Big Rigs 7 January 2022

FRIDAY, January 7, 2022

COMPLIANCE BLITZ RESULTS

ONLINE www.bigrigs.com.au

EMAIL info@bigrigs.com.au

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2 NEWS

FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

CONTACT US Address: 11-15 Buckhurst Street, South Melbourne VIC 3205 Phone: 03 9690 8766 Email: editor@bigrigs.com.au Web: bigrigs.com.au Accounts: 03 9690 8766 Subscriptions: 03 9690 8766 Classifieds: 0403 626 353 Circulation and distribution queries: 03 9690 8766 info@bigrigs.com.au EDITOR James Graham: 0478 546 462 james.graham@primecreative.com.au REPORTERS Danielle Gullaci danielle.gullaci@primecreative.com.au Trent Price trent.price@primecreative.com.au GENERAL MANAGER Peter Hockings: 0410 334 371 peter.hockings@primecreative.com.au MEDIA SALES CONSULTANT Marie O’Reilly: 0403 626 353 marie.oreilly@primecreative.com.au CLIENT SUCCESS Katharine Causer: 0423 055 787 katharine.causer@primecreative. com.au CONTRIBUTORS Truckin in the Topics/Spy on the Road: Alf Wilson, 0408 009 301 Brent Davison; David Vile; David Meredith; Mike Williams; Jon Wallis Big Rigs National Road Transport Newspaper is published by Prime Creative Media. It is the largest circulated fortnightly truck publication in Australia with 26,023* copies per fortnight. *12 month average, publisher’s claim November 2018

Overall fleet health improving

THERE was one glaring statistic that stuck out more than any other for NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto in the 79-page National Road Worthiness Survey (NRS:2021) released last month.

In just the second national snapshot of the overall health of Australia’s fleet, the percentage of at least one non-conformity amongst those 13,325 heavy vehicle units between May and June last year, dropped from 48 per cent in 2016 to just 31 per cent in 2021.

Petroccitto said that result is pleasing on a number of levels: it shows that the work that the regulator is doing across an increasing number of jurisdictions is having a positive effect on safety and compliance, and the industry itself is starting to “step up”.

“The adoption of safe vehicles is starting to deliver, or at least contribute to a safer and healthier fleet out there, and for all of us that has to be a positive because hopefully it translates into less incidences on the network,” said Petroccitto during an online video launch for the report.

“Can I also say, incidences on the network isn’t always just about an accident. If we’ve got less trucks breaking down it means that productivity is also better.

“It means not having congestion in urban environments.

This is broader than just safety.

There is a massive productivity

The NHVR congratulated truckies who have contributed to a significant improvement in the mechanical health of the fleet.

benefit in this stuff as well if we have a fleet that can continue and run a lot better.”

Not surprisingly, brakes remained the most common non-conforming component across metro and regional Australia, but the rate dropped from 25 per cent in 2016 to 14 per cent in 2021.

Rounding out the top 5 most common areas of non-conformity were lights and reflectors, steering and suspension, engine driveline and exhaust and structure and body. For more details on these, visit bigrigs.com.au and

search for NRS:2021.

The majority of the non-conformities were given at most a minor defect notice.

Other key findings from the survey included: • The rate of major non-conformities and grounding has halved to six per cent of vehicle inspected.

• Rigid trucks were the highest non-conforming vehicle type at 38 per cent, which has again reduced from 52 per cent in 2016.

• T he average age of the inspected fleet was 10.2 years, compared to 9.2

years in 2016.

Petroccitto said he wasn’t surprised by the slight increase in the average age of the fleet.

“Anything at the moment that can move, has an engine, and has good tyres is carrying freight,” he said.

“What it also probably reflects is that the benefits of the instant asset write-off scheme probably hasn’t started to reflect through the fleet.”

As for whether the improved numbers correlate with a reduction in overall fatalities and crashes involving heavy vehicles, Petroccitto said it was

too early to say.

“That’s some of the analysis I think we need to do,” he said.

“The other thing we’ve experienced in the last 12 months is that we’ve seen a lesser volume of vehicle movements on the network, so there’s a couple of issues that we probably need to navigate through.”

Petroccitto also said he’s now briefed all the state ministers and agencies on their results, and expects programs to start to eventuate over coming months around compliance activities and improved safety outcomes.

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NEWS 3

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022

425 tonne driverless road trains for the Pilbara

A WORLD first pilot program using 385 tonne GCM driverless triple road trains is currently underway, with plans afoot to ramp it up to 425 tonne set-ups that would run in convoy in the Pilbara.

Mineral Resources (MRL) is working on the ambitious autonomous road train proj-

ect in partnership with digital reality solutions provider Hexagon.

“MRL has always been at the forefront of providing innovative and low-cost mining services solutions,” said Mike Grey, MRL chief executive – Mining Services.

“In recent years, we have implemented a number of

new technologies which have enhanced the safety and operational efficiency of our long-distance road train haulage fleet, reducing the risks of driver fatigue and increasing fleet availability.

The autonomous road trains will take us to the next level again. They provide a safe, cost-efficient solution for

hauling ore, which is key to unlocking stranded tonnes in the Pilbara.”

Phase 1 of the pilot involved two trucks that were radar enabled running on the Perth Motorplex and Barbagallo Raceway. Phase two saw three triple road trains running in Yilgarn in WA’s Wheatbelt. For phase three,

Trucks travel the Barbagallo Raceway as part of the pilot.

there would be one driver in control of the platoon and no drivers in the follower trucks. Phase four, scheduled for 2023, is where the worldfirst kicks into gear, with four prime movers, each with three trailers – and full automation, including automated dynamic lead and dump planning.

MRL’s goal is to fully integrate autonomous vehicles into its fleet.

MRL says the autonomous road trains will form an essential part of the cost-efficient supply chain for the Ashburton Hub Iron Ore Project, lowering operating costs, increasing productivity and reducing fuel consumption.

“To support the development of the 30Mtpa Ashburton Hub, we plan to run a fleet of 425 tonne Gross Combination Mass (GCM), triple-trailer road trains operating across multiple convoys, with each road train convoy consisting of up to five prime mover trucks, with three trailers each, hauling the ore from the mine-site to the Port of Ashburton,” MRL said in a statement.

“The autonomous road train solution integrates

Hexagon’s drive-by-wire technology with an autonomous management system to orchestrate vehicle movement.

A successful pilot project is underway at our Yilgarn operations using 385 tonne GCM triple-trailer road trains, which have been tailored for the specific economic constraints of iron ore and other bulk commodities. During the next two years, the testing will continue, ramping up to 425 tonne GCM in time for the Ashburton Hub Project.”

MRL says it will initially adopt the technology for its own operations, with a view to offering the solution to its large “Tier One customer base.”

“Being part of the MRL Group, our Mining Services division is in a really good position to trial all of our new technologies on our own mine sites prior to offering additional services to our customers,” added Grey.

“Our autonomous road trains, combined with our other innovations, are all part of our growth strategy to expand our capability to provide full pit-to-ship, low-cost infrastructure solutions.”

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4 NEWS

FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Operators left guessing over AdBlue

BY JAMES GRAHAM

LIKE many operators around Australia, Leigh Smart went into the Christmas break anxious about how China’s decision to halt exports of urea could impact on the freight industry here.

Without alternative supplies of urea, there is no AdBlue, and without this essential diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), a large chunk of the modern-day fleet will soon be parked up.

While Canberra was telling the industry not to panic leading into Christmas, Smart, the director of Sydney-based For-

Formula Chemicals director Leigh Smart was disappointed with Canberra’s lack of industry consultation at the end of 2021.

mula Chemicals and past chair of Road Freight NSW, was already seeing the fallout.

“Who is the government talking to, for God’s sake?

They’re not talking to the right people, they really aren’t,” said Smart, who has the capacity at his plant to make up to 40,000 litres of AdBlue a day.

“I’ve got one member out of Newcastle who has five trucks and he’s parked up one already.

That’s 20 per cent of his business gone at Christmas.

“These are small blokes who are just trying to keep their heads above water, and now they can’t get AdBlue.”

At deadline for this issue (December 15), Smart said he’d already had one of his B-doubles go into ‘limp’ mode on the Hume Highway after running out of DEF. “That’s 20km/h in a B-double which is really great for traffic, and the trouble is, when you switch it off, it won’t start again.

“You stall a B-double at the lights in limp mode, and that’s where it’s going to sit.”

With no domestic supplier who can come to the industry’s rescue, Smart said the only option left for the government is

to fly in high grade urea from wherever they can.

There’s no use bringing it by sea, it’ll be too late, warned Smart: “As far as I’m concerned, it’s desperate stages.

“I tried to put a call through to Angus Taylor [Energy Minister] and he’s not taking phone calls, which is pretty desperate.

If you want to talk to him you have to send him an email, but there’s too much to discuss in an email.

“That’s not the response you want from a politician, is it? You want him to get off his backside and be proactive, come out and see the associations in each state and ask what are your members doing? How many blokes haven’t got it, how are they all coping? Not listen to some bureaucrat who says there is six million litres of AdBlue somewhere. I’m buggered if I know where it is.

I’d love to know who’s got it.

“And please, when you make yourself a taskforce, don’t full it full of bureaucrats, try and put industry representatives and owner-drivers and truck drivers on it, so they can tell you what it’s really like.”

Meanwhile, Smart warned against switching off the AdBlue systems because of po-

With AdBlue increasingly scarce and pricey at the pumps, truckies are tempted to take shortcuts.

tential for costly fines, voiding of warranties and damaging effects of crystallisation on injectors and pumps.

“Then you get back-yarders who will just go buy urea from Bunnings and mix it up with tap water and it’s got all this crap in it and it’ll destroy your system.

“We’re hearing $90 for a 20-litre drum of AdBlue now, if you can get it, and blokes are just going down to the service centres sitting there with their boot open, flogging off 20-litre drums.

“And drivers are desperate

enough to take it.”

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto told Big Rigs that the industry needs to “calm down a bit”.

“I’m not underplaying that there is an issue here, but I think what we need to do is make sure we don’t end up with the AdBlue equivalent of toilet paper-gate,” said Petroccitto.

“We’re working constructively with the Commonwealth government hoping they’ll reach a sensible solution in the supply of AdBlue which won’t require a decision that will make engine modification a requirement for us.”

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FEATURE 5

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022

WISH LISTS 2022 We get your frustration when you hear industry heads lobbying for changes.

One of the most common reactions in our Facebook page comments in 2021 was, ‘Why should we care? Nothing ever changes’.

In many cases, that’s true, but we live in hope at Big Rigs that there are many tangible issues we can tackle as an industry and fix in 2022.

We asked 10 of the most high-profile luminaries to nominate theirs. Here’s what they had to say.

Job ready drivers needed now TRUCKIN’ AROUND OZ ALF WILSON contributors@bigrigs.com.au

REFORM LEADER GARY MAHON GARY MAHON Queensland Trucking Association Queensland Trucking Association CEO

CEO

THERE are many big issues confronting the road freight industry over the next three to eight years including the adoption of renewable energy, fit for purpose road infrastructure and proportionate heavy vehicle laws mention a few.

LIFEto WITH KERMIE Underpinning these largeGRAHAM HARSANT contributors@bigrigs.com.au scale issues is a fact, that for many years to come, the trucks driving the length and breadth of the country require a driver in the seat.

Ask any operator what their number one day-to-day issue is, and for as long as I can remember, it is always the same answer,

INDUSTRY ADVOCATE BEN MAGUIRE

WA CAMPAIGNER CAM DUMESNY

COST CUTTER CHET CLINE

“Where can I find drivers?”

It is time there was an answer to give them. While the apprenticeship model currently being developed holds some promise, this will be aINlong-term solution.

TRUCKIN’ VICTORIA We need action right now to fill GRAHAM HARSANT contributors@bigrigs.com.au the ever-growing vacancies in the industry. We need competent, job-ready professionals to drive road freight well into the 21st century.

This is a multi-faceted issue and there are many factors inhibiting youth and new entrants getting newly licensed drivers into jobs. Firstly, the ability for employers to attract new WELCOME MESSAGE entrants who identify the inMARK BAILEY Qld MinisterasforaTransport Roads and dustry careerand ofMain choice secondly, the quality of training and no opportunity for a newly licensed driver to gain the necessary on-road experience.

Employers need evidence of on-road driving hours, and without providing an avenue for newly licensed drivers to obtain

these, there will continue to be a long list of drivers not able to obtain employment which has led to a growing pool of potential drivers becoming disheartandTHE finding Iened SPY ON ROADalternative employment avenues.

ISPY@BIGRIGS.COM.AU To prepare a licensed heavy vehicle driver as job ready for this industry, the classroom environment is necessary to attain the fundamental learnings required before getting behind the wheel and experiencing onroad and workplace-based instruction. It is vital that instruction in a static environment be formalised onGURU subjects includINSURANCE ing, butBROWN not limited to; rules MARK Manager, TBI Insurance Services and regulations; load restraint; dangerous goods; fatigue and safety management; and industry environment.

The key point of difference will be a valuable mentoring and coaching component to achieve on-road experience.

It provides critical behind the

wheel driving experience that must be undertaken to produce the calibre of drivers required by industry operators.

This would include completion of 160 of supervised WOMEN IN hours TRANSPORT driving with BROTHERTON an experienced JACQUELENE Chair of Transport Women at Australia driving mentor their place of employment. These verified hours would be completed over three months of attaining employment and verified as learner drivers do when attaining their probationary licence.

However, to achieve this, funding for this training must be directed into a mentoring wageOZsupplement THE TRUCKER to support employers.

This key barrier to MIKE WILLIAMS contributors@bigrigs.com.au employing newly licenced drivers must be addressed, and this wage supplement is vital to give employers more confidence to employ these drivers. Small to medium businesses who make up most of the road freight industry do not have the financial resources or capacity to

Australian trucking Association CEO

Western Roads Federation CEO

AIR CTI founder/owner

AT THE WHEEL DAVID MEREDITH

TRUCKIN’ ON THE BORDER DAVID VILE

EDITOR JAMES GRAHAM

TASSIE TRUCKIN’ JON WALLIS

TWU NEWS RICHARD OLSEN

LEGAL EAGLE ROWAN KING

contributors@bigrigs.com.au

james.graham@bigrigs.com.au

TWU NSW State Secretary

contributors@bigrigs.com.au

contributors@bigrigs.com.au

Principal Lawyer RK Law

It is time we had an answer for the driver shortage.

allocate a driving mentor without it impacting productivity in their business.

A job ready program provides a solution to the longterm driver shortage. Early

consultation with industry indicates overwhelming support from employers and will attract support from insurers.

Their only question is “When does it start?”

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6 FEATURE

FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

WISH LISTS 2022 Light at the end of the tunnel

Giving a greater voice to female truckies in Australia LYNDAL DENNY

Women in Trucking Australia CEO

ROD HANNIFEY

National Road Freighters Association president

I HAVE been trying to see improvements and more truck rest areas now for over 20 years.

A couple of years ago in this newspaper and other publications, I said it was the year of rest areas.

Whilst there have been some minor improvements, we have actually gone backwards, by losing small and minor sites in many places, often closed due to them being deemed “unsafe”, but I believe there may some light at the end of the tunnel.

