Big Rigs 16 February 2024

FRIDAY, February 16, 2024

ONLINE www.bigrigs.com.au

EMAIL info@bigrigs.com.au

Truckies’ long fight for fair go

Image: Brown and Hurley

Pages 3-4

Legacy PROUD

Secrets of a superload

PASSING THE REINS FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION: PAGE 12

Page 14

2 NEWS CONTACT US Address: 379 Docklands Drive, Docklands VIC 3008 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 Kayla Walsh kayla.walsh@primecreative.com.au

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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 David Vile and Darryl Edwards.

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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Lobby group critical of level crossing strategy

ACCORDING to a lobby group made up of 12 families who have lost loved ones in train-related incidents, the newly released National Level Crossing Safety Strategy 20232032 (NLCSS) is fundamentally flawed.

Released on February 2, in launching the strategy, the Australian Government said it was part of an ongoing commitment to reducing fatalities and injuries at the more than 20,000 level crossings intersecting with roads and pathways across the country.

“Every year, Australians are being killed or injured on our level crossing network, resulting in untold mental, physical and emotional trauma for all involved, as well as millions of dollars in damages,” said Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King.

“The community and stakeholders have long advocated for improved investment, better safety measures, education, enforcement, and harnessing technology – and this strategy sets out a clear path to achieving those aims.”

The aim of the strategy includes improving public education and enforcement; leveraging emerging technology and innovation; identifying early, low-cost and effective safety improvements; developing improved data and knowledge; and increasing coordination and knowledge sharing by those responsible for safety.

The strategy was developed by the National Level Crossing Safety Committee, comprised of representatives from federal, state and local governments, rail industry associations and regulators; including the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).

But Lara Jensen, spokeswoman for the Improve Train Lighting and Level Crossing Safety Group, said, “The strategy states that ‘heavy vehicles are over-represented in level crossing incidents, especially at passive level crossings but besides the NHVR there was no peak trucking industry body representation on the committee which should have been there from scratch – a glaring oversight at best.”

Jensen lost her youngest brother and two of his friends

The NLCSS was released by the Australian government on February 2. Image: National Level Crossing Safety Strategy

when their vehicle was hit by an unlit train at a passive level crossing in WA’s wheatbelt region on July 8, 2000.

She has since spent over 20 years advocating for better lighting on trains to help improve level crossing safety.

“The last two decades have been marked by a complete failure by government and the rail industry to improve level crossing safety,” she said.

“Rail operators have done nothing in the face of clear evidence that safety can be improved. The national rail regulator ONRSR has done nothing to ensure they act on

the evidence, and government ministers have not been actively engaged or taken their responsibilities seriously.

“The NLCSS process for our group of families and supporters lobbying for rail safety improvements has been tortuous, extremely frustrating and at times immensely disappointing.”

The issue of poorly lit trains remains high on the agenda for Jensen’s lobby group. The newly released strategy says it will draw on the ONRSR commissioned reports into train conspicuity and continue to promote ongoing research in this field.

Though according to Jen-

sen, “The mention of yet more research raises a serious red flag for our families and supporting organisations. Continuing to promote ongoing research is not the same as implementing the findings of research already completed,” she said.

“We don’t need any more research, testing or trials specifically when it comes to the effectiveness of beacon lighting on locomotives that has already been proven by the rail industry’s own research.”

Though Jensen said she remained hopeful of the strategy resulting in meaningful change.

Following the release of the NLCSS, a rail level crossing safety roundtable to identify any further action that could be taken by governments, regulators, and industry, will be held in Brisbane on March 6.

The Australian government says level crossings remain the highest public safety risk on the rail network.

Among the most recent incidents was in December 2023, where two rail workers lost their lives following a fatal level crossing accident.

NEWS 3

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024

Truckie goes the extra mile for fairer pay standards to ensure the road transport industry is “safe, sustainable and viable”, much like the RSRT attempted to do, but failed.

“This isn’t the RSRT 2.0, it’s dead and buried, and it’s gone,” stressed Mackinlay, the past NRFA president who estimates he’s spent up to $30,000 out of his own pocket campaigning for changes in recent years.

“This is a whole new legislation, it’s been worked on with industry, rather than a tribunal of people who had no idea about transport, and we’ve worked very closely with the government of the day, which of course is now Labor.

“We’ve gone to the people who would listen and are trying to help us. The coalition did exactly nothing, jack shit.

“I wouldn’t say I’ve had an about-face; I’m just working with the tools that are in the toolbox.”

Mackinlay says it’s not all about the need to focus on minimum rates, rather than finding the solution for a viable and sustainable road transport industry, along the lines of the 10 recommendations from Labor Senator Glenn Sterle’s long

inquiry into the industry tabled in 2021.

“Part of that of course, will be working on a system that ensures you have a fair rate.

“Any of us as wage earners or businesspeople, we all need to have some kind of protection so we can get paid what we’re worth.”

Mackinlay cites the example of how fuel increases impact operators on a weekly basis.

“Every time fuel goes up one cent, the cost goes up on average by $1000 a year and we’ve currently got no way of getting that back.

