadline for the restoration, as he wanted to bring it to the Casino Truck Show as a surprise for his father.
He worked long and hard to get it ready in time, taking his now 86-year-old dad out of his nursing home for a nostalgic weekend at the show.
“When dad first came around the corner and saw the truck, it was a great surprise,” he says.
“Dad drove for 50 years and got to know a lot of people, so there was a great reaction to the truck at Casino.
“The restoration was really a family thing, a sentimental thing.
“We’re happy we found it in time for dad to see it.”
Mick’s dad Lester was absolutely thrilled to be able to take the truck to Casino
parked up at someone’s house for most of that time.
of the biggest issues the transport industry faces is having enough drivers on board to meet the supply demands of its customers
Those of us in the industry know that all businesses rely on the road transport industry, whether it be for the transport of raw materials (in industries such as construction) or stocking shelves in the retail industry.
young people entering the profession.
According to the IRU survey, only 5.2 per cent of our driver workforce is under 25 years old – not enough to fill the jobs that will become available as the oldest cohort begin to retire in large numbers over the next decade.
Lack of gender diversity in our industry is also a clear issue. Only a small percentage (6.5 per cent) of all drivers in Australia are women, despite women making up almost half (48 per cent) of Australia’s working population.
A 2018 study by the IRU found working conditions, in particular security and access to well-equipped rest zones, are the main concerns for women.
So, how do we solve what is fast becoming a real and present crisis for our national supply chain?
First, we need to do more to showcase the positive aspects of a career in trucking.
NatRoad CEO Warren Clark, pictured far right, says if we want more young drivers like Jade Harney, pictured second from left receiving the Sam Sali Young Driver of the Year Award, we need to improve the image and work conditions on offer in the transport industry in Australia. Mike Edmonds from NTI, far left, and Linda Sali, second from the right, are also pictured above. Image: NatRoad
The supply chain simply can’t function without trucks, and road transport is responsible for at least the first, or the last, leg of every journey. Yet despite the essential nature of trucking, Australia continues to stare down a growing crisis in the form of a major driver shortage.
This year NatRoad partnered with the International Road Transport Union (IRU) for Australian participation in the IRU Global Driver Shortage Survey for the first time.
The survey helped prove the extent of the local driver shortage and showed the dire situation we experience here in Australia is shared with many other countries.
The survey confirmed what many trucking businesses are already feeling – a huge shortage of drivers in Australia including over 26,000 unfilled positions in 2024 alone. Almost half (49 per cent) of Australia’s trucking businesses reported experiencing severe or very severe difficulty filling driver positions.
When you consider the nation’s road freight needs are predicted to grow by around 77 per cent by 2050, the gap between supply and demand will only widen and become a real threat to our national supply chain.
A big part of the problem is our sector’s aging workforce. Close to half (47 per cent) of all drivers are now over 55 years old. Compounding the issue, there are far too few
For many, it’s an opportunity for independence, good pay, and a unique way of life. We also can’t ignore the need to modernise the industry’s image, countering some of the poor public perceptions and make it more appealing to younger Australians.
Education and training are also critical. Industry-led initiatives such as school-towork pathways, apprenticeship programs, and specific training for licensing reforms are already in the pipeline. These efforts are aimed at giving younger drivers a clearer, more accessible path into the profession.
If we want to access the almost half of potential workforce that are female and see more young women like our 2024 NTI NatRoad Sam Sali National Young Driver of the Year, Jade Harney in the profession, working conditions such as security and facilities will need to be addressed.
Finally, government acknowledgement of the essential nature of the road transport industry and support to ensure the viability of individual trucking businesses is essential.
We need policies to address unnecessary fines and access permit costs, tax conditions for small operators, financial support for training programs, and infrastructure such as rest stops that makes life on the road more comfortable for drivers.
The driver shortage is not an issue that can be kicked down the road any longer. It’s time for real action to protect our industry and our country’s supply chain by ensuring trucking remains a viable, attractive and long-term career option.
Warren Clark, CEO of the National Road Transport Association
kenworth.com.au/legacy
Scan with your Smartphone camera to check out this deal!
Hino 300 Series TradeAce Hybrid
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Save on fuel and reduce your emissions output too with a 2024 Hino 300 Series Hybrid truck, being sold for a limited time with a $5,000 factory program bonus.
Featuring a heavy duty 4-ton rated, 4.5m by 2.1m alloy tray with 365mm drop sides, the TradeAce truck is powered by a 4-litre 150hp intercooled turbo diesel engine, combined with an electric motor, and produces 470Nm of torque.
A six-speed AMT gearbox with a directly coupled electric drive motor results in quicker gear shifts and smoother take-offs, while regenerative braking increases the life of the brakes while charging the Hybrid batteries.
The trucks are being sold with a five year, 250,000km warranty too.
To find out more call Prestige Truck Centre on 03 9999 5162
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Refuel at OTR with Shell Card
In the coming months, BP Plus will no longer be accepted at OTR.
If you run a transport business and your drivers love the convenience of OTR, it’s time to switch to Shell Card.
But that’s not all. You’ll also have access to a combined network over 1,500 service stations that accept Shell Card Australia-wide. Shell Card is now accepted at all OTR sites.
Importantly, Shell Card offers a wide range of benefits designed to help transport businesses save admin time and reduce costs associated with fuel expenses.
The application is quick and easy, so make the switch today!
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Dressed in white, this 2005 Mack Vision CX could be set up for any number of uses, fitted with a prime mover road train rated 90 tons.
Already fully serviced, this truck features a Mack engine generating 470hp with a Primax airbag suspension, on 46/160 diffs with x crosslocks.
Additionally, the Mack has an 18-speed Roadranger gearbox and alloy 10 stud disc wheels with 100 per cent new rubber all round to add to the feature list.
To
$87,500 + GST + ORC
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Tipping
This 2018 Fuso FV54 is a late model cab chassis fitted with a brand new 450 Grade Hardox steel tipping body, fit for hard work.
Backed by a 12-month warranty, this low kilometre rig has only 271,159km clocked and a front mounted hoist with 4000mm clear space in body.
The Fuso generates 455hp and has an automatic transmission to make pulling any trailer a breeze.
Extra features include the truck’s electric tarp, 35-tonne tow bracket and ring feeder with trailer couplings.
To find out more call Trucks Direct on 02 8279 7034
If your business deals with a heavyduty workload, then this 2004 Barry Stoodley A Bogie Chassis Tipper could be just right.
Save time and money by reducing the number of trips needed with this sliding alloy body, reaching heights of 2600mm on each side wall.
Located in South Australia, this tipper also comes with airbag suspension and will be perfect for all heavy-duty needs.
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Beauty
With zero kilometres recorded on a recently completed full engine rebuild this 2012 Kenworth T609 is ready to enter the next phase of its working life.
Powered by the Cummins ISX 550hp engine the one owner truck comes with a complete service history and is fitted with a host of extras including a microwave and TV.
Rated to 97 tonne it has a 50-inch sleeper bunk.
For
call Sammut Agricultural Machinery on
DEALS Showcase
RIGHT
on track
Complete Tracking’s newest product offers an affordable integrated fatigue and dash camera solution
Complete Tracking has chosen an affordable Korean AI Dash Cam to use with its web-based telematics software. Images: Complete Tracking
Taking the power of technology and applying it to improve the safety and operational efficiencies of driving trucks is all part of a day’s work for the team at Complete Tracking. Complete Tracking director Joe Lo-ludice says his business has been working in the technology and telematics space for more than 25 years, fitting cars, trucks and machinery with the latest technology for safety and monitoring as it becomes available. He says that over time the business realised there was a market for an affordable fatigue and dash camera solution that could be fitted simply to trucks.
product is designed to help drivers to improve their driving habits and save fuel, while also offering the peace of mind of capturing the behaviour of others on the road ahead, particularly in the event of accidents or close calls.
Joe says the system is able to target key behaviours and alert drivers should they be seen using their mobile phones or appearing to be sleepy or fatigued.
It will also offer alerts when trucks are driving too close to the traffic ahead.
The AI Dash Cam is able to monitor for driver safety and fatigue, record incidents in front of the car, and track location through the GPS signals
With an idea in mind, Complete Tracking’s engineers set about testing technologies from around the world and settled on a Korean AI Dash Cam as the hardware to install to best link with Complete Tracking’s ever-evolving web-based telematics tracking software solution.
“We have a full development team in place for research and development and updates on all of our services based in Melbourne,” Joe says.
With cameras facing the road ahead, and back towards the driver, the AI Dash Cam
He says he had one client who decided to install the technology in his work ute to test it out and reported a favourable result.
“He told me: ‘I used to drive like an idiot – it’s forced me to improve my driver behaviour and I’m getting an extra 100km a tank’,”.
Fast take offs, heavy braking, and tailgating were the contributing factors that the driver had identified as costing him fuel and wear and tear, Joe says.
With GPS tracking, comprehensive reporting and DVR recording capacity, the AI Dash Cam product starts from $950.
Joe says drivers and companies are able to add to more cameras and a dash-mounted monitor if they like, with prices of customised systems quoted according to the scope of each job.
He says his team has spent the past 12 months trialling the technology in a couple of hundred vehicles to ensure its suitability for the broader market.
Part of that process had been working with clients to understand the types of “events” they would like the system to record and building those into a driver scorecard to offer meaningful feedback for drivers and their fleet managers.
To find out more about the AI Dashcam and Complete Tracking’s Telematics Platform go to https://www.completetracking.com.au/ ct-telematics-platform or call 0411 721 471.
A grand total of 33,248 trucks, across the light, medium and heavy-duty categories, have been sold in Australia from January 1 to October 31 this year.
The results, released in the latest T-Mark Data report from the Truck Industry Council, fall slightly short of the same time last year
Heavy Vehicles – Monthly Sales
Medium Vehicles – Monthly Sales
Light Vehicles – Monthly Sales
Kenworth continues to dominate the sales volumes in 2024.
Image: Kenworth Australia
where 34,420 trucks had been sold, a drop of about 3.4 per cent.
In the Heavy Duty segment though, the year-to-date results of 14,385 show 1.2 per cent growth from the year-to-date sales of 14,210 recorded as of October 31, 2023.
The Medium Duty segment is up too, with year-to-date sales of 6,723 versus last year’s results of 6,525 sales.
The Light Duty segment has taken a hit though, down 11.28 per cent on 2023 results with a total of 12,140 trucks sold so far this year.
Heavy duty
(Cab-chassis type vehicles, both rigid and prime mover, with three or more axles or two axles, a GVM > 8,000kg and GCM of > 39,000kg)
Kenworth’s 375 sales for the month of October 2024 put them 103 sales ahead of their closest rival, Volvo, at the top of this segment.
Year-to-date. Kenworth has clocked up 3,078 sales, streaking ahead of Volvo’s 2,689 and Isuzu’s 2,036.
The October 2024 top 10 sales results were: Kenworth (375), Volvo (272), Isuzu (230), Scania (120), Mack (84), Mercedes-Benz (80), Hino (77), Fuso (57), UD Trucks (51) and Iveco (46).
Medium duty
(Cab-chassis type vehicle with GVM > 8,000kg and GCM up to and including 39,000kg)
Isuzu and Hino remain on the top of the sales ladder in the medium duty segment as at the end of October 2024, however both brands have fallen behind their 2023 year-to-date results, with Isuzu down 201 trucks and Hino down 161 when compared to the same time last year.
The top 10 results for October were: Isuzu (347), Hino (215), Fuso (102), Hyundai (8), Iveco (8), UD Trucks (7), Volvo (4), MAN (4), Mercedes-Benz (2) and DAF (1).
Light duty
(Cab-chassis type vehicle with GVM of 3,501kg to 8,000kg inclusive)
Of the all the sections of the Australian truck sales market in 2024 it is the light duty segment that has taken a hit when compared to the same time in 2023.
To the end of October last year Isuzu had sold 6,272 trucks, Hino 2,487 and Fuso 2,414. In 2024 the results for October are Isuzu with 5,582 trucks old, Hino with 1,612 and Fuso 1,713.
One bright light on the brand front is Iveco, which has improved its year-to-date sales from 961 in October 2023 to 1,148 to October 31 this year.
In terms of October results the top 10 were: Isuzu (609), Fuso (184), Hino (142), Iveco (138), Fiat (89), Renault (68), Mercedes-Benz (29), Hyundai (23), LDV (10) and Volkswagen (10).
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There’s a buzz in the air at Collins Honey this month as the Bendigo-based business traverses Victoria and New South Wales with beehives in tow
Family business Collins Honey is buzzing day in and day out to keep their yellow-and-black banded friends in good health and pollinating the flora around Greater Bendigo and Victoria.
The Isuzu can be seen roaming the paddocks in Spring
The springtime sees Collins Honey engaged in moving a huge number of beehives — over 2,000 of them — to new locations, travelling across the region to satisfy their
Richard Collins is ready to move hives in his Isuzu FYJ
bees’ instinctual pollen collection drive and support good honey production.
Being established in the region (since 1955), the business visits a large number of longstanding clients and community partners, focusing on building mutually beneficial relationships with farmers and produce growers.
Getting bees from A to Z across Bendigo, into Victoria and as far north as New South Wales requires reliable transport, which comes in the form of a new Isuzu FYJ 300-350 Auto 8x4.
Lovingly dubbed the ‘Hive Hauler’, this unique FYJ 300-350 was purchased from Bendigo Isuzu (Poyser Trucks) where sales manager Luke Farrell assisted with the fitout of the customised body for hive transportation.
Hive Hauler features a GVM of 30,000 kg and an extra-long wheelbase length of 6.7 metres, ensuring plenty of payload for the heavy hives and space for their precious cargo.
A custom-built curtainside body with mesh curtains assists with airflow around the hives while keeping them safely contained during transport.
Supported by Isuzu’s 6UZ1-TCC six-cylinder, turbocharged engine, the FYJ 300-350 offers power at 257 kW (350 PS) @ 2,000 rpm and maximum torque of 1,422 Nm @ 1,400 rpm, providing the necessary grunt for the inclines and valleys of countryside driving.