I had written a document, solving the truck rest area problem and more recently another, seeking a National Rest Area Strategy.

We now have national guidelines for the design, requirements and levels of truck

We now have national guidelines for the design, requirements and levels of truck rest areas.

rest areas, but no mandate, legal requirements or even council rules, to ensure they are built or even included in any road building or realignments.

One of the things I put forward was the better use and placement of stockpile sites as rest areas, which could vastly improve suitable spots available, at little cost, nearly overnight.

In recent weeks I have been involved with talks with Transport for NSW who has shown a serious effort to improve truck rest areas in that state, Tasmania and Western Australia have seen large funding, industry consultation and welcome improvements, but there

is more to do.

There was recently a study done in the US showing fatigue crashes increased where gaps between truck stops were over 35 miles, I think it was, and it is not rocket science to realise that where there are big gaps, there is far more likely to be a problem.

I have just had discussions with the ATA and hope we may have a way forward to see not only more industry effort, but more recognition of the problems and will do all I can to see things improve this year.

It will take time, but let’s give it a go. Join an association and contribute and you too can see this change.

WOMEN comprise an estimated 1.6 per cent of the Australian heavy vehicle driver workforce.

The issue is not about women failing in the system but rather the system failing women.

It’s no secret the sector is suffering from a lack of skilled drivers, so supporting greater numbers of Australian women into heavy vehicle driving careers will go a long way to addressing these shortages.

Certainly, there are multiple layers of complexity around the issue including gender bias which our research shows, continues to exclude women during job applicant screening – with many more locked out post-interview in preference for their male colleagues.

Studies also suggest women downplay their skills and experience, whilst men do the opposite, and it’s this genetic hardwiring that also contrib-

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The organisation has been structured to give a greater voice to female heavy vehicle drivers with the WiTA Facebook page one of the fastest growing social media industry networking platforms.

This is a place where female drivers, licensed unemployed women and women considering trucking careers come together to discuss issues and barriers, best practice and also to share details of possible entry points to get that elusive foot in the door.

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It’s encouraging to see the initiatives organisations are introducing to change their workplace, not only to attract female drivers but also to help them to thrive. There’s still much work to be done.

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FEATURE 7

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022

WISH LISTS 2022 Invested in the journey to Fix the AdBlue issue first electromobility in Australia WARREN CLARK

National Road Transport Association CEO

TODD HACKING

Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia CEO

HVIA and our members have been invested in the journey towards electromobility for years.

In the last 12 months, however, there has been a crucial tipping point - a juncture where supply and demand factors are beginning to converge: the OEMs unveiling advanced technology ready for mass production - fleet operators intently engaging - and their customers actively committing to reduce their carbon footprint across all areas of their business.

While you might respond fairly with “What are we waiting for? Let’s go!” - it isn’t quite as simple as that.

The heavy vehicle industry is developing zero and low emissions vehicles powered by both battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric powertrains.

Battery electric will probably

HVIA is taking a coordinated and collaborative approach to assist the heavy vehicle industry’s transition.

dominate the back-to-base (or last mile) fleet, whilst hydrogen is more likely to power linehaul and larger heavy-duty vehicles.

In both cases the supply of that energy and the infrastructure to support it are still a long way behind where the technology is sitting right now.

2021 has seen an unprecedented interest in green energy from investors and government. That means there is now capacity to really step up our ambitions to begin rolling out zero emissions vehicles.

If there is one thing that 2021 has taught us, however, it is not to go blindly into these things without considering the risks, and Australia’s capacity and ability to stand on our own two feet.

HVIA is taking a coordinated and collaborative approach to assist the heavy vehicle industry’s transition to a heavy vehicle fleet progressively dominated by battery electric (BEV) and fuel cell electric (FCEV) zero emission trucks.

HVIA has already begun to harness the experience and expertise of stakeholders to identify and resolve issues and access requirements, workplace and operational safety, maintenance, technical and emergency support, skills and training, and energy supply.

Removal of those obstacles will serve to build the value proposition and hasten the uptake of zero emission heavy vehicles in Australia.

THERE’S a long list of things I’d like to see our industry achieve in 2022 but three are at the head of the NatRoad agenda.

The most urgent is a solution to the diesel exhaust fluid shortage.

This issue is bigger than

our sector, but with so many small operators running on the tightest profit margins we’ve ever seen, road transport has the most to lose.

At the time of writing, the federal government had finally confirmed the industry’s advice that five weeks supply remained in the supply chain, and signalled that it was ramping up its international search for alternate sources of DEFs and its main ingredient urea.

My hope is that as we enter 2022, Australia’s immediate supply needs are being met by securing new overseas suppliers and we are expanding and securing our own domestic production capacity.

The most urgent issue is a solution to the diesel exhaust fluid shortage.

My second New Year’s wish is that governments at all levels acknowledge road transport as an essential service - not only in word but in actions.

That means standardising border passes nationally, giving heavy vehicles priority at border crossings (touch wood that both won’t be needed) and removing local freight curfews.

Our industry did more than any other to keep essential goods moving during the height of the pandemic.

NatRoad is working daily to make sure we’re not being taken for granted.

Lastly, I’d like to see a reset of the National Heavy Vehicle Law reform process so that our collective industry expertise drives a process based on good evidence.

That means putting a high-level expert panel into the driver’s cabin so we’re not consulted after a half-baked idea has been cooked up.

I have no doubt the bureaucrats trying to standardise the laws that govern our industry are good and decent people, but most struggle to fix things they don’t understand. Few, if any, face the daily pressures and risks as heavy vehicle drivers.

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FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

AT THE WHEEL DAVID MEREDITH contributors@bigrigs.com.au

WISH LISTS 2022

TRUCKIN’ ON THE BORDER DAVID VILE contributors@bigrigs.com.au

Showcase our amazing people Putting a stop to wage theft

WOMEN IN TRANSPORT JACQUELENE BROTHERTON JACQUELENE Transport WomenBROTHERTON Australia chair Chair of Transport Women Australia

WHAT do I want for 2022?

Acceptance of the road transport industry as a profession worth pursuing, ample rest areas with proper facilities, having road safety, road rules and how to share the road with heavy vehicles introduced into the school curriculum, along THE OZ TRUCKER with driver education for Years MIKE WILLIAMS contributors@bigrigs.com.au

10-12. For truck drivers to be treated with respect at distribution centres, 3PL’s, and by their own operations personnel; better training for drivers, not tick and flick, and not single EDITOR day courses but full intensive JAMES GRAHAM james.graham@bigrigs.com.au training so the drivers enter the industry job ready.

To stop blaming the immigrant drivers for price-cutting, which was alive and well before the new wave of truck drivers arrived in this country.

We need to better promote the industry by using our role models, by showcasing the amazing people in this indusTWU NEWS try. I’ll be OLSEN more than happy to RICHARD TWU NSW State Secretary

lead a campaign and to conduct short interviews with the incredible people who represent the trucking industry.

As so many of our industry leaders TRUCKIN’ are growing old, we TASSIE needWALLIS to record their wisdom JON contributors@bigrigs.com.au before it’s too late and we lose it forever.

For Transport Women Australia Limited I would like to continue to grow our membership, build and expand our sponsorship base, have a highly successful conference in June that leaves our attendees wanting money more, so that we can grow our events and hold LEGAL EAGLE them more regularly.

ROWAN KING Principal Lawyer RK Law

Truckies need an app like this MIKE WILLIAMS

On the Road Podcast host

LOBBYIST YOU know how you have those STEVE SHEARER SA Road Transport Association Executive Director

long chats with your mates and you’re just talking about what you reckon might come in handy on the road. Many of us are on regular runs sometimes servicing the same customers week after week, we know our road, we know what facilities are where. How good would it be if there was an app that

could help out when we’re on a road we’re not normally on or stopping over in a place we don’t normally stop.

Something that could show where we can access public showers etc. I know the visitor centre at Balranald has awesome showers and the ones at Bollon are pretty good, but only because someone told me about them.

So, a phone app with markers that could be updated and possibly even commented on.

Parking that could be rated for shade, quiet and space or where to get a good meal and then have that linked in to where you are and give you a few clues

on where to find it sounds like gold to me.

I rang my old mate Tony Fulton, one for the guys behind Truckwiz (download from the App Store. Brilliant in my opinion) and asked him about how hard it would be and if he thought it was possible.

Long story short, not only is it possible it’s probably not that far off and (spoiler alert) Truckwiz have been working on it.

Seems that great minds think alike!

Contact me via @theoztrucker on Twitter, on Facebook, at ontheroadpodcast.com.au, email mike@ontheroadpodcast. com.au, or call 0418722488.

Bolster our supply chains SIMON O’HARA

Road Freight NSW CEO

ONE of the biggest issues facing the freight industry in 2022 is the ongoing risk to our vital supply chains. Road Freight NSW (RFNSW) members were on the frontline throughout the lockdowns, ensuring the delivery of critical products.

But escalating trade tensions

with China, container shortages, the high-demand for pallets and increasing shipping and port charges, have led to a ‘perfect storm’ of long-delays for both imports and exports and a blow-out in day-to-day costs.

The ongoing shortages of AdBlue have not only threatened to park Australia’s diesel truck fleet, but very quickly exposed how our country’s supply chains can be crunched as a result of external forces beyond our control. That’s why RFNSW is urging a whole-of-government campaign to review and reform the effectiveness of our supply chains, boosting local manu-

facturing and workforce skills capability to ensure supply chain resilience and protecting our national freight networks.

Freight and supply chain strategies should also provide trucking operators with fair and competitive costs across the supply chain, given that unfair landside port charges continue to compromise the viability of many trucking operations.

There’s a need for governments to work with industry on more training and skills programs. RFNSW is calling for decision-makers to listen and act on our concerns, so we can keep freight moving in 2022.

Australia

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GLENN STERLE WA Senator

2021 was a big and challenging year for our truckies.

Truck drivers continued to keep our country moving despite facing roadblocks at what seemed like every turn.

Testing requirements, delays with receiving results, confusion over border permits and miss-messaging between government authorities with truckies being the ones who paid the price time and again.

And all this on top of the myriad of other issues which currently confront truck drivers, owner drivers and transport companies.

I have been asked however to nominate a single big industry issue that we face and what the

solution is to fix it.

The one big ticket item I would address overnight, is rampant wage theft. Wage theft costs workers an estimated $1.35 billion every year.

The TWU recently conducted a survey of over 1000 drivers asking them about their experiences in the industry.

Of the 52 per cent who had experienced wage theft, 68 per cent had not been paid for work they had done and 43 per cent were underpaid minimum rates.

A quarter had been ripped off by more than $5000, and one in three had experienced wage

Truckies deserve more respect.

theft over 20 times.

Only 22 per cent got their money back, and a quarter of those were out of pocket for over a year.

This is unacceptable and downright criminal. If wage theft isn’t put to an end, the good companies doing the right thing by their workers will continue to get screwed over by the grubs who are doing the wrong thing and undercutting wages. And this has become rife under the watch of Scott Morrison and his government.

As for the fix to the issue?

Vote for me and Labor and kick the current mob out! Labor has already announced that an Albanese Labor government will protect Australian workers from exploitation and rip-offs by criminalising wage theft.

The truckies of Australia deserve much more than a Prime Minister who will take them for granted and use them for a photo op.

Securing our labour supply PETER ANDERSON

Victorian Transport Association CEO

A RECENT VTA industry survey provided interesting insights into the challenges and issues confronting Australian road freight operators.

The survey confirmed what the VTA has long suspected – that labour shortages are the single biggest issue confronting our industry today.

Even before the pandemic, an ageing workforce of heavy vehicle drivers has been a challenge for operators and the industry to overcome. Without renewal of our labour pool, costs will increase, and shortages of goods laid bare during COVID will be exacerbated.

The solution is genuine reform to our heavy vehicle li-

cencing system. Government must work with industry to introduce driver training that provides a pathway for young people for a career in transport.

There is no reason a young person that can be licenced to fly a plane at 16 or go to war at 18 shouldn’t be eligible for professional instruction behind the wheel of a heavy vehicle, and a long-term career in transport.

The VTA Driver Delivery program, offered in partnership with the Victorian Government and Armstrong Driver Training, is the model we need to encourage jurisdictions to adopt to attract young people to our industry.

The program places drivers in employment with transport companies following a rigorous eight-day hands on training program. It exposes participants to on the road instruction and classroom theory about freight and logistics – familiarising them with chain of responsibility, load restraint, compliance and other requirements of professional drivers.

Our reduced migration intake has put pressure on labour supplies right throughout the Australian economy, including transport.

Notwithstanding this, however, we have a golden opportunity to identify school-leavers as a very viable labour pool for the transport industry.

Let’s take this opportunity to train the future of our industry, and secure our labour supply for the next generation of Australians.

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10 OPINION

FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Here’s to a year we can celebrate

EDITOR JAMES GRAHAM

WELCOME to 2022: please let it be a brighter year than the last.

I know, I know; we were saying the same thing 12 months earlier, and look how that turned out for us, so I’m not going to jinx it by getting too carried away.

When we went to press for this issue at the earlier than usual deadline of December 17, it wasn’t exactly shaping up as the new beginning we’d all hoped for.

Driver shortages were as rampant as ever, WA was turning interstate truckies back 1000km for Covid tests and on top of all that, operators were dealing with a chronic pallet shortage and a looming diesel exhaust fluid crisis.

We went to the break more hopeful than confident that the government was going to pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat and save the day.

The politicians were calling for calm, there was no need to panic. There was even a taskforce appointed. No matter that this taskforce is stacked with bureaucrats and devoid of any operators or truckies.

As always, keep us posted on how the AdBlue issue is impacting your business at editor@bigrigs.com.au.

Your support has been phenomenal in 2021. On behalf of all the team at Big Rigs, we can’t thank you enough for that backing, and look forward to another big year, hopefully packed with more positive events, including our upcoming 30th birthday celebrations.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR There’s a good chance you’ve been taken for a ride

WHILE the commission is doing backflips on standard hours, how about the government step in and do a monumental backflip on how drivers superannuation is calculated.

For those who aren’t aware of superannuation changes over the last decade, there’s

a good chance that you may have been taken for a ride.

In 2010 the rules changed, and superannuation was to be calculated on all hours worked excluding allowances.

The rules changed again in 2015 whereby superannuation only had to be paid on minimum hours at a mini-

mum rate, i.e. (yard rate), so if you were getting say $30 per hour driving a triple road train and doing 70 hours a week but the yard rate is $20/ hour, you have lost about $120.60/week in your superannuation retirement fund, (calculated at 9 per cent).

Meaning that you have

lost around $6500/year in contributions, or $31,500 plus interest since 2015.

It’s your retirement savings that you are losing. The days of drivers being like monkeys (shake a tree and one will fallout) are long gone.

If your employer really values your service, they should

be doing the right thing and paying superannuation on all hours worked.

If you really want change, contact your local federal member of parliament.

They don’t bite and generally very receptive to your concerns.

- David Scott

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OPINION 11

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Australians need to know the sacrifices that we make Truckie Adam Craig.

AFTER 11 years of driving and at only 29, the decision to step away from being behind the wheel was a truly hard one.

I’ve advocated for this industry; tried to help out other younger drivers wanting to get into it and also wanted to do what I could to get it back to the way I’ve been told it use to be.