“So, what we’re asking for is a platform to allow us, for a start, to get things back to where they should be, because they’re not at the moment.

“Just have a look how many long-standing family organisations that have been around for decades and generations that have just said no, and it’s not because they’re going broke, they’re good businesspeople, they’re bailing out.

“The people who are buying their equipment are the people we’re trying to save because they’re just putting a noose around their neck, and they’re

Gordon Mackinlay, left, joined NRFA’s board member Julie Downey and vice president Glyn Castanelli in Canberra to fight for support for the Closing Loopholes Bill. Image: TWU

going to slowly die if we don’t help them.”

Mackinlay doesn’t buy the argument that minimum rates will make the smaller operator, or subbie, less competitive than the fleets with staff drivers.

The freight giants such as Linfox and Toll may cash in over the Christmas spike, says Mackinlay, but by January they can’t afford to have trucks and staff sitting around doing nothing.

“That will never change, and they can’t afford to. The

problem is that the industry isn’t smart enough as a whole to understand that.

“We have such a huge bargaining tool here that we don’t use. We’ve proven that we’re not capable of asking for it, or getting it, so we need legislative change to help us get it and be protected.”

Mackinlay concedes that finalising the actual rate for such a broad industry is fraught with many variables and won’t be easy to get right.

“There are many parts of the

industry that don’t want help, and don’t need help. Livestock is probably the best example of that.

“However, there’re many ways of doing it. One idea I came up with is having a contract of carriage and in that contract you be very transparent about your costs.”

Mackinlay says that if you’re carrying goods for one of the “big guys” and last month’s fuel was 20 cents per litre cheaper than it is this month and you’re going to burn 800 litres in two days, you’ve therefore spent another $160 more at the bowser this month.

“Then you bloody well need $160 more to do the job. It’s not rocket science. We’ve got the perfect opportunity now to put that in place.

“What happens right now, you get absolutely nothing. You take $160 from your family, or you take $160 from your tyre or maintenance account; it has to come from somewhere.

“And that’s every second day, so that’s $400 a week, $1600 a month. That’s massive money, and we don’t get anything for it.”

Continued on page 4

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TRUCKIES’ advocate Gordon Mackinlay wants to get one thing straight from the outset: he has never been against the underlying goals that the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) set out to achieve.

It was the RSRT’s ill-conceived, and ultimately ill-fated payment order that penalised the smaller owner-driver that had Mackinlay front and centre of the 2016 protest convoy to Canberra that foreshadowed the tribunal’s demise.

“I haven’t changed my stand – all I’ve ever wanted is the best thing for transport and that hasn’t changed,” said the mechanic, small fleet operator, and board member of the National Road Freighters Association (NRFA).

Today, that involves having a prominent seat at the table with the NRFA as the federal government hammers out the details of its new game-changing workplace relations legislation, the Closing Loopholes Bill and the relevant road transport sections within.

Ultimately, it is expected that the Fair Work Commission (FWC) will be given special powers to set minimum

4 NEWS

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Owner-drivers need more say, says ATA ATA CEO Mathew Munro.

Image: ATA

From page 3 THE Fair Work Commission should not be able to set minimum freight rates under the Closing Loopholes Bill, maintains the Australian Trucking Association (ATA).

In a 14-page submission on the bill, the ATA argued that minimum rates would weaken the incentives for firms to make the “decisions needed to increase productivity”.

It cited the failure of the RSRT which failed to take into account the impact of backloading and part loads, where an owner-driver, such

as a livestock transporter consolidates loads from multiple consignors.

“It would be even harder to set workable rates across the more complex and dynamic contracting chain,” the ATA submission said.

The ATA said an alternative would be to enable the FWC to order that some costs be billed separately and paid as outgoings.

They could include costs such as fuel, toll road charges, port charges, washout and weighbridge charges.

ATA CEO Mathew Munro said road transport industry contractual chain orders will be as important as road transport minimum standards orders.

“Accordingly, the Act should set out the commission’s powers, rather than leaving them to regulation later,” said Munro after the Senate Education and Employment Committee published its report on the bill at the end of January.

The report argues for a new failsafe mechanism to enable the minister, or the commission on application, to defer or suspend an order while the commission reviews it.

“The case for the failsafe mechanism is that this would be a new role for the commission that would involve issuing orders about business-to-business transactions,” Munro said.

“Again, it’s important that the failsafe mechanism is in the Act rather than leaving it to regulation.”

The report also recommends that the government examine the merits of amending the bill to require that owner-drivers or their representatives be included on a road transport advisory group subcommittee when minimum standards orders covering owner-drivers are being considered.

Munro urged the government to go further than the committee.

“Owner-drivers, or their representative, should hold a majority of positions on any advisory committee looking at orders relating to owner-drivers,” he said.

Big Rigs understands that it’s an even split for and against among the ATA’s member organisations on the bill and its goals.

A NatRoad spokesperson told Big Rigs that it has

In support of its push for the Closing Loopholes Bill, the TWU held a vigil in Canberra earlier this month for transport workers killed in 2023. Image: TWU

sought some changes.

