Big Rigs 17 January 2025

FRIDAY, January 17, 2025

ONLINE www.bigrigs.com.au

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Bruce Hwy funding boost

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2 NEWS

FRIDAY JANUARY 17 2025 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Gate repairer fined $350,000

A gate manufacturing and repair company has been convicted and fined $350,000 over the death of a truck driver on April 23, 2022.

Revered truckie Stuart Baker, 59, of Membrey’s Transport and Crane Hire was tragically killed while attempting to manually close an automatic gate that was being repaired

by Gate Automation Systems Pty Ltd. The incident occurred at Membrey’s Dandenong South depot.

Gate Automation Systems Pty Ltd was sentenced in the Melbourne County Court last month, after pleading guilty to a single charge of

failing to ensure persons other than employees were not exposed to health and safety risks.

The court heard Gate Automation Systems was engaged to repair automatic double sliding gates at another company’s truck depot.

After issues were identified with one of the gates, its drive motor was removed to be repaired off-site, which meant the gate could run on its rollers beyond the support posts and fall from its rails if operated manually.

Gate Automation Systems provided verbal advice to the company to lock the gate closed and to put a chain

around it so it could not fall.

Two days later, Baker attempted to manually drag the gate closed when it fell and killed him.

Baker had worked at Membrey’s for over 30 years and was a widely-respected driver and foreman.

In sentencing it was found to be reasonably practicable for Gate Automation Systems to provide and maintain a system of work that required its workers to apply a “lock out tag out” system, as well as securing the gate with a chain to ensure it could not be manually opened until the drive motor was repaired and reinstalled.

Gate Automation Systems had previously admitted to the health and safety breach, with court documents revealing there had had been ongoing issues with the double

front automated gate system.

WorkSafe Acting Executive Director of Health and Safety Adam Watson said ensuring machinery and equipment were left in a safe condition

Revered truckie Stuart Baker. Image: Membrey’s Transport

during repairs or maintenance should not be left to the discretion of workers.

“It is up to duty holders to ensure appropriate systems of work are in place and in this case some simple safety measures could have prevented a worker losing his life,” Watson said.

“This tragic incident should serve as a warning to all duty holders that failing to protect workers and others who could be affected by their actions can have horrific consequences and result in hefty fines.”

Gate Automation Systems has been contacted for comment.

B-double caught twice with same defects in three months A B-double was recently found to have the same defects it was caught with during a previous intercept three months prior.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) revealed officers had recently intercepted this B-double combination and found that its trailer had a range of defects.

“Including slack adjusters being disconnected from the S cam, brake linings that protruded from the brake drums and mudguards fouling

wheels,” the NHVR said in a post on its Facebook page.

“These same defects were detected during a previous intercept in September 2024, but they had not been repaired.”

The regulator said the issues detected raised concerns about the vehicle’s braking ability, particularly in an emergency situation, and the risk to surrounding drivers in the case that the clevis pin was to come away from the brake booster pushrod and

the slack adjuster fell from the vehicle or if the mudguard dislodged.

The NHVR issued a major category defect for the use of the trailer, along with a fine to the operator for the permitted use of the unsafe trailer.

“NHVR on-road officers ensured to educate both the driver and operator on how defects of this nature affect the vehicles braking ability, particularly in an emergency situation, and the preventative measures that should have

been taken so these issues don’t occur again in the future,” an NHVR spokesperson told Big Rigs.

“We remind you that prestart checks are an essential step in keeping both you and other road-users safe throughout your journey.”

The NHVR said that if any driver feels pressured to drive a defective vehicle, they should report their concerns to the Heavy Vehicle Confidential Reporting Line on 1800 931 785.

The NHVR said the same defects were detected during a previous intercept in September 2024. Image: NHVR

NEWS 3

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JANUARY 17 2025

Win for truckies with Gilgandra upgrades

THE road freight industry is seen as one of the biggest winners from a new $40 million committment to upgrade intersections in Gilgandra,

NSW, to make them safer for heavy vehicles.

The upgrades will be designed to open up bypass access for all heavy vehicles and

At present, some of the bigger trucks are forced to go through the town centre. Image: NSW Government

reduce the number of trucks passing through the Gilgandra CBD. Currently, some larger heavy vehicles are unable to use Gilgandra’s heavy vehicle bypass because these intersections can’t be safely navigated, meaning some of the biggest and heaviest vehicles need to travel along the Castlereagh Highway (Miller Street) through the town centre.

In a joint media release from NSW and federal governments, Labor said four existing intersections on Hargraves Lane and Federation Street, where they intersect with the Newell, Oxley and Castlereagh highways, will be upgraded to increase freight productivity, reduce travel delays and improve safety.

“These intersection up-

grades will be really significant for both Gilgandra locals and the truckies who transport goods through and around the town,” said federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King.

“We’re proud to partner with the NSW Government on strategic investments like this that make our roads safer and more efficient.”

The Australian Government is contributing $32 million towards the project, with the NSW Government contributing the remaining $8 million.

The NSW Government has carried out preliminary investigations to determine the requirements for each of the key intersections and said it is currently consulting with Gilgandra Shire Council and other key stakeholders to re-

fine the proposed improvements.

A Review of Environmental Factors (REF) and concept designs for the proposed intersection upgrades are expected to be placed on display for public feedback by late 2025.

“We look forward to con-

tinuing to engage with Gilgandra Shire Council, the local community, the heavy vehicle industry and other interested stakeholders to deliver the freight, safety, efficiency and amenity objectives of the project,” said NSW Regional Transport and Road Minister Jenny Aitchison.

The intersection locations are highlighted by the orange circles. Image: NSW Government

Designs revealed for new $500m Hawkesbury bridge THE design plans for a new bridge over the Hawkesbury River between Richmond and North Richmond have now been released.

The bridge between Richmond and North Richmond provides crossing of the Hawkesbury River, and carries an average of 31,000 vehicles per day, with a single lane in each direction.

The New Richmond Bridge

will be built approximately 10 metres higher than the existing Richmond Bridge, with elevated approach roads to improve safety and assist in

times of flood evacuation.

The Review of Environmental Factors (REF) and project designs for Stage 2 of the New Richmond Bridge project are

Construction of the new bridge is due to begin in mid-2025.

Image: TfNSW

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currently on display, with feedback welcomed through to February 21, 2025.

Transport for NSW (TfNSW) will also be seeking expressions of interest to complete detailed design and construction of the new bridge.

Meanwhile, tenders for Stage 1 have been invited for the upgrade of two intersections on The Driftway.

The intersection upgrade at Londonderry Road will include a new roundabout and additional lane capacity as part of the Hawkesbury Nepean Valley Flood Evacuation route to help traffic movements during flooding events.

At the intersection of Blacktown Road, the work will include the realignment of The Driftway from Reynolds Road to Blacktown Road

with a new bridge over Rickabys Creek and a new roundabout at The Driftway and Blacktown Road intersection.

Stage 1 construction is planned to begin in mid-2025 and expected to be complete in 2026. Stage 2 construction is planned to begin in 2026.

The project has been jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments, with $500 million allocated.

4 NEWS

FRIDAY JANUARY 17 2025 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

FIXING THE BRUCE HIGHWAY

Call for urgency with $7.2bn Bruce spend

BY JAMES GRAHAM THE massive federal funding boost for the Bruce Highway must be utilised within the next three to five years, says Queensland’s peak industry body.

Queensland Trucking Association CEO Gary Mahon said the Albanese government’s recent commitment to a $7.2 billion investment to fix the state’s most dangerous road is the best possible news to start 2025.

But only if it means that the works, 80 per cent of which are now to be funded by the federal government, are kicked into high gear as soon as possible.

Since the first meeting of the newly established Bruce Highway Advisory Committee (BHAC) on December 18 in Townsville, Mahon has been in regular contact with the office of state Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg pushing for priorities to be established.

“There is no doubt that this funding will boost the budget for the Bruce Highway but there is still the question over what time period this funding will be spent,” Mahon said.

“This funding must be utilised in the next 3-5 years to make a significant impact on the quality and safety of the Bruce Highway.”

Mahon said he’s thrilled that the Fix the Bruce campaign that QTA partnered on with the RACQ last year has had “cut-through” but added that the campaign partners aren’t letting up.

“Together, we demand substantial improvements to the Bruce Highway.”

At the recent BHAC meeting, Mahon said delegates discussed a range of options that would reduce the risks without huge capital investments.

One example that the QTA put forward was widening the approaches to several bridges.

“The principle was, why can’t we do some relatively lower cost treatments to reduce risk until such time the bigger capital flows to do the big job.

QTA CEO Gary Mahon.

Image: ATA

The Bruce was shut for days after this 2024 blast. Image: TMR

“Rather than wait until we get the money to replace the bridge, we could widen out the approaches, maybe put in a kilometre of pavement widening, do some centre-line widening, some treatments that are not the solution but will reduce risk in the meantime.

“Because they are typically places where you’ve got B-doubles crossing thousands of times a day, with less than a metre between them.

Mahon said the infamous Maryborough intersection, the scene of many tragedies in recent years, is another classic

example. As far as we’re concerned, that’s Top of the Pops.

There’s just been too many fatalities and crashes there.

“Let’s look at ways we could perhaps do a lower cost rejig of that intersection through the use of traffic islands, line-markings, signage, whatever the case may be, until, the full treatment is done to try and reduce risk in that intersection.”

Mahon said the building of the Rocky Ring Road as a dual carriageway was also discussed and the minister told the council members that the state government is still

working with the federal government on that factor in the design phase.

“We’ll wait to hear whether that’s the case. But what we’re saying is that if you’re building bridges over the river, which that entails, and we’re future-proofing working our way north, it makes sense that it would be dual-lane, particularly the bridges.”

Mahon said he also pushed for an update on the proposed rest area for truckies at Tiaro as part of the new bypass, and a “decent and appropriate” rest area for truckies at Mackay.

Mahon said there was limit to what could be done in the first BHAC meeting but the early signs are good.

Mahon also said Labor’s commitment to shoulder 80 per cent of the investment in the works, rather than the previous 50:50 arrangement, should also help speed progress. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has also since pledged to match the spend and the 80:20 ratio.

In a statement, the Crisafulli state government said the 80:20 funding split for the Bruce Highway is a massive win for Queensland, just two

months since being elected.

“Since forming government, we have been calling for Queensland’s fair share of funding from the federal government at every opportunity,” Mickelberg said.

“Queensland deserves better than a second-class highway and that is why we are focused on delivering a safer and more reliable Bruce.

“One of my key priorities as Minister for Transport and Main Roads is to deliver a long-term upgrade plan to bring the Bruce Highway up to safety standards.

“The return to an 80:20 funding split is a welcomed commitment from the federal government to enable our delivery of a safer Bruce.”

In announcing the new Bruce funding, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the investment would fasttrack critical projects along the whole 1679km corridor, and initially focus on priority sections north of Gympie that have been identified by stakeholders due to their higher than average crash rates.

Those black spots include Maryborough to Benaraby, Rockhampton to St Lawrence, Bowen to Townsville

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NEWS 5

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JANUARY 17 2025

FIXING THE BRUCE HIGHWAY and Ingham to Innisfail.

Labor said projects within the package may include installing safety barriers, wide centre lines and audio tactile line marking; constructing wider shoulders; increasing run off areas, overtaking lanes and rest areas; and improving intersections, signage, and sight lines.

There will also be a focus on resealing and rehabilitating road surfaces for resilience, thereby mitigating damage from increasing weather events, Labor said.

The identification and prioritisation of projects funded under the package will be informed in consultation with the Queensland Government and BHAC, with works commencing this year.

TMR has estimated $9 billion will achieve a minimum

three out of five-star safety rating for the entirety of the Bruce, which is rated as one of the most dangerous roads in Australia. The Bruce has an average fatal and serious injury crash rate three to five times higher than any major highway in Victoria or NSW. “Almost half the Bruce has a 2-star safety rating and that’s not good enough,” said federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King.

“This historic investment answers the call of Queenslanders to bring the Bruce up to a 3-star safety rating so Australians stop losing their loved ones on this road.

“We are providing a significant and long-term commitment to fixing the Bruce, and I call on the Queensland Government to partner with us to get this done.”

The flood-prone Goorganga on the Bruce. Image: TMR

Truckie pushes for work to start asap

SUNSHINE Coast-based truckie Niell Graham had a clear message for his colleagues on the newly-formed Bruce Highway Advisory Council (BHAC) – just get started on fixes and worry about the money later.

Graham, who was so passionate about having his say, he nominated himself for a seat at the council table and drove his Volvo B-double to the first meeting in Townsville, said a price shouldn’t be put on improving safety.

“Let our grandkids pay for it and worry about the money later,” Graham, 50, said.

“If they can do the Pacific in a year, why can’t they do the Bruce?”

Graham said there several areas he’d like to focus on first: Cairns south, Gympie north and the stretches north and south from Rockhampton.

“Have three shifts a day, six days a week and just get it done now.”

Graham has had share of heart-stopping moments on the Bruce, including just last November when an impatient motorist pulled out from behind him and narrowly avoided a head-on near Giru.

He later shared the dash-

cam footage on bigrigs.com. au to highlight the dangers truckies face every day on the highway.

Graham said the worst section for him is the one from Proserpine to Mackay.

“It’s narrow and its windy and a lot of tourists are putting along at 80km/h looking at the nice scenery – there are just not enough overtaking lanes.

“When you do get an overtaking lane, and try and go around them, you just don’t get the momentum and they put their boot into it.”

He also pointed out the potholes that are now opening up north of the new Gympie bypass.

Graham said he should know more about the council’s plan of attack for the Bruce at the next meeting tentatively scheduled for March or April.

“I said to them, don’t start at one end and work your way up. You need to start at both ends and in the middle and do it all in one go.”

Graham said he’d like to see the Bruce dual-laned the whole way but is uncertain if he’ll get to see that before he retires.

“They just need to stop asking and planning and just

start doing. Nothing seems to be going anywhere,” added Graham who also offered a passenger seat in his truck to anyone wanting a close-up look at the troublespots.

North Queensland operator Kent Battle, who has a seat alongside Graham as a BHAC regional representative, said he put his name forward in the hope of seeing more done on the northern sections of the highway.

“Everyone’s quick to whinge, but no one’s quick to do anything,” said Battle, the Operations Manager at Nortrans Transport.

“So, I thought I need to obviously try. May not always go my way but you’ve got to give it a go.”

Battle said the common flood areas, such as the stretch north of Ingham and the Goorganga Plains at Proserpine, and narrow bridges were his main areas of concern.

“I’m a big believer that people’s attitudes cause a lot of the issues. Everyone’s got to be somewhere, but no one is more important than anyone else on the highway.

“We need to try and figure out how to lessen people’s frustrations so they don’t do stupid things.”

DON’T START AT ONE END AND WORK YOUR WAY UP. YOU NEED TO START AT BOTH ENDS AND IN THE MIDDLE AND DO IT ALL IN ONE GO.”

Truckie Niell Graham would love to see a dual carriageway built before he retires. Image: Niell Graham

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6 NEWS

IN BRIEF

Senator honoured

WA Senator Glenn Sterle has been announced as the winner of the 2025 Senator Alex Gallacher Road Safety Award.

Handed out at the start of each year by Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH), the Senator Alex Gallacher Award honours “unsung heroes” in road safety.

Sterle started his career as a truck driver and union official, before bringing his on-theground experience to the Senate, where he has championed initiatives to improve safety within the transport sector and beyond.

Sterle said he was humbled to accept the award in honour of Alex Gallacher.

“Alex was a relentless advocate for road safety, and I strive every day to continue his legacy,” he said. “We must work together to ensure safer roads for everyone.”

Hay runners save day

Aussie Hay Runners are busy gearing up for their big Australia Day run to SA, which will involve 35 trucks travelling a total of 140,000km to transport 1,190 bales of donated hay to help farmers and their communities.

In the meantime, however, they are continuing with their “little runs” – like a recent trip to help out the Dutch Thunder Wildlife Shelter in Koonoomoo, Victoria.

Aussie Hay Runners teamed up with Ian from Bootzey’s Ag and Hay Sales to donate two baron packs – 14 square bales bundled into one large bale using twine.

“This hay was baled just two weeks ago and was phenomenal clover and ryegrass hay,” Aussie Hay Runners said.