Go with the flow
All honey collected by Collins Honey during the year comes back to base in Bendigo,
Images: Isuzu Australia
where it’s then used for a range of fresh and delicious honey products including oldfashioned creamed honey, chocolate-coated honeycomb, and a variety of honey with a flavour to suit all palates, such as ‘Benalla Red Stringy’ and ‘Hattah Mallee.’
Collins Honey can also be found at the Woodend Farmers Market, Castlemaine Farmers Market and Bendigo Community Farmer’s Market, as well as shops, corner stores and cafes throughout Bendigo and the Macedon Ranges and service stations in Kangaroo Flat and Strathdale.
“We will extract the honey we have collected throughout the year back in Bendigo, using our extractor which spins out the honeycomb from the frames into a vat,” says Richard Collins, director of Collins Honey and a third-generation beekeeper.
“Our extractor can spin 108 frames at once, so when we are in peak honey flow, we can get between three to six tonnes of honey in a single day!
“My dad (Norm Collins) has been a beekeeper for over 60 years… he started beekeeping when he was 13, with his dad (Norman Collins),” he explains.
“It all started one day when he was on his way home from school and saw an intense swarm of bees on a tree. He took the branch home to see what it was all about and the business has just grown from there.”
Good as gold
Collins Honey is buzzing to expand the business and their Isuzu truck fleet in years to come to ease the pressure off the new FYJ and Richard in moving hives around the country.
A trained chef as well as a truck driver, Richard puts his culinary expertise towards sharing the love of honey with his local community in Bendigo when he’s not out on the road. He is also keen to share the love of beekeeping with the younger generation.
“Without bees, our food supply is severely reduced, so I think what we're doing is essential for the future,” Richard says.
“My goal, and the goal of many other beekeepers, is to try and have more young people working within the industry.
“Everyone at Collins Honey wants to thank the community that has got us where we are today, including our industry partners in farming, as well as Isuzu and the team at Poyser Trucks in Bendigo.”
Pollination stations
Richard is pleased with the Isuzu FYJ's performance and road presence since collecting it in April this year, saying it has quickly become an integral part of the operation.
He says the FYJ’s heavy-duty Allison 4430 automatic transmission and twin-steer front axle make handling the truck a breeze — which is important when you’re in the driver’s seat multiple times per week during pollination season.
“The FYJ can cart 216 hives and there is even room and payload for our loader as well —with no issues about being over an acceptable weight.
“Studio Ink here in Bendigo have done the graphic design work for the logo and art for the hive hauler, Wizartry Signs applied our wrap, and Austruck created the custom body and curtains for us.
“We love supporting other local businesses at Collins Honey.”
Consistently offering Richard quality servicing and maintenance, Bendigo Isuzu is keen to keep Collins Honey’s on-road operations in good working order.
“We have always been able to rely on their service department, which is phenomenal,” Richard said.
“They are a local family business like us, and our experiences with the team there have been nothing but good.
“We can't afford to break down on the side of the road at night or risk the safety of the bees during the day, so we need a truck that can be trusted,” he continued.
“There are times where I have no phone reception, so it’s important to me to have a vehicle supported by a dealer network that can be relied on, no matter where I am.
“When I purchased the FYJ, I was really impressed with the six-year warranty and roadside assist package.”
“I was really impressed with the six-year
warranty, and roadside assist package.”
The versatile truck has room for equipment and bee hives
Shell card now accepted at 184 OTR locations
In good news for transport operators Shell Card is now accepted at more than 1,500 sites Australia-wide
Life has just got a lot easier for truckies plotting a path across Australia when it comes to making full use of the Shell Card when purchasing fuel.
Have a Shell Card,? It'll work at 184 OTR sites in Australia Shell Cards are now accepted at OTR stores
The finalisation of Viva Energy’s purchase of the OTR Group in March has added more than 180 OTR petrol station sites to the Shell Card network, which now exceeds 1,500 sites across the nation and features Shell, Liberty, Westside, S24, Mogas and OTR branded locations.
The OTR sites, heavily centred around South Australia and Victoria, are known for their strong convenience offerings and partnered fast food restaurants such as
Subway, Wokinabox, Guzman Y Gomez, Krispy Kreme, Hungry Jacks and Oporto.
The changeover means BP Plus cards will no longer be accepted at OTR sites and will be phased out over the coming months.
For South Australian transport operator Justin Jaensch of J & E Jaensch Transport, otherwise known as Jet Trucking, the expanded footprint for Shell Card in his state and along key freight routes is great news.
With eight prime movers in the Jet Trucking fleet moving a wide variety of freight interstate on a daily basis, fuel is a major expense.
Justin says his team operate a mix of road train and B Double tippers, tautliners, and open trailers, with the majority of their regular routes taking them to and from Adelaide, Western Australia, New South Wales Queensland and Victoria.
He says with the OTR sites moving across to Shell Card it made sense to have a look at what was on offer and, after some great communication from the Shell team, he was sold on coming on board.
Having the vast majority of his business’ fuel cost recorded on one card was also of great appeal on the administrative side.
“When you’re buying a little bit here, there and everywhere, it doesn’t seem to be as cost effective,” Justin says. “It also helps at the end of the month with our BAS and our accounting side. To have the majority of the usage for all of the trucks on one card it makes life a lot easier.”
For his drivers’ side of things, he says the OTR sites are popular as most of them have
Images: VIVA Energy
toilets and showers and driver amenities. Their locations on main freight routes out of Adelaide also appeal.
“Generally, they're aligned with a Subway, Hungry Jack's or an Oporto's or some sort of fast-food option, as well as the convenience store side of it. It definitely helps if you need to restock a few supplies.”
Justin says he’s found the Shell Card online portal very easy to navigate and was impressed by the data available for each of his trucks.
“You just log into that, and it has everything in real time that's going on with our account. You can lock cards instantly if one is lost, check your monthly spend, it's a really good system. It's good when you get on to a system like that, it just works.”
The Shell Card is available for anyone who has an ABN and one or more vehicles identified as being for business use. It seamlessly connects with accounting software Xero and MYOB, making end of month reporting and tax time easier when it comes to fuel expenses – offering the benefits of no more lost receipts or manual calculations.
Other highlights of the Shell Card package include competitive fuel discounts, builtin fraud protection, an Australian-based customer service team and access to over 120 years of expertise in supplying high quality fuels.
To assist with the transition to Shell Card at OTR sites, Shell Card has some great offers in market.
The signs are up as the Shell and OTR partnership moves to the next level
OTR sites offer a mix of fast food offerings, strong convenience product lines and quality fuels
Hino
HITS THE MARK
When the time came for B & J Reeves Transport to buy its first new truck Hino’s 700 Series jumped to the top of the wish list
Eight wheels and an eye-catching interior were the two hooks that put Hino’s 700 Series truck on the radar of owner driver Ben Reeves.
Ben, who operates as a sub-contractor emptying front lift bins for waste management giant Veolia in Brisbane, spotted the Hino on the stand at the last Brisbane Truck Show.
Realising it had the eight-wheel set up he requires in a truck in order to carry the weight of the compactor and front lifting apparatus,
he says he wandered over for a look.
The two-tone interior and modern layout of the dashboard kept him interested and the seed was planted for an upgrade to his first ever new truck to help with the task of emptying up to 120 bins a day between the hours of 1am and 1pm.
Deals on Wheels spoke to Ben just five weeks after he took delivery of his new wheels and it’s clear he’s enjoying the upgrade.
“It's a lot better than what I came from, but it was a 10-year-old truck, so it had done its time — it was pretty buggy. Everything's better in every way, really,” he says.
With a run that includes ducking under some of Brisbane’s lower bridges and traversing its older streets on a regular basis, Ben says the height of the Hino was another factor.
“I’ve got to get under trees and powerlines, and some bridges, so height was a big thing to consider.”
Fully loaded, Ben’s payload can be up to 10-tonne, putting plenty of pressure on tyres and suspension.
He says his 10-year-old truck had been fitted with airbag suspension which required constant maintenance and regular airbag replacement because of the weights involved.
His new truck has leaf springs.
“I was a little concerned about how rough
Ben Reeves is a big fan of his Hino 700 Series truck. Images: Hino Australia
The modern touch screen technology is one of the highlights
the ride might be going leaf front and rear, but it's actually really smooth,” Ben says.
Spending 12 to 13 hours a day in the cab negotiating car parks and loading bays at shopping centres, commercial sites, stadiums and more, cabin comfort is important.
The eye-catching interior, with its abundance of storage spaces, high quality seats, wraparound windscreen and wellplaced airconditioning vents have helped to make Ben’s working days more comfortable, particularly in the warm Queensland environment.
While Ben now operates the family business B & J Reeves Transport with his wife Jayde in charge of the admin side while he drives, he started in the transport industry as a driver working for others.
“Pretty much when I left school, I got into trucks, and then I found the right work at the right time.
“I actually worked for a contractor for about 12 months and then I ended up just being a company driver for four years before becoming an owner driver in 2016.”
With five weeks under his belt in the new truck Ben says he has been impressed by how smooth and quiet the truck is and the tuning of the safety systems.
“That infrared camera in the pillar that looks at your eyes when you're driving. That's been pretty good,” he said, referring to the Driver Monitor system that is part of the Hino SmartSafe package that is standard on all Hino 700 Series trucks.
“I was a bit worried about all of that sort of stuff, because I am constantly looking around, but it’s looking straight ahead.
“You put these trucks into some pretty tight spots, but it's very cluey on what you're doing, and it (the warning beep) doesn't go off very often at all.
“I've driven other trucks that have got the similar systems that pick up parked cars on the side of the road and jam the brakes on. This has never done that.”
The Hino SmartSafe package also includes a Pre-Collision System (PCS) with Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Pedestrian Detection (PD), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Reverse Camera and a suite of other standard safety features.
On the fuel economy side of things, Ben says it’s a bit too early to tell just how much of a difference the new truck will make, but already he’s “pretty impressed, it’s slightly better than the old truck”.
Ben’s Hino 700 Series meets Euro 6 exhaust emissions and is powered by a six-cylinder turbo diesel Hino A09C-VN engine producing 360hp with a maximum torque of 1,569Nm,
tied to an Allison 4440 6-speed automatic gearbox.
He bought the truck from the team at Sci-fleet Hino in Coopers Plains and said that dealing with sales consultant Nick O’Brien and General Sales Manager Nathan Murdoch had been a pleasure.
Nick says once he had the chance to talk to Ben and Jayde and explain the features and benefits of the Hino 700 FY 3036, it became clear the truck would be a good fit for the style of work that the couple were buying it for.
“They didn’t know much about the Hino at the start. They liked the safety features and the interior layout, which has a fresh and up to date feel when comparing with some of the other trucks they were looking at,” he says.
Nathan says Ben’s truck is the first 700 Series the dealership has sold for front loading bulk bin work and he expects more will follow as operators in the waste sector realise the benefits of the new 8x4 configurations, combined with the low tare weight of the trucks, the engine power and available torque.
He says a 480hp version of the same truck is part of the 700 Series range and are also available with a variety of wheelbases and transmissions to suit different applications including, but not limited to, waste, tippers, general freight and prime mover.
Ben and his truck empty about 120 bins a day
The comfortable and modern layout of the Hino 700 Series cabin captured Ben's attention at the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show
DEALS Showcase
Get set
FOR CASTLEMAINE
All roads lead to Castlemaine for the weekend of November 23-24 as the HHA & Larsen’s Castlemaine Rotary
Truck Show takes over the town
One of Australia’s most respected regional truck shows will open its gates on November 23 and 24.
a trishaw powered by humans. You will find it next to the big marquee in front of the main stage.
Campbell's Creek Recreation Reserve at 40 Campbell's CreekFryers Rd is the place to be on November 23 and 24 for the 2024 Castlemaine Rotary Truck Show. Image: Prime Creative Media
Now in its 36th consecutive year, the HHA & Larsen’s Castlemaine Rotary Truck Show attracts entries Australia-wide and is renowned for its family atmosphere.
While the industry takes the opportunity to show off their magnificent trucks and catch up with colleagues, the general community loves the show for its affordable food, great live music and free kids’ activities.
On centre stage both days will be National Bluegrass champions and five-time Golden Guitar winners, The Davidson Brothers. Joining them on Sunday will be USA-born and now Melbourne-based singer-songwriter, Sandee Facy. She can’t wait to come back with a band to sing some of her award-winning songs and latest single that looks poised to do just as well.
Kids under 16 are admitted free to the Show and can enjoy free activities such as Laser Tag, and pony and train rides. The Truckie’s Challenge, a firm favourite, is back giving all ages a chance to drive the big rigs using technology.
The main oval will be packed with 17 sponsor and 12 trade exhibitors including some new faces. Additional features will be the Steering for the Future careers’ truck, and the Defence Force will be demonstrating their versatile HX27 Twin Steer truck with an integrated flat rack tray load.
The oval and outer ground can host up to 300 trucks so plan to spend some time exploring to select who you think is worthy of the People’s Choice Award.
For those who are mobility challenged we recommend taking a complimentary tour in
Thanks to the support of Shamick Transport, a Truckie's Breakfast at 7.15am on Sunday will fuel the entrants up for the 9am convoy through the town. This is the one day of the year where no-one gets to sleep in with a chorus of truck horns and cheering crowds echoing throughout the town.
At 1pm on Sunday some highly tempting items will be auctioned off including a personal tour of the Kenworth Factory. A range of smaller items will also be offered through a silent auction.
The gates open to spectators at 12 noon on Saturday and 10am on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased at Gate 1 or online.
Truck entrants can also rock up and register on either day but make sure you arrive in time to register before the judging cut off time of 2pm on the Saturday and 11am on the Sunday. To save time you can also pre-enter online.
In addition to the trophies awarded across 15 categories, and more awards in recognition of the huge work that goes into preparing these trucks, a $1,000 cash prize is up for grabs for Truck of the Show, and $500 for Best on Ground (Saturday).
This year’s winner will also be invited by the Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia to attend a new event for regional winners Australia-wide to be held in conjunction with the 2025 Brisbane Truck Show. Castlemaine is one of six regional shows selected to participate.