But it is “broadly supportive” of the legislation after its board was given assurances by Minister Tony Bourke about expert input in the framing of any FWC orders, the scope for industry consultation in devising standards and various other guardrails being put in place to protect industry viability.

“One thing that makes the proposed tribunal different from the legislation that produced the flawed RSRT is that owner-drivers are not being singled out,” the spokesperson added.

Just when bill, which was expected to be passed at deadline for this issue, might be finalised and take effect in the industry, depends on who you talk to. Mackinlay told Big Rigs that it could up to two years before the industry feels its effects.

Meanwhile, one well-placed industry source, who saw firsthand the devastating results of the 2016 RSRT order, says he’s frustrated by what he called a lack of consultancy on the bill.

He says only a select few, including the Transport Workers Union and the Australian Road Transport Industrial Organisation, have been consulted and even they have been forced to sign non-disclosure agreements. He would only speak on the condition of anonymity because he feared that by speaking out he would be “left out in the cold.”

“This has the potential to do a great deal of harm to the industry and the economy, but if they avoid the harm by not actually setting rates and get other things right, such as fair contracts, payment terms and the requirement for my customers to take account of my

actual costs, as opposed to setting rates, it might work.

“Those sorts of things would be extremely helpful and would benefit all of the operators that the union and government want to help, but we’re just going to have to see how this plays out.”

Regardless of whether there are minimum rates in play when the final ink is dry on the bill, Mackinlay is confident the new legislation is essential.

“If it’s done correctly, we might all start to make a bit of money. That will allow us to keep some of the long-term, more experienced, and dare I say it, better operators still in the industry. It just opens up what we can do because we all of a sudden we have a bit of power to try and improve the industry without just being told, ‘Here’s what you’ve got, deal with it’.”

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BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024

‘Stop accepting crappy km rates’

WA Labor Senator Glenn Sterle has urged truckies to stop undervaluing their skills and efforts by accepting “crappy kilometre” rates.

Sterle made the plea on his Facebook page while partnering again with Centurion Transport on one of his many charity runs into the Kimberley region in WA. Centurion pays all its drivers on an hourly rate and Sterle said he was reminded again on this trip why that’s a much fairer system.

“I lost nearly three hours yesterday due to tyre issues.

How the hell can that be planned into a kilometre rate?”

Sterle asks.

“So, I’ll just say this to the drivers out there, ‘Have a think about it, it’s a brand new start to the year, stop undervaluing your wages, stop undervaluing your effort, stop undervaluing your skills.

“If you have an employer that is paying some crappy kilometre rate, give him the flick. There are plenty of companies out there paying good money, an hourly rate, and you get paid for every hour that you do.”

Senator Glenn Sterle believes the hourly-rate system used by Centurion is much fairer for drivers. Image: Glenn Sterle

Sterle concedes that there is the “odd good company” that pays acceptable kilometre rates, and they don’t ask drivers to do any unloading or loading.

“And if they do, they get paid hourly, but there’s not many of them.

“In my view, there is no way known that you can set a kilometre rate on a long-distance route when you don’t know

what’s going to happen.

“How do you know we’re not going to get caught at a client’s place, how do you know if there’s going to be an accident on the road and you get stranded there, how do you know about a bushfire where you may get caught?”

“You don’t know. Get rid of the kilometre rates and go and work for a decent company

that pays for every single cent of every minute you put in.

“There’s plenty out there, trust me.”

Sterle’s followers were quick to support the Senator’s plea, although not without some reservations.

“Had the same issue back in ’79 [and] hasn’t changed,” writes one. “Nobody wanted to get of their arse and try to help us back then. I know you are fighting for us mate but I think you gunna need more friends in your party to try and get these issues sorted.

“Hopefully you will, I admire your strength and willingness mate at least you are having a go.”

In his comprehensive senate inquiry report into the industry, tabled in 2021, Sterle recommended that an independent body be set up to oversee universal and binding industry standards, including binding standards with respect to pay.

The road transport sections of the contentious Closing Loopholes Bill, now being debated in Parliament, would enable the Fair Work Commission to make minimum standards orders for owner-drivers.

NatRoad calls for a new approach to road user charge

IT’S time to fix the broken road user charging system before it’s too late for many transport operators, warns NatRoad CEO Warren Clark.

In NatRoad’s pre-budget submission to Canberra, Clark has asked the government to implement a budget specifically for commonwealth-state infrastructure projects and to peg rises in the road user charge against it, based on annual reviews of the effectiveness of its spending.

“Enough is enough – Australia’s road freight transport industry is enduring the most difficult economic and regulatory operating environment in living memory,” said Clark.

He said that most of the transport sector are small businesses working on tight margins with limited economic bargaining power to pass on costs.

“Increases are driven by rises in infrastructure funding, with no regard for its effectiveness, the ability of industry to pay, or ensuring the right priorities are being funded.

“NatRoad welcomes the government’s attempt to repair the infrastructure pipeline and recognition there is a tipping point where too much spending results in increased contract competi-

tion and costs.

“Basically, the value for money spent reduces drastically.