Unfortunately, it’s a losing battle.

When making decisions people normally weigh up the good, and the bad, and

that’s exactly what I did and came to the conclusion that for me it would be better to walk away.

People don’t understand the sacrifices, not only by the driver, but also their families.

You’re only at home with family for 48 hours a week, if you’re lucky.

You’re watching kids grow up through a phone camera, and when you’re over 1000km from home and your partner is having issues, there is next to nothing you can do to help.

Social life is just a phone call, with almost no catching up because the free time you do have is for family.

People say that the isolation during the pandemic has been hard, but truck drivers have been self-isolating for years. And I’m not going to start on all the other things (hurdles) that we have to deal with outside the job on a personal level.

People think that what

truckies do is easy. That all we do is sit behind a steering wheel.

Yeah, okay, you try and do it while life around you is crumbling, and you’re left to your own thoughts, 17 hours a day, sometimes for weeks on end, and tell me how easy you think it is.

People will say, ‘Well, why do you do it then if it is so hard?’ Well, to us it isn’t hard, it’s what we love, but sometimes other things you love more need to take priority.

I know in comparison to most in the industry, 11 years is nothing, and I tip my hat to people who have been doing it longer, and to the families who are strong.

I’m still going to do what I can to help people in the industry and I’m going to be an advocate for it, in whatever way I can for the next generation coming through.

After all, it’s been great. The people I have met along the way have been amazing. The

latest company I’ve worked for has been exceptional.

And the experience has been second-to-none.

I hope one day the industry will be given back to the people operating in it and not dictated by people who have never lived it.

I hope that one day we can see it be something like I’ve been told it used to be,

and that the camaraderie means more then where the freight needs to be.

I also hope that the next generation of driver can look at it for what it could be and not what it is at this stage.

But for that to change the Australian population outside of the transport industry needs to be made aware of the sacrifices that drivers and

their families make so that they can have the comforts of their everyday normality.

Adam Craig Truckie Lifeline: Ph 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: Ph 1300 22 4636 Health In Gear: Ph 1800 464 327

Adam Craig has come to the end of the road after just 11 years in the job.

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12 COVER STORY

FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

A magic carpet ride with

With order books now open, Victorian correspondent Graham Harsant jumps behind the wheel to put the new V8 Scania R770 through its paces.

The glorious V8 engine and gearbox.

We were pulling a B-double with 56 tonnes of ballast on board.

BY GRAHAM HARSANT SEVEN hundred and seventy.

It’s a big number when we’re talking horsepower out of a truck diesel engine. In fact, it’s the biggest number in the road-trucking world at the moment and it belongs to Scania.

The V8 Scania R770 is the truck and I’m here to tell you that those 770 horses are big-hearted.

It pairs those horses with 3700Nm of torque from

1000rpm. Those horses pull a laden B-double like a racehorse carries a jockey – they just don’t know that there’s a B-double behind them.

At the time of writing there is only one R770 in Australia and I was invited to spend a day behind the wheel.

Lucky me!

The familiar Scania profile is there with a few changes such as a new chrome strip between the lamps, colour-coded headlamps surrounds and a

new ‘Epic Black’ grill trim replacing the gloss black.

The interior will also be familiar to Scania owners with a place for everything and everything in its right place, easily accessible and intuitive to use.

The two-tone grey dashboard carries red highlights and chrome surrounds for the air vents - the roof lining (with sunroof) in a lighter beige gives the cab a light, airy, welcoming feel.

The instrument binnacle

shape reminds me of the Kia Sorrento grill, with all instruments in sight in whatever position you place the flat-bottomed, leather clad steering wheel.

The steering wheel has a massive range of adjustment, including moving up and forward to such an extent that getting out from behind it to enter the rest of the cab is an absolute breeze, no matter how big that belly may be.

The wheel is complement-

ed by premium leather Recaro seats (with adjustable armrests) for both driver and passenger.

After sitting in them for four hours I could easily have done another four, but that would mean fibbing in my logbook.

Between the seats and below the bunk are two slide out fridges, one of which can be used as a freezer. The bunk itself is thickly padded and with seats moved forward pulls out to give a full metre of width.

If you are going to live in this

The ergo-layout, complete with a Kia-like instrument binnacle and electric-powered steering wheel.

Let there be light. The driver’s side window also incorporates a pull down blind – a nice touch.

My driving partner, Scania’s Peter Verbrugge, had to virtually drag me from the cabin.

truck for a week at a time – and the specs indicate that you will – you are going to sleep comfortably.

Pulling up for lunch or have some work to do on your laptop? Hop over into the passenger seat, pull out the folding table from its possie in the glove box, and access one of the myriad USB points. Plenty of cup holders and usable door pockets complete the interior picture.

The driver’s side window

COVER STORY 13

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022

a sweet V8 soundtrack

incorporates a pull down blind – a nice touch. As well as the driver’s airbag, Scania is the only manufacturer to incorporate two side curtain airbags, life-saving in a rollover but let’s face it, this truck is so well behaved that you’d have to be doing something really idiotic to find yourself in that position.

Wing mirrors are split so that you can see between them with the convex ones placed at the top, which I personally like.

At the heart of this truck however is that beautiful 16.4-litre V8 motor, which is 70kg lighter and sips less juice than its smaller R730 sibling.

Mated to a superb Scania-built 12 speed automatic gearbox, the two work with sublime synchronicity.

We were pulling a B-double with 56 tonnes of ballast on board. Put your foot down from a standing start – or indeed from any speed – and the R770 just gets up and goes.

There is no twisting chassis, no juddering, just a muted V8 rumble (but loud enough to appreciate and enjoy) and a smooth surge of power through that gearbox.

And oh, what a gearbox! As well as Hill-hold, changes up and down the range are imperceptible. You have a choice of Economy, Standard or Power modes but really, the first two

are all you will ever use. Indeed, I found Standard mode to be more effective than Power going up inclines.

The R770 includes every safety feature available in a modern truck including adaptive radar cruise, the toggle switches for which are placed on the bottom of the steering wheel hub.

Initially I thought this to be a strange location but within 10 minutes had changed my mind, using them to adjust speed uphill or down dale without taking my eyes from the road or dash.

Set the downhill speed and the truck will not deviate one kilometre from it, no matter how steep the drop. Use this and you will never have a speeding infringement. Of course you can change the gears manually but really, why would you?

I said earlier that the heart of this truck is that brilliant V8. Within five minutes of sitting in the driver’s seat I had changed my mind. The absolute heart of the R770 is the electric-powered steering wheel. When I last drove a Scania V8 I commented that its steering was the best in the business. By comparison the R770’s is off the charts!

The self-centring steering is so direct, so precise, that the truck seems to shrink around

Wing mirrors are split so that you can see between them, with the convex ones placed at the top.

you. I come to some roadworks on the Calder Highway where the left lane is closed. Witches hats are placed well to the right of that lane’s markings, leaving little space between them and the rumble strip.

The two trucks in front of me have their offside wheels well over the rumble strip. Not

this little black duck. The accuracy and feel of the steering in this truck has to be experienced to be believed.

The confidence this inspires in the driver (I don’t have a B-double license, so don’t have a lot of experience with them and I’m driving with DUI plates) is just awesome.

I’ve driven other trucks where the steering is akin to stirring a wooden spoon in a bowl of porridge.

Without exaggeration I can write that within five short minutes I was confident of my ability to control truck and trailers and to accurately place them exactly where I

wished. It is simply brilliant.

Mix that steering in with a cabin that may well be on a gimbal, such is its smooth, level ride, the ambience of that cabin and the power and the glory that is the marvellous engine/gearbox and you will not want to get out of this truck. Ever!

My driving partner, Scania’s Peter Verbrugge, had to virtually drag me from the cabin at the end of my time behind the wheel. I begged for a bit more time to drive the truck, “Perhaps to Cairns, mate?”

Peter well understood my desire but alas, another truck journalist was booked up for the next day. It’s when I get in a truck such as this that I realise just how lucky I am to do the job that I do. To be one of the first behind the wheel of this truck was a privilege.

Scania is taking orders for the R770 now, with deliveries due in the second half of 2022.

An obvious market for the truck would be road train work but if I was in business with just a single trailer, I’d be calling Scania right this second.

This truck is a magic carpet ride with a beautiful V8 soundtrack, improved fuel economy over its smaller sibling, all the safety that technology can muster and awe-inspiring confidence.

Try it. You’ll be a convert.

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14 NEWS

FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Special road train for Georgia

BY TRENT PRICE

SIX years ago, Mitch and Jess Kelly, owners of Kelly Transport in Toowoomba, were thrown a massive curveball.

They learned that their daughter, Georgia, who was just two at the time, would not grow up and enjoy the life they had dreamed she should have.

Georgia was diagnosed with Rett syndrome. Occurring primarily in girls, it is caused by a gene mutation at a very early age. Infants seem healthy during their first six months, but over time, rapidly lose coordination, speech and use of their hands.

To raise awareness, Mitch and Jess are proud to reveal the most prized addition to the Kelly Transport fleet, the aptly named Georgia K - a stunning purple and white livered Kenworth T909 decked out with a full-complement of Vawdrey trailers.

THE METALLIC PURPLE PAINT CHANGES COLOURS WHEN IT’S MOVING. IT’S JUST UNREAL.” MITCH KELLY

Mitch custom-ordered the truck in February and it was finally completed in September. But the truck means much more to the Kelly’s than just raising awareness for their cause.

To them, it’s a symbol of hope and what better way to promote awareness, than to do a truck up in the colour associated with Rett Syndrome - purple.

“It was supposed to come off the line in late August/early September. It came offline in late September and has been in Toowoomba getting

The Kelly family with their newest addition, the ‘Georgia K’.

Georgia Kelly was diagnosed with Rett syndrome in 2016.

the rest of the paint done,” said Mitch.

“It was painted in factory purple and white. There were a few sections that needed to be fixed up, but Brown and Hurley organised it all. The metallic purple paint changes colours when it’s moving. It’s just unreal.”

The Kellys actively fundraise for the Rett Syndrome

Association of Australia and have raised interest from a number of transport companies for the Rise Against Rett Gala to be held in Toowoomba on March 26.

“It’s heavily transport industry-orientated, and I think we’ve sold $60,000 worth of tables for the night so far,” said Mitch.

The striking truck will be

driven by Mitch until the gala, where it will be on display in the car park at Rumours International Convention Centre on Ruthven Street.

If you are interested in helping raise awareness and funds for the Rett Syndrome Association of Australia and their community, you can purchase tickets for the Rise Against Rett Gala on the

Eventbrite website.

For more information on the Rett Syndrome Association of Australia, go to rarevoices.org.au.

There’s currently no cure for Rett syndrome, but medication, physio and speech therapy and nutritional support help manage symptoms, prevent complications, and improve quality of life.

The ‘Georgia K’ is a stunning purple and white livered T909 decked out with a full complement of Vawdrey trailers.

Calling for transport companies to help animals in need

BY DANIELLE GULLACI

NATIONAL not-for-profit organisation, Animal Rescue Cooperative (ARC), has turned to the trucking community to ask for help in getting donated goods from A to B. ARC supports animal rescuers, peak bodies and emergency responders to help animals in times of need, including bushfires, floods and drought.

Run entirely by volunteers across 26 hubs nationally, it distributes food, medical supplies, craft and rescue items across a national network of rescuers.

Thanks to the generosity of many, ARC has grown in leaps and bounds, and with that, so has its freight task.

“We get donated hundreds of pallets every year and we need to move them all around Australia to our hubs so they can continue to support their local rescue groups. As you can appreciate, this is a very expensive task, and it takes away much needed funds for us to be able to support rescuers,” said Rebecca Alexander.

An ARC volunteer, Alexander runs one of the organisation’s hubs in south-east SA and coordinates all of the transport and logistics operations nationally, honing in on her industry experience.

She worked in a transport business for 15 years and her husband is also a truckie.

Along with her work with ARC, she – like many of the

Trucking companies from all around Australia are already answering the call for help. Photo: Facebook

volunteers – also runs her own animal rescue organisation, called Orphan Lamb Rescue Farm.

Between the couple’s work in transport, they reached out

to numerous industry contacts to see if they could help move pallets. “We had about 30 companies that came on board and were happy to help us transport pallets,” Alexan-

der said, adding that there is still so much more freight that needs to be moved.

“For example, we recently had 450 pallets of Royal Canin dog food that was donated, which wasn’t expected, so we didn’t have a big budget for transport. We had to pay for some of those pallets to be moved.

“Page Transport and Tasfreight both took about 15 pallets each to Tassie for free, which was great.

“Transport costs can kill us so we have to look at if it’s worth sending the goods due to the costs,” she added.

“If you have pallet spaces spare on a trailer going from A to B, chances are we have a pallet we need to get there.

“When we send medical supplies out for floods or bushfires, we send pallets of dog food too – it’s not just for the rescuers but also for the locals who have been impacted. Recently, we’ve done a lot in Queensland with the floods there.”

As Canberra is ARC’s medical hub, there is often a need to transport medical supplies from there to other parts of the country; however supplies are transported from various locations to where they are needed.

If you’re a transport operator or a truckie who is able to help transport pallets of stock, please email rebecca@ arcsupport.org.au; or visit the website arcsupport.org.au; or facebook.com/animalrescuecoop for more information.

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Prices herein are recommended selling prices, inclusive of GST. Recommended selling prices are a guide only and there is no obligation for Dealers to comply with these recommendations. Freight charges may apply. All items have been included in good faith on the basis that goods will be available at the time of sale. Prices and promotions are available at participating Dealers from 7 to 31 January 2022 or while stocks last.

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16 FEATURE

FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Truckie overcomes struggles to get back behind the wheel

Adam Meek says he had lost his passion for driving.

He had driven trucks for 10 years before giving it up to focus on his mental health struggles.

BY DANIELLE GULLACI

my family again.”

He moved to Queensland two years ago with his wife and kids. While working full time elsewhere, he began carting sugar from the Atherton Tablelands to Mossman on the weekend. “And I got the bug again,” he said.

“I was driving a 12-pallet rigid once a week, so I didn’t get burnt out and I was enjoying it.

“When my wife said she wanted to move back to Victoria, I said I’d go back to driving. Firstly because I was liking it again, and secondly

AFTER leaving trucking for 10 years following a nervous breakdown, Adam Meek is now back in the driver’s seat and enjoying every minute of it.

For Meek, it was always about the trucks as a kid. “I grew up around it, my dad had trucks as I was growing up. All I really wanted to do was be a farmer or drive trucks – so I did both. I started driving from the day I got my L plates, so I was driving at 16,” he said.

“Then I had a nervous breakdown, I couldn’t even look at the truck, so I thought my health is more important than driving, so I stayed on the farm full time.”

Meek, who is now 35, was working as a truckie from the age of 18 until 25. The father of five, who has another on the way, came back into the job earlier this year and says he’s in a much happier place.

“When I left trucking, I just wasn’t happy – my mental health wasn’t going well.

I had been fighting some demons and they started to get

on top of me. And I started second guessing myself when I was driving. My dad always said if you start second guessing yourself, that’s the time to stop. I had a break from it and got some help,” explained Meek.