$1.2m Bruxner upgrade

A $1.2 million safety upgrade has been completed along a 2.6km stretch of the Bruxner Highway in NSW. Work started in early December near Mallanganee, about 40km west of Casino.

Delivered through the state government’s Safer Roads Program in partnership with Kyogle Council, the upgrade included installation of safety barriers, shoulder widening, intersection improvements and vegetation clearing.

Transport for NSW crews will be back in the new year to install additional signage and complete line marking and installation of audio tactile line marking, also known as rumble strips.

This section of highway between Casino and Tabulam carries about 1100 vehicles a day.

$27.5m Tassie upgrades

The Australian and Tasmanian governments have committed $27.5 million to five road upgrade projects across the state.

The money will go towards a variety of safety upgrades including shoulder sealing, junction realignment and traffic signal installation.

Upgrades have been targeted at sections of highways, local roads and intersections known for previous incidents and serious crashes, including the intersection of Brooker Highway and Foreshore Road in Montrose and the junction at Waddles Road and Pipers River Road near Karoola.

FRIDAY JANUARY 17 2025 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Why this veteran truckie walked away from job

BY DANIELLE GULLACI MARTY Newberry, 65, started in the trucking game in 1977 at the age of 18. But now, fed up with over-regulation and ludicrous fines for minor mistakes, Newberry has turned his back on the interstate game he used to love.

He’s ditched the logbook – his last long-distance role, was carting produce across the east coast on December 17 – and he’s now doing casual tipper work for a mate, about three days a week.

Despite a lifetime behind the wheel, Newberry said he’s now lost his passion for it.

“The industry has declined a lot over the years,” said Newberry, who is based near the small town of Rosedale, Queensland, about 40 minutes out from Bundaberg.

“I think it really started going downhill about 20 years ago, when they started bringing out the new logbooks and these higher fines.

“Over-regulation is the biggest issue – I think that’s every truckie’s biggest beef at the moment. People will still expect the shop shelves to be stocked for them and their families, yet trucking is the most unappreciated, overregulated profession in the country.”

Newberry also spoke of issues with driver training, which are only adding to the dangers for truckies out on the highway.

“Trucking has become the most dangerous job in Australia,” he said.

“That’s because a lot of the new drivers now aren’t taught like we were back in the day.

Marty Newberry, inset, has been in the industry since 1977. Images: Marty Newberry

Not only did you learn how to drive, they taught you how to load properly and how to secure a load.

“Nowadays there are driving schools out there that just teach you how to drive and reverse. They’re not teaching you about axle weights, safe loading, etc. And common sense goes out the window.”

In recent times, Newberry spent several years carting produce to markets and supermarkets.

“With the markets, you could arrive and be stuck there for hours. It was the same with Woolies and Coles with these timeslots. It just puts more pressures on the drivers when they get held up,” he said.

“One time I was coming from Brisbane to Woolies distribution centre in Altona and there was a fatal incident on the Ring Road and I got

held up for four hours. I had called them and told them what had happened. The lady I spoke to said they definitely still wanted the load there that day, “When I arrived, they carried on about me missing my timeslot. So I drove straight in and they ended up taking the load.”

While Newberry said he had been thinking of retirement for the past six months or so, it was after reading an article on Big Rigs that spoke of excessive, heavy-handed fines, [see story on page 34] that he decided the time was now.

“Something has to be done, and the government needs to intervene. If everyone takes a

week off work, we’ll see what happens. But until that happens, no one is going to take any notice,” he said.

“We have enough to put up with on the roads, with the amount of close calls we have and then the other problem is no one polices parking at rest areas either. But if we go five minutes over on our logbook because we’ve had to go to the next truck stop, that’s a few thousand dollars in fines. It’s all revenue-raising.

“At this stage of the game because no one stands by each other or supports each other, I can’t see anything changing. Together maybe we can do something, but we have to stand together. People don’t appreciate truckies. It’s an unappreciated job, it’s just out of control – it’s so bloody wrong.”

As he looked forward to more family time over the holiday period, Newberry also lamented the old days when truckies used to have each other’s backs.

“Sadly, those days are long gone. If we stopped for a week or two, it would bring them to their knees.”

Newberry looks back with fond memories on his time on the road but says it’s now got too hard.

Truckie fined $580 for forgetting logbook date

BY KAYLA WALSH

A truckie has told how he was fined $580 and “yelled at” by two compliance officers at the Marulan weighbridge in NSW for forgetting to write that day’s date in his logbook.

Greg Davies said the incident was really put into perspective after he got home, when he was watching a TV show about Victoria police.

“The police apprehended a lady for doing 77km/h in a 60 zone,” he said.

“They then realised her car was unregistered, she was driving while disqualified, she had three unrestrained children in the back seat, and tested positive for meth.

“She went to court and received six months to her existing suspension and was fined $300 – less than I was fined!”

Davies’ fine was issued six years ago by the RMS, which became Transport for NSW in 2019 – though the Marulan weighbridge is now manned by NHVR officers.

Although it happened quite a while ago, it’s still a sore point for the 55-year-old, and he thinks it’s a prime example of why many drivers are walking away from the transport industry.

“Some of the fines handed to truck drivers are just ridiculous,” he said.

“Fines like that are going to deter people from entering the industry, and lead to more people leaving.”

Davies’ altercation at the weighbridge occurred not long after his wife at the time

had suffered a heart attack, and she had come with him in the truck so that he could look after her.

“We came down to the Sydney markets - and if you know what the markets are like, it’s a bit hectic there - say just after midnight.

“I wanted to get out towards Marulan so that she could have a shower and get breakfast, and I could go to sleep.

“But when I left the markets, I forgot to put the date in my logbook on the new day.”

Davies was waved into the

Greg Davies said “ridiculous” fines are one of the reasons many truckies are leaving the industry. Image: Greg Davies

weighbridge for an inspection, where he was met by “the rudest people” he’s ever come across.

“The first fella came out and I said, ‘Good morning, how are you?’

“He just yelled at me, ‘Logbook and licence!’

“I was like ‘Wow, aren’t you in a good mood?’”

He said a second officer then approached to check the lights on his truck and was equally hostile.

“I put my foot on the brakes a couple of times to test them, and he walked around the truck, then came up to my window to ask me if I knew my left-hand headlight wasn’t working.

“I said I hadn’t realised that it had stopped working, and he just swore his head off at me.

“He said ‘Well you should f**king know, because I knocked you off for this three days ago, but you obviously haven’t bothered to fix it!’

“But that wasn’t true. I don’t

know if he was confusing me with someone else, or what.”

Davies said the officers then called him into their office and threw a defect notice for the headlight across the table, before fining him $580 for forgetting to write in that day’s date.

“I told them that 99 per cent of officers would have just handed me back my logbook and allowed me to quickly scribble in the date.

“He said, ‘Yeah I could do that, but I’m not gonna.’”

Davies, who is from Gatton in Queensland, admits he had “some words” with the officers because he couldn’t believe how badly he was being treated.

He tried to appeal the fine but was rejected.

“They said that because I had been knocked off three times in 10 years, it was fatigue related and I had to pay it,” he said.

Transport for NSW did not respond to a request for comment.

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8 OPINION

FRIDAY JANUARY 17 2025 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

So far, so good

EDITOR JAMES GRAHAM

IT’S still too early to say what influence the new Crisafulli government will have on Queensland trucking. But if the newly-formed Bruce Highway Advisory Council is any guide, the early signs are encouraging.

Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg has assembled a varied line-up of stakeholders from right across the regions. Let’s hope the TMR and the council listen to the sentiments echoed in our story on pages 4 and 5 and just crack on with it now they have an additional $7.2 billion to spend. A drive along stretches of North Queensland during the holiday period revealed the previous state government had left other freight routes in a sorry state.

Traffic control on the cyclone-ravaged Kuranda Range Road is reportedly costing state taxpayers $26,000 a day. There were a similar number of holdups and stop-go staff on the Captain Cook Highway between Cairns and Port Douglas.

HOT WEB TOPICS

WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO READER CORNER? EMAIL US AT EDITOR@BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Readers rally round Whiteline

Operation gets thumbs down

BIG Rigs’ recent story about Whiteline Transport’s fouryear legal battle with SAPOL and the NHVR sparked a massive reaction online.

After the regulator withdrew all charges against Whiteline, its directors Sharon and Bob Middleton and 23 of its drivers, our readers flooded the comments on Facebook to share their support for the transport company.

Brenton Whithorn described Sharon and Bob as “truly incredible role models for the industry on every level”, while Kelli Hines said the way the Middletons were treated was “absolutely disgusting”.

“Good on them for fighting back!” she wrote. “This can’t be

OVER the festive season, NHVR teamed up with police across New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania for a fatigue crackdown known as “Operation Omega”.

When Big Rigs shared the news that this was happening, the regulator and the police attracted plenty of criticism.

Many readers asked why the police weren’t pulling over more cars and caravans over Christmas, instead of picking on truck drivers.

“Yeah, you mob go for the truckies instead of Mr and Mrs Happy Families who go on their yearly big trip, mentally, physically, and mechanically unpre-

Big Rigs readers are impressed by how Bob and Sharon Middleton fought back.

Image: Down the White Lines Photography

allowed to happen again and there needs to be appropriate repercussions for the blatantly mishandled and false legal actions.”

Tracy Lee agreed: “This highlights what people experience across all aspects of society when you challenge authority.

Good on this wonderful couple for bringing injustice to light at

no benefit to themselves - they really are the true Aussie heroes.”

Tony Stephens also praised the Middletons for standing their ground and proving their innocence.

“Shame on SAPOL and NHVR for pursuing unwarranted claims based on false data,” he added.

Support for licencing overhaul

GRIEVING truckie’s wife Delphine Mugridge has vowed to keep fighting for nationwide adoption of South Australia’s changes to the heavy vehicle licensing of drivers from overseas, and our readers are overwhelmingly on her side.

Truckie Stacy Wilkinson wrote on the Big Rigs Facebook page: “If this was made national, it might encourage existing drivers to stay in the game a bit longer, knowing their chances of returning home are increasingly better.”

Dean Callcott agreed: “This must be national, it will not work in one state only.”

Steve Gardiner said that Australia needs tougher licence

Steve Shearer, Delphine Mugridge and Tom Koutsantonis address the media about the licencing changes in SA. Image: Tom Koutsantonis

testing for overseas drivers, especially when it comes to the height and length of vehicles.

Meanwhile James David argued that no visitor or migrant to Australia should be able to get behind the wheel of a semi or double road train without

logging supervised hours on Australian roads.

“Anyone who got their MC in the past five years should be tested again,” he added. “Employers should have to put up a bond to employ overseas drivers. Good on her for the fight.”

pared to drive more than an hour but will try to do 1000km in one hit,” wrote Tyronne Tunza Bony.

“There’s more money in busting a truckie who forgot to sign off on his book than going after a tired tourist.”

Colin Andrew echoed: “I suppose handing out fines for frayed straps will definitely help stop the impatient cars and caravans from overtaking and cutting off trucks 50m before the freeway exit they need.”

On the other hand, truckie Darren Whellum jumped in to defend the NHVR. “Pretty much every intercept I’ve had in 10 years, they have been pleasant – even letting me

The NHVR cracked down on fatigue over the festive season. Image: NHVR

off several minor things and letting me fix up on spot,” he said.

“But yet I see them bagged out to no end on social media.”

Caravanner causes a big stir OUR story about a truckie being told to “f**k off* after asking a caravanner not to park in a truck parking bay sparked a big reaction from readers.

Many sided with the truck driver, Shane Boese, with Assunta Camilleri writing that the caravanner should be fined.

“They are aware that truck drivers need to stop for a break,” she said. “We do not park in a disabled park, taxi rank, emergency area, bus stop. Rules and laws are there for a reason. [Truck drivers] are here to work, you caravan people are not – just a pain in the butt. Have some respect.”

Don Breen chimed in: “Should have blocked the caravan in and refused to move.

Tell them you’re on a 48hr rest break and you’re not allowed by law to start the truck.”

Jeff Borlace, a full-time caravanner, argued that truckies are not totally innocent either.

“We have seen trucks park-

Truckie Shane Boese has had enough of caravanners parking in truck parking bays. Image: Shane Boese

ing in areas meant for caravans, vans and cars with trailers as well,” he said. “So let’s just get on together.”

Kent Battle agreed: “BP in Mackay has a dedicated caravan area and it’s always full of trucks. We expect caravans to obey parking rules but ignore them ourselves.”

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10 NEWS

FRIDAY JANUARY 17 2025 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Scania celebrates record year

DESPITE the doom and gloom forecasts in some quarters, truck and van manufacturers have ended 2024 with record total sales.

The overall tally from the Truck Industry Council is 51,277, eclipsing the previous best of 47,757 set in 2023.

Even allowing for the newly captured truck and van brands LDV Deliver 9 and Peugeot Boxer of 3010 vehicles in the 2024 figures, that’s a new benchmark for dealers to chase in 2025.

Isuzu again came out on top with 13,402 sales and a market share of 26.1 per cent, only slightly down on its 2023 total of 13,658 (28.6 per cent market share).

In the heavy-duty sector, Kenworth rounded out 2024 with another massive month of 358 sales in December to finish the year well clear of the chasers on 3774 and a market share of 22 per cent.

Isuzu again topped Volvo in the monthly standings with 220 units delivered last month, nine more than the

Wacol-based manufacturer.

Volvo ended the year on 3115 and a market share of 18.2 per cent, slightly down on its 2023 figures of 3476/19.8 Not surprisingly, Isuzu locked up third spot for 2024 with 2481 units and a market share of 14.5, up from 2393 and a 13.6 market share.

The other big success story last year amongst the heavies was fourth-placed Scania which delivered a record number of trucks into the Australian market.

With 1459 new Scania heavy rigid and prime movers entering service in 2024, Scania nabbed a market share of 8.5 per cent, up from 7.9 in 2023.

“Our performance in 2024 marks a new high in terms of deliveries, and market share growth over 2023,” said Manfred Streit, Managing Director of Scania Australia.

“The Australian market now places greater emphasis on factors we have been promoting for many years: fuel efficiency, safety, durability and

of course, maximum uptime, while it is undeniable that in a tight driver market, the comfort and premium features of our cabs assist customers in retaining their employees.”

Streit said Scania will continue to exceed market expectations as well as provide pathways to transitioning to a sustainable transport solution into 2025 and beyond.

“We aim to expand our Battery Electric Vehicle portfolio, as well as continue to focus on renewable fuels such as biodiesel and HVO, which can make a dramatic reduction in cleaning exhaust emissions from our highly advanced combustion engines.”

In the medium-duty sector, there was a slight growth over the year when compared to 2023, however December sales weakened — 706 units, representing 18 less sales over the same month in 2023.

The fourth quarter segment result of 2107 is also down on the final quarter 2023 result of 2131 units by 24 trucks, or -1.1 per cent.

The total tally of 8132 medium truck sales in 2024, did however surpass that of 2023 by 1.6 per cent, or 128 trucks.

In the lights, there were also slowing sales in 2024 after record sales in 2022 and near record sales in 2023. Overall, there were a total of 14,558 trucks delivered in the segment last year, a fall of 10 per cent, or 1608 fewer light truck sales than in 2023.

TIC CEO Tony McMullan said it was pleasing to see sales hold up well in 2024 and van sales strengthen to record levels despite challenging economic conditions throughout 2024.

“It was equally pleasing to see a new annual new truck and van sales record that exceed the 50,000 mark for the first time ever,” McMullan said.

“The 40,000 barrier was only broken relatively recently in 2018 and despite the protracted global Covid supply chain disruptions, heavy vehicle sales in Australia continue to set new records.

The Scania R 660 V8 impressed in our test drive across the Nullarbor late last year. Image: Scania Australia

“However, despite these record new truck sales, the Truck industry Council and our members, remain concerned that the average age of the Australian truck fleet remains much older than that of Europe and North America.

“An old truck fleet is not

conducive to improved safety, public health and environmental outcomes for our society. Moving into an election year in 2025, we must consider what more can be done by both industry and particularly government, to reduce the age of our nation’s truck fleet.”