“These costs then translate into a subsequent increase in the road user charge that is well above CPI.” Clark said NatRoad wants a cap on the infrastructure funding and heavy vehicle cost base that rises with inflation.

“The cap would be subject to review ensuring inadequate road quality is maintained,” Clark said.

“Additional funding outside of the road user charge would still be possible to address specific issues such as natural disaster damage to the network.

“Governments, including the states and territories, could maximise the effectiveness of infrastructure funding by improving the selection and delivery of their projects.

“They should also get serious about delivering National Road Service Level Standards to make sure funding is going to where it is needed most.”

Clark said NatRoad wants practical action to reduce red tape by ramping up investment in better heavy vehicle road access like the planned National Automated Access System.

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6 NEWS

Weather-proof our network: WA

WA trucking boss Cam Dumesny supports the Australian Trucking Association’s (ATA) pre-budget submission for a $5 billion industry spend over the next 10 years, but fears it’s still not enough and won’t be spent in the right places.

The Western Roads Federation CEO was reacting to the ATA’s case for fixing freight roads, dangerous level crossings and to build more rest areas for truck drivers ahead of the 2024-25 federal budget release in May. Dumesny said it’s becoming increasingly obvious that Labor is a “government of the east coast.”

“We need investment in our Top End road networks that run between WA, the NT and Queensland, and our networks that run across the bottom and up the centre,” Dumesny said.

“You’ve got 60 per cent of the continent – WA, NT, western Queensland, SA – that are routinely cut off on freight networks by weather events, and we’re just not making any headway on fixing it.

“We’ve been going for 10 years now with constant disruption and there are still no major

Much of Australia is being cut-off by weather events and there doesn’t appear to be any progress on fixing it, says Cam Dumesny. Image: Michael/adobe.stock.com

plans and we still don’t have a national freight strategy.

“We need a national freight strategy beyond the Melbourne-Brisbane-Sydney corridor.”

As just one example of why he feels Canberra’s infrastructure investment priorities are awry, Dumesny cites the investment of $125 billion in the outer rail loop in Melbourne.

“It has no business case, yet we as an industry, according to Roads Australia, contribute $236 billion [annually] directly and indirectly to the Australian economy and we’re asking for

just $500 million a year in extra investment.

“I think we could be more ambitious, but at least they’ve put a budget submission in which is to be commended.”

ATA chair David Smith said the government needs to “make freight roads better”.

“To keep truck drivers safe, the government needs to fix dangerous level crossings,” he said. “And we need a concerted effort to fix rest areas, because the task is huge, and drivers aren’t seeing enough in the way of results. Australia must also invest in developing a defined

all-weather network, with a supporting secondary network pre-approved for use, in the wake of road network closures due to fires, floods and crashes.”

To achieve this, Smith said the Australian government should assume responsibility for major freight roads through the national highways program.

“This should include funding and operational responsibilities, including granting access approvals for heavy vehicles.

“The 2024-25 budget should include a new, $5 billion truck roads, level crossings and rest areas program over the next 10 years.”

He says all the projects under the program should be linked to results.

“Increasing the use of high productivity trucks would reduce total vehicle movements, reduce congestion growth and lower the cost of freight. High productivity trucks are more likely to be safer, quieter and less emissions intensive.

Smith believes that immediate priority should be to fund the road upgrades needed to allow 35 metre modular A-doubles on the Hume Highway in NSW.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Volvo takes an early lead in tight truck sales battle

VOLVO has picked up where it left off in the tightly-contested 2023 sales race – pushing Kenworth for supremacy in the heavy-duty sector.

In the recently-released January sales figures from the Truck Industry Council, the Wacol-based badge has shot to an early lead with 179 deliveries, albeit just five trucks more than its arch rival in Bayswater.

Volvo led the 2023 race for much of the year before a late surge by Kenworth sealed the overall prize with 3653 trucks delivered versus Volvo’s 3476.

Once again, Isuzu nailed down its usual third-place category slot with 130 deliveries, with next best Scania starting off the year on solid footing with 86. Among the rest, there were no real surprises with Mack, Mercedes-Benz, Fuso, DAF, and UD Trucks all in the

usual tight tussle for a spot in the top five.

In total, there were 948 heavies delivered in January, four more than January 2023 when Kenworth began the year leading on 197 over Volvo on 175. In the medium category, Isuzu got off to its usual flyer, recording 243 sales. The only real surprise among the rest was the relatively slow start from Fuso with 38 deliveries, losing early ground to Hino which notched 135 to claim a clear second.

Overall, Isuzu was again on top with 758 deliveries on the way to what will undoubtedly be its 36th straight year as the leading seller here.

That number, however, was softer than the same month in 2023 when it notched 900 sales and a 32.3 per cent market share.

Volvo gets off to a flyer in 2024 with the early lead over Kenworth in the heavy-duty sector. Image: Volvo Australia

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8 OPINION

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Industry overhaul

EDITOR JAMES GRAHAM

AS we were going to print with this issue all the talk was about the Closing Loopholes Bill and how it will impact on day-today industry operations.