Those wanting to pre-enter or purchase tickets should go to castlemainetruckshow.com
Other images: Castlemaine Truck Show
SCHEDULE:
Saturday 23 November
7am Truck registration opens
Noon Show opens to the public
12-8pm Food trucks available on site
2pm Registration closes (for judging)
4.30pm Best on Ground $500
Presentation — sponsored by HHA & Larsen’s
Sponsor exhibitors
ALL AMERICAN CUSTOM CHROME
CASTLEMAINE TOYOTA
CMV TRUCK & BUS - DERRIMUT
ETA HEAVY HAULAGE
HEAVY HAULAGE ASSETS
JBE TRUCK REPAIRS
KENWORTH DAF MELBOURNE
LARSEN'S TRUCK SALES
MEMBREY'S TRANSPORT & CRANE HIRE
Sunday 24 November
7am Truck registration opens
7.15am Truckie’s Breakfast sponsored by Shamick Transport
8.30am Convoy muster at Myring St 9am Convoy to ground
10am Show opens to the public
11am Truck registration closes
1pm Charity Auction
3pm Trophy Presentations including Truck of Show, $1,000 — sponsored by HHA & Larsen’s
4pm Show concludes
Trade exhibitors
AUSSIE FOOTY SHORTS
CALLIPARI WINES
CUSTOM CLASSICS
DA CAMPBELL TRANSPORT
DEFENCE FORCE
DRAKE COLLECTIBLES
FERDINAND LEATHER CO
FRONTLINE SOCKS
JUST CRACKIN AUSTRALIA
NEW AGE CONCEPTS | RAZOR INTER. | VELLA HAULAGE
PEARLCRAFT STEERING WHEELS
R&R MCCLURE EXCAVATIONS
RHINO GUARDS
ROYAN'S TRANSPORT ACCIDENT REPAIRS
SHAMICK TRANSPORT
SULLIVANS SKETCHING
TCB TRANS
ZEPHYR PRO AUSTRALIA
KD COUNTRY CLOTHING
KUSTOM MERCHMORE
ROLLIN STAINLESS
SWAGS FOR UTES
STEERING THE FUTURE
YBI-FX
CALENDAR Events
NOVEMBER
Castlemaine Rotary Truck Show
November 23-24, 2024. Castlemaine, VIC.
Held at Campbells Creek Recreation Reserve and organised by the Castlemaine Rotary Club, this year’s truck show is gearing up to be bigger and better than ever. Attendees can expect plenty of well-presented trucks on display, as well as food, a licenced bar, kids’ rides, free health checks and live music.
For more information , visit rotarycastlemaine. org.au/page/truck-show
Mount Gambier Family Truck Show
November 30, 2024. Mount Gambier Showgrounds, SA.
The Mount Gambier Family Truck Show is back, kicking off 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.
For more information , visit mgfamilytruckshow.com.au
JANUARY
Geelong Classic Truck & Vintage Machinery Show
January 13-14, 2025. Geelong Showgrounds, VIC.
The 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.
For more information, visit classictruckandmachinery.com.au
Koroit Truck Show
January 25, 2025. Victoria Park, Koroit, VIC.
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!
For more information, email koroittruckshow@gmail.com or see KoroitTruck-Show on facebook
More than 770 trucks were present at the 2024 Kenworth Klassic in Clarendon in September. Image: Warren Aitken
DEALS Events
FEBRUARY
Lardner Park Heritage Vehicle Display
February 1-2, 2025. Lardner Park, VIC.
The dates have already 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.
Tooradin Tractor Pull and Truck Show
February 15, 2025. Rutter Park, Tooradin, VIC.
Trucks, cars and tractors will turn out in force at Tooradin for the always-popular show at Rutter Park. Be ready to hear the roar of the tractors competing in the tractor pull, to watch the burnout cars smoke it up for glory and to check out a great selection of old and new trucks on show for your viewing pleasure.
For more information, go to facebook.com/ tooradintractorpulltruckshow
Angaston Truck Show & Shine 2025
February 22, 2025. Angaston, SA.
The Angaston Show Truck Show & Shine will be held on Saturday February 22, in conjunction with the Angaston Show. They welcome all trucks of all ages, conditions and uses from all
areas, locally and from far afield. More details to follow.
Camp Quality Geelong Convoy
February 23, 2025. Beckley Park, Geelong, VIC.
Camp Quality’s Convoy Geelong is more than just a drive. It’s a powerful display of camaraderie and care from Victoria's truck driving community, which comes together every year to support kids facing cancer and their families.
Join Convoy Geelong once again as they celebrate their 10-year anniversary with a 40km circuit.
The convoy starts and finishes at Beckley Park, where an awards ceremony, free family fun festival and show'n'shine complete a fantastic day out.
Help them put the ‘fun’ back in ‘fundraising’ as they help Camp Quality bring positivity, fun and laughter back into the lives of kids facing cancer. For more information, go to fundraise. campquality.org.au/convoy/geelong or phone 1300 662 267 or email convoy@campquality. org.au
Colac Truck & Ute Show
March 22, 2025. Colac Showgrounds, Colac, VIC.
The date has been set for the Colac Truck and Ute Show supported by key sponsors including Land Transport, CMTP, Modern Towing & Truck
The Gold Coast Truck Show 2024 was a big hit. Image: Julie Munro
Repairs, AKD, Morris Transport and Gibbens Livestock Transporter.
For more information, go to facebook.com/ colactruckanduteshow
Brisbane Truck Show
May 15-18, 2025. Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, QLD.
Tickets are now on sale for the much-anticipated 2025 Brisbane Truck Show, the southern hemisphere’s largest festival of all things trucking.
Building on the success of past shows, all exhibition space is already sold out, guaranteeing attendees over 30,000 square metres of exhibitions of the latest trucks, trailers, technologies, and parts and accessories available on the Australian market.
The 2025 show from May 15-18 will be a critical component of Truck Week, a week-long festival incorporating an array of activations in nearby South Bank Parklands, including the Premier Boxing Series, Australia’s Best Show N Shine, and The Depot careers and entertainment hub – plus the Heavy Equipment and Machinery Show at RNA Showgrounds and the Heritage Truck Show
For more information , visit www.brisbanetruckshow.com.au
Scenic Rim Truck Show 2025
May 31, 2025. Jimboomba State School, QLD.
Get excited for the Scenic Rim Truck Show! Held from 10am to 6pm, the show will feature plenty of trucks along with market stalls, rides, entertainment, raffles and a live auction. All profits will be donated to the KIDS Foundation. For more information, visit www.scenicrimtruckshow.com or email scenicrimtruckshow@outlook.com
Alexandra Truck Show 2025
June 7, 2025. Alexandra, VIC.
Save the date for the King's Birthday weekend and plot a path to Alexandra in Victoria for one of the best regional truck shows on the Calendar. Held on tarmac in the town's main street the annual truck show offers a full day of festivities and a long list of trophy categories for those keen to show and shine.
For more information , visit www.alexandratruckshow.com.au
Every month we turn the spotlight on show-going truck lovers and find out a little more about their passion projects
Bakewell blue
Another addition to Kevin’s ‘Bakewell Blue’ fleet. Image: Smokin Stacks Photography
In the world of trucking, what’s more iconic than a good ol’ classic Kenworth?
Maybe try two matching Kenworths painted a dazzling colour named after you…
That’s iconic.
In 1998, owner of Bakewell Haulage Kevin Bakewell needed a truck repair following an accident.
Unfortunately, the original colour of the rig
Words: Tiane Gavillucci
had been discontinued, so he matched up a similar shade and patented it ‘Bakewell Blue’.
His Kenworths stood side by side at the Wauchope Yesteryear Truck and Machinery Show in early October – the glistening blue trucks catching eyes from all over.
Both rigs, one a T404 SAR and the other a T610 SAR, were bought brand new and are impressive in their own right.
“Last year the 19-year-old T404 underwent a full refurbishment,” Kevin says.
“The new driveline cap was taken off, everything was redone. Though it cost me a lot of money, it was worth it.”
The stunning blue is decorated with white and light blue scrollwork, with a slight red colour outlining the perimeter and a stainlesssteel grill and exhaust pipes.
Kevin says his drivers voluntarily attended the Yesteryear Show and while it was home to lots of good-looking rigs for the weekend, before anything else, it was a great excuse to get together and catch up with old mates.
“It was a get-together really, and there were a lot of really nice trucks there," he adds.
Buying his first truck in 1983, Kevin has been in the transport industry for 41 years now, originally working as an owner driver
This pair of blue rigs are double trouble! Image: Sydney G Ramsay
for 25 years before establishing Bakewell Haulage.
“I had an accident where I injured myself falling out of a truck, which was so serious I had to give up driving,” he says.
“My wife and I have grown the business from there.”
Today, Bakewell Haulage boasts a fleet of 46 vehicles, ranging from nimble two-tonners to robust prime movers.
Accolades aplenty
The vibrant roar of engines and the gleam of polished chrome filled the air at Matty Hillcoat's Truckies' Day Out, and at the heart of it all was Masondale Pty Ltd.
Their magnificent fleet of eight not only stole the show, but also took home multiple accolades.
Masondale’s Kenworth T659 took home the coveted title for Best Ruff n’ Tuff Log Truck and its T410 grabbed second in the category as well.
They came close to a win, scoring second or third in many other categories including, Best Heavy Haulage Truck, Largest Fleet and the People’s Choice award.
Masondale’s operations manager Gavin Lorensen says that although the awards were a huge achievement, that wasn’t what the
show was about for them.
“We were there for a good cause, we weren’t there to win anything,” he says.
“The day is to raise money for SIDS – we’re just lucky the boys put a lot of effort into cleaning the trucks up.
“We’re local and involved in the transport industry, and this was a local event, so we thought, why not get involved?”
Masondale’s distinct yellow paint job sets their trucks apart, but that wasn’t the colour they had originally had in mind.
“About 17 or 18 years ago we needed a truck fast, and Brown and Hurley only had that one in stock,” he says.
“It just happened to be that colour, that’s how it all started.”
Located in Queensland, since 1990 Masondale has been hauling timber logs statewide, branching out into heavy haulage in 2001.
Due to the recent rise of tiny homes, container homes and living off the grid, Masondale have also become specialists in relocating tiny homes Australia-wide.
Now with a fleet of 28 striking rigs, the business holds a bold identity within the transport industry, brightening up Aussie roads and truck shows with its heavy haulage powerhouses.
Masondale’s happy yellow fleet was established in 1990. Image: Riley’s Photography
Rock Star Lyrics
American rock star Bruce Springsteen’s lyrics are splashed across the backs of Rasmussen
Bulk Haulage’s rolling tributes.
Check out this rockin’ old-school Kenworth.
Image: Diesel Fumes Photography
Rasmussen’s latest rig, a charming T909.
Image: Diesel Fumes Photography
Owners Marty and Lisa Rasmussen have transformed their trucks to showcase titles of songs like "Born to Run” and “Working on a Dream”, the cherry on top to these immaculate-looking rigs for many Springsteen fans, we're sure.
The family business owns six trucks, but graced Casino Truck Show with two of their dazzling Kenworths in August this year — their latest rig, a T909 bought new in 2020, and a striking 1987 W model that they have lovingly returned to its former glory.
“We’ve done a full restoration on it over about 10 years,” Marty says.
“We started off with a paint job and got a bit carried away, so ended up with pretty much new everything.”
Each truck is similar, but unique in its own right.
“We bought a second-hand truck years ago
that was a grey/blue colour. So, I decided to keep that, and add some stripes,” he says.
“We like to make them the same but different, so that they match, but they’ve all got their own identity.”
The pair of Kenworths share the same famous colours, a grey base with a differentiating blue striped design, and both sport stainless steel exhaust pipes.
Rasmussen’s gleaming trucks are bound to catch eyes, which they most certainly did at Casino, cruising home with the award for Best Kenworth — pre 2000s for the W model, and this wasn’t the first time either.
“At Casino last year we got in the top five overall with that exact same truck,” he chuckles.
“Getting recognised makes it all worthwhile.”
Running this business is no easy job, but earning crowning achievements like this after 22 years as owners continues to motivate Marty and Lisa to keep doing what they love.
Roadscope: AI Dash Camera Solutions and GPS Tracking
Roadscope is an AI Dash Camera solution that employs edge computing to improve driver safety and behaviour, help prevent accidents, reduce running cost and manage vehicles fleet logistics.
Roadscope recognizes up to 22 dangerous driving activities and provides real-time tracking and alerts used to improve drive behaviour and safety. The system is Cloud base which means event video and information will be sent directly to our online platform for real time access without the need to visit the vehicle.
• Tail gating
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• Unfasten Seatbelt
• Speed Violation
• Harsh Turn
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• Rapid Acceleration
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• Sudden Stop
• Collision Risk
Pedestrian
• Blind spot detection
Contact our Team at Complete Tracking for all your Telematics and Camera fleet solutions
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It's action stations early in Brisbane. With some trucks having lined up the night before, it was a packed Mica St by 6am on convoy day
GoldenGATTON
The 20th anniversary of the Lights on the Hill Memorial Service attracted more than 700 trucks across two convoys
Words & Images | Warren Aitken
ILOTH has become a staple in the trucking calendar, a chance to get together with mates and remember those we have lost. It’s not always easy, but it is always needed
don’t know how they do it, but the organisers of the annual Lights On the Hill Convoy must be slipping money to someone upstairs – someone with a big influence when it comes to weather patterns. For whilst I am writing this wrap-up amongst a barrage of lightning strikes, rolling thunder and whimpering dogs, it was only a few days ago the annual Gatton pilgrimage was undertaken under pristine weather conditions. Just like last year. Just like the year before. I swear someone has friends in high places and manages to book the perfect weekend conditions for the showpiece event that
remembers and recognises our industry. However you do it, well done!
This year’s convoy marked a special 20th anniversary of the Lights on the Hill Memorial Service and saw the official truck count hitting 732 between the two convoys, Brisbane and Toowoomba.
The lead truck for each convoy was drawn from a list of pre-registered vehicles and resulted in Jarrett Transport Solutions leading the Brisbane-based convoy away from its Mica St staging area. Meanwhile up at Brown & Hurley in Toowoomba, Darcy Transport had the honour of leading off the Toowoomba-based convoy.