“I had lost my passion for driving. I just couldn’t be bothered any more. I was under a lot of stress, I guess I was a bit in denial that I had a problem. When I had a bit of a breakdown I realised I did have a problem and needed help. Once I got that help, I was enjoying life and

Now back behind the wheel, Meek drives a Scania R730 for K&S Freighters.

because of the money.”

With that, Meek – who now lives in Ballarat – scored a driving job at K&S Freighters in January. He started out doing the Melbourne to Adelaide run but switched to local work about six weeks later. As of December, he’s now back on the Melbourne to Adelaide run.

“We have five kids under 12 and another on the way so me being away from home was pretty tough. I didn’t want to leave the company so they shuffled a few things around and got me into local to fill in for someone who was away.

Now I’m back to interstate,” explained Meek.

“All the drivers say g’day and you get that sense of mateship. There’s that sense of comradery at K&S. There isn’t much negativity from the other drivers. You have to find something that suits you; and that’s all that counts at the moment. If you’re not happy doing what you’re doing, there’s no point in doing it” “When I coached the under 8s in Queensland, I asked them what was the most important thing about playing the game.

I got heaps of answers, but the

one I was looking for was: so long as you’re having fun.

“If you’re not happy doing what you’re doing, find what does make you happy and do it. That’s the motto that I live by.”

Now that he’s 11 months back into the job, Meek says he hasn’t looked back, though adds that it’s not always easy.

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s a tough industry to be in, I can lose a week’s wages for a couple of discrepancies in my logbook for minor breaches. I’m lucky I’m not an owner operator. With fuel rates, they’ve gone up 30 cents in the last three months, then there’s rego costs, insurance costs.

“I’m sitting on 60-65 tonne at the moment, so if I do the wrong thing, or don’t concentrate, or don’t judge what’s happening in front me, there can be severe consequences, and people don’t realise that.

The regulations are making it tougher, but you need to be able to manage that.

“The main reason I went to K&S was that I wanted to work in a big company where I could turn up, do my job and go home. I get along great with

my direct supervisor too.”

After overcoming his personal struggles, Meek has now found his happy place. “Baby number six is on the way in April. When my wife and I got together 13 years ago, she wanted six kids, I wanted two kids, and we compromised,” he joked.

“We have four boys and a girl ageing from 12 to 2.5 years. I don’t know what we’re having, we haven’t found out with any of the others, so thought we wouldn’t start now.

“My older boys love the trucks. Declan turned 12 in October, he’s been in every truck I’ve driven expect for at K&S, because you can’t have passengers. That’s how I got into it. That’s the thing now, how do you get these kids interested if they can’t go in the truck with their dad? Most guys in the industry got their start riding with their fathers.”

Lifeline: lifeline.org.au or call 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: beyondblue. org.au or call 1300 22 4636 Health In Gear: healthingear. com.au or call 1800 464 327

Steering Healthy Minds program changes lanes in 2022 RECENT studies on truck driver health has pointed for urgent reform to address and prevent poor mental health among drivers.

A year on from the inception of the Steering Healthy Minds (SHM) program, a collaboration between key organisations with interests in the transport industry, it was apparent that funding provided by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) was crucial in establishing mental health first aid training within workplaces.

Whilst no further funding is locked in for SHM beyond December 2021, funds have been secured in states such as Western Australia via the

Transport Workers’ Union.

Jo Kitney, a founding member of SHM explains the move signifies a change from a state to a national approach.

“I think it’s gone from being Queensland-based to something which has more of a national focus – particularly in Western Australia,” said Kitney.

“There’s been a significant amount of time and energy invested in getting it to where it is but creating a sustainable program that isn’t solely reliant on funding is the focus at the moment.”

A key area of the programme’s success has been the take-up of further programs at industry level. One example

being with Kinetic Transport at its Service Side Buses depot at Townsville as part of a national program.

The Central Queensland University in association with Teacho (Transport Education Audit Compliance Health Organisation) is looking at a study from a SHM first aider’s perspective, the management and the workers. The results of that study will be available in the next few months.

Another impact has been the take up of funded public mental health courses, that anybody in the transport industry can attend. Take up has been consistently high and the increased engagement in mental health courses has assist-

ed massively in peer-to-peer counselling – coupled with the SHM Facebook page.

“The consultation between the Steering Healthy Minds management team, its workers and union delegates, establishes the way the program will be completed,” explained Kitney.

“Even having posters, postcards and messaging has shown a greater degree of comfort from workers being able to speak with their peers.”

A range of themes were unearthed at SHM in 2021.

Whether it be an incident in the workplace, or the long journey drivers are undertaking and what they are exposed to or witness as part of the job.

“During Covid, the sense of connection that peer-topeer support provides shows that mental health is both work and non-work related.

These could be difficulties with partners or children. It could be that they are a carer or are experiencing financial difficulties,” said Kitney.

Part of the evaluation process has been whether the topics should signify changes at a regulatory level, but Kitney questions whether this is timely or appropriate given the amount of noise in the work safety space.

“Safe Work Australia have released their own study on psychological impacts in the workplace,” explained Kitney.

“We’ve also had ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) 4503 released, which focuses on psychological safety, so industry itself has signalled that it’s time to take these things seriously.”

Whilst SHM is searching for a commercial position that enables the program to go forward, it’s still the funding that enables business to engage.

“SHM has resulted in frank and robust conversations around mental health, now we need to make the program sustainable and broaden it to liaise with others where they need to,” said Kitney.

For more information, visit steeringhealthyminds.com.au.

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* Calls from Australian landlines are generally free of charge whilst calls from mobile phones are typically charged based on the rate determined by the caller’s mobile service provider.

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SA

18 FEATURE

FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Industry rallies for Coops

Andrew and Hoang Cooper with kids Liam, Harry and Jack.

Andrew Cooper, centre, with some of the ‘Coming Together for Coops’ team at the Kinross Woolshed- (l-r) Chris McDonald, Craig Theoharidis, Peter Fruend, Clint Lieschke and Andrew Twitt. Photos: David Vile

BY DAVID VILE

and entertainment which will provide something for the whole family.

The large open area at the rear of the hotel lends itself well to staging the event, as group spokesperson Peter Fruend detailed, “We will have a car show with the Twin City Car Club, we have live music with three bands through the day both

WITH such tumultuous times we have all experienced over the last two years it is gratifying to see that the Australian way of helping out a mate is alive and well.

Andrew ‘Coops’ Cooper, a truck driver for over two decades based out of Albury-Wodonga, is currently battling osteosarcoma (a type of bone cancer), and a benefit day has been planned for late January to help out Coops and his young family.

In late 2020, Coops first started experiencing pain in his left arm, with investigations revealing a large tumour had developed between his elbow and shoulder.

Following an unsuccessful round of chemotherapy at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne, unfortunately the arm had to be amputated at the shoulder in February 2021.

With the arm being removed at the shoulder blade, it has not been possible to fit a prosthetic arm. Since then he has undergone further treatment in Melbourne at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Treatment Centre, including further courses of chemotherapy.

At the time of his cancer being discovered, Coops was working full time driving a log truck in the local area, and as such has not been able to work since and support his family including wife Hoang and their three young boys, Liam, Harry and Jack.

A group of truck-driving mates have banded together to help out with the ‘Coming Together for Coops’ benefit day set to take place on January 22 at the Kinross Woolshed Hotel at Thurgoona.

Initially planned to have taken place in October 2021, the event fell victim to Covid but the planning team has put together a package of events

inside and out on the trailer, raffles and so forth going on during the day, jumping castles and water slides, face painting for the kids…so all in all, it will be a great family day.”

One of the major initiatives planned will be an auction of goods and services with support coming from far and wide.

“We will have sporting

Andrew Cooper back in 2015 when he was behind the wheel of this Toll FH Volvo carting timber out of Tumbarumba across southern Australia.

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memorabilia, a variety of vouchers, from $50 restaurant vouchers up to a $1500 voucher from Bandag, we have an accommodation package from over the coast at Kiama, 12 Volt car fridges, hamper packs, CAT die-cast models, there is something there for everyone,” said Fruend.

“A lot of it caters for transport, as that’s what we are about and is from those who have helped us out, but there’s a lot of stuff there for those who aren’t involved in transport.”

The organising team has also been overwhelmed with support, among those to help by way of a cash donation and goods for the auction came from Danyelle and Anthony Haigh of Murranji Water Drilling (and Outback Truckers TV fame).

“We’ve had support from the local area and around the country including Lieschkes, Dawsons, Churchills and ERH Refrigerated Transport, there’s

been a lot of companies throwing money in, and a lot of them weren’t even approached, it’s been great to see the goodwill of a lot of people,” added Fruend.

The money raised from a 2021 raffle also has the trust account that has been set up for the family off to a solid start.

At this stage Coops is looking at ongoing medical management into next year, so needless to say, all money raised at the January 22 event will help him and this family along as he tackles the next phase of treatment.

“We’re just a group of mates helping out a mate… everything on the day is going to Coops’ trust fund and (the event) is for the family - it’s a family day to help out his family,” Fruend concluded.

For further information about the day, or to make a donation, contact Peter Fruend on 0459 674 166, or search for Coming Together For Coops on Facebook.

COMPETITION 19

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022

When the going gets tough, truckies keep everyone going

Reader Rigs kicks into new gear with Shell Rimula

FOLLOWING the success and popularity of our Reader Rigs pages, and accompanying #PicOfTheDay truck pic callouts online, Shell Rimula has partnered with Big Rigs in a big way – so now there’s even more reasons to send in your best truck shots.

“Reader Rigs has become

one of our most popular features, with hundreds of photos being sent in every month, so it made sense to ramp it up to the next level – and we’re excited that Shell Rimula has given us the opportunity to do that,” said Big Rigs editor, James Graham.

As a way of celebrating our

Shell Rimula has partnered with Big Rigs’ Reader Rigs to give one lucky reader the chance to win a $500 Shell Coles Express Gift Card, with a new winner announced each month.

truckies, who keep our nation moving every day, Shell Rimula has come on board as a sponsor of Reader Rigs.

“We are really proud to come on board with Big Rigs’ Reader Rigs and Shell Rimula Heavy Duty Diesel Engine Oil in 2022. We love the Reader Rigs because it shows the pride and passion drivers have for their trucks, and the tough and unique Australian locations drivers find themselves in,” said Nick Lubransky, Shell Rimula brand manager.

“The Shell Rimula tagline ‘When the going gets tough, trucks keep everyone going’ really relates to the drivers, who keep their trucks going, and we’ve especially seen how important trucks and drivers have been in Australia over the past two years.”

Each month, the Big Rigs team will choose a #PicOfTheMonth, with the lucky win-

Our nation’s truckies travel far and wide – and we want to see your best pics.

ner receiving a $500 gift card.

“Shell has been operating in Australia for over 120 years and we wanted to partner with Big Rigs to give something back for the images sent in by drivers, from across the country. Every month we will be giving one lucky driver a $500 Shell Coles Express Gift

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We can’t wait to see the images and the winners over 2022.”

Keep an eye out for our regular posts on the Big Rigs National Road Transport Newspaper Facebook page, calling for your best truck photos and add yours in the comments, or email them to

editor@bigrigs.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!

20 READER RIGS

FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Reader Rigs proudly supported by

Jakob Batchelor sent in another beauty of the 2014 Kenworth T909 he drives for Gilberts Transport Services, snapped coming out of a watermelon farm near Ali Curung, NT.

Jacko Dennis shared this shot of his Western Star road train set-up in front of a stunning backdrop.

Share your truck pics THE trucking game is as diverse as the terrain on which our truckies travel.

If there’s one thing we know many of you love, it’s a good looking rig – and sometimes life on the open road brings some golden photo opportunities.

The Big Rigs #PicOfTheDay competition is a chance

to share your best snaps through our Facebook page (@BigRigs). We’ll choose a weekly winning shot to feature as our Facebook cover photo and a selection of the best pics will be featured in the next edition of Big Rigs Newspaper.

So get snapping and keep those great pics coming!

Chris Mitchell cruises down the back road in this Kenworth to Moulamein, NSW, to pick up a load.

Thanks to Joel Hanlon for sharing this beauty of a Booth Transport set-up at Hay Plains, NSW.

Kevin Bemrose and this Kenworth T909 pick up the first load of canola for the 2021 harvest among the hills at Mogumber, WA.

Stacy Olsen sent in this shot of a Tytec Logistics K200 hauling some mammoth mining tyres.

Vintage charm - Sam Hill shared this shot of his 1978 White Road Commander doing her thing.

Kristina Nicholson works the harvest for Freight Lines Group at Grass Patch, WA.

READER RIGS 21

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022

When the going gets tough, truckies keep everyone going

Jennifer L Colman snapped this beauty crossing the Fitzroy River, WA, while loaded at Myroodah Station Road.

Brad Cheney couldn’t resist a photo of this cracker of a sunset on Mount Magnet-Sandstone Road, WA, while on his way to the Jundee Mine Site.

Angelo Kosteski shared this shot of a Scholz Bulk Haulage Kenworth, taken during harvest.

This bright red Western Star adds a pop of colour on a gloomy day in this pic sent in by Dylan John.

Ben Priddey and his Kenworth K200 cart a D6 dozer to its new owners.

Steve and Marko pull up at Packsaddle, NSW, as the sun comes up.

Kyle Nicholas-Benney and this Kenworth cart hay in south east SA.

Robbie Bell and this set of quad tippers show their best side at Adani Rail.

Bradley Semler captured the recent storms on camera in this shot taken just out of Beaufort, Victoria, while enroute to Melbourne.

Nobby Smith was enjoying the sunrise with his Kenworth T900 Legend, just south of Coober Pedy.

22 TRUCK SHOW

FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Bumper turnout for Dane Ballinger Memorial Show

BY TRENT PRICE

THE 2021 Dane Ballinger Memorial Truck Show defied damp conditions in the lead up to produce a bumper show over an early December weekend at Bathurst. Over 150 trucks registered for the event.

After a 13-year gap, the

Bathurst Truck Show was revived in 2016 by Dane Ballinger and Dean Campbell, with the annual event continuing to grow in Ballinger’s honour after his passing in 2019.

Flowers Freightlines were the big winners of the weekend, with Harry Cotterall taking home both Truck

of the Show and Best Old Working truck category 1996-2005 with his 1997 Kenworth T950.

Head judge Peter Milton said the Dane Ballinger Memorial Truck Show is different in that old and new trucks are effectively all vying for top honours.

“There’s so much nice

stuff out there. The hardest part of being a working truck show is that everything is in the one barrel,” said Milton.

“If a good day-to-day truck is clean and tidy because the owner looks after it, then it’s going to knock off something that came of the production line three

weeks ago.”

Other awards winners included, Best Logging Combinations/Best Display, which went to Chris Mangan of Mangans Transport for his 2019, Kenworth T909.

Sam Ballinger’s Choice went to Jeremy Inverno of G & D Inverno with his

2018 Kenworth T900 Legend. While ‘Best Tipper/ Best Tipper and Dog Combination ‘was taken out

by Jaqui Vella from Raygal in her 2017 Kenworth RGT900.

Matthew Clarke won the ‘Best Old Working up to 1985’ in his 2021 Kenworth K200 big cab.