The only problem is, no one seems really too sure just how this will all unravel in coming weeks and months. What we do know is that we’ll have the Fair Work Commission in oversight, with a Road Transport Advisory Group made up of industry experts to enforce minimum standards.

But we’re told that won’t mean payment orders, like we saw in 2016. From what we can tell, the new laws are more likely to focus on making sure you can recover costs when fuel goes up, and will get paid on time, among other factors that make it so hard to make ends meet.

The best guide on what lies ahead, is probably Senator Glenn Sterle’s recommendations from his long-running industry inquiry, the same report that gathered dust on the desk of Barnaby Joyce for so long.

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BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024

Truckie’s random act of kindness

The random act of kindness happened outside the Ampol servo at Yetholme. Image: Ampol Yetholme

BY KAYLA WALSH

A NSW woman has told how a kind truckie saved the day after her dad suffered a tyre blowout, and has restored her faith in “true Aussie spirit”.

Karley Jackson, whose father Doug Jackson is also a truck driver, said Doug blew a tyre on his drive axle between Bathurst and Lithgow.

She shared that her dad has been struggling since the family lost her mum to cancer, and after the setback on the road, he pulled in to the Ampol servo at Yetholme to take a breather.

“He went inside for a cof-

fee and to try to gather his thoughts, whilst it was raining,” she said.

“When the rain cleared, he came out to find a guy and his son had pulled up and changed not just one tyre but one on his trailer as well.

“They were just putting the rims back in the wheel carrier [when he saw them].”

She said the generous truckie refused any reward or payment, simply saying “it will be right mate”.

Doug was so “overwhelmed” by the man’s kindness that he forgot to ask for his name, but remembered that his shirt had a nametag

that read “Shrek” – so Karley decided to use social media to try to track him down and express her gratitude.

She shared her dad’s story in the On the Pads group on Facebook, and quickly identified the Good Samaritan thanks to some truck drivers in the know.

She told Big Rigs: “Turns out I actually knew him, as I was a customer of his, buying firewood from him over the years.

“However, he didn’t know my dad or his truck.”

Karley said that Shrek, as he’s usually called by those who know him, is not a fan of the

spotlight and would prefer not to have his full name shared in this article – but he was happy he was able to lend a hand to a fellow truckie.

“I spoke with him and he said he is an old truckie himself and has had many tough days.

“He said he wasn’t looking for any praise or reward at all, he just thought it was best to ‘help some poor bloke out if he could’ and he would like to see others ‘pay it forward’ if they ever get the chance.”

She described Shrek as a “true Aussie and a gentleman”.

“It’s great to know that the Aussie spirt is still out there,” she added.

Free coffee makes this driver’s day A GRATEFUL truckie has shared how a random act of kindness brightened up his day on a recent run to Adelaide from Sydney.

Interstate driver Nick Fenton stopped at the BP in Wagga Wagga, NSW, on a Sunday earlier this month – only to be told his coffee had already been paid for by an anonymous motorcycle rider.

“I do a fortnightly run to Adelaide and I always stop at that BP to top off on my way,” he told Big Rigs.

“I always get a coffee at the 24/7 cafe, and I ordered a large coffee.

“The woman behind the counter asked whether that would be all, and I said yes please.

“She then said, ‘I’m pleased to let you know it

will be free!’ as an anonymous bikie had paid for 20 coffees for truckies the day before.”

He said he asked the woman why the bike rider had made the kind gesture, but she didn’t know.

“She said she came in for her shift and was informed there was a list/receipt, that was it,” he said.

Fenton said he was happy to share a positive story when there is so much negativity out there.

“We all hear about the bad side but not enough positivity!” he added.

“It made my arvo, and I’m sure the other 19 truckies appreciated it as much as I did.

“I just wanted to give the bikie a shout out and say thank you.”

Fenton always stops at the BP in Wagga Wagga on his fortnightly run to Adelaide. Image: Yelp/Michael Q

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10 NEWS

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Iconic roadhouse closes

BY KAYLA WALSH

THE owners of the iconic Little Topar Roadhouse on the Barrier Highway in western NSW have said they are “heartbroken” after making the difficult decision to close the business.

The popular spot has offered friendly service, good food, and ample parking to truckies for over 35 years, and news of its closure has been met with shock and sadness throughout the road transport industry.

The roadhouse, which is in the “middle of nowhere” between Broken Hill and Wilcannia, was taken over by owner-driver Kym Starkey and his partner Jo Lindsay in 2018 after legendary husband and wife duo Colin and Barb Harvey retired.

Starkey and Lindsay continued the Harveys’ great work for five years, but dwindling business has now left the couple with no choice but to close their doors.

“It was a massive decision to pull the plug, but it was the right decision,” Lindsay

told Big Rigs.

“We’ve been struggling for about 10 months.

“Kym and I have had a lot of sleepless nights. The conversation kept coming up, and we knew we had to make a decision.

“We kept saying we would have another go at it, and another go, but it just wasn’t happening. There was more money going out than coming in.”

Lindsay thinks there are two main reasons for the business’s financial struggles – changes to transport routes, and the rising cost of living.

“The transport’s not out here anymore,” she said.