Once I convinced the IFS Heavy Haulage Boys that I wasn’t shooting for their OnlyFans page, I managed to get a PG-rated photo of Aiden Hegarty, Alex Easton and Jarrod Sloan
Whilst the numbers of trucks were definitely impressive, and shows the importance and significance of the event to truckies, it was the outpouring of public support that also needs acknowledgement. There was hardly a section of road between Brisbane and Toowoomba where the truckies were not jumping on the horns or waving madly to the throngs of bystanders who turned out to enjoy the convoy and support the truckies.
The convoy was merely the entrée to a weekend of remembrance and celebration.
Once the 732 trucks had found their way into the Gatton Showgrounds, there was no shortage of entertainment to keep the little kids, the big kids and biggest of kids — the truckies — entertained. With free rides for the little kids, markets and food vans for the big kids, and a bar and concert for the biggest kids, it was a huge day out in perfect weather.
Headlining act Lane Pittman was just the
top of the entertainment table. There were also great performances from Kerry Kennedy, The Viper Creek Band, Jase Lansky and a few more that I didn’t get a chance to catch. It was just non-stop.
I’d love to do a full rundown on the food vans there but that would not shine a good light on my dietary intake for the weekend. Take my word for it though, the food options were amazing. In between all the singing, drinking and eating there was also a group of
Corey ‘Joe Dirt’ Wells, Craig Wells and Lydia Cave took a break from polishing the stunning JKA K200 to pose up for me
Traffic controller Jye Reading had the best spot at the Brisbane staging area, able to catch all the trucks rolling in
DEALS Events
Sunshine Coast-based Fruithaul had a stunning fleet turnout for this years LOTH. Jordon Bottle, Jeff and Hunter De Jona and Nathan Gibson
Tessa Jan and Lindsay Larner, along with Cheryl Doessel from L&T Haulage in Mundubbera, were down for their very first LOTH convoy
QHT & Springfield Lakes Towing had around 17 vehicles in this year's convoy
Mick and Mel Lake with their stunning Seattle Kenworth. All customisation and rat-rodding of this beast was done by Mick's Truckin Stainless business
Longtime participants of the LOTH convoy, Brisbane-based K.S. Easter Transport. Jane Reynolds, Lynette Brazel, Liesl Hales, Daniel Frances and Linkin Williams
First-time convoy participants John Smallbon and Bernie Costello had this smart-looking Mack Anthem on point for the 2024 convoy
The Bean Express Team – Chris Doosey, Tom Charlton and Jack Della
Jake Kimber with the 2000 Freightliner FL112 he drives for Buxton Transport
Scott Russell from Jackls Trucking in Brisbane, stands with his newest driver, Annie Jonsson and her local delivery Isuzu
Brisbane-based VE Group had a huge selection of their outstanding Kenworths participating from the Toowoomba end of the LOTH convoy
As is the norm, Nolan's Interstate Transport were out in force, leading off with their latest cancer awareness 610 Kenworth. The Nolan's team deservedly picked up the Best Large Fleet award at this year's show
The
was the perfect location to catch the convoy in all its glory
Gatton Bypass
Another regular attendee of the LOTH is the Bondwoods Transport team from Brisbane
DEALS Events
judges going through the hundreds of trucks and assessing a plethora of prizes for the truck show winners. Truck of the Show this year went to the outstanding S&J McMahon Kenworth.
Land Transport's 40th anniversary X-series Western Star rolling ahead of the rest of the Toowoomba convoy
Whilst Saturday is all about the convoy and the celebrations, Sunday held the traditional Lights on the Hill Memorial Service at the Memorial Wall at Lake Apex Park in Gatton. With around 60 trucks in attendance, and a couple of thousand people on hand, 54 names were added to the wall this year.
The emotional ceremony also included the planting of a commemorative tree by the local
mayor, as a special acknowledgement of the 20th anniversary of the service.
It is sometimes hard to see the positives during the ceremony, as it is a time to reflect on the loved ones we’ve lost. However, this year’s event also demonstrated the strength and pride within our industry. A record number of trucks and what looked like a record number of supporters were on hand at the Gatton Showgrounds, as well as once again, an amazing weekend of weather. However you did it folks, keep that good weather coming, keep the tributes going and roll on 2025.
It wasn’t all polished tanks and painted tyres. Christie from PutYaFaceOn was flat out painting up the little kids all day. As seen here with Sarah Lecomber and her three-year-old daughter Sophia
The great part of LOTH is how it draws in all the family. There's plenty to do and plenty of facilities to cater for everyone. With scorching weather, having plenty of covered seating was much appreciated by the thousands in attendance
Brighter
DAYS AHEAD
The recent One Brighter Day event was a great day out for truck, car and bike enthusiasts alike
Words: Kayla Walsh
There was a small but mighty selection of big rigs on show.
Image: Madi Morgan
Truck of the Show went to Tim Shine’s Kenworth T908. Image: Madi Morgan
After a rainy few days, the weather gods were merciful for the recent One Brighter Day event in Whittlesea, Victoria, with sunshine warming the showgrounds as trucks, utes, cars and bikes rolled in.
Between 1,500 and 2,000 people came along to enjoy the vehicle display, live music, kids’ games and more.
Organiser Michelle Dundon proclaimed the event a success, telling Deals on Wheels: “We were extraordinarily lucky that the rain held off on the day, because it rained the two days before and the day after!
“We were happy with the crowd, and it all went really well.”
Dundon is the General Manager of the Brighter Days Foundation, an organisation that provides support to children’s charities.
The foundation runs a three-day family fundraising event called the Brighter Days Festival in Bright each year, with bikes, cars and music.
This year, they decided to organise an extra show, One Brighter Day — adding trucks into the mix.
“We’ve been running the Brighter Days Festival for 13 years, so this was a mini breakout and a way to launch our 2025 raffle, which is our main fundraising stream for the year,” Dundon says.
“We also thought it would be a chance to expose the Brighter Days brand and fundraising efforts to those who can’t make it to Bright on Labour Day weekend, to see what it’s all about.”
Because the Brighter Days festival doesn’t usually feature trucks, and a contact in the trucking industry let them down, they didn’t have the display of big rigs that they were hoping for.
However, they did rustle up a small lineup, including a Ford Bronco tow truck and a nice selection of Kenworths.
Awards were judged by show sponsor Spectrum Towing, who also brought two of
their Hinos along on the day.
Truck of the Show went to Tim Shine’s T908, while Drew Mirrielees took out the People’s Choice award.
Aside from the trucks, there were over 200 cars and approximately 75 bikes on display — as well as plenty of entertainment for all the family.
“We had free kids’ activities, face painting, and outdoor oversized games like Connect Four and Dominos.
“We also had an event called The Amazing Chase, where families break up into teams of four and get sent on a kind of treasure hunt to find the answers to a list of questions, and the best answers go into a draw to win a prize.”
The crowd was also treated to live performances from the Screamin’ Eagles, Reece Mastin, Tristan Ross, Bob ‘Bongo’ Starkie and his Skyhook Show, and former The Voice contestant Shanae Watson.
Dundon says the event was very well supported by the local community, with Scouts picking up cans, the local football/ netball club staffing the bar, and the Lions club putting together the barbecue.
Dundon was delighted to sell plenty of tickets for the Brighter Days Foundation’s raffle, which has a selection of amazing prizes up for grabs.
“We have a Ford Ranger with an off-road conversion worth $123,000, it’s pretty flash,” she says.
“Harley Davison has also donated a customised motorbike, so the prizes are really good.”
She says there’s a lot of interest in the One Brighter Day show becoming an annual event – so watch this space.
It was a great day out for the 1,500-2000 who attended.
Mirrielees took out the People’s Choice award with this stand-out Kenworth. Image: Madi Morgan
Drew
Some of the band members from Bob Starkie and his Skyhooks Show.
Image: Kevin Manning
Image: Kevin Manning
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Dry times
AT IVANHOE
Truckies came from far and wide to the small town of Ivanhoe for its popular Truck,
Words: Kayla Walsh
Images: Ivanhoe Dry Times Truck, Tractor, Car and Bike Show
Tractor, Car and Bike Show
The Ivanhoe Dry Times Truck, Tractor, Car and Bike Show was back with a bang this year as vehicles of all shapes and sizes rolled into the Sahara Oval in the small NSW town.
Founded in 2019 by local man Allan Carmichael, the biennial show brings the transport community together for two days of fun for all the family.
Graeme Danson went home with Truck of the Show for this eyecatching B-model Mack
Carmichael tells Deals on Wheels: “We got the idea to start the show in 2019 because it was a really dry season, and everyone was a bit down in the dumps.
“We wanted to do it again in 2021 but then Covid came along so we pushed it to 2022, then we came back this year and we’re hoping to do it again in 2026!”
The event featured entertainment for young and old, from the trucks, tractors, bikes and cars on display to market stalls, a tractor pull, and live music.
There was also a raffle for kids under 10, with free tickets on entry to the oval, and an auction which partly raised money for local man Glenn Spinks.
Spinks suffered an aneurism on Australia
Day this year and has been in treatment ever since.
“We grew up with him out on the Tasman Road, and then he came home to work in the area, before going to Cobar to work,” says Carmichael.
“He got crook about 12 months ago and he’s still going through rehabilitation.”
The rest of the funds raised on the day will go towards a variety of local causes.
“We’re not 100 per cent how much we’ve raised but we’re probably up around $30,000.
“We’ll be having a meeting to decide how the money is allocated.”
Carmichael says people came from far and wide for the popular show.
“Chris and Julie Lindsay came from Sydney with their 1970 ZC Fairlane towing a 1967 Viscount, and Johnson’s Truck and Coach Service came from Mildura with two brandnew Macks.
“Brad Johnson arrived at 3am on Saturday and brought the big Mack bulldog that he had in his yard, as a display, which was great.”
A handful of awards were also given out
over the weekend, with MP Roy Butler given the important task of choosing the best truck, tractor, car and bike.
Graeme Danson went home with Truck of the Show for his B-model Mack, winning an unusual prize for his efforts.
“Roy had a car on display himself, so he knows a bit about vehicles,” Carmichael adds.
“The winners were given a Yeti engraved by local and a great supporter of the show, Kate at JS & KJ Rural Contracting.”
Carmichael had his own truck on display at the event — a vintage R-Model Mack.
“We put together the R-Model for the show — it's an ‘86 model and it was sort of left to die because it didn’t have a motor or gearbox in it.
“We went down to Victoria to see it and the fella that had it put the motor and gearbox back in it.
“Other than that, it didn’t need too much work, so we didn’t have to spend much money on it.”
Overall, Carmichael is happy with how the event went.
“It went really good, everyone enjoyed themselves. We’re looking forward to 2026!”
Johnson’s Truck and Coach Service brought along some of their fleet, including two new Macks
A classic Atkinson and Kenworth attracted attention
Brad Johnson’s Mack Bulldog stood proudly on display
Allan Carmichael’s 1986 R-model Mack is a real looker. Image: Allan Carmichael
Convoy
FOR A CAUSE
Perth’s Camp Quality Convoy was a roaring success with more than $400,000 raised for children in need
Words: Tiane Gavillucci Images: Damo Nguyen
Surpassing expectations, the event raised $410,000 for kids facing cancer
For every child and their family, battling through the realities of a cancer diagnosis is an unimaginably challenging time.
Truckies who wanted to show their support for these families in a fun way rolled into the second ever Camp Quality Convoy on October 13 as the sun glimmered over Perth.
The weekend absolutely smashed expectations with an incredible $410,000 raised, far surpassing the $250,000 target.
Truck enthusiasts and supporters gathered at the end of the parade, where a family fun day was held as an extravagant celebration of community spirit and compassion.
Shane Coyne led the convoy, earning his rightful spot as lead truck by raising an unbelievable $25,643.
Making an outstanding difference to kids facing cancer, Shane’s monster green and white Kenworth with its detailed Aussieinspired graphics kept the crowds in absolute awe as he cruised at the front of the pack.
Camp Quality general manager of revenue Sandie Hall says the 53-kilometre-long
convoy welcomed 180 trucks and over 1,000 people through the gates.
“As you can imagine, the kids and the adults were blown away by the sight of 180 very big, very shiny, and very noisy trucks,” she says.
“They absolutely loved it and loved waving to all the truck drivers and their families as they drove by. Everyone was smiling, the atmosphere was just electric.”
Children’s faces lit up as they waved to the convoy of prime movers, tow trucks, box trucks, and even historic vehicles from the Historic Commercial Vehicle Club of WA.
But the festivities didn’t stop there…
“We had a show 'n' shine and a family festival for the wider community to enjoy,” she says.
“The festival had kids' rides, face painting, go-karts, food trucks, a remote-control truck display and giant games.”
Visitors perused displays that included the Instruckta VR Truck and emergency service showcases from the local fire brigade and ambulance.
Trucking legend Sludge, from Channel 7 show Outback Truckers, also made a special guest appearance, bringing his famous Phantom truck along.
For Sandie and her team, the success of the convoy means everything.
“It means the world. As a small team, we rely on colleagues from across the organisation putting their hand up to help out, alongside our amazing Camp Quality volunteers, particularly our wesCarpadians, to deliver the day,” she says.
The wesCarpadians are people who have participated in a 2,400km motoring challenge organised by Camp Quality, the wesCarpade.
“Everyone brings along a great team spirit and works incredibly hard across the weekend to make sure things go smoothly."
Sandie says Camp Quality’s first priority is to
deliver a safe event for everyone involved. Its second priority is celebrating the incredible fundraising efforts of the WA trucking community, which will significantly impact kids facing cancer across the state.
“From speaking to many participants, I know the event is an important one for them too — it gives them an opportunity to get together, connect and celebrate the values of the trucking community, which are on full display across the day.”
Perth’s Camp Quality Convoy was more than just a fundraiser – it was community gathered by a common cause, serving as a reminder the profound impact generosity can have.
With the sum raised, Camp Quality is poised to continue its mission of supporting kids facing cancer and their families.
A total of 180 trucks filled the streets
Shane Coyne’s Kenworth was the lead truck, raising an incredible $25,643
Kids had plenty to see and do, with truck and activities galore!