G&D produced a disco Inverno with their T900 Legend entry. Photo: Scott Bourne

Flowers Freightlines was the big winner, with Harry Cotterall’s yellow T950 taking home both Truck of the Show and Best Old Working truck category. Photo Flower Freightliners

Mangan Haulage won Best Logging Combinations and Best Display. Photo: Scott Bourne

Best Tipper & Dog Combination went to the Raygal RGT900 Kenworth. Photo: Scott Bourne

Retro stylings: the Boogie Nights entry tooks out the People’s Choice Award. Photo: Scott Bourne

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TRUCK SHOW 23

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022

Old and new trucks vie for top honours at the popular Bathurst event.

This stunning Kenworth T909 from Lawrence Transport in Ingleburn had plenty of admirers.

Matthew Clarke’s Kenworth XQ83QI was almost the cream of the crop. Photo: Scott Bourne

Trucks came from near and far, including this Western Star from Chris Watkins Furniture Transport.

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24 TRUCK SHOW

FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Kye’s Convoy Dream does the double in Illawarra

The convoy takes the chequered flag. Photo: Alan Davis

BY TRENT PRICE PETER and Sheridan ‘Shez’ Yates once again took out the lead truck position in this year’s i98FM’s Illawarra Convoy.

The pair donated the winning bid of $95,000 under the moniker of Kye’s Convoy Dream, in honour of their 10-year-old son Kye who passed away in an ATV accident on the family farm in 2019. Kye was known for generosity and compassion well beyond his years.

Kye was a staunch supporter of the Illawarra Convoy (where proceeds raised go directly to help out sick kids and their families) and just five days after Kye’s passing, Peter was adamant he would get Kye the lead truck spot with an all-black truck, bumper to bumper, Kenworth T909 – which Peter still uses his work Yatcon Civil.

With the event cancelled in 2020 due to Covid, the Yates decided it was high time that the black T909 had a new stablemate and plans were quickly put in place to take secure position once again.

“Because Kye really liked the convoy we decided to have

another shot at it,” said Peter.

“We were going to try and do a bid in 2020, but it didn’t really happen, so we thought we might as well have another go this year. Some people came on board at the last minute and somehow got to $95,000.”

Peter, Sheridan and some members of the local Illawarra community raised around $55,000 with the assistance of Harley Davidson, who donated a bike to be auctioned off, with the Yates contributing the rest.

The lead truck this year was once again a Kenworth T909 low cab, with a mid-size sleeper.

Apart from the colour scheme (Shez’s striking choice of orange), it is in every respect the perfect counterpoint to Kye’s original black beauty.

Now that the Yate’s have gone back-to-back, they won’t be taking a step back from fundraising, but don’t have any plans to round out a treble in 2022.

“It’s all about raising money for the kids and leading is a bonus. It would be great to see other fundraising teams lead next year,” said Peter.

Running like a dream – the Kenworth T909 of Peter Yates leads the convoy. Photo: Grahmae Logg

IT’S ALL ABOUT RAISING MONEY FOR THE KIDS AND LEADING IS A BONUS. IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE OTHER FUNDRAISING TEAMS LEAD NEXT YEAR... WHATEVER WE RAISE, WE’LL PROBABLY DISTRIBUTE AMONGST THE OTHER PARTICIPANTS AND GIVE SOMEONE ELSE A CHANCE TO LEAD.” PETER YATES

“Whatever we raise, we’ll probably distribute amongst the other participants and give someone else a chance to lead.

“It’s just such a great community event. Without guys like Craig Duren from MJ Rowles, Marty Haynes and convoy manager Mark Rigby, this show doesn’t run. Those guys are up at 4:30 in the morning and are the backbone of the convoy.”

The Illawarra Convoy celebrated its 17th anniversary on Sunday and this year raised a

Convoy fans took the opportunity to dress in their Sunday best. Photo: Alan Davis

The Illawarra crowds turned out in force. Photo: Alan Davis

whopping total of $3,047,473.

Approximately 573 trucks and 596 motorbikes travelled 70 kilometres from Illawarra Coal’s West Cliff Colliery at Appin, through the streets of the Illawarra, to finish up at the front of the Convoy shop, Corner of Airport Road and Princes Highway Albion Park Rail before dispersing home.

Convoy Founder and i98FM Breakfast Show host Marty Haynes was ecstatic with the result.

“It never ceases to amaze me how generous the people of the Illawarra are,” said Haynes.

“With so many of our lead truck and bike teams unable to run their fundraisers this year due to ever-changing Covid-19

restrictions, to achieve this result is crazy!”

All raised in this year’s event will go to the Illawarra Community Foundation who will distribute funds to local charities and families who are facing life threatening illness.

Submissions for funding can be made at the convoy website illawarraconvoy.com.au.

You needed a good set of binoculars to see the convoy from start to finish. Photo: Alan Davis

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26 DRIVER PROFILES

FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Truckin’ In The Outback Brodie Smith DANGEROUS goods driver Brodie Smith, 26, says he’s living his dream, carting into mine sites across the eastern seaboard and Northern Territory.

Growing up, he was a truck-mad kid and four years ago moved from South Australia to Gracemere, Queensland, to get into the big rigs. “If you want to drive big gear, that’s where you go, to Queensland, it’s the gateway to everything,” he said.

Smith began working with trucks when he was very young, starting a diesel mechanic apprenticeship when he was in Year 8. “My background is mechanical. I wasn’t even 18 when I finished my apprenticeship. I started out working on trucks and fell in love with them. I was driving trucks around the yard and it became an obsession. I got my licence as soon as I was old enough,” he said.

“I moved here because the work I wanted to do was up here – this is what I can see myself doing long-term.

I love my job and think it’s unlike any other truck driving job out there. I’ve done general freight; I’ve done dirt work. On the danger-

Smith drove this 2007 Kenworth T904 for about two years, until recently joining Crawfords.

Brodie Smith moved from SA to Queensland to pursue a career as a dangerous goods driver.

ous goods side, there’s a lot of responsibility but it’s very rewarding when you come home and know you’ve done a great job.”

Smith works for Crawfords Freightlines and drives a Western Star 4900. He had contracted for the business on and off for around two years, before coming on board five months ago.

“I couldn’t ask for a better working environment. It’s a big company but it doesn’t feel like you’re working in a big company. Everyone is treated with respect and as they should be, you’re not just a number,” he said.

Smith’s work takes him across Queensland, and into the Northern Territory, NSW and Victoria. “I love travelling into the NT, it’s something else up there,” added Smith. “I love the freedom and the places you get to see – the amount of trav-

elling you get to do in places you never think you would go to in this lifetime. There’s always a bit of excitement when you get to go to a new place, and it never ceases to amaze me. I’m not interested in going overseas, there’s so much here in Australia to see.”

Delivering into mine sites, many of the roads Smith frequents are rough. “A lot of the roads we drive on are real rough, they’re over-used and underworked. We do a lot of stuff into Moranbah, and a lot of the roads running into there are pretty rough – they’re bitumen but I’ve driven on better dirt roads.

“The majority of mine sites I go into are all dirt.

One of the ones we do here is 80 kilometres of dirt. It’s two hours on a good run but can be up to five hours depending on the condition. Then there’s a place we go into in

the NT. It’s 180 kilometres of dirt and it can be brutal, especially if it’s wet.”

The job is long days, and it can be hard on your body both physically and mentally, yet Smith wouldn’t have it any other way. “You spend a lot of your time on the road and then spend one day a week at home if you’re lucky.

I live in Queensland and all my family lives in SA. It’s a pretty big commitment to go and see them, so I only get to see them twice a year at most.

Covid has made that even harder,” Smith explained.

Smith also has a two-yearold daughter who lives in Brisbane, some eight hours away. Over Christmas, he picked her up and headed home to catch up with the family for a well-deserved month-long break. “The last time I saw my daughter was Easter and the family was very excited to see her too.”

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DRIVER PROFILES 27

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022

Truckin’ In The Outback Shane Blackshaw SHANE Blackshaw is 24 and obtained his heavy vehicle licence when he was just 19. Remarkably, he started working only three months later. Based in Toowoomba, Blackshaw originally worked for Neil Mansell Transport, where he finished his apprenticeship.

He currently works for his uncle Jason Freyling, of Jason Freyling Transport, who owns a triple road train unit carting cattle feed and station freight into the remote Northern Territory and north-western cattle stations.

“Once I finished my apprenticeship, I got my road train licence and got to work doing rig shifting. I had a little experience, but just in paddocks. I was doing that for around about 12 months before I started working with Jason – my mum’s brother.”

“Jason bought his first Road Boss around mid 2000, until trading it in on a 1975 W model kenworth in 2003.

In a long roundabout way sometime not long after he got work carting general freight to cattle stations. I had always dreamt of following in

his footsteps, I did finally get the opportunity to when he rang me in late 2019 due to a recent separation, He had two young boys that he wanted to be home for, so that’s when I took over the driving.”

Blackshaw runs his Kenworth T908 from Charters Towers, Townsville and Brisbane through to the Victoria river district and Gulf country regions but basically runs everywhere and anywhere.

While he can’t pinpoint exactly when the trucking fever hit, Blackshaw does know that it goes back a long way.

He drives a Kenworth T908 for Jason Freyling Transport, carting cattle feed and station freight.

“I’ve always been around trucks and farming. Pop had a farm at Pittsworth, near Millmerran for a bit, so I always had an interest in trucks as far back as I can remember,” he said.

The sense of autonomy, the landscape and meeting new people are high on Blackshaw’s list of things he loves about the job.

“I love the freedom. You don’t get harassed by anyone,” he said.

“You have a lot of time to yourself and get a chance to enjoy the scenery. People work a lifetime in an office and just don’t get to see the things that I get paid to see.

Meeting people, getting to see the station managers and the ringers is all pretty good.”

It might be a regular gripe, but poor infrastructure is the one thing that definitely cheeses him off.

“The worst part is definitely the roads,” said Blackshaw.

“They’re doing touch-ups here and there, but 100 per cent the worst is definitely the roads. Hughenden to Cloncurry and Roma to Cloncurry are probably the worst.

“It’s not all bad, but there are a lot of rough and old sections.”

Shane Blackshaw loves the freedom and the time he gets to himself while navigating the outback.

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28 DRIVER PROFILES

FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Truckin’ In The Tropics

with Alf Wilson

Brian Olliffe

Maarten Bramwell

Brian Olliffe drives a MAN for Openica Logistics.

Maarten Bramwell drives for Townsville-based Western Bulk Haulage.

BASED in Brisbane, Brian Olliffe was heading over to Townsville’s BP Cluden Roadhouse for a welcome shower when Big Rigs saw him.

Not surprising either when you consider it was 37 degrees on the second day of summer deep in the tropics.

Aged the “Nifty 50”, Olliffe works for Openica Logistics which has its headquarters in Melbourne, Victoria, but also has depots in Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane.

He was driving a three-yearold MAN truck which he described as good for the job, and which was in the roadhouse parking area.

“I work out of Brisbane and the cars I have on are a backload from up here going south.

I came up with vehicles and a boat and dropped some off at Mackay and the rest at Townsville,” he said.

Olliffe has worked with this company for around four years

and said he doesn’t normally stop at many roadhouses.

“I carry most of my homemade food prepared by my wife and cook it in the 12-volt oven I have on board or my gas burner. My favourites are meatballs and spaghetti,” he said.

Quietly spoken Olliffe rates the section of the Bruce Highway known as the Marlborough stretch as amongst the worst he negotiates.

Olliffe said there was enough rest areas but qualified that by adding that truckies needed to choose the ones to stop at as their travels allowed.

Regarding Covid-19, Olliffe said he had received the two vaccination jabs.

“It hasn’t really affected me that much especially up here in the north,” he said.

Olliffe has fair skin which would make him an ideal candidate for sunspots or skin cancer as he gets older.

“I do get skin checks and was clear of any at the last one and usually wear a hat,” he said.

I noticed dead bugs splattered all over the front of the truck and asked Olliffe had he driven through a plague of insects.

“Yes, it was on the way up and south of here,” he said.

He isn’t on his lonesome as many other truckies have reported such plagues which ensure it takes a long time to clean their vehicle.

When he does get time off Olliffe enjoys spending time with family relaxing and riding dirt bikes.

His favourite sport is rugby league and Olliffe barracks for the Newcastle Knights.

“I grew up in Newcastle and the Knights haven’t done all that well recently.

“But I am hoping they improve in the new season,” he said.

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YOUNG driver Maarten Bramwell was unhooking trailers from his Kenworth 909 when Big Rigs saw him in scorching heat on a summer’s day.

The 30-year-old Bramwell has worked for Townsville based Western Bulk Haulage and had been carting fuel in a triple road train out west.

It was at the breakdown pad locations on the Townsville Port Access Road and the temperature was around 36 degrees.

Not far away on the other side of the road two scalies were there ready to check trucks heading to the port.

“I regularly take fuel out to Cloncurry and also to other places like Quilpie, Birdsville, Barcaldine and Aramac,” he said.

Between 2009 and 2016 Bramwell was in the Australian Army based at Towns-

ville’s Lavarack Barracks and in Brisbane.

“I drove lots of Army trucks including a Kenworth 909 similar to this one, Macks and Unimogs. It was great and I learnt a lot,” he said.

When on the road Bramwell likes stopping at the Nindygully Hotel for a hearty feed and an icy cold soft drink.

Nindygully, is 45km south-east of St George.

“The Gully” as it’s locally known, is pretty much four houses and a pub on a riverbank.

Although Maarten Bramwell is also known as “Junior” he has already had extensive experience as a truck driver having been behind the wheel of many different models.

His previous job was driving a Mack Superliner for Lowes Petroleum Services

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ALTHOUGH MAARTEN BRAMWELL IS ALSO KNOWN AS “JUNIOR” HE HAS ALREADY HAD EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE AS A TRUCK DRIVER HAVING BEEN BEHIND THE WHEEL OF MANY DIFFERENT MODELS.” and before that worked at a Central Queensland mine.

During his career Maarten has driven along some bad roads and I asked him to nominate the worst.

“The road between Aramac and Torren’s Creek is very rough and so is the Flinders Highway in sections,” he said.

Outside work Bramwell enjoys pig hunting especially out west where many huge animals would damage the environment.

DRIVER PROFILES 29

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022

Truckin’ In The Tropics

with Alf Wilson

Wayne Cook IT was very hot when Big Rigs saw Western Australian owner-operator Wayne Cook doing repairs to his trailer.

Aged 56, Cook was laying on the ground under the trailer at 11am in 34-degree heat.

“I am doing some repairs to the suspension on the MTE trailer,” he said.

There was no rest for the weary as Cook was on his 24-hour fatigue break.

His company is Cookies Contracting Pty Ltd which is based at Baker’s Hill 75km from Perth in WA, and he was driving a 2010 Freightliner Columbia.

Cook’s wife Janette does the administration from home and is an integral part of the business.

This veteran truckie had driven 5300km from Perth to deliver an Epiroc Drill Rig to a mine near Bowen in faraway north Queensland.

Bowen is 200km south of Townsville and 190km north of Mackay just off the Bruce Highway.

Big Rigs saw him doing the repairs whilst parked up at the BP Cluden Roadhouse in Townsville.