“We used to be the main road train route, you had to come this way from Adelaide.

“Now they can tow road trains on the Newell Highway, and a lot of them go to Cobar through Hillston. It’s all changed.”

Lindsay added that when truckies have stopped by the roadhouse in the past year, they have been much more reluctant to buy a meal or drinks.

“During Covid, some days I

only took in $200. But I stayed open for the drivers,” she explained.

“When they did come in, they had money and they spent it, they were really appreciative.

“But now, the drivers are really struggling. Some of them tell me their home loans have gone up anything from $350 to $700 extra a week. They just don’t have the money to spend anymore.”

Until its closure in January, the Little Topar Roadhouse was open six days a week, 15 hours a day, and from 7am to 4pm on Sundays.

Lindsay said it just wasn’t worth the number of hours she was putting in.

“Last Monday, I cooked three meals for the entire day.”

Lindsay understands that most truckies are just worried about paying their bills and looking after their families.

“More and more truckies are bringing meals from home, and I’ve got nothing against them.

“My son is a truck driver and I spoke to him to see what he thought.

While they wait for a buyer, Lindsay and Starkey are still selling fuel 24/7 for anyone who needs it.

“He said I was doing the right thing closing down, because he couldn’t afford to live out of a roadhouse himself.

“It’s anything from $30 to $40 to have a meal and a couple of drinks. These truckies have got mortgages, some of them have wives and kids at home.”

Lindsay said she and Starkey have some very happy memories from their years running the roadhouse, and have built strong friendships with their regulars.

“We’ve had some late nights here, I’ll put it that way!” she laughed.

“We have some amazing memories and we’ve met some awesome people.

“I want to thank all our customers from the bottom of my heart. We will miss them, but we hope to catch up with them again soon.”

Lindsay and Starkey have had the roadhouse on the market for quite a while, but haven’t been able to sell it yet.

“I’ve had some interest,” Lindsay said. “I had one lady really interested in it not too

Owner-driver Kym Starkey and his partner Jo Lindsay had high hopes for the Little Topar when they took over in 2018.

Images: Jo Lindsay

long ago, but I actually talked her out of it.

“I just couldn’t live with myself if she went under.”

For now, she doesn’t know how long the roadhouse will be closed.

“We are still selling fuel 24/7 for anyone who needs it.”

She said some loyal customers have offered to set up a GoFundMe page to keep the business going, but it wouldn’t solve their cashflow problem long-term.

She said one of the most difficult aspects of having to shut the roadhouse is the weight of its iconic reputation.

“That’s what rips my heart,” she said.

“I feel so bad about it.

“The first 13 months of business were unbelievable, we really thought ‘We’ve got this’.

Then Covid came and it really knocked us around, but we got

through it – we thought that would be the worst of it.

“I did not think it was going to end up like this. I never thought the transport industry would end up like this.”

She takes some comfort from the fact that the previous owner, Barb Harvey, and her daughter Deb, have both contacted her to empathise with her situation.

“Poor old Col Harvey, Barb’s husband, has passed away, but Barb rang me and we had a really good chat.

“I felt like she gave me her support to close the place, she really understood.

“Even she said the country has changed, transport has changed. Her daughter Deb also rang me and said I could keep my head up and know that I gave it my best shot.

“I just felt so relieved by that.”

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12 COVER STORY

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Milestone for proud family

The saying from little things, big things grow couldn’t be more fitting for this fifth-generation family business as it celebrates 100 years.

BY DANIELLE GULLACI

THE story of Moffatt Fresh Produce began in 1924, when farmers Robert Moffatt and his son Allan (Scott) Moffatt moved to Tarome, in southeast Queensland.

Today, the business has grown into one of Australia’s largest carrot producers, with its own dedicated refrigerated transport fleet. Its newest truck, an impressive Kenworth T610SAR, pays homage to the company’s proud family heritage.

A mural of Scott adorns both sides of the truck, while custom exhaust shrouds and a number plate that reads 100YRS are telling signs that this truck is an ode to something pretty special.

“The image of my grandfather is him overlooking one of our fields. The mountains in the background is the Great Diving Range, which is the backdrop to our property here,” explained Steve Moffatt, a fourth generation family member and the company’s managing director.

“We’re at the foothills of Cunningham’s Gap and have one of the greatest backdrops in the world, as many truckies coming through the Gap will tell you.

“This truck is a perfect tribute to a man who meant so much to us. We’re forever grateful for the legacy he’s left for us and the generations to come. We’ve now got the fifth generation of family members coming through the business.”

Moffatt Fresh Produce is a family business through and through. Steve, with his wife Jenny by his side, along with his partners John and Mitchell Moffatt took the reins of Moffatt Fresh Produce from their fathers Donald and Greg.

Moffatt Fresh Produce grows anywhere from 28,00032,000 tonnes of carrots each year, depending on the season, and supplies the country’s east coast as well as exporting to northern Asia and the Middle East.

“Originally from Scotland, my grandfather and great grandfather moved here from Charleville and prior to that had lived in Dubbo. I’m sure

Steve and Jenny Moffatt were thrilled to see the finished 100-year tribute truck.