Over 1,000 family members and truck lovers strolled through the gates
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A family impacted by bullying decide to create the Truckies Against Bullying convoy to make a stand for a great cause
Words: Tiane Gavillucci
Images: Sandy Lattin
As a result of their son being bullied, this event was very important to the Lattin family
It costs nothing to be kind.
Andrew and Sandy Lattin know this saying to be true, more so following the experience of their then 16-year-old son who was being bullied at school.
As the bullying got worse, it came to the Lattins' attention that their son had been contemplating suicide.
Eventually both of their children had to be taken out of school because of this mistreatment.
“We put a call out on Channel 40 to see if there was anyone in Bendigo that would allow our son to take photos and climb all over their trucks, because he is truck mad – he's got Kenworths everywhere in his bedroom,” Andrew says.
Check out this Kenworth glistening in the Bendigo sun
“We had 18 trucks say yes, they were willing. A guy mentioned we should do a truck show in Bendigo, and I said, 'Done'!”
“Five months later, in November last year, we held the first ever Truckies Against Bullying convoy truck show to run through the streets of Bendigo.”
This family transformed pain into purpose, and from that simple plea, emerged a vibrant community event willing to advocate for an important cause.
The show kicked off for its second year in October, with a convoy of 30 trucks parading through the heart of Bendigo, each horn blaring a message of support.
Andrew expressed his gratitude to those who got behind the event.
“It was really touching," he says. “We had Velocity Truck Centres as a major sponsor,
providing us with merchandise within six weeks from hearing about our show.
“They even had one of their smaller trucks in the convoy with us on display, it was just amazing.
“Headspace got behind us, as well as the Victorian Brotherhood because we’re also about men’s mental health, it’s just as important.”
Andrew says the moment that stuck out most for him was seeing the excitement on the kids’ faces.
“Seeing the kids smile as we drove through town, seeing them run out of their driveways to give all the boys a big arm pump and getting the participants in our convoy to toot their horns as they stood there with their mums and dads, that was the biggest highlight.”
This year, despite unpredictable weather that threatened to put a damper on the festivities, the turnout was great, with around 200-300 attendees filling up the venue.
Among the roaring engines there were
tippers and little rigids, but a standout was the stunning black 909 Kenworth known as "Karma," dedicated to a cancer survivor, featuring a grim reaper flipping someone off.
“Every truck at our show, it doesn't matter whether it's clean, dirty, blinged up or not – we don't care, it’s just as important as the truck before it, and the one after it,” Andrew says.
“The drivers of those trucks are important because they support us and the cause.
"It’s a way to show those that are bullied that they have friends, and that’s us truckies.”
Peter Sadler Transport was chosen as lead truck for the convoy.
“If your truck is registered by a certain date, your name will go into a hat to be drawn for lead truck,” Andrew explains.
“The owner’s kids were just in tears when I announced the news.
"They were so excited that they were almost crying, and so was he! That's the sort of thing that we like doing.”
In addition to the truck displays, the event
Peter Sadler was lead truck for the Truckies Against Bullying convoy
featured a range of activities from face painting for kids to performances by local comedians and musicians.
But organising this event was a whirlwind of emotions for Andrew, particularly after losing his brother-in-law to cancer just weeks prior.
“My son sat in the passenger seat in the convoy, holding a photo of him – we got to take him for his last ride,” he says.
“The day was so meaningful. The trucking industry was built on camaraderie and mateship and people say that’s all falling apart now, but through the convoy, I get to see that come together one day of the year and that means the world to me.
“I’ve been in this industry a long time. I know what it used to be like, and to see what it’s like now is heartbreaking, but seeing it back to what it was all those years ago, even for one day, makes it all worthwhile.”
Feedback from the community has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing a desire for Truckies Against Bullying to become a staple event in Bendigo.
A stranger commented on a post Sandy put up on Facebook about the show, writing that she had been bullied and this is the kind of event the council needs to get behind to help it grow.
“When I read comments like that from people in the community, it honestly means the world – that this is what the community wants, they’re behind us. That definitely pulled on the heart strings.”
Andrew and Sandy’s commitment to the cause is unwavering. They’re already planning for next year’s event, scheduled for the first weekend in October 2025 – with hopes to expand the convoy and engage even more local businesses.
Trucks old and new took over a small country town for one of the highlights of the regional truck show calendar
Words: Kayla Walsh
Images: Truckspotting
Ararat
The Boort Truck Show has grown more and more popular since the first event took place in 2009
The sun was shining in the Victorian town of Boort as 140 rigs rolled in for the annual truck show.
Organiser Heath Saunders tells Deals on Wheels that there was a great mix of trucks, from vintage through to brand-new models.
“There was such a high standard of trucks on the day, the judges had their work cut out for them,” he says.
“Whiteheads from Mount Gambier brought their latest 909 in full combination with the trailer, which was definitely a stand-out — that won Rig of the Show.
“The Boort Truck Show is a real get-together. There are a lot of trucks we have here that you don’t see in the usual show circuit because they are mainly working trucks."
Held at the local showgrounds in conjunction with the Boort Agricultural and Pastoral Society Show, Saunders estimates that there were 3,500-4,000 people in attendance on the day.
“The sun was shining, with temperatures
around the high 20s to mid-30s, and we had a great crowd,” he says.
Trucks aside, there was plenty to entertain young and old at the event — from kids’ rides to dog trials and sheep shearing.
“There’s something for everyone,” Saunders added.
Saunders, who is a signwriter by trade, says he’s delighted to see how the truck show has grown since its first event in 2019.
“I actually came up with the idea for the truck show to reinvigorate our local Agriculture and Pastoral Society Show.
“I thought if we incorporated a truck show it would give it a bit of strength and keep it going.
"We had a couple of years off over Covid, so this was our fourth show.
“It’s really starting to gain some traction and getting a good name for itself.”
The event was capped off with live music and a firework display – with attendees also lucky enough to catch the spectacular Aurora Australis lighting up the sky.
Whitehead Mount Gambier’s new truck and trailer stood out to the judges
This W Model got plenty of admiring glances
In the evening, there was another kind of show — the Aurora Australis!
Holmberg’s
looking large Frankling Truck & Silo showed off its fancy fleet
Bendigo Heavy Towing brought this flash rig along
This vintage “Mack Muncher” Kenworth isn’t shy!
Western Star
This special anniversary Mack, owned by Rhys Sheppard, got plenty of admiring looks
Truckin’ good pals Brad and Jim enjoyed the day
Category winners
Chocs Hayman Memorial Award:
Rhys Sheppard – R Model Mack
Farm Truck:
Nelson Farms – K200 Kenworth
Special Purpose:
Nichol Trading – Scania Spreader truck
Rigid: Tim McCarthy – Scania
Best Fleet:
Fuzztrans Rushworth
Display: R Rawlins – Atkinson & Pan trailer
Vintage:
Murray Keller – 1918 Day Elder
Paint:
Dylan Slater – T600 Kenworth
Local:
Darcy Tomichael – T909 Kenworth
Signwriting:
Jarrod Bloomfield – K200 Kenworth
People’s Choice:
Nick Gierisch – T909 Kenworth
Best Under 2 Years Old:
Robbie Bale – SAR Legend
Best In Show:
Damien Reed (Whiteheads) – T909 Kenworth
Top 10
Paul Neal – K100G Kenworth
William McDonald – T900 Legend
Tubby Gibson – 1942 Dodge
Dean Laws – T600 Kenworth
Tom Nicholson – Mack Valueliner
Jim Travis – 409 SAR Kenworth
Matt Draper – 909 Kenworth tow truck
Chooka – Mack Super-Liner
Trav Carlisle – 408 SAR Kenworth
Tony Svanosio – T950 Kenworth
Red alert!
This 1998 International is a beaut
‘Mad Mitch’ came out for a spin
Nichol Trading turned out too
Fight
FOR KIDS
The Sydney Convoy for Kids raised an incredible amount of money for NETS and Kidzfix as striking rigs paraded Sydney streets
Words: Tiane Gavillucci
Images: Colin Henderson
These rigs were among the most creative at the convoy, ones the kids would love!
Every year a group of volunteers host the Sydney Convoy for Kids, where truckies show up in force with roaring engines and gleaming trucks to help fundraise for crucial medical services for children in need.
This year’s convoy raised $40,000 to go directly to NETS Ambulance Service for children under the age of 16 years old who need a hospital transfer from a country hospital to a major city, as well as to Kidzfix, a charity that crafts custom bikes for disabled children.
“Giving a bike to a disabled child is like freedom, they don’t have to be stuck in a wheelchair,” says convoy president Mark Smallwood.
“Once you’re a part of it, it’s about being able to see the kids receive what they need.”
“NETS now has 27 ambulances, and they rely on donations to keep them going. There are quite a few families in the industry who have had to use these ambulances so it’s close to their hearts as well.”
This year’s event was a great success, drawing about 250 trucks and 150 participants to the family day at the Hawkesbury Showgrounds in Clarendon.
“The show was just brilliant! After Covid and that flood we had at Hawkesbury, we’re finally seeing it get bigger every year.”
The trucks ranged from massive prime movers and rigids to historical army vehicles, creating a dazzling parade that thrilled the crowd.
Local businesses and tow companies rallied to support the cause, with familyowned business Winston Express providing a helping hand since day dot – this year supplying the trailer used for the live band's stage.
The festivities didn’t stop at the trucks, however – patrons enjoyed face painting, a live radio broadcast where crowds could listen in with the hope of getting interviewed, and musical entertainment to boogie along to.
Kids got to meet their favourite cartoon
characters like Bluey and Bingo, and there was even a strong man competition.
“It was actually their national championship and that attracted an extra 100 people to the event,” Mark says.
“They held their event on the grounds and participated in the convoy. They also did a truck pull, hooking a rope to a harness and dragging a truck up the road.”
Mark says that in this day and age, it’s uncommon for kids to get up close and personal with a truck, even if their loved one is driving it.
“This convoy is a great opportunity for little ones to see a big truck and sit in it. It’s a big day for them, where they can hop on free rides and wonder which stall to go to.”
The smiles on children’s faces as they explored monster trucks made the hard work worthwhile, creating a memorable experience for the families involved.
For the community, Mark believes the convoy is a good excuse for drivers to get their
trucks polished up, a chore that most of them enjoy, surprisingly – but the convoy doesn’t come without its challenges.
“We do find over the years that it’s really hard to support everything, even in the industry, as we face other competition as well which takes a toll on the committee,” he says.
“It's hard to choose a date when something else is not on. The people who do attend, they're always happy, they give what they can, but they're all just average Joe Blows, hard-working blue-collar workers. It's not as if we've got the ability to raise million dollars in the corporate world.
“These are just people who see where their hard-earned money is going and know it's all voluntary based and not-for-profit.”
For Mark and his team, it’s obvious that the success of the Sydney Convoy for Kids is about much more than just numbers, but about making a difference in the lives of those who need it most.
Winston Express has been helping out at the convoy since day one
Two dazzling trueblue Kenworths
The Convoy for Kids volunteers help to make the event the success it is
Revving
FOR A CAUSE
To raise funds for their lead truck bid in the Illawarra Convoy, Ross Transport held their first Open Day with outstanding results
Words: Tiane Gavillucci
Images: Moorey’s Photography
An incredible $23,859.04 was raised for the Illawarra Convoy
The initial vision for Ross Transport's Open Day sprouted from event organiser True Ross engaging in a casual conversation with her husband on how to engage the community while raising funds for their lead truck bid in the Illawarra Convoy this November 17.
“We always receive messages from people asking for truck rides, so I put the question out there on Facebook, asking who would come to our Open Day,” she explains.
“It got shared to heaps of different groups and we were receiving plenty of positive feedback.
“People were telling us that they would absolutely come, and their children love our trucks.”
The idea quickly gained momentum and within six weeks of planning, their first ever event took shape, showcasing Ross Transport’s unique fleet including fan favourites, ‘Truely Frantastic’ and ‘Bluey’.
Joyful laughter mingled with the roar of engines as the crowd grew, reaching around 400 patrons.
“We got absolutely slammed for the first two hours, which was amazing,” True says.
From toddlers to grandparents, everyone was buzzing with energy, with a strong lineup of trucking fun for all.
Ross Transport had their most popular five rigs on display including their Autism Awareness truck, Disney truck and famous all-pink rig.
Batman and The Avengers were among the 16 trucks from their diverse fleet that took crowds for a ride, with kids eagerly awaiting their turn.
“The trucks were busy all day long," True says. “It was just one person after the another.
“Then we had our brake tester and blind spot awareness activities. So, we had a truck and dog set up with a car in front, and we set them up in the blind spots of the truck.
“I asked them, ‘What can you see?’ and they replied with, ‘I can’t see anything.’ So this creates more awareness on what truckies see on the roads and how to drive safely around trucks.”
A crowd of 400 gathered for the first ever Ross Transport Open Day
Beautiful rigs in all shapes, sizes and colours enticed crowds
DEALS Events
The rest of the lineup included face painters, balloon twisting, lawn games, a raffle, Little Big Rigs Sydney (who display remote-controlled trucks), a barbeque, ice-cream and coffee vans as well as an appearance from beloved characters like Spiderman, Optimus Prime and Wonder Woman.
True proudly announced that the Open Day raised an incredible $23,859, a
testament to the community's generosity and enthusiasm.
“We’re all really proud of ourselves, a lot of work went into our first Open Day, and it was very successful,” she says.
“The Illawarra Convoy is really big in our region, and I think we did something different, something that’s never been done before, even involving the kids.
“A lot of fundraisers are adults-only or have an entry fee, and I think that made a world of difference because people could come at minimal cost and still have a really good time.”
True says she is aware that not everyone has the financial ability to donate, but large amounts aren’t needed – gold coin donations make big contributions to the community.
“We’re all very keen to do it again next year, I even think we’ll make it an annual thing.
“Kids would come running out of the trucks with a big smile on their face, and we would get repeat customers, they would get straight out of the truck, buy another ticket and come back.
“It's very exciting for all of us to be able to make a difference and hold something that raises money, but also promotes our business and our industry, along with our workers.”