Hawk continues to soar with Farragher Logistics deal

REFRIGERATED transport specialist Hawk Logistics has announced its latest acquisition, taking over Farragher Logistics.

Hawk Logistics was started

by Amrit Paul and Harmanpreet Singh in 2014 with just one truck – and over the past 10 years has experienced exponential growth.

Today Hawk Logistics employs over 500 people and operates over 800 assets, including trucks, trailer and logistics equipment. It operates out of facilities in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Griffith.

Hawk Logistics revealed earlier in the year that while it was already operating across Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, it had

plans to target other cities and growth corridors.

Farragher Logistics has a rich history, starting in 1933 as a furniture removals business. By 1982, the core focus of the business had shifted to freight, shop fittings and refrigeration transport.

Today, the business specialises in refrigerated transport and cold storage warehousing – delivering across the east coast, as well as the east to west run into Perth.

“We are proud to announce that Hawk Logistics has acquired Farragher Logistics, a 91-year-old company with a rich legacy in the Australian transport industry,” Hawk Logistics said in its announcement online.

“This strategic acquisition

Hawk Logistics was started in 2014. Image: Hawk Logistics

expands our service capabilities and strengthens our operational reach across the country.”

As part of the acquisition, Hawk Logistics has said it will retain Farragher’s team

of drivers and assets.

“This partnership reflects our commitment to delivering reliable and efficient transport solutions nationwide,” Hawk Logistics said.

“By integrating a business

with nearly a century of experience, we honour Farragher Logistics’ legacy while continuing to innovate and set new standards of excellence.

“This milestone stays true to our mission of challenging the logistics industry by providing innovative solutions and delivering customer excellence.”

This latest move by Hawk Logistics follows its acquisition of AR Logistics in December 2023, which included over 100 vehicles and a depot in Adelaide – allowing the business to expand into South Australia.

Last October, Hawk Logistics also announced a major new partnership with shopping powerhouse Big W to

carry general freight for its 16 retail stores across South Australia.

Freight will initially be picked up from a Hoppers Crossing warehouse in Victoria by Hawk Logistics who will then move it to an Adelaide depot on A-double high-performance vehicles.

From here the combinations will be split into semi-trailers, and the local Hawk team based in Dry Creek, South Australia, will deliver directly to the stores.

The five-year contract was secured via its collaboration with Primary Connect and the Woolworths Group.

Hawk Logistics has also revealed it has plans to expand its services into the Northern Territory.

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12 FEATURE

FRIDAY JANUARY 17 2025 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

NEW YEAR WISH LISTS

Better training, better facilities CASUARINA SMITH Truck driver/Trucking with CJ Merkanooka Haulage

IN 2025, I’d like to see improved access to education and training for up-and-coming drivers, as well as ongoing training and education for existing drivers.

I personally know there are some really good training organisations out there that people just don’t know about. If we can raise awareness and direct traffic towards those places so that people are trained well from the beginning, then that will benefit the industry as a whole.

The general public also needs to know more about truck drivers and what it’s like to be a driver of different equipment.

Often, I hear people saying I didn’t know this or didn’t know that.

It’s about bridging the gap be-

tween all road users and truck drivers – and spreading awareness of how to share the road together. People don’t know what they don’t know. If we could have more empathy for each other and respect each other on the road, that’s always going to be a beneficial thing.

I’m also hoping to get out to more schools and talk to all age groups, from primary through to Tafe, aiming to inspire and nurture the upcoming generation that’s coming through and just spread some positivity.

I think where the industry can do better is looking after our drivers. One way of doing that is by providing improved facilities at truck stops, healthier food options and more rest areas with clean and well-maintained facilities.

I’ve done a lot of travel over the last year, and the feedback I often hear is that the showers or toilet facilities for truckies

Investing in the future MARK TOBIN Followmont Managing Director

Better training for truckies would be a huge step in the right direction.

Image: Casuarina Smith

can leave a lot to be desired.

And if you’re not prepared, there aren’t many places to pull over and get good food or a coffee.

I think if we can provide better facilities for truckies on the road, that would be a huge step in the right direction for the industry.

I’ve had so much diversity in my year. The connections I’ve made within the industry and what we’re building going forward into 2025 is very exciting.

In this sort of job, it’s not always easy and it’s not always a smooth road, but I don’t dwell on the negatives. I find solutions to make it better and I learn from the challenges I face.

More collaboration on all fronts STEVE SHEARER Executive Officer South Australian Road Transport Association

2025 is a year for hope and commitment to improvement by governments, regulators, enforcement agencies, HV operators and associations.

Improvement in safety is our top priority.

Improvement in productivity, facilitated by a more effective implementation of a genuinely reformed HVNL. Improvement in co-operation between jurisdictions, local governments and the NHVR, with a singular focus on facilitating safe optimisation of road freight productivity which is essential in underpinning a competitive and viable economy.

Improvement in collaboration between industry associations, focused on what’s best for the industry.

Improvement in collaboration between enforcement agencies and the industry.

Improvement in enforcement through dropping the outdated cops-and-robbers mentality and adopting safety-focused and risk-based policies and practices instead the counter-productive black-and-whiteletter law enforcement where there is no safety issue or risk.

Road freight is not an incidental sidebar to society and the economy. It is central.

Ensuring safe productive and fully integrated road freight movement must be treated as priority core business by all governments and agencies.

We can’t afford the jurisdictional and inter-agency turf wars that have marred progress and seen government reforms lag well behind industry progress.

After 30 years as SARTA’s Executive Officer, I for one am sick and tired of the politicisa-

Steve Shearer says safety improvements top the list.

Image: SARTA

tion of road freight and infrastructure and the three yearly cycle of warm fuzzy platitudes and promises that are far too infrequently lived up to by governments and agencies.

Yes, there have been some good advances, but they have been too limited and delivered at little better than glacial speed.

Enormous amounts of tax-payer funds have been repeatedly wasted on failed reviews, drawn-out studies and pilots and ineffective system developments. Process has typically prevailed over outcomes.

Let’s make 2025 the end of all that and the start of an era of genuine, tangible and comprehensive outcome-based improvement.

MY hope for the trucking industry in 2025 is that we don’t lose any more mates on the roads and everyone stays safe while travelling.

There are always areas where the industry can do better – one of those areas is training, particularly for operators coming in from overseas.

These operators need to be heavily trained, so we don’t have any more accidents like the one that took Slim’s life.

It’s always going to be a contentious issue around overseas drivers and training.

For the industry, I hope we

can keep evolving and moving in the right direction. I’d also like to see drivers get a seat at the table where decisions are being made so that we are better represented.

For me personally, 2024 has been a monster year, which saw me in recovery from open heart surgery.

After being a local driver for the last 16 years in Sydney, we also took the plunge and moved to Bathurst, New South Wales, where I took on the open road running between Bathurst and Alice Springs and Tassie, which was a huge bucket list item for me.

Truckie Keven Mitchell hopes the industry keeps evolving and moving in right direction.

Image: Keven Mitchell

Mark Tobin says state and federal governments need to work together.

Image: Followmont Transport

ment bringing back the Bruce Highway committee is a great thing, but we need to see action. If you look at the road from Brisbane to Sydney, compared to Brisbane to Cairns, it’s totally different.

There are too many deaths on our roads. They need to look at the data around what is shown to be high risk and make change from there.

There’s not enough support or focus on how we go forward into the future.

Leaving no stone unturned TODD HACKING HVIA CEO

Staying safe on the road KEVEN MITCHELL Truck driver

IF we don’t invest in youth around career paths, and in training development, we’re going to have a huge gap in employment.

We need to positively understand what the transport industry and supply chain does to employ staff and have a positive outlook rather than the negativity that the mainstream media gives us.

We need to promote the industry so we’re attracting people. The issue we have is that we don’t have youth coming through from the next generation, like we had 10 years ago. It would be great if we could all employ Australians to do the job but we don’t have the workforce – as a business, we’re finding this is an uphill battle.

The state and federal govern-

ment also need to come together, especially in Queensland, around infrastructure funding. The current highway network is not sustainable for the freight task.

We need to have some sort of consistency, with governments working together.

The transport industry needs better infrastructure and a bigger focus on strategies around how the highway network in Australia is going to fit in with the current freight task. Rail is unreliable, but the current road network – especially in Queensland – is not sustainable for what our needs are.

Governments also need to promote larger mass vehicles, which means there would be less vehicles on the road.

The sustainability of the current network is not fit for purpose.

The current Liberal govern-

2025 is shaping up to be another massive year for Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA) as we seek to deliver on our promise to members of delivering value through our extensive work program.

The first major event of the year is likely to be a federal election. Throughout 2024, HVIA has sought out the views from our extensive membership and will be ready to advocate strongly for policies that make the heavy vehicle industry safety, more productive and prosperous.

Next comes the Brisbane Truck Show, another sold-out event in terms of exhibition space as we seek to shine a light on the amazing technology, innovation and exciting array of new vehicle models.

The Truck Show is more then just an industry event,

though; it is our industry’s biggest asset and HVIA will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to showcase the industry in its most positive light throughout Truck Week 25 incorporating The Depot skills showcase, the first-ever National Show and Shine Championship, the Heritage Truck Show, the Heavy Equipment and Machinery Show, and the Premier Boxing Series at South Bank.

2025 is also the year of planning for the nation’s first specific Automotive Academy campus set to open in conjunction with the Industry School in 2026.

HVIA has invested in skills, training and workforce development this year to ensure we are ready to establish a pipeline of local talent for the industry.

Our hope is national coverage over the next decade across all 29 common trades throughout

HVIA CEO Todd Hacking is gearing up for a big year.

Image: HVIA

our membership.

On the legislative front, HVIA will be an eager contributor to reviews of the Road Vehicle Standards Act and Australian Design Rules; and we hope to also see the Performance Based Standards scheme get a new lease of life.

And that is before we get on to the amazing work through the HVIA committees and working groups which are working hard in key areas including tyres, electromobility, learning and development, trailer wiring and powered trailers.

We need more parking SHANE BOESE Truck driver, Express Boat Transport

I’M like JFK – I’m a man on a mission in 2025! The three main things I want to raise awareness about are truck parking, obesity amongst truck drivers, and electronic work diaries.

I drive up and down the east coast delivering boats and the lack of parking for trucks is a huge problem.

Two of the worst places are BP Eastern Creek and BP Chinderah. They’ve started towing at Eastern Creek now but now what’s happening is all the bays for interstate drivers are being taken up by bobtail trucks.

The drivers are pulling the curtains, getting in their cars, and going home. They just

use it as a base.

My second thing I want to campaign around is obesity in truck drivers. Having a healthy lifestyle is a mindset, and if you’re not prepared to change your mindset, nothing is ever going to happen.

But I also think it’s up to roadhouses and truck stops to not just think about their bottom line, and stop renting out spaces to Hungry Jacks and McDonald’s.

I’m really advocating for more truckies to get electronic work diaries – I think they should be mandatory.

Since I got one, I would never, ever go back to a paper logbook. My EWD gives me a 30-minute warning for my rest breaks, it tells me when I’ve got to have my seven day and 14 day rests, it does everything.

Shane Boese works for Express Boat Transport, delivering boats all around Australia.

With an electronic logbook, you can’t cheat the system. If you can’t cheat the system, that’s going to stop fatalities.

And if anyone does cheat the system, the judge should throw the book at them.

My main personal goal for 2025 is actually to retire. I’m 62 and I miss my family, being on the road all the time.

I’m looking forward to spending more time with them.

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14 FEATURE

FRIDAY JANUARY 17 2025 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

NEW YEAR WISH LISTS

Keep fighting for change ROD HANNIFEY Long-haul truckie

MAJOR change on the industrial scene with the “Closing the Loopholes” legislation getting up and the first of the orders now released and time will tell both the effects and effectiveness of these changes, on how many drivers are treated.

I do hope it will be all positive and think it certainly worth the effort of so many to see this achieved.

The Heavy Vehicle National Law review, what can I say, too long, too costly, too little change, and those of you who whinge about this, please consider that if you had taken to time to respond, even if only with one major point, then maybe the few of us who did, would not have been run over, by those who obviously had more (or way too much) sway.

I am told there will be ongoing minor further reviews, but again, if only 30 truckies contribute, those who think giving us 1 per cent more flexibility will mean us all working and driving 28 hours a day, 8

Truckies’ advocate Rod Hannifey keeps fighting for change. Image: Sarah Bradley

days a week, will again destroy any real change.

Roads, what a mess, not only are they failing not just us and our customers badly and increasing maintenance and contributing to crashes, but the maintenance is failing as well.

No, I am not an engineer, but it is my life and yours at risk, not those who control and have responsibility for them.

Road workers must be safe and able to fix the roads, that is what we want, but the waste of money in “ROUGH SURFACE” signs left out for months, pilot vehicles to travel 200m if that, means the costs are blowing out and the repairs are not getting done.

Then there is the lack of both skilled road workers and those

in charge, then those who do know what they are doing, not being listened to by someone a long way away in an air-conditioned office and again, whose lives are at risk? How can it be fixed today and fail tomorrow or a month later?

Lastly truck rest areas. We are going backwards, new roads and bypasses, some sites closed for safety reasons, but few replaced and yet more trucks and cars and yes, caravans on the road all trying to use the current lack of capacity.

And after only 25 years, I am still begging, emailing and ringing to get green reflector marking of informal bays national.

It has been a frustrating year, and I do feel it is getting both harder to get anything done and hence, I do feel and understand the cynicism of many of you.

Some have simply walked away and then we have the driver licensing, apprenticeship and still the cry for nearer to national rules, but I haven’t given up and will keep trying.

What will you do?

Embracing diversity LYNDAL DENNY Truckie/CEO Women in Trucking Australia

WITH truck driver shortages threatening the nation’s supply chain and economic stability, Women in Trucking Australia’s hope as the road transport sector moves into 2025, is that HR departments will continue to redefine their driver recruiting strategies to embrace and onboard female drivers in greater numbers.

Committing to grow-yourown driver strategies and annual trainee driver targets in preference to poaching existing drivers will also go a long way to ensuring a continual feed of new talent into the sector – while hopefully mitigating some losses as older drivers retire.

Training, advocacy, empowerment and networking are the four core strategies that will continue to underpin WiTA’s focus throughout 2025.

With gender diverse companies reporting increased productivity and profits, WiTA will continue its work en-

couraging the industry to recognise the strategic advantages that come with increased female heavy vehicle driver workforce participation.

The organisation will continue to licence and mentor Australian women into heavy vehicle driving careers through it’s highly acclaimed Commonwealth funded “Foot in the Door” program which is administered by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.

Graduates report the enormous benefits WiTA female driver mentor support brings as they navigate new work environments, workplace cultures and unfamiliar scenarios and places.

Disappointingly, across 2024, the numbers of women reaching out for support as victims of workplace bullying has increased significantly. WiTA will continue its work ensuring female drivers are treated fairly and with respect – while advocating on their behalf for safe, supportive work conditions.

On a more positive note, in July 2024, WiTA hosted its inaugural TOOTS Awards

Data is new gold

Bridging the gap

I foresee 2025 will usher in some long awaited and extensively lobbied changes in several areas. The Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) review has been narrowed down now to a few key points, and I would expect this to be completed and be proclaimed towards mid-year.

Disappointingly for drivers, the key outcomes that we had anticipated never made the final cut. Numerous people have said that my views were too optimistic, and our overlords will never allow such freedoms.

Given the proposed increases in penalties and little else, it seems they were correct.

The focus on compliance during the HVNL review has been prominent and many of us have noticed new electronic devices being rolled out across the eastern states.

AT the forefront of our priorities is the implementation of the Greenstart program launched last November, which provides transport operators with the tools, knowledge, and direction needed to embark on decarbonisation confidently.

While the transition to alternative energy sources is pressing, the industry currently lacks a credible business case for decarbonisation. Greenstart aims to bridge this gap, helping operators make informed decisions to reduce emissions while maintaining economic sustainability.

With global and national goals to curb climate change, the VTA sees this program as a vital first step in supporting our members through the energy transition.

Equally critical is the pressing need for heavy vehicle driver licensing reform. The VTA is advocating for licensing re-

TREVOR WARNER Interstate truckie and secretary Drivers’ Advocate

This sends a clear message that data is the new gold for law enforcement, with ANPR cameras, point-to-point and network camera system will all be gathering data for the back-office enforcement units to collect and store for when needed.