Image: Brown and Hurley

The image that inspired the new truck’s artwork.

Image: Moffatt Fresh Produce.

they picked this area because of its rich fertile soils and its proximity to the markets of their time,” said Steve.

“We’re strategically placed to all our customers and only about one and a half hours from the port, to satisfy our international business needs.

“I never personally knew my great grandfather but I had a great relationship with my grandfather Scotty.”

In the early days, the Moffatt family started out in dairy farming, beef cattle and growing small crops such as potatoes. “Then we started growing carrots in the mid ‘70s and have been doing so ever since,” added Steve.

“When my grandfather and great grandfather started out, there were 30-40 producers in the area supplying mainly to the central markets. But

we’ve seen consolidation in the industry. There were some people who saw there were easier jobs than farming and got out of it. But we’re very proud of the fact that we’re still here and we’ve been here for 100 years. We’re proud of the legacy we’ve left behind and we’ll continue to grow our business into the future.”

Though carrots are now the company’s mainstay – which it grows, packs and transports all year round – onions are another core product. “But that’s seasonal,” said Steve, “so we only grow onions for a few months of the year; usually from around November through to the end of January.”

The land that the company farms from extends 250 kilometres from north to south and 120 kilometres from east

The truck’s ode to 100 years in business can be seen from any angle. Image: Brown and Hurley

[L-R]: Mitchell, John and Steve Moffatt continue to steer the business into the future.

Image: Moffatt Fresh Produce

to west. Moffatt Fresh Produce transports its goods from farm to factory to the customer throughout Queensland. And enlists the help of third party transport operators to deliver into Melbourne and Sydney.

The turnaround time for carrots to go from harvest to retailer is just 24 hours.

For Moffatt Fresh Produce, the transport operation has been a pivotal part of the company’s success since the early 1970s. “Transport is in our blood. As our business grew, we saw the need to be able to control and have flexibility in our transport operations, to move with the needs of harvesting and seasonal conditions,” Steve said.

Including the newest addition, the fleet consists of eight prime movers – predominantly Kenworths. Its refrigerated

Scott’s sons Donald Moffatt (left) and Greg Moffatt (right) have handed the reins over to their sons. Images: Moffatt Fresh Produce

trailers are produced by FTE and the tippers by Moore Trailers. There are six sets of B-double tippers and four sets of 32-pallet refrigerated B-doubles.

Sitting behind the new T610SAR however, the latest trailer delivery shies away from the company’s usual specifications.

Operating under Performance Based Standards (PBS), it will tow a single trailer without sacrificing too much capacity over the company’s existing B-doubles.

As Steve explained, “To date, we’ve been running 32 pallet refrigerated B-double combinations but because of the nature of our short haul work and the advances in the PBS scheme, we’re able to run a 28 pallet quad axle single van.

“So we’ve gone from two trailers to one without much difference in payload. For the driver, it means they’re not having to hook and unhook multiple times a day, which can prove frustrating.”

Steve worked closely with sales representative Michael Oliver, at Brown and Hurley Darra, to ensure the new truck would fit within PBS requirements. “Brown and Hurley did a fantastic job in helping to set this truck up for us,” Steve said.

Artist Matthew Lin helped to create the artwork for the mural, while Bel Air Truck Spraypainting did the airbrushing.

“The picture of my grandfather is actually from a photo of him. It was quite satisfying to see the finished product,” said Steve.

“When I picked up the truck, I had a lump in my throat because I was so proud of it. We are usually a pretty conservative lot, but this time we thought it was fitting to put that image on the side of the new truck.

“In our work, it’s all about resilience. We’re not immune to drought, flood, bushfire, storms, all those things that farmers contend with, but we are a resilient lot.

“This is a huge milestone for the business, and more so for the Moffatt family. It’s a tribute to the hard work of my father and his father and his father before that, for providing this terrific legacy that we can carry on.”

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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

At the helm of a superload

BY KAYLA WALSH

IT’S not every day you catch a glimpse of a 477-tonne superload – so it’s no surprise that truckspotters and members of the public alike have been following the progress of an enormous power transformer from Victoria to NSW. The transformer was carried by a transport combination measuring approximately 125m long and around 5.8m wide, departing from Wilson Transformer Company in Glen Waverly on January 27 and reaching the Waratah BESS Super Battery facility (formerly the coal-fired Munmorah Power Station) in the early hours of February 5.

Dandenong-based transport company Overdimensional Lift & Shift are the ones who made it all happen – one of just a handful of Australian operators who do work of this scale.

The move took months of detailed planning and involved a team of five truck drivers, one trailer driver and four escort drivers from ODLS, as well as road authority escorts, and hundreds of people on the traffic management team.

The company’s managing director, Anthony May isn’t one to sit in an office all day – so he was there in the thick of it all, at the helm of the superload’s trailer.

Speaking to Big Rigs on the last day of the move, he said: “Everything has gone according to plan. Timewise, it has all happened exceptionally well.

“There have been no incidents and staff, equipment and load are all well.”