So, mark your calendars for next year’s Open Day and join them as they continue to make a difference, one truck ride at a time.
The Autism Awareness truck sure is a crowd favourite
Kids loved hopping in and out of Ross Transport’s colourful trucks
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) was firmly in the spotlight at this year’s Matty Hillcoat’s Truckies'
Words: Warren Aitken
Images: Warren Aitken
Powers Transport are one of the local companies that have been long time supporters of the Matty Hillcoat Truckies Day Out and again turned out in force
Day Out
Give me a second to do a little thinking here… Oh okay, there was the pig racing, the threelegged races, that sideshow game where you stick balls in a clown’s mouth to win stuffed toys, bobbing for apples, those potatoes on a stick that look like the world’s yummiest fried tornados, what else? What else? No, I reckon that’s all I can think to name.
See, I was going to list all the activities that were on hand at the latest running of the bi-annual Matty Hillcoat’s Truckies' Day out. Then I realised it would be easier on me just to focus on what wasn’t at the show. That list seems to be getting shorter with every running of this hugely popular Queensland event, where the list of activities available seems to be rising — almost as rapidly as the truck numbers themselves.
In 2022, when the biennial event last ran, there were just over 150 trucks. This year’s tally surpassed the big 200. It is not hard to see why. The success of this unique show is in its name, "Truckies' Day Out". It is more than just a truck show, and although
its germination stemmed from the most tragic of circumstances, its success is built on the backs of a team of hard-working and passionate volunteers, eager to raise money for a great cause and provide an epic Truckies' Day Out for all those involved.
We can’t get into the amazing adventure of the day without taking a quiet moment to appreciate the motivation behind it. Tragedy is often found at the core of some of the most charitable events and Matty Hillcoat's Truckies' Day Out is no exception.
On October 8, 2011, Dan and Kristine Hillcoat lost their second-born son Matty to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Matty was just shy of four months old when he passed. It is an experience no-one would want to go through, and many of us will never understand the pain that comes along with such tragedy. SIDS is the leading cause of death in infants between the ages of one month and one year. There are thousands of lives lost to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome every year and yet still not enough money is
pumped into the right places to allow for more research.
This need for more research, more awareness and more support was the driving force for the establishment of Matty Hillcoat's Truckies' Day Out. The idea for a truck show that would raise money for SIDS research stemmed from Dan and Kristine who have their own family trucking company up in Gympie, Queensland. Servicing the local area with tippers and multipurpose trucks, the family has been entrenched in the industry for decades. It’s what they know and it seemed an obvious path when it came to a fundraising event.
Since the tragic loss of Matty in 2011, Dan and Kristine had aligned themselves with another worthy cause, River’s Gift – Australia’s leading solely SIDS-focused charity. The
organisation was founded by Alexandra Hamilton and Karl Waddell, who lost their young son River. River was almost the same age as Matty, and he passed away a few weeks after him. Since its inception, River’s Gift has become a globally recognised cause dedicated to funding research into SIDS, as well as providing safe sleep education and offering support to families affected by this devasting syndrome.
River’s Gift was established in 2011 and Dan and Kris had been involved in previous fundraising events. In 2017 though, they decided to start their own and went with what they knew best — trucks. However, the family didn’t just want a show 'n' shine – they wanted to ensure that their truck show would be a full-on family day, for everyone to get out and have some fun.
There were plenty of young ladies making up the SEQ Tractor Pull team, and they sure know how to enterain the crowd
Two of the busiest blokes at this year’s event were judges Chris Bertram and Chris Dale. I did not envy their role
Emerald Carrying Company had one of their stunning T909s on display at this year’s event
It is almost magical to see the truck parade from above. As more and more entered, the parade path circled inwards
From high above you get a great perspective of exactly how big Matty Hillcoat's Truckies' Day Out has gotten
As I mentioned, the inaugural show took place in 2017. There was a touch over 50 trucks, and around $22,000 raised. It was an impressive debut. The show ran annually for a few years, before Covid took down all our fun events and with its return in 2022, it was decided the event would become a biennial experience.
I can tell you that the official number of entrants this year was 201 trucks – the best turnout yet. Along with an increase in numbers came an increase in quality. You could have thrown a blanket over the top trucks vying for King Rig. I swear the judges would have had to count the dollops of grease on the grease nipples to distinguish a winner. In the end though, the deserved King Rig went to the immaculate 909 tow
truck of Anywhere Truck & Machinery Heavy Towing. Not only did this truck look outstanding, but it also even had a license plate that took the words off your lips — PHAT AYE.
Along with the King Rig award, there were over 20 other categories on offer, including an award for ‘Too Busy to Buff’. Even that category was steeped in competition. I could go on about the sheer stress of judging a competition with such high calibre contestants, but that seems to be an acrossthe-board issue at most Australian shows these days, and Matty Hillcoat’s kept that bar high. Although the majority of truck show entrants will happily certify that, "I’m not here for a trophy, I just want to support the cause," which is absolutely true, it is also true
that Matty Hillcoat’s Truckies' Day Out would be one of those shows where you really do want to win a trophy. Have you looked at the photos? These custom-made trophies are, to quote the King Rig, PHAT AYE.
As difficult as life was for the judges, for us spectators looking for a day in the sun you really couldn’t ask for more than what was on offer at the Gympie Showgrounds.
Finding the event is never difficult. There are not that many places in Gympie where you can hide a massive big top tent or a gluttony of carnival rides and which is exactly what you will find at this event. Inside the big top, you will find the stage, the bar, the merchandise tent, the bar and the stage for the auction.
Yes, I mentioned the bar twice. Next to the ice-cream van, it was one of my favourite rest
stops. There were also kids’ entertainment shows running throughout the day inside the tent. It was a great place to come when you had overdosed on sunshine and sugar outside — you could sit in the shade for a bit, rehydrate and let the kids watch a show.
For the tractor lovers, the SEQ Tractor Pullers were up and pulling all day long. I must admit it was a bit intriguing, and I wouldn’t have minded having a go myself. It seems just a case of, to quote Scotty McLaughlin “Pluck it in first, give it some jandal and ….” However, when I spoke to a couple of the pros, there really is an art to it.
It helps that the tractors bring with them copious amounts of black smoke and enough noise to wake the dead. For those chasing an only slightly quieter experience, there were several vintage machinery displays.
At the end of the parade, those that participated parked up inside the showgrounds for another impressive photo set-up
It really is all about the families at Matty Hillcoat's Truckies' Day out, as you can see with this young fulla. Headphones on, toy truck in one hand and eyes fixated on some classic machinery
DEALS Events
Always a crowd favourite, and this year’s winner of the ‘Best Soot’ award, the infamous Anywhere Truck and Machinery Heavy Towing Bullet Burnout Truck
The best pullers around – the SEQ Tractor Pull team
Judging was done so there was no stress over kicking up some dust during the truck parade. The showgrounds were ringed with spectators, with an endless stream of airhorn pumps for the drivers to answer
The custom plate on this stunning T610 pretty much summed up the entire day — GRININ
It’s always humbling to see how far we have come. If you were keen to be reminded how unfit you are, you could pop over and watch the woodchoppers competing. Those guys know how to throw an axe, repeatedly and at pace. I had to go back to the bar just to catch my breath after watching a couple of heats.
But wait, there’s more. The Fraser Coast Lawnmower Racing club were putting on a display as well. Although their first outing wasn’t a vrooming success. They were doing laps inside the showgrounds and as fun as those souped-up lawnmowers were, the dust they caused was not appreciated by the truckies when the wind turned. Thankfully a quick switch out to a grass track for their subsequent displays and it was back to lunatics on lawnmowers for high-speed entertainment.
A very unique part of Matty Hillcoat's Truckies' Day Out is the truck parade. By definition a parade is a large number of people or vehicles, all going in the same direction, usually from point A to point B. The Matty Hillcoat truck parade, however, involves
every truck that wants to participate doing laps of the track inside the grounds. Once the outside of the track is full, the trucks start forming smaller and smaller concentric circles. As you can see from the images, it is quite a sight to behold.
As I leave you to go and pursue the menagerie of images I gathered over the sun-drenched day, I will admit I still managed to miss a fair bit of the festivities. I did manage to restock my Jax Wax cleaning cupboard, I replenished my truckers’ hats supply and I even indulged is some damn fine tasting nachos. I didn’t have time to visit the on-site barber, nor order an amazing wooden truck replica. I didn’t have near enough time to appreciate the man doing live wood carvings. Such is the excess of entertainment on hand at Matty Hillcoat’s Truckies' Day Out.
It is a big day put on by all the volunteers, encouraged by the hundreds of truckies and supported by the thousands of families. I hope they smashed their goal of raising $100,000 and I can’t wait to get back in 2026 for the next Truckies' Day Out.
The Tamworth Truck Drivers Club has endured over 50 years of camaraderie and passion for driving big rigs
Words: Tiane Gavillucci
Images: Christine Davidson & Tamworth Truck Drivers Club
You wouldn’t expect the love and romance of a wedding to spark up the idea of creating a truck club with some like-minded fellas.
But in 1973, this is exactly how it happened, and the Tamworth Truck Drivers Club was born.
Originally known as the Commercial Vehicle Chauffers Club, a group of passionate truckies developed a club that would endure over half a century.
Club president Damien Hook has been a member for about 30 years, following in his father’s footsteps who had been a member in the year of establishment.
“We’re a family-oriented social club and still have 100 members on the books,” he says.
The newly-formed club began its monthly meetings and in November '73, they voted to form a Ladies Auxiliary Committee.
“The club remains a welcoming space for both women and men truck drivers who come together to relax, share stories and unwind with family and friends,” says club secretary Christine Davidson.
“We have members still with us today who have been continual affiliates since the start.”
Supporting the local community has always been a central focus for the club, with about one million dollars donated throughout the club’s existence.
This year their donations and money raised from meat raffles at the local pub have gone toward several worthy causes including Tamworth Men's Shed, Serendipity, Ronald McDonald House and Prostate Cancer research.
“Our events are generously supported by local businesses, whose sponsorships help make our raffles and initiatives possible,” she says.
“We are deeply thankful for their ongoing contributions.”
Over the years the club has bought the first defibrillator for the ambulance service in Tamil, as well as wheelchairs for children with disabilities.
The Tamworth Truck Drivers Club now
The club’s first annual ball ticket in 1974
Together with local emergency services, the club participates in the Young Drivers Expo, educating Year 11 and 12 students about the risks associated with heavy vehicles.
The heart of the Tamworth Truck Drivers Club lies not only in its charitable endeavours but also in the camaraderie it nurtures.
Throughout the year, members enjoy social outings like camping trips, golf days, mystery bus trips and bowls days.
The club members can be found participating in their local cavalcade and have even been involved in a Guinness World Record attempt for the longest continuous reverse without correcting, despite being armed with two semi-trailers.
“These events are always filled with laughter, banter, and the occasional humorous mishap as we bond over shared experiences and challenges,” Christine says.
“The year culminates with our annual awards night, where we celebrate the club's highs, and playfully acknowledge the occasional blunder in good spirits.”
One of the club’s greatest achievements was the establishment of the Tamworth Truck Drivers Memorial, built in 2000 – one of Australia’s few memorial sites dedicated to honouring truck drivers who have passed.
“Each year, on the last Saturday in October, we gather to induct new names onto the wall and pay tribute to those who have been taken too soon,” she says. “The ceremony, accompanied by the Tamworth Air League, a local community bag piper, Tamworth Brass
Band and the Salvation Army, is followed by live music, drinks, and light refreshments, giving attendees a chance to reconnect and remember.”
The Tamworth Truck Drivers Memorial is one of only four in the country, and there are currently around 180 plaques in the memorial.
In 2023, the Tamworth Truck Drivers Club celebrated a historic milestone, their 50th anniversary, and marked the occasion with a ball.
Christine says it was a night filled with live music, dancing, an impressive display of memorabilia and a charity auction.
“As stories of the club's past filled the air, it was heartwarming to see the mix of young and old members reflecting on decades of camaraderie,” she says.
“Over the years, our club has hosted many such events, offering members the chance to swap their work gear for formal attire, and once again proving that truck drivers certainly scrub up well!"
In the near future, Christine says the club looks forward to hosting more truck shows featuring new and classic trucks, with their exciting tug-of-war competition where local transport companies face off in a friendly competition for the prestigious Neville Paterson Memorial Shield.
Looking to the next 50 years, one thing is clear – the roads travelled may change, but the spirit of this club will live on for generations to come.
The Tamworth Truck Drivers Club then
Resto
ON RESTO
Iain Cann has jumped from mining to trucks and back again, but after a mining incident, he dialled in to transport and restoration, fixing up an old 1971 International
Words: Tiane Gavillucci Images: Iain Cann
From a small town in NSW, Whittingham, truck lover Iain Cann’s story begins not on the open roads, but on a farm, with a journey that led him into transport and restoration.
In 1968, a lucerne processing plant opened across the road, offering Iain his first taste into the transport world.
“They were just two axles, and the four ACCOs would carry the Lucent from the farm to the plant,” he says.
That initial experience laid the groundwork for a career that would span decades and countless adventures.
After the plant’s closure, he performed more mechanical work at a different company, repairing trucks damaged during interstate freight hauls, before turning to coal mining in 1973 at Liddel Colliery.
“That was where the money was," he says. "It was probably double or triple the amount you would earn anywhere else.
“We were working in an underground mine one night at three in the morning, and I was the watchdog. There was a cave in, and the miner driver was killed. I was just two metres in front of him and I got blown over when it fell in.
“The displacement of air was just like a gush of wind… I remember it like it was yesterday.
“We had to recover our workmate's body and that’s when I thought, 'Nup, this is not a good environment for me,' so I left after that.”
This tragedy understandably changed Iain’s perspective on safety and work, so he returned to his roots in trucking and made the leap into truck ownership.
He was presented with an opportunity while working for Gordon Martin, a local transport figure.
“Gordon said, ‘I want you to take out a D9 motor out of this International and put it into this C-Line’, so I did the job.