Therefore, the imposition of pain enforcement continues to increase and a proposed $26,600 fine will hurt badly.

In addition to the financial penalty, demerit points attached to serious and critical offences will now impact your ability to earn a living.

I have taken several opportunities to speak with authorised officers and government officials about the unfairness of the way laws have been implemented. Basically, their response was: “It’s up to the drivers to control their vehicles and to operate in a safe manner. Your boss may be pushing you, but it’s the driver’s responsibility to comply with the laws and stop

PETER ANDERSON CEO Victorian Transport Association

Interstate truckie Trevor Warner. Image: Trevor Warner

covering up the evidence of poor management decisions.”

They are correct in that respect! If we keep doing what we have often done, it should come as no surprise that law enforcement will continued to increase the size of the hammer to hit us with. I am no fan of law enforcement, but if we had no laws, we would have a workplace of total anarchy.

I recall clearly that back in 2005, the 60 Minutes debate in Sydney where many of the industry attendees asked: “How much blood is going to be spilled before the government acts to stop the carnage?”

The surveillance systems are here, and the time is nigh!

Hope for the best JODIE BROADBENT Compliance expert and founder, On the Road

HERE’S my wish-list for 2025.

Hopefully I’ll have the chance to write about all of these being positive outcomes through the year – okay, I’d settle for just one!

1.

Fair fines - Truck drivers shouldn’t be fined a week’s wages (or more!) where the offence is minor. We saw an NRL player fined $850 after crashing and injuring a child, while high on drugs. If that’s the standard, then an error in a work diary should only be a warning, with edu-

cation provided to the driver.

2. Clear defect notices - photos, and notes about exactly where the defect is, should be mandatory to send to the registered operator. Surely, we are beyond the days of triplicate pieces of flimsy paper!

3. A defect that can be cleared

by ANY jurisdiction! This rubbish that VIC cannot clear a NSW defect is ridiculous. Again, surely technology can help? I mean, how about one state uses a telephone and call the other state road agency and clear it that way.

Compliance expert Jodie Broadbent is hopeful of some positive outcomes in 2025.

Image: Jodie Broadbent

4. Better roads. While I know that isn’t the domain of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, surely they have the ear of transport ministers (both state and federal) and again… have a conversation. This isn’t rocket science, it’s basic common decency. Our drivers and trucks deserve better quality workplaces.

forms that prioritise thorough training, practical skill development, and a stronger focus on safety. These changes will ensure new drivers enter the workforce equipped to succeed while elevating the overall professionalism of the industry.

The VTA is also focused on attracting young people to careers in freight and logistics.

With the average age of drivers continuing to climb, introducing younger generations to the opportunities within our industry has never been more important.

Through programs like the VTA’s Driver Delivery Program, which has already trained and employed over 450 drivers, and the Females in Transport Program, which has brought over 125 women into trucking and warehousing roles in just 18 months, we are making strides toward creating a more diverse, skilled, and vibrant workforce.

Diversity is another pillar of our vision for 2025. Building on the success of our initiatives to support women in transport,

Lyndal Denny says training, advocacy, empowerment and networking are the four core strategies for WiTA in 2025.

Image: Lyndal Denny

on National Female Truckie’s Day in Adelaide, partnering with Camp Quality to raise much needed funds for children living with a cancer diagnosis.

The day was an overwhelmingly resounding success and provided female drivers with the rare opportunity to network and let their hair down.

With plans to move the awards around the country each year, we’re delighted to announce that National Female Truckie’s Day 2025 will fall on July 5 with the TOOT’s Awards locked into a gala evening event at the Adelaide Convention Centre – so ladies, please save the date!

VTA CEO Peter Anderson says the Greenstart program is a vital first step for operators. Image: Prime Creative Media

the VTA is now launching a migrant diversity program.

This initiative will train migrants in essential industry knowledge, including national heavy vehicle laws, occupational health and safety, and the practical steps to obtain a heavy vehicle licence.

By fostering a more inclusive workforce, the program will help address labour shortages while reflecting the diversity of our communities.

Beyond workforce development, the VTA is also championing improved productivity outcomes for our customers and consumers.

The VTA is advocating for reforms that cut red tape, streamline regulatory processes, and enable businesses to adopt new technologies and practices that drive efficiency.

Pushing for a fairer deal WES WALKER Truckies’ advocate

IT was satisfying to finally see the permanent toilets at the Gatton pads finally built last year after fighting to give truckies the basic facilities there for so long.

But there’s a lot more work ahead this year.

I’m hoping to start a similar campaign at the Federal weigh station soon and will be following up on Roma which badly needs lights and cameras.

We need better rest areas

for the people that carry this country.

I’ve got blokes ringing me up all the time with issues, ‘Wes you want to see this, Wes you want to see that’.

My other wish is that all the taxes collected on everything that you need to run a truck, not just the fuel, goes back into building better roads. Where is that going now?

I’d like to see the structure on how they distribute the tax on all that stuff.

We need better roads, not

Campaigner Wes Walker has more targets in his sights for 2025. Image: James Graham

football teams. Look at all the other taxes that are on just running a semi. It’s phenomenal the amount of taxes they’re collecting out of a truck before you even turn a wheel.

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16 COVER STORY

FRIDAY JANUARY 17 2025 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

PACCAR’s new powerhouse

More than a year after his first look at the impressive new DAF XG+ at the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show, our test driver finally gets a steer himself.

BY GEOFF MIDDLETON IT has been a long time coming. However, now the wait is over for the DAF XG and XG+ 660.

We first saw the DAF XG+ at the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show, and it really drew some attention on the PACCAR stand.

I got up close and personal with the display truck and was immediately impressed by its level of sophistication, as well as its fit-and-finish. But it was when I found out it was powered by a 660hp Cummins with 3200Nm of torque, I really wanted to get behind the wheel.

It took 18 months, but finally I got steer in the XG+ 660.

The execs at PACCAR were generous too. Letting me have the truck for a couple of days in loaded B-double form to go wherever I wanted. And that I did.

But first, let’s take look at what makes this truck tick.

The big news is the heart of this truck. It’s a 15-litre Cummins that has be tweaked and “PACCAR-ised” if you like.

Called the PX 15, the ‘new’ engine puts out more power and torque than the regular X-15 that are familiar with in PACCAR’s Kenworth trucks.

The PX-15 has been developed by PACCAR and Cummins in China but will be sourced from Columbus, Indiana. It puts out 660hp (485kW) and 2360 lb/ft (3200Nm) of torque as opposed to the 550hp and 2050 lb/ft in the X-15 as it sits in a K220.

The PX-15 is also lighter by 225kg and more fuel efficient than the X-15, we were told.

The new PX-15 is mated to a ZF 16-speed TraXon auto transmission and Meritor 3.42 diffs. Holding up the rear end is Electronically Controlled Air Suspension (ECAS) Airglide 460 suspension, and the brakes are discs all round.

Chief Engineer at PACCAR Australia, Brad May, said that the DAF XG+ with the PX-

15 engine was very much an ‘Australia only’ truck, however its development was very much global project taking in expertise from DAF head office in Eindhoven in The Netherlands, China, Cummins in the US and Australia as well as PACCAR Australia.

“For a long time in this country we’ve prided ourselves on being Aussie engineers for Aussie trucks and doing it our own way. But the nature of product development and the nature of the complexity of new products means that we, as PACCAR Australia, need to be more global in the way we approach product design,” May said.

“This engine had to sit in a truck so that the truck was a DAF in every sense of the word.

“So there has been a lot of development in collaboration with Cummins to develop the software to suit the DAF truck… which is very different from the software that is used in a Kenworth truck.”

May said that was also a lot of development done at PACCAR Australia in Bayswater, Victoria.

“Our guys did what we do really well, which is to create an overall truck configuration that is appropriate for this market.

“It’s a bigger task than it looks. So, the engine installation was done here, all the cooling development and testing with Cummins was done here. This engine needs a lot more air capacity than the 13 litre does so a lot of work has gone into air-intake management and how we deal with that.

“Then you’ve got all the frame packaging around the exhaust and the after treatment and you need more urea and a bigger fuel capacity.

“We set 1100 litres as a minimum, as we wanted this truck to be able to do all the major East Coast routes. We’ve found that important so the fuel and urea capacity can do that. So, you can see that there

is a lot that we had to do here on the project.”

All new cab

The new XG and XG+ get entirely new cabs that have been designed with aerodynamic efficiency in mind. In fact, the new cabs are 22 per cent more efficient than the previous cabs.

In European testing with the 13-litre engine, the new cabs proved to be 11 per cent more fuel efficient than the existing cabs.

The design of the cabs aimed at getting better vision, more room and better ergonomics with a low floor and full-standing height.

The cabs will be imported from Eindhoven, and then the trucks will be built at PACCAR Australia’s manufacturing plant in Bayswater.

The differences between the XG and XG+ are that the XG+ is taller and features a double-bunk layout whereas the XG has a single bunk.

The XG+ also has two fridges as standard and both seats are air-suspended while in the XG, only the driver gets the good seat.

Both feature full-standing height in the cab with the XG at 2040mm and the XG+ offering 2170mm of headroom.

The XG+ gets an electrically-raising DAF Relax bed and both feature a multi-function rear wall panel that controls everything including lighting, temperature, windows and even the roof hatch.

There is an abundance of storage in the cab with three big lockers up front and plenty of other storage areas including a handy pull-out tray as well as a charging slot for your phone.

There are numerous USB ports around the cab as well as 12volt plugs.

Sitting behind the wheel, my immediate feeling was one of space. This is a really roomy cab and there is plenty of adjustment in the seat for even the biggest of drivers.

The steering wheel is multi adjustable and can be pushed

Ample space, a comfortable seat, and good functionality appealed to our test driver.

right forward to the dash for more ease of movement around the cab.

Vision from the driver’s seat is among the best we’ve seen with the dash pushed down and the waistline also dropped to give really good view.

Conventional mirrors have been retained for the time being but they are beautifully mounted with a nice gap between the regular mirror and the lower convex mirror.

Of note is the ‘corner cam’ which is an external camera on the left-hand side that relays to

The rainy day offered a chance to try out the wipers, and they proved to be more than up for the task.

a screen on the top-left of the cab showing the front and the left-hand side of the truck.

It’s handy when parking and can show vehicles, pedestrians or bike riders on the left of the truck. The screen is photo-sensitive so that it dims at night so as not to be a distraction to the driver.

The steering wheel is multi-functional with cruise control buttons on the left and audio and screen controls on the right. The fully-digital dash can be set up in different configurations so the driver

can select how he or she wants it to look and what information is displayed.

However, this dash setup can only be done when the truck is stationary. DAF has a philosophy of ‘hands on the wheel, eyes on the road’ which also means there are no touch screens.

On the road

Startup is via a conventional key and the transmission is controlled on the right-hand stalk. Flick off the electronic park brake and we’re off.

Hands on the wheel, eyes on the road is the philosophy at DAF.

COVER STORY 17

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JANUARY 17 2025

A lot of work has gone into getting the engine cooling right for Australian conditions.

Images: Geoff Middleton

Our test truck was setup with a B-double set of trailers and weighed in at 57 tonnes on the weighbridge.

First impressions were of quietness. DAF has done a wonderful job of insulating the cab from the engine noise. Sure, there is a bit of a rumble from the big PX-15, but the quiet, smooth ride is up there with the best of the Euro trucks on the market.

We’ve mentioned the effort DAF has gone to improve vision and this is really evident.

The deep windscreen and low height of the doors mean that the vision is better than most trucks on the road.

The wipers got a workout on our test run and they’re fantastic. The broad sweep leaves a vast amount of the screen clean and the washers flood the blades before they start and give the screen a thorough soaking.

The TraXon transmission is terrific with quick shifts and smooth downshifts., There is a three-stage engine brake which works well under load and I found that along with a couple of hits on the stalk to downshift can almost bring the rig to a stop.

Torque from the big six-cylinder is fantastic and a look at the torque curve sees that the maximum torque is held from 900rpm right through to 1400rpm which is really impressive.

This means that the DAF will haul up hills in the overdrive top gear and lug right down to near 1000rpm before downshifting. In many cases on our test, the truck just marched up hills in top gear

without shifting. And this was at 57 tonnes!

Cruising on the highway the PX-15 is spinning at just a smidge over 1400rpm at 100km/h which is still in the max torque range, so the DAF is really well geared.

All the controls are well placed and easy to get used to with a couple of exceptions, one being the position of the horn and washer buttons both found on the end of the left-hand stalk. I found that going for the angry button could mean cleaning a bug off the screen, but I guess you’d get used to that…

Steering is another good aspect of the DAF. It’s light and direct on the highway and very easy and manoeuvrable at low speeds.

Driver comfort is right up there with the best. The seat is

great with two arm rests and a stack of adjustment. I spent two days behind the wheel and never felt uncomfortable or sore. It really is a great workspace.

Our test took in a bit under 700 kilometres around Victoria and a bit of NSW including a short run on the Hume from Seymour.

All up we achieved fuel economy of around 2.2km/litre which is commensurate with the test trucks that have been in fleets for a year or so. They recorded between 2.1 and 2.2km/litre.

DAF and PACCAR Australia has done a great job on this truck, and hopefully with the new Cummins/PACCAR 15-litre engine, the XG and XG+ will gain a strong level of acceptance in this country.

It will be well deserved.

Our test truck, loaded to 57 tonnes in B-double format, delivered 2.2km / litre over two days.

Specs at a glance Engine: PX15 six-cylinder in-line 14.5 litres Power: 660hp (485kW) at 1800rpm Torque: 3200Nm between 900 to 1400rpm Transmission: ZF TraXon 16-speed auto Diff ratio: 3.42 Brakes: Ventilated discs front and rear PX engine brake Park Brake: Electro pneumatic Suspension front: 7.5t parabolic leaf spring, DAF 165N steer axle Suspension Rear: 20.9t Electronically Controlled Air Suspension (Airglide 460) Meritor MT21-165 drive axles Fuel: 725L and 425L(total 1150L) The PX15 six-cylinder engine offers 660hp at 1800rpm.

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18 FEATURE

FRIDAY JANUARY 17 2025 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

How Qld’s Far North freight routes are faring since Jasper A year after the devastating cyclone wreaked havoc, our Townsville-based correspondent checks back in to see how the repairs are going.

BY ALF WILSON THE Captain Cook, Gillies and Palmerston Highways as well as the Kuranda Range section of the Kennedy Highway in Far North Queensland are important routes for road transport and are used by hundreds of trucks daily.

Each was severely damaged after Cyclone Jasper devastated the region and all were closed for some time.

They are important links for travel between Cairns and the Atherton Tablelands, Port Douglas, Mossman and further north.

Cyclone Jasper, which formed on December 4, 2023, and dumped heavy rain for 11 days, was the wettest tropical cyclone in Australian history, surpassing Cyclone Peter of 1979.

I drove all four of these major freight routes a year later to see how the repairs are going and found work being carried out with speed restrictions on all of them and night closures on the winding 15km Kuranda Range.

Moving forward into 2025 I contacted Transport and Main Roads to find out what work will be ongoing to return the highways to normal.

TMR reported it is moving into the reconstruction phase of the Tropical Cyclone Jasper recovery project.

Emergency works were completed in mid-2024 to ensure roads remained open.

Additional work behind the scenes has included: detailed surveys, geotechnical investigations, planning, detailed designs and engaging suitable qualified contractors.

Contracts have been award-

for these sites took about 11 months,” the spokesman said.

“Work began in late 2024, and continues in 2025, sites and weather conditions permitting. Larger works requiring full night closures will commence in 2025 – the public will be notified of these closures when the schedule of works is finalised.”

Gillies Highway

This is a winding road with hundreds of bends and runs from just past Gordonvale to the Atherton Tablelands.

Of the four this was the easiest to negotiate with some work but few closures.

Other roads Single lane closure and speed reductions on the Captain Cook Highway. Images: Alf Wilson

ed to four organisations which will reconstruct priority routes damaged by TC Jasper and associated flooding.

“These are Palmerston Highway, Captain Cook Highway, Kuranda Range Road and Mossman-Mount Molloy Road (Rex Range), identified as the highest priority for the critical role they play in connecting communities. There are a number of sites across the district that have changed traffic conditions including single lane closures and reduced speed limits, for the safety of road workers and road users.