“I don’t come up this way

I DON’T COME UP THIS WAY OFTEN AND THIS IS JUST MY THIRD TRIP HERE IN AS MANY YEARS.” often and this is just my third trip here in as many years,” he said.

Enthusiastic Cook was ready to head off to the NT the following day to pick up equipment to deliver to the Gulf of Carpentaria area of far north Queensland.

He realised that in the not-too distant weeks, rain would ensure the roads to the Gulf region were closed.

Cook rates the worst road he gets along as the Peak Downs Highway.

“The roads in WA are much better overall than in Queensland,” he said.

An enthusiastic Australian Rules football fan, Cook barracks for the West Coast Eagles in the national AFL competition.

The Eagles missed the finals series in 2021 season finishing in ninth place and Cook hopes they can charge up the ladder next year.

I asked Cook what his hobby was, and he answered swiftly.

Wayne Cook was doing some repairs to his suspension when he stopped to chat with Big Rigs.

“Fixing trucks,” he said with a grin.

As for rest areas, Cook feels there is enough suitable for truckies in WA. “But that is not so in

Queensland which could do with a few more,” he said.

Covid-19 hasn’t affected Cook in a major way especially in WA but he did have to get border passes to travel

into other states.

Rising fuel prices have hit the road transport industry especially smaller companies such as owner-drivers and small fleet operators, but

Cook said he had learnt to live with the rises and had his own loyal and valued clients.

“I do all of my own work and adjust the rate in a fair way,” he said.

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30 COLUMN

FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Supply chain sovereignty will make or break us VTA COMMENT PETER ANDERSON CEO, Victorian Transport Association

IT’S terrific to be back writing in these pages and I hope you enjoyed a well-earned rest with family and friends over the Christmas and New Year break.

Of course, for many freight workers rest wasn’t an option, with our industry working through the holidays to keep our supply chains operational, as we have done for the past two years of the Covid pandemic.

Australians have a keener appreciation of supply chains and their fragility than they did 12 months ago, after an unprecedented period where they have been put to the test by record demand, border restrictions, compliance and labour shortages.

Our nation, and the way

of life of our 25 million inhabitants, is at a critical juncture, with supply chain headwinds on several fronts threatening consumer confidence, economic security and the standard of living generations of Australians have become accustomed to.

At stake, unless governments do more to support the transport industry’s pivot to attaining supply chain sovereignty, is our ability to supply the basic needs of Australians all over the country.

Supply chains in Australia have been under immense pressure at the best of times over the past decade, but Covid has exposed the deep structural flaws that have put them on the brink of collapse.

Labour shortages and an ageing workforce of drivers has been an issue for years, but Covid and the way it has driven workers from the industry through restrictions, compliance and vaccination mandates is starting to resonate in the community.

For example, the heavy vehicle licencing system that

Australians have a keener appreciation of supply chains and their fragility than they did 12 months ago.

discourages young and capable people from considering a career as a professional transport worker is alienating

China halted exports of urea, the main ingredient in AdBlue.

a new generation of workers and undermining renewal of an essential workforce.

And now we have a lack of supply of a key engine additive our industry uses to keep the wheels of our economy turning, because China has halted exports of urea, one of the main ingredients in the AdBlue emissions reduction additive.

If we as a nation can’t maintain supply of a basic engine additive relied upon by hundreds of thousands of commuter and commercial vehicles, we’re in huge strife.

It is encouraging that the Commonwealth Government has recognised this issue by forming a taskforce to work across government and with industry to develop solutions to any potential future supply constraints.

Options being explored include alternative international supply options for refined urea, bolstering local manufacturing capabilities and technical options at the

vehicle level. We simply cannot have a situation where our economic security is threatened by an inability to source essential engine additives, underscoring the importance of sovereignty in our supply chains.

A recent VTA industry survey showed labour availability, costs and rates management, and fuel pricing are the most pressing issues for freight operators.

Only by attaining higher rates of supply chain sovereignty – defined by maintaining supply chains that are less vulnerable to international disruptions – will Australians be able to have economic security and confidence in living standards being upheld.

We desperately need regulatory and legislative settings to identify the greatest risks that inhibit us from standing on our own two feet when it comes to basic things like labour and fuel security, which means ensuring we have a growing – not shrinking –

workforce, sufficient reserves of fuel and energy, and the associated inputs necessary to keep road, rail and sea transport supply chains intact.

The one silver lining from Covid is that Australian consumers are starting to have an appreciation of how supply chains work because so many of their online orders during two years of disruption have been delayed.

In the past, people only cared about supply chains when they didn’t have uninterrupted access to the things they enjoy, and with shortages, delays and disruption now routine people are starting to ask ‘why?’.

On the verge of an election year, the politicians and public servants tasked with setting legislation and regulation that impacts supply chain sovereignty must factor this into their decision-making because the status quo of shortages and delays is not acceptable or sustainable for Australia.

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COLUMN 31

contributors@bigrigs.com.au

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022

Looking forward to 2022 as a year to continue fight EDITOR JAMES GRAHAM

TASSIE TRUCKIN’ JON WALLIS

james.graham@bigrigs.com.au

contributors@bigrigs.com.au

TWU NEWS

TWU NEWS RICHARDOLSEN OLSEN RICHARD TWU NSW State Secretary TWU NSW/QLD State Secretary

OUR New Year’s resolution for the TWU is making 2022 a year of enforcement. We are making sure that those in power who can be part of the process of change for the transport industry don’t forget the lessons of 2020 and 2021. We cannot let them forget what we all know, the vital nature of transport, transport workers are the people that drive businesses forward.

In 2022, we will maintain the frontline in fighting back against employer groups, and governments who are fighting over how far they should go on trying to strip away workers’ rights. The TWU will not allow them to drive conditions for working families into the ground.

In 2021 TWU delegates and members generated outstanding results by fighting to-

gether across the industry. The might of thousands of transport workers acting collectively brought home strong agreements that secure the future and set EAGLE the stage to fight across LEGAL more of the transport industry ROWAN KING in 2023.

Principal Lawyer RK Law We won against the odds, we ensured safety was a priority and we were a part of setting industry standards that create job security, build better pay rates and ensure that the pathway to retirement is now financially secure with many yards on or heading towards a 15 per cent superannuation guarantee.

Those changes continue with the announcement of a TWU win for a landmark determination that sees significant improvements in rates for the smaller vehicle end of our industry.

All couriers in Greater Sydney will receive significant improvements to their minimum rates of pay – including Australia-first minimum rates for gig-style Amazon Flex drivers.

The minimum pay rate for an owner-driver using their own van was set at $28 almost 15 years ago. We know the decision will be we welcome relief

State secretary Richard Olsen updates union members at Global Express on the in-principle Enterprise Agreement.

to those drivers.

Whether it’s for owner drivers or employees on the highways, in the cities or in the warehouses, we aim to continue our fight for fairer, safer jobs, right to the doorsteps of the clients at the top of the supply chains and to the doors of parliaments. Its what we do.

We call on governments, who in 2022 must focus on providing the change Transport

Workers need. They must respect and deal with the financial instability presented by cosy deals with companies like Transurban, that leave small business owner-drivers in debt for 40 years as they are forced to use toll roads.

In 2021 the Federal Senate backed us with major support for transport workers across the industry. The trucking inquiry led by Senator Glenn Sterle

passed through parliament a list of recommendations calling for an independent body to create universal, binding standards in road transport.

We continue to fight hard together calling on the federal government to act on this blueprint and regulate deadly pressure and exploitation out of our industry. We know the report is on the Prime Minister’s desk and we urge you all to join us

in seeking Mr Morrison makes the changes the industry needs.

This is why it is important that you involve yourself and those in your yard in the fight for all our futures. Help us to maintain the campaigns we have started and build the ones yet to start.

The TWU is looking forward to 2022 as a year to continue the fight to change things in our industry for the better.

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32 COLUMN

FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

And now it has come to this ATA CHAIR DAVID SMITH Australian Trucking Association

AT the end of 2020, we all sighed with relief and looked forward to a better 2021. We thought the Covid pandemic and its supply chain issues were behind us.

And now it has come to this.

I’m writing this column on December 15. There are local shortages of AdBlue across Australia, service stations have imposed rationing, and suppliers are limiting their bulk deliveries to their usual customers and usual quantities.

AdBlue prices have soared, as our suppliers scour world markets for scarce and expensive technical grade urea. I don’t know about you, but the cost of the AdBlue I buy has more than doubled.

There is hope for next year though.

Since early November, the ATA and your member associations have mounted an enormous effort to warn governments and the public about the impending shortage.

The government also needs to develop a contingency plan to deal with AdBlue shortages if they become critical.

We ended up with a disappointing roundtable on December 8. We were told, at the roundtable, that there was no need to panic about the supply of AdBlue. Noone was prepared to back this assurance up with any numbers about AdBlue supply.

We continued to press the issue and have at least got some results.

The government has appointed a taskforce of chemical manufacturing experts to work across government

and with industry to develop solutions to the shortage.

Australia’s trade negotiators overseas are now working overtime to help our AdBlue suppliers buy technical grade urea and get it to Australia. We can be confident they are doing everything they can.

But more needs to be done in Australia. We were told last week that Australia had 15 million litres of AdBlue on hand with another two weeks’ supply on the way: enough to last seven

weeks. The local shortages we are experiencing, though, show that this supply is not available everywhere.

It is essential that businesses don’t panic buy AdBlue. Panic buying deprives other firms of the supply they need, and you won’t get to use it anyway. It will go off.

What the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission needs to do is to issue an interim authorisation to enable AdBlue suppliers to exchange

information about stock availability and, if necessary, share inventory and coordinate the distribution of supplies.

The ACCC issued 28 similar authorisations at the start of the Covid pandemic. It’s an established process that works.

The government also needs to develop a contingency plan to deal with AdBlue shortages if they become critical.

This must include working with truck manufactur-

ers on the technical feasibility of de-activating the AdBlue systems in trucks that operate in regional areas, so we could, if needed, save the AdBlue we have for trucks and buses in metropolitan areas, where NOx pollution is an important health issue.

It is, of course, illegal for individual operators to turn off their emission control systems – and trying to do it yourself would be likely to cause disastrous component damage anyway.

It would not be illegal for governments and regulators to do it by exemption or regulatory change. The only issue is the technical feasibility of de-activating the systems, which is likely to vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

The contingency plan should also include emergency permits for high productivity freight vehicles to be used on more routes.

High productivity vehicles like A-doubles and B-triples can deliver the same amount of freight in a smaller number of trips, so their fuel and AdBlue consumption is lower.

We’ll get through the AdBlue shortage and continue delivering for Australia. But let’s hope that 2022 is better than 2021, or 2020.

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NEWS 33

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022

Special first birthday bash for TRP Somerton store

TRP Somerton in Melbourne has pulled out all the stops to celebrate its one-year anniversary.

While they have been dealing in a range of truck and trailer parts to their local and loyal customer base for the past 12 months, it was decided

to hold the official ribbon-cutting opening ceremony at the same time as the 12-month anniversary due to Covid related lockdowns.

Operated by the PACCAR owned Kenworth DAF Melbourne dealership, which also operates the TRP Ballarat

[l-r] John Everett, Adrian Smythe (dealer principal), Michael Long (sales and marketing manager at PACCAR Parts).

and TRP Geelong stores, the Somerton branch is located just 19km from Melbourne’s CBD. The long-awaited celebrations didn’t dampen spirits however, and local customers and guests were able to take advantage of meeting various part suppliers and TRP store staff.

Other highlights of the day included, special prices, door prizes including a Meritor supplied BBQ and a Fleetguard bar fridge.

The main draw saw lucky customers winning a $250; $500 and the top prize of a $1000 voucher to spend instore.

Kenworth DAF Melbourne parts manager John Everett was both happy and relieved that the opening ceremony at the popular Melbourne store was finally able to go ahead.

“Somerton is the third specialist TRP all-makes parts store opened by Kenworth DAF Melbourne, to provide an even better service to customers within its extensive trading territory,” said Everett.

“Somerton is part of a fast-growing chain of TRP

Kenworth DAF Melbourne parts manager John Everett performing the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon.

stores and is one of nine across the country.

“The store, which is manned by experienced staff all of whom are well known to customers in the area, has been an immediate hit.

“Opening with a team of four, a fifth staff member was added within a few months and more resource will be added as the business continues its strong growth.”

Excellent off-the-shelf availability on a wide range of parts for all makes of trucks; especially American and European drivelines, has been a cornerstone of the PACCAR business; backed by direct supply from PACCAR’s Bayswater distribution centre.

The store stocks a high proportion of consumables for all major truck brands.

They range from filtration,

lube and electrical products, to brakes, suspensions, steering, wheel ends and other parts and accessories.

In addition, TRP stores have a direct link into the PACCAR Parts distribution centres at Bayswater and Brisbane.

That association allows quick access to the entire breadth of their 300,000-plus product portfolio.

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34 SPY ON THE ROAD

FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Beware of the mozzie swarm SPY ON THE ROAD WITH ALF WILSON

Repellant a must Rain around many parts of Australia has resulted in warnings about an increase in mosquito numbers and the diseases they can pass on especially in summer.

Truckies who travel around should beware of the risks of the Aussie mozzie in coming months and always have repellent in their truck cabin.

A very damp start to summer could mean more mosquitoes buzzing around over the coming weeks, according to CQ University adjunct professor and entomologist Andrew Taylor-Robinson.

Professor Taylor-Robinson is an expert in mosquito-transmitted diseases and has warned Aussies to be prepared for a summer swarm of mozzies.

“According to meteorolog-

ical predictions, as a consequence of the La Niña climate driver the southern hemisphere summer is set to be wetter than usual. There’s a strong chance of above average rainfall across much of northern and eastern Australia,” Taylor-Robinson explained.

“A combo of heavy rain, sodden ground and brimming rivers is manna from heaven for mosquitoes.”

Taylor-Robinson said all mosquitoes need still or stagnant water to complete their life cycle.

Beyond being an irritating pest, mozzies can carry disease-causing pathogens. Professor Taylor-Robinson said dengue was the most significant mosquito-borne viral disease globally.

“In Australia, thankfully very few locally acquired cases are reported (usually in Far North Queensland), transmitted by Aedes aegypti. However, it is worth considering that many of the other mozzie species throughout Queensland pose more of a threat than just an itchy bite. This includes Aedes notoscriptus, the Aus-

Rain on the Bruce Highway ensures lots of mosquitoes breed.

tralian backyard mosquito”, he said.

“Viral diseases that are unique to this country and which are spread by mosquito bite can cause illness ranging from mild to very serious. Infection typically manifests as flu-like symptoms such as aching muscles, joint pain, skin rashes, headaches and fever.”

Taylor-Robinson said the only way to detect whether illness was caused by a virus transmitted by a blood-feeding mozzie was through specific blood tests.

“These are available for native viruses that occur increasingly widely in Queensland – Ross River, Barmah Forest and Murray Valley encephalitis.

Each of these can be quite debilitating but for which there is no specialised treatment,” he added.

Adapting the old adage, Professor Taylor-Robinson said prevention was ‘far better than no cure’.