“Then Gordon asked me if I wanted to buy the truck and I went home to think about it. At that time there was coal that was starting
The 1971 International was sold in 1977
W900 Kenworth photo taken in 1992 with Iain’s sons Aaron and Phillip
to move around the Hunter Valley by road in semi tippers, so I said yes.”
From there, Iain began hauling coal during freezing winter nights – however the 1971 International didn’t suit the terrain.
Driving into Mount Victoria, he wrestled with his truck’s limitations while navigating steep climbs and icy roads.
“I was in a low gear, and it was a two-speed axle. I dropped the button into low and as it dropped into gear, it sheared an axle off right in front of the Mount Victoria Police Station.
“I was grounded, I couldn’t go anywhere, so
the sergeant came out and got me a tow truck. But all I was thinking was, 'What do I do now?'
“I ended up having to take the diff out and strip it to get the shrapnel out of it – there was quite a bit of snow.
“The ground around the truck had turned to ice, it was cracking under my feet, so we used a 44-gallon drum to keep people’s hands warm.”
After this incident Iain went back home to clean the rig out before putting it all back together and adding a new axle.
But he wasn’t done just yet. One look
The incredible K-Whopper – taken at Clarendon in September 2024
DEALS Resto
After ending his trucking career, he began working at his brother’s business, building and operating these machines
Iain built this replica 1923 Ford with Fiberglass body from scratch before getting started in trucking
through the Sydney Morning Herald, and Iain found himself exploring the list of available truck parts.
He found an upgraded version of his engine, transmission and rear axle. It was a turbo motor with a 10-speed overdrive Roadranger and a big Eaton diff and two speed axle.
“So, I took the old running gear out and put this upgraded running gear in. I pulled it apart, took the cab off, straightened the bent and twisted chassis and fitted it all into the truck,” he says.
“I then converted the braking system from aero hydraulic to full air so it’s more reliable. It
took me six weeks to get the truck back on the road, and I was only about 26 years old – just a boy.”
The International was originally red, but he got it painted the classic ‘International green’. He also added a grill, bought a new bonnet, added decals, fixed the headlights and added mudguards to blitz up the front of the rig.
“I was able to make a real truck out of it – it would be a collector’s item today,” he says.
“It could easily pull 100 kilometres an hour with 26 tonnes behind it, but I sold my first International in ’77.
“In 1992 I gave trucking away and went back into mining with my brother-in-law the year after, up until 2017.
“I’m now doing restorations on my collection of old tractors and machinery attachments and trucks, but that’s the story on how I got started. "
Iain is currently doing a full resto on a truck he imported from the USA, a 1966 Mack B77.
“There were only 260 made of my Mack in the USA, that’s why it’s so rare.
“I’m going to turn it into a classic. It’s the only one like it in Australia and it’ll be a show piece because I can put my 60 years of experience into it.”
He also owns a stunning grey K-Whopper that he recently took to the Clarendon Truck Show.
Iain's love of transport has presented plenty of challenges over the years. From his back and forth between trucking to mining to now being semi-retired working on rigs once more, he has had quite the voyage, from a young farm boy to a seasoned transport professional.
Former truckie Alan Shuttleworth has a passion for hot rods, so what better way to cart them than with a flamin’ hot ride?
Words: Tiane Gavillucci
Images: Alan Shuttleworth
The 1987 Peterbilt 359 was Alan’s for 13 years
Alan Shuttleworth loves a good ol’ classic hot rod – so much so, he bought a rig from the United States to haul his collection around.
When the truck eventually arrived Down Under it was white in colour, until it was stripped back down to the chassis.
“I got someone to modify and lengthen it, then insert the sleeper, put the tray on it, modify the tray and change it to right end drive,” Alan says.
“It took two years to complete once it got here from America.”
The 1987 Peterbilt 359 was Alan’s for 13 years, until he sold it last February – and it now lives in Bonnie Doon, Victoria.
The rig was used not only for hauling his vehicles but travelling the country as well.
“It has a big sleeper for me and the wife and for putting the power on the back,” he says. “The wife and I are over it; we’ve done a lot of trips all around Australia and are due for a change.
“I was hoping to get another Peterbilt, but the Government won’t allow you to bring anything from America if it’s over a certain weight.”
This Peterbilt is nothing short of a standout – a magnificent beast cloaked in eye-catching red with fierce orange flames licking down its sides.
“I wanted my Peterbilt to have flames on it because my hot rods do, and I’ve got flame tattoos on my arms," Alan says. "So it’s just a look that I like, along with red vehicles."
Despite being a truckie for 47 years, hot rodding is Alan’s main passion, and he owns two hot rods and an FJ.
Both of the smaller vehicles were displayed at the rear end of the truck, with no walls surrounding the vehicles, just a shelter (providing easier access for people to get a proper look).
They each added their own flair to the
Alan’s main passion is hot rodding
Alan with his beloved Peterbilt
This 1962 900 Seattle Kenworth is the only truck Alan has now
The Kenworth will remain a lefthand drive as it's over 30 years old
Peterbilt, bringing their colourful, matching aesthetic to the road.
The smaller vehicles carted on top of the Peterbilt were a sight no driver could pass without staring.
Alan fell into hot rodding after wanting an older and more eye-catching vehicle, as he had always previously owned old Holdens.
“I bought a 1940 Chev, then a GMC 1941 pick up, which pulls a retro caravan all over the place," he says.
One of Alan’s hot rods is a dazzling pastel green with dark green flames decorating the cab, while the other is a deep purple, featuring
bright orange flames. Meanwhile the classic FJ is a bright, sky blue.
“People flash their lights, toot their horns and point – just like when they tell you there’s a copper up the road or speed cameras up ahead,” he laughs.
“I never knew if they were admiring the truck or trying to tell me something was up ahead!"
Despite Alan having a yard full of vehicles of all shapes and sizes, it doesn’t end there, as he is currently passionately restoring a 1962 900 Seattle Kenworth that he’s been working on all year.
Last February the truck was sold and sent off to Bonnie Doon
“I wish I had never sold the Peterbilt, but we all make mistakes in life," he says. "I just have to live with it now. My new project is 25 years older and more unique, I think.”
“I was going to make it a rigid to chuck my hot rods on the back and tow our caravan, but I don’t know if that’s the way I’m going to go,"he says. "I may just get a trailer now.
Alan owns two impressive hot rods and an FJ
The GMC 1941 pick up that pulls the retro caravan
“I bought it off someone in December after it had been sitting outside for two years.”
The rig is rare as it’s a left-hand drive with twin gearsticks, a 335 Cummins motor, a Rockwell 52,000 lbs diff (R170) and an aluminium chassis.
Within the next few weeks, Alan will continue working on the rig as he plans to take it to a roadworthy and put it under club registration.
“I’m allowed to leave it left hand drive because it’s over 30 years old and you have to be in a club to leave it like that.
“The brown is the colour it came in. The paint work’s a bit rough, but I’m leaving it as is.”
Keen to keep it in its working clothes, Alan now only has the one truck and the hot rods to keep him busy.
Former ambulance driver Bill Ahearn shares the story behind an historic 1942 Ford Flathead
Words: Kayla Walsh Images: Bill Ahearn
The ambulance is the pride and joy of the
Ambulances have changed a lot over the years – from a small vehicle mostly used for transportation to essentially a hospital on wheels.
Bill Ahearn, who worked as an ambulance driver – or “bearer” as they were called at the time – from 1973 to 1989, knows this better than anyone.
“Ambulances started out very basic,” he explains.
“They were there simply to transport patients from an accident scene or a situation to a hospital.
"Back in my day, we basically just had a few bandages, splints, painkillers and oxygen in the back of the ambo.
“Over the years, ambulances have evolved into a mobile hospital, and they can carry a lot more equipment than we ever could.”
Now aged 78, Bill is a volunteer with the Queensland Ambulance Museum in Charters Towers, housed in the original ambulance station.
It is the oldest ambulance station in the
state that is still being used as an operational centre.
The pride and joy of the museum is a 1942 Ford Flathead V8 ambulance that has been lovingly restored, and still makes it out and about for functions, events, parades — and just for fun.
“It’s what they call a Jail Bar, because the grille on the front looks like prison bars,” Bill says.
“This was a purpose-built ambulance that was first registered in Charters Towers in 1946.
“It’s still registered to this day — we believe it holds the record for the longest continually registered ambulance in Australia, and the oldest registered vehicle still in use in Queensland.”
The Ford saw active service at Charters Towers from 1946 to 1951, before moving to the historic gold mining town of Ravenswood, about 90km away.
It remained in Ravenswood until 1978, when it returned home to Charters Towers.
The ambulance was still running perfectly
museum
The Ford’s body structure is made of timber and sheeted in metal and ply, with a 114- inch wheelbase
Visitors can learn more about the fascinating history of vthe vehicle
The interior of the ambulance – they were much more basic back in the day!
still has its original ambulance number plates
It
The Ford Flathead V8 was called a “Jail Bar” because of the grille on the front
at this stage, with a half-ton 85hp 51C series motor under the bonnet, but it was looking a bit worse for wear.
“Mechanically it was fine — even now it’s only done about 60,000 miles,” says Bill.
“There was no rust because the ambulance had always been inland, but there was a lot of panel damage.
“It needed to be stripped and restored. Luckily, there was a couple of ambulance officers stationed at Charters Towers who were ex panel beaters!”
The Ford’s body structure is made of timber and sheeted in metal and ply, with a 114- inch wheelbase.
The ambulance officers did as much work as they could before sending the Ford to the panel shop, where the upholstery was restored and other final touches were completed.
“The inside of the vehicle is still mostly original — it just needed a bit of TLC,” says Bill.
“The paintwork was rubbish, so that was redone in the original ambulance colours.
“It still has its original ambulance number plates too.
“Now it’s been fixed up, it’s one of the main show pieces of our museum and our pride and glory.”
Several current paramedics have told Bill that they take their hats off to him and the ambos of the past.
“Paramedics these days are highly trained and educated, but we basically learned on the job,” he says.
“We did whatever we could to save people’s lives and to get them to a hospital as quickly as possible, because we had limited resources.
“There were some incidents, I think I’ve
blocked them out in my mind.
“We never had counselling or chaplains or anything like that, which paramedics have today.
“All we could do was talk amongst ourselves.”
Bill and his colleagues covered a huge area of land, sometimes driving for hours to get to someone who needed help.
“The area the Charters Towers ambulance service covers is about 200km bigger than the whole of Tasmania,” Bill says.
“Nowadays they have helicopters and flying doctor services, but we didn’t have that.”
Because ambulances weren’t funded by the Queensland Government at the time, the service had to raise its own funds.
“The ambulance service is a full Government service now with the best of everything.
“But in my day, they only had enough money to pay a certain number of people, so a lot of us had to get a second job to survive.
“I was what was known as a shunter — the guys that take trains apart and put them back together.
“And we lived in a small country town, so I was a member of the local auxiliary fire brigade as well.”
Bill says the restored ambulance is a slice of history, and he’s delighted that it’s been preserved at the museum.
“The new Queensland Ambulance Services are next door to us, and we often have the Ford out as well as the modern ambulance vehicles, so we have the old and the new together.
“It’s so important to remember our past and keep it alive for future generations.”
The ambo still makes it out and about for functions, events, parades – and just for fun
Screen
STAR
Still in restoration, Luke Brown’s 1976 Peterbilt has become a Hollywood star, as it shares the big screen with Mark Wahlberg
Words: Tiane Gavillucci
Images: Luke Brown
Back from filming in Melbourne, the truck was
Hollywood lights replaced sunny paddocks for Luke Brown’s 1976 359 Peterbilt as it shares the screen with Mark Wahlberg in an up-andcoming movie.
For a while, parading around truck shows was off the table as the Peterbilt transitioned from a display truck into a film star.
Shooting movies with A-list celebrities wasn’t originally the plan when Luke and his father spotted the rig that would soon become their pride and joy.
“We were driving home one day, and I had seen her sitting in the paddock, so I said to Dad we should go and make an offer, which the owner at the time accepted,” Luke says.
“We drove it home on a milk crate and the last seven years we’ve been restoring it.
“As a vehicle bodybuilder, every time I get a bit of spare money or time, I’ll fix it up a little bit more.
"It's our family project that we’ve been working away at."
Imported from California, the left-hand drive truck is used for display only.
“It started out as a day cab with no sleeper, then Dad was going to all these events and had nowhere to sleep, so we put a sleeper cab in it,” he says.
“Then we had to extend the chassis, tidy up the paint and make it presentable.
“It’s always been that blue colour; I haven't painted it since I've owned it, but it looks great still."
So, how did a display truck end up on the
Anthony, Mal and Luke Brown in front of their film icon
escorted out in style
silver screen? The answer lies in serendipity.
“They used my friend’s truck as well, so I was contacted through him," Luke says. "They must have seen the truck at an event that I did, Crawlin' the Hume.”
It was this unexpected phone call that thrust his beloved truck into the Hollywood limelight – first starring in Play Dirty with Wahlberg, filmed in Sydney, then cruising over to Melbourne for two and a half months for the film, The Rising
“The truck was selected in Melbourne to film as they recognised it from starring in the other movie,” Luke explains.
He briefly mingled with Wahlberg, asking him to sign the Peterbilt, however the actor unfortunately declined the offer.
“You can’t meet anyone on set, how can you? It’s like a circus in there,” Luke jokes.
“There’s people setting up, they come in, they film, and then they’re gone.
“You drop the truck off, you leave it there, they use it, they ring you, then you come and pick it up."
Although contract restrictions keep him from sharing the finer details, Luke imagines the Peterbilt tackling intense driving scenes that showcase its striking appearance.
Despite Luke owning this now-famous Peterbilt, he has never worked as a truckie.
Born into the world of heavy vehicles, his father owned a transport business – but after
he and his brother finished school, they were encouraged to pursue a trade rather than trucking.
“I went and finished my apprenticeship and started building trailers,” he says.
“Now I’m a workshop supervisor and dad is retired, he doesn’t drive trucks anymore. "My brother drives trucks – not for us, but for another company.
“Trucks have always been in the family, we’ve always had them. Right now we still own a few, but none of them are working, they’re all for show.”
Luke's classic blue rig is set to grace cinemas twice next year, so the next time you catch a blue Peterbilt rumbling across the silver screen, remember its journey from the dusty roads Down Under to Hollywood fame.