These will remain in place until the roads are returned to pre-cyclone function,” a TMR spokesman said.

Kuranda Range

I found the Kuranda Range Road the most challenging to drive along and this senti-

ment was also shared by numerous truckies I spoke to.

As I drove along it you could see evidence of where landslides had created havoc and this can be a dangerous route especially during and after rain.

“We have over 30 sites requiring geotechnical engineering, the majority of these are on the Kuranda Range,” the spokesmand said.

“Work has commenced on three priority sites on Kuranda Range Road, including two which are currently under single lane traffic control.

“The contract for the reconstruction works has been awarded to SEE Civil Pty Ltd. Night closures are currently in place from 9pm to 4am.

“Closures started on 24 November and ran until 20 December pending weather and site conditions.

“There are no closures on

Landslip repairs, night closures, and speed controls make Kuranda Range Road a tough drive.

Friday and Saturday nights.”

Palmerston Highway

Works on the Palmerston Range are anticipated to start February 2025 — pending weather and favourable site conditions.

“We are anticipating single lane access for most of the duration of those works,” the TMR spokesman said.

This road stretches from the northern outskirts of Innisfail to the Atherton tablelands and offers scenic views.

Works to repair cyclone damage on other state-controlled roads in the district including Mulligan Highway and Peninsula Developmental Road will be delivered after the

2025 wet season.

“To date, almost $80 million has been spent on emergency works and critical stabilisation works following TC Jasper to keep the state road network safe and open while TMR plans and designs the permanent reconstruction works.

“Due to the significant damage and complex geotechnical solutions required, it’s too early to speculate on final costs of the reconstruction program until the scope of works is finalised.

“All works are targeted to be completed by mid-2026, site and weather conditions and construction constraints permitting,” the spokesman said.

The recovery works are jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Captain Cook Highway

This route covers the outskirts of Cairns to Mossman and of all I travelled, this had the most work being undertaken with lots of one lane closures and speed restrictions.

“There are over 50 geotechnical failure sites on Captain Cook Highway requiring engineering solutions. Planning and designing solutions

Rock art and tough terrain on the edge of the Gillies Highway.

Twists and turns feature on the Gillies Highway from Gordonvale to the Atherton Tablelands.

For those who share our heritage...

The story began in 1971 and continues today with more than 80,000 Australian-built Kenworths; each one part of your story, every one contributing to ours. Together we honour a shared heritage.

It’s heritage. It’s a legacy. kenworth.com.au/legacy

20 READER RIGS

FRIDAY JANUARY 17 2025 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

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for your best truck photos and add yours in the comments, or email them to kayla.walsh@ primecreative.com.au.

Don’t forget to include a brief note about the truck and where the photo was taken.

We’ll feature some of the best photos in each edition of Big Rigs Newspaper, with one winner announced each month.

Keep those amazing truck pics coming!

We love this imposing snap of the big nine-oh in Old Guildford, taken by Jesse Clarke.

Thanks to John Mulder for this pic, taken while delivering grain bunker tarps to farms in southern WA.

Tony Brown snapped this on the edge of the Simpson Desert.

Andrew Boxsell snapped this off between Sandfire Roadhouse and Roebuck Roadhouse in WA.

Aaron Fuller took this pic in Kempsey, showing off a tarp job from Winston Express Haulage.

Tahn Dempster took this ripper pic while southbound at Goondiwindi in Queensland.

READER RIGS 21

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JANUARY 17 2025

When the going gets tough, truckies keep everyone going

Paul Warren sent us this snap of the sun setting on the wheat field near Moama.

Cheers to Jake Howden for this cool pic - parked up in Altona, Vic.

Peter Brattusa took this shot while carting weevils into GrainCorp Tocumwal with the young fella.

Filip Schubert took this ripper pic – loading in Ringwood, Vic.

Luke Curtis took this snap of Lawrence Transport’s T904 while enjoying some R&R at home.

Adrian Wynne took this cool snap in Bowen, Qld.

Brock Gladman sent in this image – Scott Menz Freight’s three cabovers all shined up.

22 READER RIGS MONTHLY WINNERS 2024

FRIDAY JANUARY 17 2025 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Reader Rigs proudly supported by

JANUARY

In January, Steve Ayton won himself a $500 Shell Coles Express Gift Card for this fantastic image, taken while loading wheat at Batchica, VIC.

MARCH

In March, Peter Bullen blew us away with this gorgeous snap taken in Frances, SA.

MAY

Terry Russo was our May winner for this awesome photo of BK Bulk Haulage in Julia Creek at sunset.

FEBRUARY

Kayla Chappell nabbed the top spot in February for this striking shot, taken on the Stuart Highway at Elliot in the NT.

APRIL

Gus Sacco impressed us in April with this awesome pic taken at Rex’s Lookout, near Port Douglas, Qld.

JUNE

This gorgeous shot from Kerri Connors was our June winner.

READER RIGS MONTHLY WINNERS 2024 23

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JANUARY 17 2025

When the going gets tough, truckies keep everyone going

JULY Louise Fuller won the top spot in July for this snap she took at Jugiong.

SEPTEMBER

Gary Morton stole the show in September with this ripper pic he took at Fitzroy Crossing, WA.

NOVEMBER

Kimberley Milczarek won in November for this great shot featuring the Aurora Australis!

AUGUST John Cavenagh was our August winner for this beaut of a pic taken in central Australia.

OCTOBER

Thomas Hill scooped the prize in October for this amazing picture taken at Limmen National Park in the Northern Territory.

DECEMBER

Jake Lacey was a popular winner of the final $500 prize for 2024 with this spectacular shot taken near Quambatook, Victoria, after a storm came rolling through.

24 FEATURES

FRIDAY JANUARY 17 2025 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

HONOURING OUR TRUCKING LEGENDS

Long-lasting legacy of respect

Tough taskmaster Bert Hogben reflects on a long and successful career, commemorated with a lifetime highlight in Alice Springs.

BY AINSLEIGH BILATO ALTHOUGH Albert ‘Bert’ Hogben often describes himself as “just an ordinary guy,” his life in the transport industry has proven to be anything but.

Born and raised on a dairy farm in Victoria’s South Gippsland, Bert found himself more drawn to the property’s trucks and tractors than its livestock.

At age 19, Bert’s passion for trucks would see him stray from his rural roots and instead lead him to Melbourne and a job with Southern Milk Transport. Here, he carted canned milk from Bunyip, Bayles and Koo Wee Rup to the dairies in Melbourne.

It was during this time that Bert met Nola, his wife with whom he would spend the next 64 years. A natural go-getter, Bert was determined to earn more. With Nola’s support, Bert tried his hand at interstate driving.

Though he had no experience, Bert was armed with a willingness to learn and a strong desire to do better for his family. George Blomfield was willing to give Bert a chance, allowing him to drive a 337 Mercedes Benz from Melbourne to Sydney.

Over the following 12 months, Bert graduated to one of Blomfield’s newly imported Kenworth S models from Seattle, the first of its kind in Australia.

Bert worked with Blomfield for a couple of years before deciding to pursue local work, driving for Pioneer Quarries.

However, the call of interstate was never far behind and Bert reconnected with a driving supervisor from Ansett Freight Express that he had met while working for Blomfield. The driving supervisor had suggested that Bert apply for a job with the company.

Bert took him up on the offer to drive for Ansett Freight Express and so began his long-standing affiliation with the Ansett brand.

In the 1980s, Ansett Freight Express was restructured and split into two branches, Ansett Pioneer, which was responsible for the business’s road freight and coach travel, and Ansett Freight Express, which focused on air cargo.

It wasn’t long before Bert made another career shift, following a long-standing dream to drive coaches for Ansett Pioneer.

Although based in Melbourne, Bert regularly worked express routes across Western Australia, running between Perth, Port Hedland, and Madura. Leaving in May and returning to Melbourne in

Bert quickly graduated to one of Blomfield’s newly imported Kenworth S models from Seattle, the first of its kind in Australia.

Bert Hogben with Viva Energy’s Nick Lubransky, left, and Franco Bilato, right, at the Wall of Fame induction ceremony in Alice Springs. Images: National Road Transport Museum

One of Bert’s favourite coaches, the Greyhound Silver Eagle.

Bert with the other driver supervisors at Greyhound Pioneer.

Bert and his son Peter.

November, Bert credits his wife, Nola, with the raising of their three sons.

“Me not having an education, I sent them to a private school to make sure that they did have an education.

Fortunately, the three boys turned out pretty good. They got their mother’s brains!” he laughs.

Bert’s time with Ansett Pioneer, by then Greyhound Pioneer, saw him take on more responsibility, eventually becoming the Melbourne driving supervisor. This role involved not just hiring and training drivers, but also the ongoing surveying and mon-

itoring their performance on the road.

When employing drivers, Bert says first impressions were often a good enough gauge. He would notice if they looked him straight in the eye and whether their shoes were clean and polished, a lesson learned from his own childhood. For Bert, it wasn’t just about driving well. It was about representing the company and the industry with pride.

Bert was a strict supervisor, making sure that Greyhound Pioneer’s high standards were always upheld — from the proper wearing of the com-

pany’s uniforms and tie to the correct use of the coach microphones.

“I wasn’t a very popular guy in lots of places,” remembers Bert. “I tried to train drivers the way I was trained back in the 70s. I suppose that was my problem.” Nonetheless, many drivers that Bert hired and trained still keep in touch with him to this day.

During Bert’s time with Greyhound Pioneer, it was known amongst the drivers they needed to be prepared should they receive a “Bert Alert.” That is, a warning conveyed over the CB radio that a man in an immaculate

uniform may be waiting at any stop up the road to ensure that they were following the drivers’ handbook.

The Bert Alert served as a reminder to the drivers that they needed to operate their service with the utmost professionalism, with Bert’s presence signifying the importance of maintaining high standards throughout the journey.

Whether you were heading north, south or east, Bert could come aboard to ensure ties were tight and straight.

On one occasion, Bert was spotted at Dandenong train station at 5am to catch a lift into the depot, ensuring that the driver did not bypass the stop on the way in. As it turns out, the stop was missed and the driver certainly had some explaining to do.

Bert is very proud of his time working for Greyhound Pioneer. Being a people person, Bert valued the connections he made along the way. He enjoyed his interactions with a diverse range of passengers.

While he acknowledged that difficult passengers were unavoidable, Bert maintains “it takes two to make an argument. You can talk your way out of anything!”.

In the 2000s, after a long and successful career with Greyhound Pioneer, Bert decided it was time to step back from the long hours away from home.

He spent some time working for a local bus company, Grenda’s Bus Service, before moving on to a school bus driving job with Westernport

Road Lines in Koo Wee Rup. Bert continued to work until early 2024 when, at nearly 87 years old, Bert’s health no longer allowed him to continue driving.

In August, Bert’s induction into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at the National Road Transport Museum was a fitting conclusion to his successful career in transport.

“It was a hell of a surprise!” says Bert, “In fact, I’d say it would be the highlight of my life.”

The weekend was made even more special as Bert was joined by his wife, his son, Peter, and daughter-in-law and colleagues from Westernport Road Lines and Greyhound Pioneer.

As Bert reflects on his many years behind the wheel, he insists: “I’ve done nothing exciting. I’ve just gone out and done what I had to do.”

However, his family and friends would disagree. Bert’s role as a supervisor and mentor shaped the careers of many drivers. His sons have gone on to have successful careers of their own – two in the transport industry themselves – and carry with them the lessons Bert taught them.

His hard work and unwavering commitment to the transport industry left an impact that went far beyond the ordinary.

In an industry where flashy trucks and prestigious titles tend to take the spotlight, Bert’s true legacy is the respect he has earned along the way.

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26 TRUCKIN IN THE TROPICS

FRIDAY JANUARY 17 2025 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Lifelong friendship for truckie mates

Long time truckie mates Trevor Southern, left, and Ted Markwort shake hands after meeting at a roadhouse. Images: Alf Wilson

OLD mates Ted Markwort and Trevor Southern reckon that friendships made in the road transport industry remain for decades – and probably life.

That is the case for Ted who is a small fleet operator based at Deniliquin in NSW and Trevor who has been in

Townsville for 40 years but hails from Kerang in Victoria.

The pair had huge smiles on their dials when they met in the parking area of the BP Cluden Roadhouse just before Christmas.

“We met in Townsville 40 years ago and have been friends even since. We don’t

see each other much these days but when we get the chance we meet. If you have a genuine mate in the industry, they remain,” Trevor said.

Ted drives a Western Star and had brought up a load of pipes from Melbourne to Cairns and was on the return trip when they caught up.

Trevor, who has worked for Blenners, for two decades had been in Townsville for a doctor’s appointment and the opportunity arose.

After I snapped their pic together the pair headed off to the roadhouse eatery to take a welcome trip down memory lane.

Spreading the festive cheer Asphalt hauler far from home IN the lead up to Christmas and New Year’s Day Daniel Ward was very busy delivering alcohol to numerous outlets in the Townsville area.

Daniel works for Lillywhite Group which owns the Riverview Tavern, Stuart Hotel, Bohle Barn and Bushland Beach Hotels in Townsville; the Sovereign Tavern in Charters Towers; and the Grand Hotel in Mareeba.

He also keeps Celebrations bottle shops supplied with beer, wine and spirits.

I saw Daniel and his offsiders Zac Madonald and Luke Waters beside their MR Isuzu ready to stock up a bottle shop at the Annandale Shopping Centre in Townsville.

“It is very hectic just before Christmas and New Year. We

[L-R] Daniel Ward, Luke Waters and Zac Mcdonald ready to deliver Christmas cheer from their Isuzu.

pick up the alcohol from our company depot at the Bohle and deliver it around,” Daniel said.

He added that the most popular brand of beer was Great Northern which he had many cartons of in the truck, ready for drop off.

They also get to travel 130km along the Flinders Highway to deliver to the Sovereign Hotel

in Charters Towers.

But they never have to make the trip to the Atherton Tablelands to deliver to the Grand Hotel there, as it’s supplied from Cairns.

It was hot and humid the day I saw the lads and they were looking forward to having a break and enjoying a few amber fluids themselves.

FRIENDLY driver Garreth Haines was far away from his home at Yatala in southern Queensland, carrying asphalt for roadworks when Big Rigs saw him.

The 40-year-old truckie drives a Kenworth T410 for Fulton Hogan and was at the Frances Creek rest area on the Bruce Highway, south of Ingham.

“We were sent up to help with roadworks near Ingham and will be home for Christmas,” he said.

Garreth had been with the company for 10 months and has been a driver for 17 years.

“This is the best job I have had,” he said.

He added that the worst roads he gets on are out from Goondiwindi, the Moonie

Highway and the M1 south of the Gold Coast.

As for rest areas, Garreth said more are needed for truckies with decent facilities.

A few days after we met up it rained and Garreth spent the weekend in Townsville.

He was looking forward to

spending time with family over the holiday break – and has four children aged 16, 14, 13 and two.

“We are going away to near Emerald camping,” he said.

I asked for his New Year’s resolution which was: “To stay safe’.

Garreth Haines has worked for Fulton Hogan since last year.

Save the date for these truck shows in 2025

BY KAYLA WALSH

NEW year, new truck show calendar! There are heaps of great events coming up in 2025, so mark these dates in your diaries now.

JANUARY Koroit Truck Show

January 25 Victoria Park, Koroit, VIC Facebook: Koroit Truck Show Koroit comes alive at its annual truck show with a large truck display, motorcycle performance, state wood chopping competition, live music, market stalls and more. Don’t miss the popular truckie sprint and the tug of war!

FEBRUARY Lardner Park Heritage Vehicle Display

February 1-2 Lardner Park, VIC Facebook: Heritage Vehicle and Machinery Display The dates have been set for this 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. Public gates open Saturday 10am to 4pm, Sunday 9.30am to 2pm. Booking essential for the Saturday night dinner – contact Helen on 0437 953 304. Admission: adults $15, 12-18 years $5, exhibitors and under 12s free.