“Hence, local authorities in many parts of Queensland, as well as other states and territories, routinely undertake surveillance to identify and monitor numbers of mozzies and to detect mosquito-borne pathogens. This provides an early warning of the risk of notifiable mosquito-borne infectious diseases,” he said.

Cheap communication Most of us have mobile phones in this day and age which enable communication from around Oz. However, there is still some places where mobile phone coverage isn’t available.

That also may be the case during network breakdowns.

Some truckies have told Spy that calls from public phone booths in Australia are now free.

Class me as ignorant, because Spy was not privy to that information.

So, the moral of the story is listen to a truckie more often.

With this info imbedded

into my fast reducing brain cells, Spy can recall seeing quite a few drivers making calls from public booths.

With trucks parked nearby when there is space.

Toad pics Our truckie mates around the country send some great pictures to Spy and on the odd occasion one arrives in my inbox which is unexpected.

That occurred last week when a veteran NSW truckie forwarded on a snap of two large cane toads.

One was sitting on the top of the other and the lensman pondered over whether they may have been in the process of making some baby toads.

He took the pic at Coolangatta on the beautiful Gold Coast in Queensland.

Now cane toads were first brought into Queensland from Hawaii in 1935 in a bid to eat beetles which were devastating sugar cane crops.

From 102 cane toads back then there is now up to an estimated 200 million of the creatures known as Bufo Marinus.

They are rampant in Queensland but have been found in the NT, WA and NSW. They have bred so much that they are now a pest which authorities are continually attempting to eradicate.

Spy even hears from time to time that truckies unloading their freight have found an odd toad amongst after having hitched a ride.

And the toads don’t even need a border pass.

Frequent flyer furore Old Spy heard of a well-known road transport identity who over the break was tasked with booking a flight for the son of a friend.

Being a person who likes to please that was agreed upon and he was to use the friend’s frequent flier points, to book a return flight between a capital

A picture of two romantic cane toads sent in by a truckie.

city and a country town.

Flight day arrived and the son was surprisingly directed to the front of the plane by attendants.

He then enjoyed all of the rewards of being in the firstclass section which included free drinks.

That night when they all were at a family party the son boasted of his “royal treatment” and was looking forward to a similar experience on the return flight.

However, the mother discovered that the first-class flight had devoured all of her frequent flyer points and there was zero left to fund the home leg.

If the flights had been booked as economy travel - as was her desire - it would have easily covered the return as well.

So the son had to fork out a decent amount of Oxford Scholars to get home at such short notice.

An advance on his invoice Many owner operators are concerned during any year about late payment of invoices after they’ve completed deliveries often to far away destinations.

However, one afternoon recently Spy was sitting near a baker’s dozen of drivers who were enjoying a cold beer after work at a popular watering hole.

Considering themselves lucky, five decided to have a modest flutter betting on the horses, pacers and greyhounds.

One backed a long-priced winner on the dish lickers, however most lost their hard earned including one who ended up in the “desperado stakes”.

He phoned one of his clients in earshot of old Spy who almost choked on his beer when he heard the topic of conversation.

“Any chance you can give me an advance on my next invoice paid now into my bank account,” he asked.

Now Spy had to leave the establishment soon after and can’t report whether the answer was in the positive or negative.

Omen bet in coming months There was a galloper named Toots is Tops which attracted a lot of flutters from road transport industry people when it started at Ballina over the break.

SPY ON THE ROAD 35

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022

Legendary Cape York truckie Toots Holzheimer.

lished about her, a song written in her honour and her old Man truck has been restored and sits in the Winton Museum.

Anyway, the boys done their money on this occasion as the horse was unplaced.

However, it ran a creditable fourth after flashing home from last in the straight.

Well and truly worth a punt on whenever it starts in 2022.

Subsequently on December 7, Toots is Tops won race three

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Remote army vehicle repairs in Far North Queensland.

ral David Young is the mechanic posted to Thursday Island as part of C Coy 51FNQR. “With the onset of Covid-19 and the ongoing border protection operations, equipment is being used harder and longer than ever before,” Corporal Young said.

“Longer work-days and fewer weekends at home are countered by waking up each day in such a beautiful part of the world, with a very friendly and supportive local population.”

Being the only RAEME soldier on the island, Corporal Young must ensure the equipment remains operational.

“Being in an isolated environment nearly 1000km from our parent unit and with only six full-time personnel requires forward thinking and adaptability,” he said.

“Problems that require quick fixes often need innovative solutions, as parts can take months to arrive.”

With a small team, remote locations and high operational and training tempo, life in the 51FNQR workshop is busy, but rewarding.

Working in remote com-

munities, on mission-essential equipment, the team can see how their maintenance affects the unit’s mission and communities they work in.

Their unit motto, ‘The love of country leads me’, is one the craftsmen of 51FNQR take to heart.

No lift in this experience A long-time driver was headed towards his bank to make a sizeable withdrawal to fund gifts and supplies when he had a few days off over the break.

He is an old school citizen and still deals in cash for payments instead of using a card like the majority do these days.

That involved leaving his car in the underground park at the shopping-centre and walking a short distance to a lift to take him to the bank on the ground floor.

But no sooner did the short trip in the lift start and it broke down.

“It was as hot as hell and there was three other people in the lift and they were very boring,” he said.

He did manage to speak to several mates on his mobile

phone who saw the funny side of it.

“That news really gave me a lift,” one said.

After 20 minutes the lift was repaired, and he arrived at the bank where the line-up was long ensuring a delay.

Hot air resolution In the lead up to January 1, Spy asked numerous truckies for their New Year’s Resolutions which many would have broken by now a few weeks into 2022.

There were the normal ones such as losing weight, give up smoking, less alcohol and save money.

Over the past decades Spy has spoken to hundreds of truckies about such resolutions.

However, one in late 2021 from a driver in his thirties really tickled my fancy.

“I want to have a ride in a hot air balloon rising above some highways to check out the habits of caravanners,” he said.

Hopefully that comes to fruition, and he will relay his findings to Spy to pass on to readers.

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This racehorse started in race four and was listed at the juicy odds of 15-1 on a fixed price TAB market.

Toots Holzheimer was a legendary female truckie who was famous for delivering goods to remote area of Cape York in the far north.

She died in an accident at Evan’s Landing in Weipa during 1992 aged 58 and is still talked about by many drivers.

Toots had had a book pub-

at Murwillumbah and paid $4 on one TAB. Spy had a modest flutter on the horse which was headed in the straight but fought back to win.

Remote work is rewarding It’s a long drive from Cairns to the Cape York Peninsula, but for the craftsmen of the 51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment (51FNQR), it’s a road well-travelled as they repair and maintain vehicles including trucks.

The unit’s workshop, made up of 10 full-time Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RAEME) soldiers, recently embarked on the second of its bi-annual repair tasks to its remote rifle companies.

While their workshop is based at Porton Barracks in Cairns, the team maintain equipment held at company depots in the Atherton Tablelands, Weipa, Mt Isa and the Torres Strait.

They also have equipment at depots in small communities such as Doomadgee, Pormpuraaw and Bamaga.

Being a member of the workshop is a unique experience, according to Craftsman Brenton O’Sullivan, a vehicle mechanic who is new to the unit.

“Conducting a short-notice, forward-repair task into a remote community like Aurukun or Pormpuraaw to fix a G-Wagon that has broken down on exercise can be very interesting, especially when you are unsure of the exact fault,” Craftsman O’Sullivan said.

Artificer Sergeant Major 51FNQR Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2) James Gorman said the lack of facilities in remote locations made some repairs difficult.

“Not having a qualified tradesperson in the remote locations means we do not always receive accurate diagnostic information on equipment issues prior to travelling to the location,” WO2 Gorman said.

“The ability to access areas where the equipment is located requires extra planning and considerations.

“For example, B Coy Weipa is not accessible during the wet season, so all equipment and repair parts need to be freighted into the area and personnel flown in, which limits our work to known issues.”

In the Torres Strait, Corpo-

40 PUZZLES PUZZLES 36

4

5

6

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE 7

8

9

10

2

3

4

5

6 11

12

13

8 14 15

16

10

17

11

18

20

12

19

21

14 SUDOKU

15

16

Fill the grid so every column, every row and 3x3 17 18 199. box contains the digits 1 to 20

QUICK 1

2

ACROSS 1 If you are a collector of Clarice Cliff, what do you collect?

(7) 4 What Latin American dance is performed by several people in single file? (5) 7 What are lengthwise threads on a loom? (4) 8 What is the capital of Liberia? (8) 10 In 1982, who made the first televised 147 break in snooker?

(5,5) Across Which inventor (Thomas ____) took out more than a 4 12 To quit, is to do what (6) thousand patents in his lifetime? (6) 7 13 Name term forofan apostate from(6)a Whatanother is the last word “Rule Britannia”?

15 The Misfits 1961 was the last film starring Marilyn religious faithin(8) Monroe and which other actor? (5,5) 8 18 What is atobluish-purple colour (6) a tamandua is Native Central and South America, type of animal?

9 what To throttle, is to do(8) what (8) What cloth is spread over a coffin? (4) 11 19 When from a bus, one time”? (5) 20 Whatone is andisembarks informal word for “a very long does what (7) is also known as lockjaw? (7) 21 What disease

13 To have modified, is to have done what (7) 15 To be running off to marry, is to be doing what (7) romantic relationship (4) 17 Which term means to give up or surrender (7) 20 To be starlike, is to be what (8) 23 Name a state of deadened sensibility (6) 24 To have dawdled, is to have done what (8) DOUBLECROSS CROSSWORD 25 What is a blood vessel that conveys blood from 3 4 5 6 7 Find a finished crossword by deleting one of the heart to any part of the body (6)

the two letters in each divided square.

8

21

9

22

Down 1 2 3 4 5 616

23 11

24 25

14

15

10

Name a cardinal point (4) To be cautious and to watch out, is to do what (6) To suspend, is to do what (4) 12 What is an occasion of merrymaking (5) 13 Name the lowest form of animal (6) 17 To welcome, is to do what (5)

18 20

1

21

23

2

4

15

13

16

17

5x5

23 25

DOUBLECROSS

29

28 31

30

8

amir amrita aria arum atria atrium attar aura auric carat cart Across: 1 Encore, Lit, 9 Leave, 10 Home, 11 Atlas, 12 Ape, 13 Tandem, 15 cram curt marc maria mart raita rata rimu tarmac tart6tiara tract trait tram trauma TRAUMATICDash, trim 18 Plea, 21 Ampere, 24 Nil, 25 Irate, 28 Trot, 29 Risen, 30 Set, 31 Repent.

E N L E A T N D A D M I R E

QUICK CROSSWORD Across: 1. Iffy 3. Forgiven 9. Partner 10. Inner 11. In the long run 14. Owl 16.

Cacti 17. Eon 18. Hierarchical 21. Brute 22. Maudlin 23. Election 24. Ants.

Down: 1. Imprison 2. First 4. Oar 5. Going without 6. Venture 7. Nark 8.

Undercurrent 12. Occur 13. Inclines 15. Leisure 19. Colon 20. Able 22. Moo.

TODAY: Good 13 Very Good 18 Excellent 24

A N T S

GK CROSSWORD Across; 1 Pottery, 4 Conga, 7 Warp, 8 Monrovia, 10 Steve Davis, 12 Edison, 13 Slaves, 15 Clark Gable, 18 Anteater, 19 Pall, 20 Yonks, 21 Tetanus.

Down: 1 Pawns, 2 Turmeric, 3 Yeoman, 4 Cardiology, 5 Nova, 6 Amadeus, 9 New Orleans, 11 Eva Braun, 12 Estuary, 14 Argent, 16 Ellis, 17 Eton.

C O R A V E L A S M T S H U P E R L O T T R

E L I T H O M E A P E A N D E M A D P L E A E G E I R A T E R I S E N E P E N T

HARD

22

7

Down: 1 Eland, 2 Net, 3 Calms, 4 Ova, 5 Rest, 6 Load, 7 Impede, 8 Teem, 14 Nap, 16 Admire, 17 Hue, 19 Lease, 20 Agent, 21 Ants, 22 Plot, 23 Eire, 26 Rip, 27 Ten.

ALPHAGRAMS: LEASE, MYRIAD, NEARING, ORGANIST, PATRONESS.

U T

M I

R E E D S

R

E G R E T

C A

A T

24

SUDOKU G E A R S

How many words of four letters or more can you make? Each letter must be used only once and all words must contain the centre letter. There is at least one nine-letter word.

No words starting with a capital are allowed, no plurals ending in s unless the word is also a verb.

21

Across Call for repeat 1 6 Ignited 9 Permission 10 10 Habitual dwelling 11 Book of maps 12 Copy 12 13 Cycle for two 15 Morse element ALPHAGRAMS 18 Excuse 14 Solve the anagrams. Each solution a one-word 21 isElectrical unit anagram of the letters beside it, 24 and the five solutions No score are sequential. For example, if the five-letter solution 25starts Angry starts with J, the six-letter solution with K, and so 28 Easy pace on.

29 Ascended EASEL 30 Become firm DIM RAY 31 Regret 18 19 20 GRANNIE Down ROASTING 1 Large antelope TRANSPOSE 2 Fish trap Insert 3 the missing Pacifiesletters to 5x5 make4ten words Eggs — five reading 26 27 across the grid and five reading A G R down.5 Repose 6 more Burden Note: than one solution I G Obstruct may 7 be possible.

8 Rain heavily S A E 14 Short sleep R E 16 Have high opinion of 17 Colour All puzzles © T S S The Puzzle Company 19 Letting contract 20 Representative 21 Insects 22 Scheme 23 Ireland (Gaelic) 26 Tear 27 Perfect score

6

Down 1. Jail (8) 2. Initially (5) 4. Paddle (3) 5. Abstinence (5,7) 6. Dare (7) 7. Informant (colloq) (4) 8. Feeling, atmosphere (12) 12. Happen (5) 13. Leans (8) 15. Free time (7) 19. Punctuation mark (5) 20. Competent (4) 22. Low (3)

11

WORD GO ROUND

5 24

Across 1. Uncertain (colloq) (4) 3. Absolved (8) 9. Associate (7) 10. From inside (5) 11. Over time (2,3,4,3) 14. Night bird (3) 16. Succulent plants (5) 17. Immeasurable period of time (3) 18. Arranged by rank (12) 21. Violent person (5) 22. Tearfully sentimental (7) 23. Poll (8) 24. Colony insects (4)

HARD

3

9

SOLUTIONS

EASY

22

N I T R E

Fill the grid so every column, every row and 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

19

A S S E T

SUDOKU

EASY

6/6 DOWN 1 Which chess pieces are most numerous? (5) 2 What bright yellow powder is used for flavouring in Asian cookery? (7) 3 In early England, what was a small landholder between gentry and labourers? (6) 4 What branch of medicine is concerned with diseases and abnormalities of the heart? (10) 59 A starWhich that suddenly brightens then gradually fades is(6) term implies that one is frightened called what? (4) 10

What is the other main component of a board 6 Which film, 1984’s Best Picture Oscar winner, was game containing snakes (7) filmed in Prague?

(7) 9 12 Where Louis Armstrong born?