The rig got completely stripped down
How the Peterbilt looked before the sleeper and chassis extension
1. MTE 2007 MODEL 3 X 8 SWING WING / HYD ,NECK DOLLY NECK /DROP BED,11.50M LOW LOADER OPENS TO 4.30M BI FOLD RAMPS ,HONDA POWER PACK, QLD REGO POA.
2.DRAKE 2008 3 X8 SWING WING 3XPIN NECK, LEVEL DECK 11.50M DECK HEAVY DUTY RAMPS HONDA P/PACK ALL GOOD SUSPENSION /BRAKES TYRES, QLD REGO POA.
3. 2013 MTE 4 X 4 REAR STEER (LAST 2 AXLES/BPW) 10 STUD ON 9.76 X 17.50 LEVEL DECK, DOLLY NECK, STD RAMPS HONDA POWER PACK, GOOD RUNNING GEAR, ALL BRAKES CHECKED OUT, RUBBER 85% QLD REGO. POA.
4. 1997 LUSTY 3 X 4 DECK WIDENER /DOLLY NECK /LEVEL DECK ON SPRING & ROCKER SUSPENSION, GOOD CONDITION THROUGHOUT, HONDA POWER PACK, STD RAMPS QLD REGO. POA.
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6. 2007 RES 2 X 8 DOLLY (SIMILAR TO DRAKE STYLE) WITH HONDA POWER PACK FOR HYDLS, SLIDING QRTT, 10 STUD K/HITCH HEAVY DUTY AXLES & SUSPENSION 2.70 TO 4.30 WIDENING REBUILT THROUGHOUT, QLD REGO POA.
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When intrepid truck lover Warren Aitken laid eyes on the Holridge fleet during a European holiday, he just had to find out more
Words: Warren Aitken
Images: Warren Aitken
Fully loaded and ready to go, Nicks two Scanias are maxed out with another load out of Belgium
Having done this writing gig for a couple of years now, I have racked up more than a few interesting yarns and chased down stories for a multitude of reasons. Great people, interesting vocations – even just right time, right place.
Occasionally I get very superficial and chase down a story purely based on looks. I know the old adage ‘Looks aren’t everything’ and as a man unencumbered by the standards of beauty, I am a huge advocate of that saying — most of the time.
Today though, I am throwing it all out the window because I have gone all the way to Belgium to grab a story, based solely on looks. Yes, it sounds superficial — because it is. Well, at least it started out purely superficial. I saw the stunning Holridge Scanias – the colour scheme, the detailed artwork, the custom straps. They just looked 11/10 and I knew I needed to photograph them.
It was a huge bonus that the owner of these trucks, Nick Wright, also turned out to be an awesome, generous guy whose love of trucks matched my own and whose passion
for the Scania, Scania V8s and old school T-cab Scanias rivalled that of the hard-core Super-Liner and SAR fans here in Australia. Thankfully Nick was more than happy to fill me in on his transport pedigree and shoot his immaculate trucks.
Oh wait – seeing as this is a UK-based story, in this write-up I am going to try and adhere to the correct colloquial dialect. Forget the term ‘truck’ – for this story we’ll be going all pommy and using the term 'lorry’. However you refer to it, the Holridge Scanias are stunninglooking trucks and well worth a European journey.
The back story
First things first, I’ll ease up on the dramatic license a little. I didn’t go all the way to Belgium purely for these trucks. I did happen to time my European holiday with when Nick Wright would be in the country with a couple of rigs from of his stunning fleet, though. It just sounds more jet sett-y if I proclaim I travelled nearly 30 hours just for an article. The origins of this story go back to 2023, when I first met
Before you ask, the ICB of water is there so Nick could wash his trucks ready for this photoshoot
Two of the Holridge fleet waiting for the invite to get loaded again
Nick has this loading system down pat: he keeps a close eye on the forkies as he waits to strap down
Nick’s getting the run-down on what loads he has to organise from the Belgium brick and tile factory
Check out the custom Holridge straps. I did warn you that Nick was a man of detail!
Look at the organisation in the toolbox. It is that attention to detail that Nick carries over into all his lorries. Especially his restored T-cab
I was indulging in my maiden journey to the incredible Truckstar festival. Surrounded by a couple of thousand outstanding lorries, it was Nick’s S660 Scania that first drew me in. Nick was at Truckstar debuting his beautifully restored T-cab Scania and was flat out networking with the thousands of fans that were snapping pictures and firing questions at him.
The crowds around the T-cab meant that I was bucking the trend and getting all smitten with his cabover whilst Nick was fawning over the truck he had spent seven years rebuilding and a lifetime yearning for. Although our adoration was focused on different vehicles, our dual appreciation for the big Swedish icons was very much aligned.
During a little break in Nick’s fandom, I managed to grab his attention and find enough time to introduce myself and meet the man who would become a very good friend. I expressed my appreciation for his stunning-looking lorries and we agreed
thatnext time I was over his way we would sit down and he could tell me all about his T-cab obsession, his love of all things Scania and how it feels driving a right-hand drive lorry in a left-hand drive world.
Roll on 2024 and I was heading back to Europe for another truck show. I reached out to Nick and we agreed to catch up. On a dreary overcast day, I found my way out to the tile factory in Belgium that is a second home to the Holridge trucks and caught up with the little Englishman with a big appetite for Scania and a massive love of lorries.
“I’ve been a lorry driver since before I was old enough to drive them,” laughs Nick, sounding very relatable with a confession like that. “You had to be 21 to get your Class 1 back then, and I started working for a guy when I was 20.”
That eagerness stems from a childhood growing up around trucks and spending as much time as possible near them.
Nick recalls that a lot of his teenage years were spent in the passenger seat of one
T-cab enthusiast Nick Wright.
of his mother’s mate’s lorries.
“I remember going with mum’s mate Bill, he was a bit rough around the edges but had a heart of gold,” says Nick. “He had an old-school DAF, an old 3300 and some old 2028 Mercs.”
Nick’s favourite lorry he drove was a flat roof F12.
“The lorry was a mess. I used to polish the dash and stuff. Back then, in the late '80s it was a lot of running on red diesel, a bit bent kind of thing if you know what I mean.
“Bill would work round the clock, and I loved it. At night, I’d have to keep asking him if he was OK as he was starting to drift off.
“I never needed any money. Bill would give me food and fags, all sorts.” Now, I understand I probably shouldn’t be quoting the supply of cigarettes to minors in my story – however it is England, and it really paints a picture of the era that Nick grew up in. It’s also worth noting the relationship with Bill that started Nick’s love of lorries would see Nick attend three of Bill’s weddings – one as the best man, and the third marriage being to Nick’s mum.
From those early days Nick developed the work ethic that would see him and his wife Louise finally getting the opportunity to start their own company in 2011.
“It was an ambition I’d had all my life, and at 37 we decided to give it a go.
“I sold my house and bought a 480, straight six-cylinder Scania. It had the old paper Tacho and I worked that around the clock. I knew I couldn’t afford to fail, so I just worked.”
Those teenage experiences paid dividends as Nick got his company established and after about 18 months, found his workload expanding. The need grew for a second truck in the Holridge fleet – this time a 105 DAF.
“I really wanted a V8 Scania, right from the start, but I just couldn’t afford one. I knew I had to work a bit more before I could afford one of them.”
The first V8
That Scania V8 dream would eventually come through though. With Nick’s work ethos ensuring he was never short of a load, it meant
The Holridge lorries are a regular sight at the Belgium factory
it only took a couple of years before his goal was achieved.
The workhorse of the Holridge fleet is this stunning S660
“A guy from our local Scania dealer rings me up, says 'I’ve got a lorry right up your alley. I know you’ve wanted a V8. A one-owner operator for a lot of years and the guy’s just passed away’,” says Nick.
“It was a 164, 16 litre 480. I paid 14 grand for it. I ran that truck for eight years; it was the hardest-working lorry I’ve had, and I sold it for 24 grand a couple years ago.”
That first injection of V8 power only drove Nick onwards, leading to several more V8s until he ended up with the S660 he has now –my personal favourite, as you can see by the number of photos I took of it.
He also has a stunning R730 and an oldschool R620, still working hard throughout England.
The majority of Nick’s work revolves around the cartage of tiles. I caught up with Nick over in Belguim, where he often picks up the tiles to distribute around the UK. It is a complicated but efficient system Nick has set up.
Nick will leave from his home in Lincoln and take a load of tiles south to deliver, then he travels a little further south to Folkstone where he drives his lorry onto the train. Yes, that’s right – he drives his lorry and trailer onto a train, which shoots 24 miles underneath the English Channel and pops out in France. From there it’s a quick hour and 45 minutes and he’s in Belgium loading Belgium-made English roof tiles. If you look at that in the big picture, that’s three countries in a little under three hours.
Back to the tile tale. Whilst Nick is making his way over to load the tiles, he will also have a couple of his other trailers crossing the North Sea via ferry and getting dumped at a port only an hour away from the tile factory in Belgium. This means Nick can drop his loaded trailer, pick up the empties and head back and get up to six trailers loaded and returned to England over the course of a couple of days. Whilst he is loading and returning trailers via the ferry, his local trucks are busy delivering the loads that Nick has already sent back.
It is a pretty smooth operation and one that has allowed Nick to keep food on the table and follow his passion for Scania trucks. Which leads us to the other stunning Scania featured in the photos – the T-cab Scania.
“I have always loved T-cabs, something about the 16 Litre 4 Series T-cabs I just loved,” he says. “I’d never driven one but always loved them. They’re probably second nature to you guys in Australia, having the nose, but I’d always loved them. Even just the look of them. Some people love the 143s, I just always wanted a T164.”
The T-Cab story
In 2016, with the Holridge Company’s reputation ensuring his trucks were being kept busy and with the blessing and support of his amazing wife Louise, Nick finally indulged his final Scania fantasy, getting his own T-cab.
“Of course, I wanted a V8 but couldn’t find one. I eventually found a six cylinder one. It was 2003, 6-cylinder 470 T-cab,” says Nick, as
he began to explain the seven-year project that has resulted in this incredible family tribute truck.
“The six-cylinder wasn’t bad, but it was nowhere near good. I bought an Irish motor, a 4-series V8 and we got the entire engine, as well as the wiring looms. We just completely replaced the old six-cylinder 470.”
As we start to unravel the extent and effort put into this stunning T-cab, there are two things to keep in mind. Nick will attest to the fact that nearly 80 per cent of the original lorry ended up in the bin. He also admits that if the work wasn’t done by Nick himself, then you can bet anything that his head was on the left shoulder of whomever was undertaking the job.
The whole engine got rebuilt. Pistons, liners, oil and water pumps. All main and bottom end bearings. You name it, it got replaced or refurbed. Even down to the window wiper motor. A whole new bonnet was sourced, and all the airlines, hoses and wiring were replaced. It became a whole new truck.
Inside got exactly the same treatment, with a new Scania dash and panels. The floor walls and seats were all reupholstered. It was starting to sound like the 20 per cent he held on to was merely the chassis rails. The end result was a transformation from a tired old T124 Euro 3 470 into a state-of-the-art T164 580 6X2 twin wheel tag bull nose.
With the interior revamped, the powerline souped up and the truck as good as new, the only thing left was the aesthetic dilemma.
Thankfully Nick opted to paint the truck in the company colour that works exquisitely on his S660 and R730, deviating only with the addition of some personal artwork.
“I grew up with my grandma and grandpa. I spent a lot of time with them and wanted to honour them on this truck. I’ve called it 'Lady Annie' as that was my grandma and the photos on the side are of my grandpa.”
I should add in here that the Holridge name is actually an amalgamation of his grandparents' names, Annie Holgate and Ernest Ridgill.
The more I learnt about Nick during our catch up, it was obvious that this seven-year project was a complete labour of love for a man that has an immense passion for his trucks and his family.
Nick is also happy to admit that he wouldn’t have achieved it without his wife Louise, who has spent more than any wife’s allotted time behind the tools and polishing clothes. His son Thomas has also become quite the YouTube star with his channel, Holridge_Tom, featuring a lot of the progress story behind this truck.
Although this was meant to be a short feature, it is hard to cull back a story when you sit down with someone with as much passion as Nick. It is also heartwarming to realise that trucking passion is a universal affliction – whether it’s Kenworths or Scanias, bonnets or cabovers, we all suffer the same. Normally with a loaded garage, an empty wallet and a stack of photos.
Nick Wright with two of his stunning Holridge lorries in the background
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Hands up
Plant & Equipment
Celebrating 30 years in Australia’s access equipment hire industry, Skyreach continues its tradition of innovation with a variety of brands on offer.
When managing director Rod Leach founded Skyreach in the Brisbane suburb of Geebung back in 1994. Australia’s equipment hire market was markedly different.
Pure access equipment providers were scarce, and most rental machines were outdated secondhand imports, Skyreach product and training specialist James Nightingale says.
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Today the company is among Australia’s leading rental providers, offering a wide range of access and material handling equipment, including telehandlers, forklifts, and various elevated work platforms (EWPs) - such as manlifts, scissor lifts, and boom lifts.
With a network of branches along the East Coast, from Melbourne to Cairns, the company serves a diverse clientele across sectors including construction, mining, manufacturing and entertainment.
Skyreach today stands as a testament to innovation and resilience in Australia’s access
equipment hire industry.
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Nightingale notes, “Our philosophy is straightforward: we stock the best brands and types of equipment in each segment. This commitment to quality ensures our customers have
Skyreach aims to stock the best brands and types of equipment in each segment. Images: Skyreach.
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That said, Skyreach recognises that equipment is only as good as the operators behind it.
To ensure safety and competency, the company offers Yellow Card training and verification of competence (VOC) training for operators on site.
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As Skyreach enters its next decade, its commitment to innovation, quality, and customer service remains steadfast, promising to meet any challenges that the future may bring.
As its motto states, Skyreach is “The Only Way Up”.
For those looking to enhance their access equipment capabilities or seeking reliable hire solutions, Skyreach stands ready to assist. To learn more, contact Skyreach at 1800 457 145 or visit www.skyreach.com.au.
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