Tooradin Tractor Pull and Truck Show

February 15 Tooradin, VIC ticketebo.com.au/tooradintractor-pull-truck-show/ tooradin-tractor-pull-truckshow-2025 The Tooradin Tractor Pull & Truck Show has been an annual event since 1998 and has grown into a fantastic family day packed with fun things to see and do. It is a non-profit event run by a committee of locals, with all proceeds going back into local clubs, schools and various charities. As well as the vintage tractor pull and truck display, attendees can look forward to amusements, full catering, helicopter rides and more.

National Road Freighters Association Conference

February 15 Brisbane, QLD nrfa.com.au The National Road Freighters’ Association, which represents drivers, owner operators, fleet operators and industry participants, has put together a top lineup for its upcoming annual conference. Held at Waters Edge on Hercules St in Hamilton, Queensland, the event will kick off at 8.30am, with dinner from 6pm. Connect with industry experts, learn about the latest transport trends, and gain valuable knowledge to advance your career. International guest speakers will include Chuck Snow, founder of

Traffix, and transport analyst specialist Dean Croke.

Angaston Truck Show N Shine 2025

February 22 Angaston, SA Facebook: Angaston Truck Show N Shine 2025 The Angaston Show Truck Show & Shine will return this year, in conjunction with the Angaston Show. They welcome trucks of all ages, conditions and uses. More details to follow.

Camp Quality Convoy Geelong

February 23 Beckley Park, VIC fundraise.campquality.org. au/convoy/geelong The Camp Quality Convoy Geelong is back, and this year it’s celebrating its 10th anniversary. 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.

MARCH Lockhart Truck Show

March 1 Lockhart, NSW Celebrate road transport history, past and present, at the annual Lockhart Truck Show.

The event features historic and modern trucks and other vehicles such as motorbikes, and classic and vintage cars, on display in the pavilion.

There will also be food and prizes for winners in a wide range of categories. Camping is available overnight for a donation and includes a Sunday morning breakfast.

Camp Quality Newcastle Convoy

March 9 Maitland Showground, Newcastle, NSW https://fundraise.campquality.org.au/convoy Exciting times for Newcastle as the city is getting its first ever Camp Quality Convoy in March 2025. The event will bring the transport community together to support

Terry and Marg Whelan’s White 9000 keeping in close company with a GM-powered 4000 model at the Australian White Truck Muster. Image: David Vile

Peter Fitzpatrick’s 1970 International C-Line won Truck of the Show at the Lockart Truck Show in 2024. Image: David Vile

kids facing cancer, providing them with moments of joy and fun. Expression of interest forms are now available online. More details to follow.

Clunes Historic Vehicle Show

March 9 Clunes, VIC Facebook: Clunes Historic Vehicle Show 2025 The annual Clunes Historic Vehicle Show is brought to you by the Historic Commercial Vehicle Club of

Australia’s Ballarat branch.

The event has something for everyone, with a vast array of vintage and classic vehicles and motoring memorabilia.

Expect food vans, photos and working displays with like-minded people displaying their vehicles, engines and collections.

Have you got an event you’d like included in the next Save the Date? Email all the details to kayla. w a l s h @ pr i m e c r e a t i v e . com.au.

This 1946 Kenworth W Model turned heads in Clunes last year.

Image: Prime Creative Media

EVENTS 27

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JANUARY 17 2025

Scania returns with exciting new line-up

SCANIA Australia has revealed it will return to the 2025 Brisbane Truck Show in May after a short hiatus.

The Swedish brand has been growing its Australian footprint over the past few years and now has a fully refreshed line-up to display to show visitors.

These include the revised V8 range with new gearboxes and transmissions, and the new Scania Super 13-litre engine family, which features double overhead camshafts among a bevy of technology and efficiency upgrades.

“We have seen at least an eight per cent improvement in fuel efficiency compared with our previous generation engines of similar power outputs,” said Benjamin Nye, Scania Director of Truck Sales.

“In many real-world Australian working environments, the Scania Super six-cylinder engines have delivered significantly greater savings, which are providing vastly improved total operating economy for our customers.

“Super customers are also reporting their drivers enthus-

BOXING fans will be in for a treat at the 2025 Brisbane Truck Show, with organisers teaming up with Australia’s leading fight promoter Ace Boxing.

Its Premier Boxing Series (PBS) will be staged across two nights at the South Bank Piazza, on Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17.

Established in 2001 by Angelo Di Carlo, over the past 23 years Ace Boxing has become known for its exciting 50/50 match-ups and crowd-pleasing action.

Ace Boxing Group launched PBS in 2024, alongside its weekly panel show, Beyond the Ropes (BTR). In partnership

with Channel 7, the deal sees boxing content return to freeto-air television weekly between March and December.

Boasting a variety of national and regional champions under its banner, each night Premier Boxing expects to feature six professional bouts, with a healthy undercard of elite amateur boxers. The main event for each night will contest Australia’s elite athletes for title bouts.

While the fight card will not be revealed until closer to the event, Premier Boxing CEO Glenn Hosking says Ace Boxing and PBS have promoted several rising talents and household names throughout

ing over the power, torque, drivability and responsiveness of these Super engines.”

In addition to the internal combustion engine range, Scania will also debut the next generation of fully electric zero tailpipe emission BEV trucks, in the shape of the 40 BEV, offering around 400km of real-world range in either prime mover or rigid configuration.

The 40 BEV can be combined with four available Scania cab series; the low entry L-series, city delivery focussed P-series, general duties G-se-

ries and heavy-duty R-series.

“With the Gen 3 BEV prime mover we have a highly capable last mile-distribution-intrastate solution for operators who want or need a zero-carbon footprint vehicle in use.

“This product is proving itself a winner in Europe, and we believe it will be an excellent solution for Australian customers as well,” Nye added.

The Brisbane Truck Show will run from May 15-18 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The Swedish brand has been growing its Australian footprint over the past few years. Image: Scania Australia

Get ready to rumble at Brisbane show

The Premier Boxing Series will showcase the very best local professional boxing talent in fan-friendly, evenly-matched fights. Image: Brisbane Truck Show

its time, including current IBF Super-Lightweight World Champion Liam Paro.

Ace Boxing Group and PBS

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prides itself on guiding many home-grown athletes to top15 world rankings and World Title opportunities, including

Liam Paro, Mark Flanagan, Floyd Masson, Demsey McKean, Taylah Robertson, Jacob Ng and Jalen Tait.

PBS will be staged as part of Truck Week 25 (previously known as Australian Heavy vehicle Industry Week), a week-long festival of all things trucking anchored by the Brisbane Truck Show.

“Premier Boxing is excited to partner with Truck Week and showcase the very best local professional boxing talent in fan-friendly, evenly-matched fights,” said Glenn.

“We are passionate boxing fans at heart, and we’re excited for the attendees at Truck Week to experience

these explosive fights, and the sportsmanship and respect displayed by fighters after the final bell.

“Boxing in Australia is undergoing a renaissance and it’s exciting to have the Sport of Kings showcased at South Bank in front of big crowds.

“We’re going to deliver a high-energy show, with plenty of lights, music and boxing action! Get ready to rumble Truck Week.”

A full announcement on the fight cards as well as ticketing options (including VIP packages) will be released approximately eight weeks before the event, via the Brisbane Truck Show website and socials.

28 NEWS

FRIDAY JANUARY 17 2025 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Fuel deal offers bright future for Tiwi Port VIVA Energy Australia has announced a collaboration to secure the future of the Melville Island Fuel Facility near Darwin.

The 30-million-litre fuel site is seen as a vital asset for the region and Viva Energy said a collaboration with Tiwi Port and Marine and the Department of Defence will ensure ongoing operations and enhance Defence’s fuel capability and resilience.

Through this partnership, Tiwi Port and Marine will also take over the port operations after the previous business was placed in administration and the facility was at risk of closing, which would have had a significant impact on the community.

The deal will see Viva Energy enter a long-term exclusive licence to run the fuel facility, providing certainty for this crucial port business activity, supported by a storage agreement with Defence.

While this commercial deal will benefit all parties, self-determination has been a core consideration in its development, said Viva Energy.

The partnership allows Tiwi Port and Marine to acquire the overall port facility, with a portion of future storage revenue going directly to the Tiwi-led organisation once a certain level of storage is achieved.

Traditional owner and Tiwi Port and Marine Chair, Gibson Farmer Illortaminni,

said: “I’m very proud of this new partnership with Viva Energy and Defence. Working together, the Tiwi people are shaping the island now and into the future, creating jobs and opportunities for our kids and future generations.”

Viva Energy CEO Scott Wyatt said the deal aligns closely with Viva Energy’s long-standing commitment to supporting reconciliation and positive outcomes for First Nation’s people and its obligations to Defence, one of the company’s most strategic customers.

“Through this long-term partnership, Viva Energy will utilise our core business skills and expertise in fuel supply chain operations to run the

Tiwi Port and Marine says jobs will come from its collaboration with the Department of Defence and Viva Energy that will ensure Melville Island Fuel Facilty remains open. Image: Viva Energy

Melville Island Fuel Facility, providing long-term certainty for the business and Defence,” Wyatt said.

“Importantly, we will work

with the Tiwi communities to transfer skills and knowledge through training and employment opportunities.

We will also link into our

other commercial and community partners to unlock additional business opportunities and enhance access to community services.”

Technology spots a distracted truckie every two minutes

The new report from Seeing Machines reveals the number of distraction and fatigue incidents among Guardian users.

Image: Seeing Machines

CANBERRA-BASED tech company Seeing Machines says there is one distracted driving event among Australian truckies every two minutes.

Almost a quarter of those 288,000 incidents (24 per cent), recorded over a 12-month period to September 30, 2024, is attributed to mobile device use.

Seeing Machines, makers of the in-cab Guardian unit, a driver fatigue and distraction solution, shared those findings in its newly released 2023-24 Guardian Insights Report. which analysed deidentified Guardian data from 32,420 trucks across 1961 Australian fleets.

The company also revealed

there were more than 84,450 fatigue-related incidents over the year, at a rate of about nine per hour. The main examples are microsleep, drowsiness or yawning.

Overall, Seeing Machines’ data revealed 3.6 million ‘risky’ driving events in Australia over the 12-month period analysed.

The report, which probed data from around the world for the first time, aims to pinpoint and address the trends on “risky driving behaviours”.

“It not only highlights the scale of the issue, but it also offers actionable insights to help fleets mitigate the risks relating to driver impairment, reducing road accidents and protecting lives,”

the latest report said.

In Australia, Seeing Machines said it discoverd fatigue events increase sharply in early morning, with notable peaks around 3-5am. Distraction predominantly occurs during the day, with events dropping between 11pm and 5am.

“Driver distraction and fatigue continue to contribute significantly to road fatalities and injuries in Australia and globally,” said Max Verberne, General Manager – Aftermarket, Seeing Machines.

“The Guardian Insights Report offers detailed data on when and where these incidents occur, helping fleets address the challenges of diverse operating environments.”

In the ‘Next Steps’ section of

the report for Guardian customers, Seeing Machines said driver education and training plays a pivotal role in mitigating these risks, promoting road safety, reducing accidents, and safeguarding not just their own lives but those around them.

“One of the most effective ways fleet managers can coach employees and help them understand the risks of fatigue and distraction whilst driving, is by showing a driver one of their own events captured

by Guardian.

“This is particularly successful with fatigue-related events, often serving to emphasise the importance of this technology and support driver adoption.”

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NEWS 29

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JANUARY 17 2025

1.4 million kilometres on the clock and counting WORKING right across the east coast and tackling varying terrain, specialist interstate removal business Cube Removals expects a lot from its trucks.

Cube Removals’ owner and driver Clinton Simpson said the company’s 2014-model Isuzu FRR 600 would clock up 1.4 million kilometres this month, accounting for an annual average of 127,000 km for each year of the truck’s working life.

Clinton’s job sees him travels anywhere from the Victorian Coast to Far North Queensland and everywhere in between, carting the oddshaped gear to be found in the average home.

The long wheelbase FRR 600 (now Isuzu’s FRR 110-

260) is rated to an 11,000kg GVM and 16,000kg GCM. When fully loaded with furniture and other household items, the trucks still has capacity to tow a loaded threetonne trailer.

The truck and trailer are equipped to handle cargo with carpeted floors fitted to both, and the FRR’s durable truck body features side and rear entry doors for easy access.

Clinton took ownership of the Cube Removals business in 2022, dedicating the company to on-time delivery and the highest standards of freight protection, all while travelling huge distances to deliver goods across Australia.

He said he never considered using the ownership change as the opportunity to buy a new

The long wheelbase FRR 600 is rated to 16,000kg GCM, leaving Clinton enough capacity to tow a loaded three-tonne trailer.

truck, due to the FRR’s ability to perform under the staggering workload, in what Clinton describes as rough conditions.

It all comes down to the reliability of Isuzu’s hardy F Series product in conjunction with a regular servicing routine, Clinton said – with all servicing completed at Wagga Motors, using only Isuzu genuine and approved parts.

“The places I visit sound like the old ‘I’ve Been Everywhere’ song by Geoff Mack – freeways to goat tracks are what this truck travels regularly,” he said.

“Blazing hot summers and flooding rains really do a lot of damage to outback roads, so that causes more wear and tear on the vehicle.

“I am not mechanically minded, but I understand what is important to keep the truck on the road – and that is regular servicing from the team at Wagga Motors and using genuine Isuzu parts.

“I know that the parts that have been used in the truck are the same, if not better, than when it was built.”

Isuzu’s genuine parts range is backed up by a three-year warranty on parts and labour when fitted through an Isuzu Trucks dealership or ASPO. “Not only is it peace of mind

for me, but the team at Wagga Motors treat the vehicle like it’s one of their own, and I have a full service history if I need to call on that,” Clinton said.

Apart from the regular consumables such as fluids and filters, the FRR recently had a suspension and gearbox overhaul, which Clinton had no hesitation in doing.

“I know too many operators who think they can push their vehicles and end up broken down in the middle of nowhere, or there are those who don’t use quality parts and either get stuck short term or do long-term damage – sometimes to very expensive trucks,” he said.

“When things need to be addressed, I get it done. It’s a comfort that Isuzu has such a massive footprint of dealerships; I know that if I have a major issue, I can call in and get it addressed.”

The Wagga Motors team pre-plans his maintenance schedule ahead of time, including replacing a range of hoses and fittings at the truck’s last service.

“This was due to the Australian environment’s effect on the rubber,” Isuzu Brand Manager at Wagga Motors John Beattie said.

Clinton Simpson and the 2014 model Isuzu FRR 600 that averages 127,000km a year. Images: Isuzu Australia

“We scheduled this at a previous service so that we could have everything ready this time around.

“Because of where the truck travels, we go over the diagnostics and take it all into account when we’re planning for parts replacement on Clinton’s truck.”

John said that despite the truck having some 23,000plus engine hours, they had never had to open the motor for anything other than valve adjustments.

“While the truck has put in a remarkable workload, it is hats off to Clinton for not overstretching the vehicle’s capabilities and supporting it with the best parts for its maintenance and our highly qualified Isuzu-trained technicians,” John said.

After almost a decade of calling in at the Wagga Motors dealership, Clinton remains one of their most loyal and popular customers.

“I have to say Clinton is not simply a customer; he’s part

of the Wagga Motors family,” John said.

“He doesn’t simply drop the truck off; he speaks with the technicians and deeply appreciates the work our team does.

“We not only look at what the truck needs now but forecast what is best for the vehicle regarding future services so that it maintains its incredible performance, despite all the kilometres it has travelled.”

Clinton’s appreciation for the dealership that supports his business extends to a unique gift of a scale model of his FRR truck, which sits proudly on the counter at Wagga Motors.

“I know people say I’m unique, so I wanted the team at Wagga Motors to have something unique as well,” Clinton said.

“I’m chuffed that they have it out on display, and hey, that can’t be bad for my business either!

“The busier I am, the better it is for all concerned.”

DSV opens facility at Port of Brisbane GLOBAL transport and logistics giant DSV Air & Sea has officially opened its new warehouse and container depot on Fisherman Islands at the Port of Brisbane.

Around 80 guests joined Port of Brisbane and the DSV Air & Sea Oceania executive team to officially cut the ribbon on Tuesday, December 17.

The new facility enables DSV Air & Sea, an existing customer at the port, to consolidate its freight forwarding, warehousing, projects and mining supply services into one purpose-built location.