Towas have drooped, is to have(3,7) done what (6) 11 Which woman was married on 29 April 1945, and died 14following Nameday? a facial the (3,5)irregularity (6) 1216 What is thedo widening of a river where saltwater What we callchannel one employed to carry baggage (6) mixes with freshwater? (7) 18 To go in, is to do what (5) 14 In heraldry, what is the colour silver? (6) Which term implies that US someone is before 1619 Millions of records from which immigration entry time (5) island accessible theainternet?

21 are What do weon call portable(5) shelter of canvas (4) 17 Which English college was founded by Henry VI in 22 (4) What might we call two people involved in a 1440?

MOORE

QUICK CROSSWORD

3

SOLUTION

2

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE Across: 4 Resign, 7 Renegade, 8 Violet, 9 Strangle, 11 Alights, 13 Altered, 15 Eloping, 17 Deliver, 20 Asteroid, 23 Stupor, 24 Lingered, 25 Artery.

1

Down: 1 West, 2 Beware, 3 Hang, 4 Revel, 5 Sponge, 6 Greet, 9 Scared, 10 Ladders, 12 Sagged, 14 Pimple, 16 Porter, 18 Enter, 19 Early, 21 Tent, 22 Item.

G E N E R A1 L 7 K N O 9W L E 13D G E

FRIDAY JUNE 12 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

More Trailer For Your Money

TRAILERS

PITTSWORTH PHONE (07) 4693 1088 Fax (07) 4693 1545 email: sales@mooretrailers.com.au www.mooretrailers.com.au IBRE01Z01MA - V1

PUZZLES 37

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022

THE YEAR THAT WAS

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M

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Letters A to Z have a number value Some are shown in the right hand cells Create remaining values using clues in centre cells

Today’s target: Average 30 words

E R T D A S E Y Y

WORDFIND Complete the Wordfind and the leftover letters will form a hidden phase.

G M U M M Y F H A N N O I

R C O A Y L O V E E N D D

ALFAKODO

ALFAKODO ANSWER: aster, dare, dart, date, dater, dear, dearest, dray, eared, ease, eased, easer, east, easy, eater, erase, erased, rate, rated, rayed, read, ready, resat, reseat, sate, sated, satyr, sear, seared, seat, seated, seater, sedate, sera, star, stare, stared, stay, stayed, stayer, stead, steady, stray, strayed, tardy, tare, tared, tear, teary, tease, teased, teaser, trad, trade, tray, tread, tsar, yard, yate, year, yeast, yeasty, YESTERDAY.

GET THE EATON LUBE INTO YOUR AXLES! Eaton 80W-140 synthetic gear lubricant is an API GL-5 extreme pressure lubricant designed to promote longer gear life and better operating economy, thus improving fuel economy in heavy, mid and light-duty applications.

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A O S T O U L U S D E A L

N N I R H H E T T N P D O

D N S I O E E M T H H D Y

C E T M N S R I A E E Y A

H C E O O F C I R M W M L

I T R N C A A I N I A A T

L I L Y L L T N F L L T Y

D O Y T P A A E T B A E A

R N W A G R S N P O P W U

E I P E F A M I L Y K I N

N A N A D I V O R C E O T

Aunt Clan Connection Daddy Divorce Family Grandchildren Heir Heritage Home Identical twin Infant Kin Love Loyalty

Mama Mate Matrimony Mother-in-law Mummy Nana Nephew Nest Papa Pop Sisterly Son Wed Wife Youth

ANSWER: Your flesh and blood.

5

Q

Q

© Ken Egan - AK1251

3

Find words of four letters or more. Every word must include the centre letter and each letter is used once only. Find at least one nine-letter word.

Noˆcolloquial or foreign words, capitalised nouns, apostrophes, hyphens.

No verbs or plural words ending in ‘s’. Solution list is not exhaustive.

Ref: Macquarie Dictionary.

N A N A D I V O R C E O T

2

P

10 21 22 13

TARGET TIME

E I P E F A M I L Y K I N

8

© Ken Egan - AK1251

P

5

© Auspac Media - ml1461

R N W A G R S N P O P W U

378

D O Y T P A A E T B A E A

357

L I L Y L L T N F L L T Y

7

I T R N C A A I N I A A T

294

23

H C E O O F C I R M W M L

74

17

C E T M N S R I A E E Y A

17

4

D N S I O E E M T H H D Y

© Ken Egan - AK1251

2

22

N N I R H H E T T N P D O

3

222

x + ÷ ÷ x x + x ÷ +

A O S T O U L U S D E A L

= = = = = = = = = = = =

ACTION

R C O A Y L O V E E N D D

10 2

O

O

N

2

7

RESULT

N

24

B+M B-O O-C H÷V O+P A+K G+O M+C H-K A+A Z-H C-Q S-P

23

N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

16

8

V×V S-Q V×P F-M M+W C×X R+X Q×V Q×X B+R S-A A+P S÷V

23

A B C D E F G H I J K L M

Calculate the results and actions Fill the missing links from the top

Jan 1 Words in our national anthem changed from ‘For we are young and free’ to ‘For we are …’ ?

2 Jan 8 Donald Trump was permanently banned by which social media platform?

3 Jan 20 Who was inaugurated as President Joe Biden’s Vice President?

4 Jan 25 Who was announced Australian of the Year 2021?

5 Apr 3 Which Australian fashion icon sadly passed?

6 Apr 26 Which movie won Best Picture and for its star, Frances McDormand, Best Actress at this year’s Academy Awards?

7 Feb 17 Who, in an extraordinary comeback, bundled out Spaniard Rafael Nadal in the quarter final of the Australian Open?

8 Mar 4 Montaigne represented Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest with what song?

9 Apr 28 This day marked the 25th anniversary of what tragic and devastating event?

10 Jun 4– Peter Wegner’s ‘Portrait of Guy Warren at 100’ won which prestigious art prize?

11 Jul 10 Ash Barty became the first Australian Wimbledon Ladies’ Singles champion since whom in 1980?

12 Aug 7 What portion of Australia’s population was currently in lockdown?

13 Jul 23-Aug 8 What was Australia’s gold medal tally at the Tokyo Olympics?

14 Aug 24-Sep 5 Where did Australia finish on the total medal count at the Tokyo Paralympics?

15 Sep 7 Which country was the first in the world to accept Bitcoin as an official currency?

16 Sep 25 Which team won the 2021 AFL grand final and where was the game played?

17 Oct 3 Who did the Penrith Panthers defeat to win the NRL Grand Final and where was the game played?

18 Sep 15 Which song was voted No. 1 in the Rolling Stone magazine’s updated 500 Greatest Songs of All Time?

19 Sep 22 Parts of NSW, SA and Tasmania felt a 5.9 magnitude earthquake that emanated from which region?

20 Sep The Cumbra Vieja volcano on La Palma, in the Canary Islands, erupted. After which animal are the islands named?

21 Sep 28 Facebook rebranded its name to what?

22 Sep-Oct The tropical Pacific transitioned to what weather pattern and what does the name translate to?

23 Oct 28 Which Australian region was 8th on the Lonely Planet’s list of Top 10 Best in Travel for 2022?

24 Nov 11 In what country was the OMICRON covid variant first detected?

25 Nov 29 Vale! David Gulpilil Ridjimiraril Dalaithngu AM passed, an iconic actor and dancer known professionally under what name?

1

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G M U M M Y F H A N N O I

Missing Links

Letters A to Z have a number value Some are shown in the right hand cells Create remaining values using clues in centre cells

ANSWER: 1 One and free. 2 Twitter. 3 Kamala Harris. 4 Grace Tame. 5 Carla Zampatti. 6 Nomadland. 7. Stefanos Tsitsipas. 8 Technicolour. 9 The Port Arthur massacre. 10 The Archibald. 11 Evonne Goolagong Cawley. 12 Half.

13 17. 14 6th position. 15 El Salvador. 16 The Melbourne Demons at Perth’s Optus stadium. 17 The South Sydney Rabbitohs at Brisbane’s Lang Park. 18 Aretha Franklin’s Respect. 19 The Mansfield area, in north-eastern Victoria.

20 The Latin name for the Canary Islands. Insula Canaria, means ‘Island of the Dogs’ – think ‘canine’. 21 Meta. 22 La Niña (Spanish: The Girl) 23 Scenic Rim, Qld. 24 Botswana. 25 David Gulpilil.

ALFAKODO ALFAKODO

PEACE OF MIND

Backed by Roadranger support

38 CAREERS AND TRAINING

FRIDAY JANUARY 07 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Young truckie with licences to fill

BY TRENT PRICE

AT just 20 years of age, Matt Healey, of Brisbane, is licensed to drive a prime mover, 8-plus tonne truck and trailer, a bus and a regular car.

If all this sounds impressive, it’s because he’s had pret-

Jason Healey, left, and son Matt.

ty big shoes to fill. With his father Jason Healey obtaining his truck licence at 19 years of age, Matt was unfortunately only one month shy of breaking his dad’s record.

“Dad has been in the transport game his whole life and I’ve been around trucks and

buses. All I’ve ever wanted to do is drive,” said Matt.

Jason’s own achievements also caught the media’s attention back in the 1990s.

“I got my bus licence at 18 back in the day when it was called a D-class licence,” said Jason.

“Then I got my truck licence. The assessor suggested I do my semi-trailer licence, that way I could get my C and E class licence at the same time. I still have a video tape of Channel 10 when they did a story on me as Queensland’s youngest ever bus driver.”

When Matt was on school holidays, he would help his father handing our driver shift notes and ride shotgun with Jason during weekend shifts, and generally doing whatever extra work was available.

In 2014 Matt started washing trucks and buses, eventually obtaining an ABN to go into business for himself.

“That didn’t work out, so I went back to working with some people that I know before getting back into trucks,” said Matt.

Obtaining his car learner’s permit on the day of his 16th

At 20 years of age, Matt was just one month shy of breaking his dad’s record.

birthday in 2017, it didn’t take long for Matt to progress to his MR licence and eventually purchase a 2014 Mack Trident with his business partner Daryl.

“Matt was driving the truck under learner’s with his partner Daryl in the passenger seat,” said Jason.

When Matt was ready to progress to his HC licence, he did so on his first attempt and has only recently qualified for a DA (Drivers Authority)

licence, which allows him to carry commercial passengers in Queensland.

Matt is planning to alternate between truck and bus driving, with a leaning towards the former, while he and Daryl currently work hauling glass, steel and some mining equipment, which is where Matt currently divides the bulk of his driving duties.

“I don’t really want to drive buses full-time at the moment, probably just on

weekends,” said Matt.

“If I had to choose, I’d probably choose trucks.”

“The best thing is the travelling. I’ve been to Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Hervey Bay, Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay and Toowoomba and all that’s within a year,” he said.

With a commendation from the department of Transport and Main Roads Queensland now on his CV, the sky is definitely the limit for Matt.

WE’RE HIRING Relief MC Interstate Drivers to join our team.

The GTS Group is a privately-owned business & market leader specialising in freight movement & warehousing. Based in Mildura & employing nationally, we run a fleet of modern Prime Movers & B-double Taut-liner trailers servicing a range of blue-chip customers.

Due to ongoing expansion in freight movements we have the following positions available for experienced & diligent applicants with an immediate start.

A current unrestricted MC Licence is essential.

An Apply Fatigue Management Strategies accreditation would be an advantage, although not essential.

Fatigue compliant.

Successful applicants are required to complete a Company Induction which also includes a Driver’s medical with drug & alcohol screen.

Weekly pay cycle under Modern Drivers Award.

5 weeks leave.

Modern equipment & facilities.

Large client base nationally.

Full-time position may be available.

CONTACT US   

Call Col Weeding on 03 5051 0152 Web applications: gtsfreight.com.au and click on the employment tab. dmt@gtsfreight.com.au

Easter Group Pty Ltd 73 Formation St, Wacol Easter Group, located in Wacol, provides time sensitive road transporting solutions to many companies throughout Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. .

We are a family owned business, operating since 1976.

We currently have the following positions available:

OPERATIONS ALLOCATORS (Brisbane based only)

Career Opportunities Available Wymap Group is a privately owned aviation logistics transport company that has been providing services to the airfreight, airport and airline industries since 1981. We pride ourselves on great customer service and partnerships with leaders in the Freight Forwarding and Integrator industries.

Permanent & Casual HR or HC Drivers

You will be required to work on a rotating roster including Days-Nights-Weekends Previous Operations experience preferred.

MC LOCAL & LINEHAUL DRIVERS WANTED

(Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide Based) Come and work for us as we are committed to: • Training and further education • Your safety • Maintaining an impressive Fleet

Competitive Hourly Rates Based at our yards located close to major airports, you can work morning or afternoon shifts on rosters spread over a 7 day period.

The roles predominantly require collection/delivery of airfreight around the airports and some metro deliveries. Successful applicants would have: • Current HR or HC drivers licence • Minimum 12 months heavy vehicle driving experience • Great customer service skills • Ability to obtain an Aviation Security Identification Card • Ability to pass a pre-employment medical including drug and alcohol screening

On offer are permanent full time and roster positions including paid leave entitlements and public holidays. Drivers will need to be available to be scheduled for work falling across the 7 days of the week.

The successful Applicant will: • Hold a current MC licence (minimum two years) • Have knowledge of the HVNL and Load Restraint • Be professional • Be reliable

To apply for the Operations/Driver positions please contact Operations Manager or by emailing your resume to

If this sounds like you then please give us a call. We have multiple positions available for immediate start and can accommodate both casual or permanent requirements.

To apply forward your resume to HR@wymap.com.au or contact for further information.

0481 833 131

WORKSHOP MECHANICS & TYRE FITTERS WANTED (Brisbane based only)

To apply for Mechanic positions please forward your resume to Workshop Manager via email to employment@kseaster.com.au

INTERSTATE GENERAL FREIGHT & BULK DRIVERS MELBOURNE & WAGGA WAGGA Rodney’s Transport Service is seeking experienced MC/B Double General Freight & Bulk Drivers to work out of Victoria and NSW • Permanent & Casual Roles • Great working conditions Working within fatigue management guidelines you will perform interstate line haul duties whilst adhering to all OH&S, legislative, site and contractual obligations. RTS requires professional drivers with – • Strong customer service experience • A safe driving record • Mature attitude • Minimum 2 years’ experience MC endorsed Reporting to the Manager Group Operations this is an exciting opportunity for highly motivated and experienced MC/B Double drivers who will be required to display a commitment to RTS safety and compliance standards and values whilst maintaining your equipment in good order.

Join the next generation logistics company Calling out to Linehaul drivers – we have immediate start positions available Join a global leader offering: 

Multiple positions available in VIC, NSW, QLD and SA



Secure, stable full-time employment



Competitive pay rates



Supportive team culture, with a key focus on safety



Well maintained modern fleet

Register your interest today online at careers.visy.com.au

You will be required to provide a copy of a current Licence and meet RTS employment criteria which will include a medical with drug and alcohol test.

Experienced drivers who can demonstrate: • Proficiency in all aspects of B Double truck operations • The ability to work within a team • A clear understanding of road transport legislation.

• A clean history of driving ability

If interested in applying for a position please complete the application form on our website www.rodneystransport.com.au or for further information please contact Anna on 03 9311 2300.

At Visy, our people make us stand out from the crowd.

We’re always seeking solutions, opportunities and possibilities.

If you can help us, you’ll fit right in.

There’s never been a better time to join Visy.

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