Delivered by Port of Brisbane with principal contrac-

tor, McNab, on a 4.8ha site, the new facility comprises a 14,900sqm customs bonded warehouse, two-storey operations office, and approximately 26,220sqm of container-rated hardstand as well as awnings, truck manoeuvring and approved quarantine cleaning and storage capabilities.

The site was also built to a 5-star equivalent rating, incorporating features such as a 100kW solar installation, low carbon concrete, energy-efficient LED lighting, water-efficient fittings, and the use of recycled materials.

“We are delighted to welcome DSV Air & Sea to its new home. This prime loca-

tion, adjacent to the wharves on Fisherman Islands, also places them in the heart of the action as they focus on servicing major renewables projects coming through the Port,” said Port of Brisbane CEO Neil Stephens.

“While an excellent outcome for our customer, this is also a particularly proud build for PBPL, with the development achieving substantial reductions in embodied carbon emissions.

“Through the significant use of low carbon concrete on both internal and external slabs, this project reduced embodied carbon emissions by approximately 33 per cent,

setting a new benchmark for sustainable construction across the Port of Brisbane.”

DSV Air & Sea Oceania Managing Director Paul Thomson said the new facility escalates DSV to the leading provider in the Queensland logistics market.

“Its close proximity to the port entrance will enable both efficient and cost-effective freight handling between our facility and the port,” Thomson said.

“Our project and mining supply services will be second to none with significant laydown area for out of gauge and heavy equipment handling. Our piece check

It’s official, DSV Air & Sea’s new warehouse and container facility is now open at the Port of Brisbane. Image: DSV

and order management IT solutions together, with significant security investments, allow a best-in-class offering to our existing and future customers.

“The facility will be han-

dling import/export of containers and airfreight products on behalf of DSV’s existing customers as well as loading our regular FAK services to Papua New Guinea and other South Asia destinations.”

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Beating the summer heat Compact, lightweight and portable, Transcool is a versatile cooler you can take anywhere.

DESIGNED by company founder and second generation truckie Peter Donegan back in 2001, he calls it a “jack of all trades unit that can be used while stationary or on the go”.

A former long distance truck driver, Peter came up with the idea for the Transcool portable cooler while sweltering in the truck cabin one balmy summer night.

“At the time I was doing the Melbourne to Brisbane express run. I was finding it impossible to stay cool while I was sleeping in the truck,” he said.

“On that particular night, it was especially hot, so I started drawing up some sketches and plans for a personal cooler – and it just went from there.

Now we’re selling these personal coolers worldwide.”

Peter’s family has a strong background in trucking, with father and uncles also having worked in the industry as truck drivers. For Peter, he started out driving trucks and went on to manage the family’s transport business, while at the same time building up a new business of his own – Transcool.

“Once I had the idea, I needed to get people to make the parts and then it went from there. It started as a hobby and then became a full time job within about five years.”

Based in Kyneton in Cen-

tral Victoria, Peter started manufacturing the Transcool product from his garage, before eventually moving into a dedicated factory in the town.

His unique concept has become a convenient and low cost option for trucks without air conditioning or parking coolers. “You can use them while you sleep but you can also use them to help keep you cool while you’re driving too,” added Peter.

Along with being a great option for inside the truck, it’s become a popular choice for camping and leisure – in four wheel drives, caravans, motorhome, tents and boats too.

An evaporative cooling unit, Transcool is simple to use – just fill it with water or ice and plug it into the cigarette lighter socket of your vehicle, or your power point at home.

As it’s dual voltage, it can be plugged into both a 12 volt or 24 volt vehicle, as well as 240v electricity.

The Transcool unit has an extremely low current draw ranging from 0.7 when set on low for while you’re sleeping, through to a maximum of 1.7 amps. For added peace of mind, Transcool also features a low voltage cut-out.

Over the last 20+ years, Peter has continued to grow and build on his product, with Transcool now shipped throughout the United States of America, Europe and Asia.

Company founder Peter Donegan is a former long distance truck driver.

“Although the Transcool is not a full refrigerated air conditioning unit that can cool down an entire area, it is an affordable portable solution that can be taken and used anywhere you need a cool fresh breeze blowing on you,” Peter said.

For more information about Transcool, please visit the website at transcool.info or call 0418 510 862.

Transcool is a convenient and low cost option for trucks without air conditioning or parking coolers. Images: Transcool

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Great Central Road is ‘a nightmare’ Drivers who travel the Great Central Road from Laverton in WA to Alice Springs in the NT are not impressed with its condition.

A Perth based owner operator did the trip in late December and said the dirt stretches were in terrible condition.

“Some drivers were doing just 20km/h whist others were getting up to 70km/h and these were wrecking it. There is a speed limit of 110km/h, which is ridiculous,” he said.

There are a lot of heavy vehicles carrying minerals and equipment to a big mine.

The distance is about 1500km and from reports it is a nightmare to get along.

The town of Laverton is located at the western edge of the Great Victoria Desert, 957km north-northeast of the state capital, Perth, and 124km northeast of the town of Leonora.

Tasmanian news

Truck drivers in Tasmania are waiting in anticipation for the new Bridgewater Bridge to open in 2025.

It is Tasmania’s largest ever transport infrastructure project and is located at Granton on the outskirts of Hobart.

When I was down there a while back, construction was in progress and there was a back log of traffic including lots of trucks waiting to cross the old bridge during peak hour traffic.

Meanwhile in other Tasmanian news, the 10 year long Bass Highway Action Plan is ongoing.

Authorities are improving safety on the northern Bass Highway which is a key corridor linking major population centres, transport hubs and agricultural areas across the state.

Key stretches are from Cooee to Wynyard, Wynyard to Marrawah and Launceston to Devonport.

The Cooee to Wynyard Upgrade Program and Wynyard

Lilly Bosen at Puma Choice Roadhouse, where she’s been promoted to assistant manager. Image: Alf Wilson

A wide load travels along the Gregory Development Road between Charters Towers and Clermont. Image: Phil Burnett

to Marrawah Strategy and Implementation Plan have been developed, and works have started under these plans.

The Launceston to Devonport Strategy is underway too. Consultation on the plan was held in mid 2021.

The outcomes of this process are being used, along with already identified projects from Cooee to Marrawah, to create a program for future upgrades across the whole Bass Highway corridor from Launceston to Marrawah.

The highway facilitates the movement of people and goods to the key ports at Devonport and Burnie. It provides access from the north and north-west to the central and western regions of Tasmania and connects with the Midland Highway, allowing access for road users including freight services to the east coast and southern region.

Kudos for Liberty Gurley Roadhouse

The Liberty Roadhouse at Gurley in NSW has received good reviews from truckies Spy has spoken to.

Driver Jason Kane said he went there recently for the

first time and was highly impressed.

“The food was great and well priced, the facilities are clean, the staff friendly and there is enough parking for road trains. It is doing very good business with all the crop harvesting going on,” he said.

Gurley is a small town in the North West Slopes region between Narrabri and Moree.

The Newell Highway and the North-West railway line pass through the township.

A Cunnamulla Fella

A NSW owner operator has told Spy that he enjoys stopping at a dirt pull-off pad just north of Cunnamulla.

“It is on the north side and is an ideal place to have a break and I don’t think many drivers use it,” he said.

I had to ask the lad if he thought he may be a Cunnamulla Fella.

That is in reference to one of my favourite songs Cunnamulla Fella written by Stan Coster and sung by Slim Dusty about an iconic Australian Bush character.

The town of Cunnamulla has erected a statue of the Cunnamulla Fella as a tribute

to Stan and Slim and to the ‘ringers’ of the bush. The statue is double life-size bronze.

“I don’t know about that but it is a place where drivers in the area should stop at,” he said.

Cunnamulla is located 206km south of Charleville, and approximately 750km west of the state capital.

Buildings on the move

Motorists negotiating the Gregory Development Road between Charters Towers and Clermont had to pull over to allow wide loads to pass.

Phil Burnett sent Spy some pics of the buildings on trucks which had pilot escorts.

“I pulled over for four of these today while I was going southbound on the Gregory about 70km north of Clermont. They were 4.3m wide,” he said.

Seeing the buildings wasn’t an inconvenience and in fact the drivers enjoyed snapping pics.

That 360km stretch is very boring to get along with few permanent buildings on the route.

There are just two decent rest areas and one roadhouse at Belyando Crossing.

Promotion for roadhouse worker

Drivers on Hobart’s old Bridgewater Bridge will be happy to see its replacement, being built next door, open in 2025. Image: Alf Wilson

Hard work has resulted in friendly Lilly Bosen being promoted at one of North Queensland’s busiest roadhouses, the Puma Choice at Cardwell.

In early December 2024, Lilly took over as assistant manager at the roadhouse which is located on the main street of Cardwell on the Bruce Highway.

“I started here as a kitchen hand and later a cook after moving to Cardwell nine years ago and I love it,”

Lilly told Spy when I stopped there.

The roadhouse employs 15 staff and Lilly is a Jill of all trades there doing various duties.

Born on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait, Lilly was packing shelves after having served on the counter.

Her family and friends live at her home of Kubin Village on Moa Island.

With Cardwell being strategically situated 160km north of Townsville and 180km south of Cairns, a lot of people stop there.

“They travel between Townsville and Cairns by road and some come down from the islands for events and stop here. It is always good to see them,” she said.

That is especially the case during the NRL football season when many football fans travel to Townsville for Cowboys and NRLW home games.

The roadhouse has parking across the road and in the street beside it and has an air conditioned eatery and plenty of sitting space outside.

The outside toilets are well maintained and the sit-down menu is complemented by a range of takeaway food for those in a rush.

Servo competition great for truckies

A new Liberty Roadhouse is being constructed a few hundred metres from the Puma Choice at Cardwell which is good news for drivers I spoke to.

This will give drivers options and having competition will surely result in reasonable prices for fuel and food.

“This will give us drivers another outlet and we can compare the two roadhouses and choose which one suits us better,” one Tully-based truckie said.

Speaking of Tully which is 40km from Cardwell along the Bruce Highway, the opening of a new roadhouse there has been positive news for drivers.

What are the tears for?

A long haul driver from Victoria enjoyed a few days off over the break and patronised

an upmarket restaurant with some colleagues.

As he was about to leave, the lad suddenly burst into tears and the concerned manager asked what was he crying for?

Did he receive news of a relative having an accident or been told over his mobile he had a serious illness.

“No way. I am crying because I saw the size of the bill for my meal and drinks,” he quipped.

They both burst out laughing but he pointed out that no discount was offered.

Scooter danger

A major concern of many truckies Spy has spoken to from all parts of the country are people on e-scooters who ride the cheap mode of transport dangerously.

I have been told of numerous incidences of these scooters appearing from nowhere and almost being hit by a truck.

It is mainly in cities but also on highways near the entrance to these.

There have even been cases of scooter riders texting or making calls on mobile phones as they cruise along.

“If we hit one they are either seriously injured or dead and you have to go through a police investigation and then there would be the emotional scars we have afterwards,” one Victorian said.

Some of these scooter’s motors are modified to ensure they go faster than they should.

Reckless driver

A B-double driver earned the wrath of other truckies when he drove through a roadhouse parking area in mid-December at more than the allowable speed.

To make matters worse he was travelling in the wrong direction along what was a one-way area with arrow signs on the bitumen surface.

He copped a verbal barrage from several veteran drivers who were parked up but it didn’t seem to bother him.

There were also drivers walking across the parking area who had come from the eatery or a nearby shopping centre.

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How many old-timers will give the job away now?

INDUSTRY ADVOCATE JERRY BROWN-SARRE VETERAN TRUCK DRIVER

IF you drive and operate on the east coast and haven’t read the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) penalties review, you should.

It is a manifesto of the intent of complete control of an industry by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).

In fact, every driver and operator should take a week off and read the whole HVNL. It is educational reading and shows that the intent is again to further discriminate against an industry, breach the constitution and deny drivers rights under the rule of law.

What it tells us is that our submissions to the National Transport Commission (NTC)/NHVR review in 2019 were a waste of time.

The NTC’s undertaking to meet with industry stakeholders to discuss the review never happened. No doubt after pressure from the NHVR and police.

The 12 non-driving offence penalties will stay and increase, and in all 50 fines will increase to draco-

nian amounts. How many drivers have a lazy $13,300 or $26,610 lying about, or five-times those amounts for companies?

Drivers and operators will need to take very infringement to court, even if it will cost them a trip, or it will cost them dearly.

Solicitors advocate the law, but defendants will need to take their own fatigue experts to give evidence and their own industry experts to argue against enforcement opinions.

Being infringed for a fatigue provision is an offence against provisions of the act, s223 and s228, but is not evidence of a driver driving while fatigued, unless you act or look tired or open your mouth to enforcement authorities when you are stopped. Unlike in movies we don’t have Miranda rights in Australia and fatigue is an opinion by enforcement.

Personally after 65 years in the job, I would argue any driver using BFM or AFM could be fatigued at any time and the provisions should be rescinded.

Fifty or so years ago we would refuse to answer or be interrogated at roadside stops; drivers need to adopt this practice again.

Fatigue needs to be proven, and it has long been established, you can’t prove a negative and you can’t get

crap from a rocking horse, but courts and enforcement will try and while you own property that they can sell, they win.

Every driver needs to seek advice from their solicitors and accountants on how to divest their assets they have worked hard for, and company directors need to adopt asset protection for themselves and for the trading company.

This also includes operation managers, or anyone in effective control of a company and not a director, because you will be left holding the bag.

However, the manifesto shows if you take this action, it will be an offence to take any action that could prevent or obstruct the NHVR from doing its job, even though every business and person has a right to mitigate their exposure to breaches of law.

For the ‘Super Truckers’ who say, “This won’t affect me, I drive by the book”, you can’t escape it.

The latest issue is EWDs dropping out of service, and if you know about it and you don’t revert to using the paper book record, you’re done for tampering, and/or any other genuine mistake, because the HVNL doesn’t recognise honest mistakes or errors as a defence.

With an estimated 1500 enforcement teams stopping and harassing drivers in four states on the east coast every

Jerry Brown-Sarre says every driver and operator should take a week off and read the whole HVNL. Image: Katrin_Primak/stock.adobe.com

day I don’t like your chances of not facing penalties.

It’s in the best interest of drivers and operators to carry and complete intervention records each time they are forced to stop for enforcement checks. The new offence, s231(1) unfit to drive, which hasn’t been gazetted yet, opens a Pandora’s box of possibilities and depends how they intend to use it.

It could be against drivers who have obtained a licence and shouldn’t have one, like overseas drivers, when there is an accident after a ‘medical

episode’, or as a back-up to ‘driving while fatigued, or for a person with a bad accident history. Expect the unexpected with the NHVR. This industry has never denied we need to have laws, rules and enforcement, but not harassment and the intimidation we are getting from roadside enforcement at this time.

With all this enforcement, and truck road deaths climbing again to pre-2009 levels, the NHVR has not done the job to improve safety with all the draconian penalties.

Our history shows it will take time for the resentment for government and bad law to take effect before a plan of action is formed. Drivers have, and will always have, it in their power, when the time comes, to bring it to a head to remove their services.

The recent Woolworths strike shows how long it will take for the shelves to empty.

How many old-timers, or even newbies, will give the job away now, and further make driver vacancies unfillable, impacting hundreds of small businesses?

Massive fine fears prompt driver change

BY DANIELLE GULLACI

SEEING two of his mates – both veteran truckies in the game for decades – receive work diary fines of $12,500 and $18,500, was enough to make Garry May, 53, rethink his career choices.

The Toowoomba-based truck driver started out as a diesel mechanic. He says his passion for trucks began at around the age of 13.

Garry then spent about 10 years driving buses before taking the plunge and switching to driving trucks full time in 2006, moving into long distance interstate work soon after in 2008.

“I don’t know why the interest started as I didn’t have any family in trucks or anything like that. Being a diesel mechanic, I had a truck licence so eventually moved into driving,” explained Garry.

He did everything from general and refrigerated produce to FIFO and oversize freight, and even spent time doing outback work with Neil Mansell Transport.

At times, the work saw his away from home for two to three weeks at a time.

“Being away was hard. You have your family missing you

Garry May has spent decades on the road, first driving buses and then trucks. Image: Garry May

being at home and stuff like that – and I have a 15-year-old daughter too. She was missing having me at home,” said Garry.

So, fed up with the heavy-handed enforcement he’s witnessed, Garry recently moved into work that’s much closer to home.

He started with MakTrans Fuel Distributors around three months ago, doing B-double work from behind the wheel of a Kenworth T610.

It’s five days on and four or five days off, and though he’s usually away for five days at a time, the work is much closer to home, seeing him travel across south-east Queensland and into northern New South Wales.

“I had an interest in carting fuel for a long time. With my views of what’s happening in the industry at the moment, I thought I would bite the bullet. I load out of Brisbane and usually pass through my

hometown once or twice a day,” explained Garry.

“I do miss the long-distance work – just being out on your own. But I’m home with my family for four or five days at a time now.

“Before when I was doing produce, you had to manage your hours, which was hard sometimes because you’ve only got 14 hours to do all the work but you don’t know how long you’re going to be at each delivery.

“Sometimes you’d get to the markets and they could hold you up anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours. Then at the supermarkets, you get there and it could take 20 minutes for anyone to even come out and open the doors. But then it’s all on the truck driver to work within their logbook hours.”

He says both drivers he knows who were stung with the huge fines will now front court.

While Garry understands the need for enforcement, he believes it’s just gotten out of hand.

“There are so many crashes occurring every day so I can understand the need for authorities to come down on those doing the wrong thing.

But to be handing out such large fines, what does that do for mental health when we’re also in the middle of a cost of living crisis?

“I haven’t had a lot of fines myself, I had one eight years ago in Sydney but it was nowhere near the sort of money these two other blokes are expected to pay,” he said.

“Sydney is a really hard place to find a park sometimes. I was out of hours but decided to move two suburbs over to find a decent place to park up for

the night. That cost me $680 and that was on me, it was my mistake.

“But now you’ve got drivers being fined these ridiculous amounts. I can’t comprehend how the authorities can be allowed to fine people that much. Then those who do the wrong thing in a car are fined nowhere near as much for dangerous behaviour on the roads.

“The situation with the friend who got the $12,500 fine was that he had accidentally written the wrong time in his logbook which put him over his hours.

He got the fine two weeks later and wasn’t given any opportunity to explain himself.

“It was an honest mistake but the authorities don’t look at it like an honest mistake.

“I also wonder how many people outside of the industry actually realise what’s going on. I think the wider public are oblivious to it all because the only ones this affects are the ones driving the trucks.

“These mates who got these fines are in their 50s and 60s and they had always lectured me about being careful to avoid these same mistakes they’ve been done for. It seems like no one cares about us truckies but they all want their goods on time!”

COLUMNS 35

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JANUARY 17 2025

Farewell to the industry INDUSTRY REGULATION SAL PETROCCITTO NHVR CEO

FOR more than 10 years, I have had the privilege of leading the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator – an organisation which today is barely recognisable to the one when I started in 2014.

When we were first tasked with harmonizing a state based heavy vehicle regulatory system to a national one, it was – frankly – a huge challenge.

But, together we have been able to make real improve-

ments that I’m extremely pleased are now having a recognizable positive impact on safety and productivity and are being felt on the front line - where it matters.

Welcoming Queensland into the fold in April 2024 as the final participating state to transition to the NHVR was a major milestone.

As I ready for departure of the organisation that I have steered for over a decade – this achievement along with the evolution of the NHVR into a modern, customer focused, and future-thinking regulator is what I will look back on with pride.

As I reflect on my time, my overarching drive each day was a focus on achieving better safety outcomes for all road users, and especially improving the lives of heavy

vehicle drivers and everyone involved in the industry.

To those of you who I have been fortunate enough to meet and work with along the journey, I thank you for your support, your advice, your passion and importantly your frank and robust discussions.

All these interactions have helped build a better organisation.

I also want to thank those of you who have personally reached out with such kind words when I announced my upcoming departure.

Many of you have asked what I see as my greatest achievement – an almost impossible question for me to answer.

Along with achieving close to nationwide streamlined services, I’m very proud of my NHVR team – now more

Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds CEO Naomi Frauenfelder and NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto commemorate the start of a new partnership in 2021.

MOSTLY I LEAVE THIS ROLE WITH WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF BEING IN THE TRENCHES AND WITNESSING ALL THE CHANGES AND PROGRESS AND INNOVATION – BECAUSE I LOVE THIS INDUSTRY. than 1000 strong.

Our laser-like customer service and care has led to multiple award wins – and it tells me we are well on the right track to deliver the service you all have been asking for.

But mostly I leave this role with wonderful memories of being in the trenches and witnessing all the changes and progress and innovation - because I love this industry.

It truly captures so many things which make Australia great.

It is the heartbeat which keeps this country moving, and one which – if I’m honest – doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves.

We saw this magnified during those challenging Covid days, as lockdowns and border closures and worker shortages put a national spotlight on how crucial the

Petroccitto was a regular speaker at many industry events, always with a message of achieving better safety outcomes for all road users. Images: NHVR

industry was to everyone’s everyday lives.

It made me enormously proud to see how we came together, and to see how we galvanized our strengths, collaborated, and problem-solved to get the job done.

Being the NHVR’s CEO has been incredibly rewarding professionally – and also personally.

Throughout my tenure I have had the pleasure of meeting people from all walks

of life, of all corners of the industry, and it is now time for someone else to have the great privilege I myself have had.

I depart my role as CEO of the NHVR on January 24 feeling enormously proud of all we have achieved together and feeling incredibly positive about the exciting future to come.

I thank you and wish you a successful 2025.

As always, stay safe.

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PUZZLES 37

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JANUARY 17 2025

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE 1

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Across

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3 Name a city in the Republic of South Africa (8) 7 To be more active, is to be what (6) 8 Name a self-contradictory figure of speech (8) 9 Which plant is valued for its reddish edible root (6) 10 What is a presentation to view, especially in an open manner (8) 11 Name another term for gain (6) 14 Which people show us to our theatre seats (6) 17 To pass too far, is to do what (8) 18 Name an alternative term for a pill (6) 19 To be in disuse, is to be what (8) 20 How many players are there in a cricket team (6) 21 What is a turning inside out (8)

1 Who is in charge of a museum (7) 2 Which part of the body is between the chest and the waist (7) 3 To defend, is to do what (7) 4 What do we call boisterous, romping girls (7) 5 To send elsewhere, is to do what (7) 6 Which term describes to be without a bristle-like appendage (7) 11 To advance in rank, is to do what (7) 12 What does a supervisor do (7) 13 What are parts of shoes or boots (7) 14 Name an indefinite large number (7) 15 To be lower in dignity, is to be what (7) 16 What might we call an umpire (7)

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C M P R E T O R I A B U S I E R O E W R D O X Y M O R O N B O L C A R R O T T I E X P O S U R E O F C Y T S U S H E R S P R O F I T V N M U E R O V E R S T E P M F M R O T A B L E T L R O B S O L E T E T E E E L E V E N R E E V E R S I O N

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Across 1 Thailand’s former name 3 Begin 8 Musical instrument 9 Measures of length (imp) 11 Desire eagerly 12 Fish 14 Become firm 15 Quantity taken together 18 Ship of the desert 19 Period of time 21 Love god 24 Skeleton 26 Garment 27 Notion 28 Irritable 29 Lengthy

Down

QUICK CROSSWORD

Fill the grid so every column, every row and 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

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S I A M S T A R T O B O B O E C R A V E F E E T T U N A S E T T B A T C H H C A M E L D E R A E R O S S G O W N B O N E S L U I D E A T E S T Y L O N G

EASY

1

Across: 1 Siam, 3 Start, 8 Oboe, 9 Feet, 11 Crave, 12 Tuna, 14 Set, 15 Batch, 18 Camel, 19 Era, 21 Eros, 24 Bones, 26 Gown, 27 Idea, 28 Testy, 29 Long.

Down: 1 Soft, 2 Abet, 4 Tor, 5 Abash, 6 Rove, 7 Teeth, 10 Tuba, 11 Cater, 13 Names, 16 Clog, 17 Debit, 18 Canes, 20 Rode, 22 Solo, 23 Snug, 25 Eat.

SUDOKU

EASY

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

21

Across: 3 Pretoria, 7 Busier, 8 Oxymoron, 9 Carrot, 10 Exposure, 11 Profit, 14 Ushers, 17 Overstep, 18 Tablet, 19 Obsolete, 20 Eleven, 21 Eversion.

Down: 1 Curator, 2 Midriff, 3 Protect, 4 Tomboys, 5 Reroute, 6 Awnless, 11 Promote, 12 Oversee, 13 Insoles, 14 Umpteen, 15 Humbler, 16 Referee.

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1 Malleable 2 Encourage in crime 4 Hill 5 Humble 6 Wander 7 Dentures 10 Musical instrument 11 Provide for 13 Nominates 16 Wooden shoe 17 Charge with debt 18 Walking-sticks 20 Was carried 22 Alone 23 Comfortable 25 Consume

38 CAREERS AND TRAINING

FRIDAY JANUARY 17 2025 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Chef turned truckie loves life on the road

BY KAYLA WALSH

WHEN Tom Charlton was growing up, he thought he wanted to cook for a living.

“My grandfather was a chef – he cooked for the queen and everything,” he said.

“I thought I would follow his dream and become a chef too, but it turned out it wasn’t for me.”

Stressed by the long hours and time away from family that came with being a chef, Tom pivoted into trucking – another career that famously involves both those things.

Tom admits the move might not have appeared to make sense from the outside, but he’s much happier now.

“I’m actually working more hours now, but I’m getting paid better than when I was a chef,” he said.

“I have three kids aged 5, 11 and 23 and sometimes it both-

Tom Charlton currently drives for Bean Express. Images: Tom Charlton

ers the younger ones that I’m away so much, but my family is very understanding.

“I love trucking, just everything about it – from seeing the country to the people in the transport industry.”

Tom is a driver for Brisbane company Bean Express, doing a “bit of everything” from general freight to tanker work.

He drives locally and interstate, sometimes heading down to New South Wales and Victoria.

His travels around Australia inspired an interest in photography – and he set up a Facebook group called Tommy the Truckie to share his snaps.

“I take photos whenever I get the opportunity,” he said.

Tom got the drone out to take this pic while having a break in Park Ridge.

“If I see a nice sunset or some scenery that’s a bit different I’ll get the camera out.

“It doesn’t matter what kind of truck I’m driving – I love trucks and always want to take photos of them!”

For his last birthday, his boss Chris Doosey bought him a drone, which he regularly puts to use.

“I’ve always wanted a drone, it was a great present,” he said.

“I’m slowly getting used to how to use it but it’s been good fun.”

Tom recently marked 17 years as a truck driver and he remains very positive about the industry.

“I wouldn’t change my time as a truck driver for anything,” he said.

“A lot of people bag out the industry, and there are definitely cowboys and young blokes who just want to drive flash trucks and don’t care

In his travels, Tom takes some great shots, like this early morning sunrise snap.

about anything else — but the older generation are great and there’s still a great sense of community.”

Tom has made many friends through helping to organise truck meets in Brisbane every eight weeks.

“My boss Chris started the Brisbane Truck Meets and I help him out with the Facebook page and advertising it,” he said.

“We usually get about 30 trucks and put on a sausage sizzle for everyone.

“It’s a good chance to catch up with people you might not see during the week and get the community together.”

When it comes to advice for success in the transport industry, Tom said it’s all about

starting at the bottom and working your way up.

“Never think you know everything,” he said.

“The younger generation think they know it all from the get-go, and that’s when mistakes happen.”

One day, Tom would love to buy his own truck and his own business.

“My dream truck has always been a 909 or a 950 Legend,” he said.

“I’m working towards becoming an owner-driver in the future, and luckily my boss is giving me advice and pointing me in the right direction.

“We’ll just play it by ear and see where the next few years take us.”

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CAREERS AND TRAINING 39

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JANUARY 17 2025

‘I knew it was now or never’

After previous careers in horse racing and aged care, this driver says her only regret is not making the switch sooner.

BY DANIELLE GULLACI STEPH Fenech, 52, revealed she’s only ever had three jobs in her life – and they’ve all been very different. She recently chatted with Big Rigs while washing her truck, after returning from her daily run.

Based at Veolia’s Cambridge depot in Tasmania, Steph joined the company in November 2021, taking part in the Women on Wheels training program.

Through this program she was able to secure her medium rigid (MR) licence and has since spent close to three years on the road.

Steph steers an Iveco hooklift truck, collecting skip bins from construction sites right across the Apple Isle.

“I get to go anywhere they send me,” she said.

As Steph explained, “I had ridden racehorses for 26 years.

That was my first job and for those 26 years, I had a great boss. But then I broke my back. I had done night school previously to get into aged care nursing. I did that for eight years but I didn’t find it fulfilling. I needed something new and that’s why I

applied for Veolia’s Women on Wheels program.”

Steph came across the program during an internet search for jobs and says it was her husband who encouraged her to give it a go.

“He said, ‘You’re stagnant where you are, just go for it, you’ve got nothing to lose!’

I was looking for a different move. I had been home with the kids too. I wanted something for me. It was a gamble, but it was the right time in my life to take that gamble.”

Veolia launched its Women on Wheels program to address the national driver shortage and help bring more

women into the industry.

The pilot program started in Tasmania in 2021 with six drivers – and a further three have come on board since then.

Women on Wheels has also been successfully run in South Australia, with five new drivers coming on board.

In 2025, Veolia will run the program in Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia and regional Victoria, along with another round in Tasmania, adding at least another 14 female drivers to its staff.

For Steph, getting her truck licence was at the back of her

Steph drives a hook-lift truck, collecting skip bins from across Tasmania.

mind for a long time.

“I had always wanted to get my truck licence while in the horse industry, so I could cart the horses,” Steph said.

“The horse trainer I worked with had trucks and machinery on the farm. I’d driven trucks on the farm but still came into this pretty blind.

I didn’t realise how big the industry is and everything it entails.”

She added that Women on Wheels was “a massive success”, combining a mixture of classroom learning and real-world experience.

“The program looked at all the safety aspects and what Veolia is doing from an environmental perspective.

“We spent time riding in the passenger seat with various drivers – in the liquid trucks, hook-lift trucks, sanitary bin trucks, bin delivery trucks and side loaders.

“As well as hook lifts, I’m trained in rear lift trucks as well.

“Since getting into the program, I haven’t looked back. I love being on the road and the freedom that comes with that – and there’s always a great level support around you too.

Steph joined Veolia in November 2021, after taking part in the Women on Wheels training program. Images: Chris Dickinson/ Veolia ANZ

“I have really good bosses so I feel really lucky. The camaraderie at Veolia is great – it doesn’t matter whether you’re a man or a woman.

“I appreciate the opportunity I’ve had through Women on Wheels. I don’t think I would have gotten my licence if I hadn’t come across a program like this. I had felt intimidated about going out and getting my truck licence but I’ve never felt like that at Veolia.”

Asked whether she plans to upgrade her licence, Steph commented, “The other blokes I work with on the

hook-lift trucks are really encouraging me to go into the bigger trucks.

“Eventually I plan to upgrade my licence but I’m really comfortable where I am for now. I love doing what I’m doing. You get to build a bit of a rapport with people you see on the building sites as well.”

For others considering a move into truck driving, Steph said, “If that’s what you want to do, don’t hesitate. I shouldn’t have waited as long as I did.

“For me, it was the right place at the right time. I just wish I’d done it earlier!”

Easter Group Pty Ltd 73 Formation St, Wacol

LEARN FIRST AID As a professional driver, you are likely to come across a person in need of First Aid. Did you know there’s a lot that you can do before the emergency services arrive?

Your actions within the 3 first minutes of an accident, can drastically reduce injury and preserve life.

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Truckie First Aid training takes about 30 mins to complete, and you can stop and resume where you left it.

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MC LOCAL, LINEHAUL & 2-UP DRIVERS WANTED

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The successful Applicant will: • Hold a current MC licence (minimum two years) • Have knowledge of the HVNL and Load Restraint • Be professional • Be reliable

To apply for the Operations/Driver positions please contact Operations Manager or by emailing your resume to

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To apply for Mechanic positions please forward your resume to Workshop Manager via email to employment@kseaster.com.au

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