May said the superload’s route, which wound through metropolitan Melbourne as

well as more regional areas of Victoria and NSW, held quite a few challenges.

“This superload has been different from the others in terms of the distance we are travelling,” he explained.

“The travel out of Melbourne holds similar challenges to the other [superloads we have done], but the regional travel routes have been a little off the beaten path.

“One challenging aspect has been dealing with on-road changes such as roadworks, but in this case they were known about in advance and co-ordinated smoothly between ODLS and the road authorities.”

When there are so many moving parts and the stakes are high, communication is key.

“It’s about working as a team and in unison,” May said.

“After the first two days getting out of Melbourne, everyone really relaxed and got into a rhythm.

“We have a mix of more experienced and newer drivers on this load, and the trip has continued to build the team and brought the new staff closer to the existing group.”

He said you need to be “cool, calm and collected” for work like this – and his wife Vaso May, ODLS’ commercial manager, agrees.

“They really are a particular breed of truck drivers,” she said.

“Becoming this kind of driver is a 10-year plus exercise, you don’t just walk into it. Only very few people are minded that way.

“The guys realise that this is the extreme sport of transport - they are achieving something that is fairly singular.”

The giant convoy is an impressive site as it comes off the Eastern Fwy and turns right into Doncaster Rd. Image: Roger Knight

An aerial shot of the superload. Image: Roger Knight

Many truckspotters went to see the superload parked up at Wangaratta. Image: Jamie Rowe

Two weeks of preparations in the yard were needed before the superload could depart.

Image: Roger Knight

While the transport operation has been around for over 40 years with Anthony’s father at the helm, ODLS started moving superloads eight years ago - and Vaso said business is booming.

“Normally we would only move a couple of superloads a year but they are ramping up.

“We generally move transformers or electrical equipment that’s going into a substation.

“With the move to renewable energy and all the additional substations, the bigger transformers are becoming more common.

“There are not a lot of operators in Australia that will tackle this type of load, and only two of them own their own equipment and use their own staff. So, we’re very busy.”

Vaso explained that there could be up to a year of lead-in time before moving a load like this, due to all the red tape involved.

“It takes somewhere between six months and a year to get a permit,” she said.

“A lot of oversize roads are managed in an office, tick and flick. These loads

are managed a lot in person.

“There are also a lot of high-level planning meetings between us and the owner of the goods. And you also have meetings with VicRoads, you have meetings with power companies, meetings with Yarra Trams, meetings with the metro.

“They consider it a highrisk move so they become very involved.”

It takes two weeks solid of preparations in the yard before the superload can roll out the gate.

“Then when we roll out, we roll out in pieces,” she continued.

“We go to the pick-up destination and then we take another week at the pick-up destination, putting all the pieces together into the set.

She said the load has to move at a maximum speed of 60km/h for safety.

“They are quite slow on the roads, and they need plenty of eyes on the load.

“Because of the sheer size of the load, there are people walking alongside it, making sure that it’s going to get over things, making sure that it’s not going to collide

or impact with the road furniture along the way.

“We do remove a lot of road furniture as well. In the past, we’ve taken out street signs, traffic lights, lampposts, all kinds of things.

“Anything that’s in the way has to come out, and we put it back in afterwards.”

Loads such as this need the ability to move up and down hydraulically.

“This is necessary because you’re not going to be able to get over every lump and bump in the roadway otherwise.

“There are times when they cross carriageways, they need to go over curbs and gutters and over roundabouts.

“The hydraulic lifting and lowering is managed by the trailer operator and is guided by many spotters on the ground.”

She said that although ODLS has 40 staff, her husband likes to be on the ground when he can.

“He has been in the transport industry since he was 17 and has operated every piece of equipment you can think of,” she said.

“He has nerves of steel!”

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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Courageous truckie gets back behind the wheel

Rachel Kriss was on top of the world, when a heartbreaking diagnosis saw it all come crashing down.

BY DANIELLE GULLACI HERS is an inspirational story of optimism and resilience.

For Rachel Kriss, a 52-yearold grandmother from the Northern Rivers region of NSW, things couldn’t have been better.

“My husband and I only got married in October 2022 before my diagnosis two months later. We had gone on our honeymoon and bought a new Mustang. We were living the dream – then boom!” she said.

Rachel and her newlywed husband Wayne Kriss had been doing FIFO work on the Snowy 2.0 Project in the Snowy Mountains. She was driving everything from rigids, to watercarts, tippers, loaders, diggers, rollers and Moxys.

She had previously worked in the blistering heat at Marble Bar in WA carting iron ore and now found herself in one of the coldest areas carting snow.

“The Snowy is a fascinating place, working in a pristine natural environment and seeing all the animals, it’s stunning,” Rachel said.

The daughter of a truckie, Rachel says she was destined to follow in his footsteps. “As usual with many of us female truckies, my dad had his own trucking company. It was based in the Northern Rivers and he’d travel around Sydney, to Brisbane, out west and all over the place,” she said, adding that she’s been in and out of the industry for the past 20 years.

“When dad had his truck, I

had kids and moved away. But when I came back, I decided to give it a crack. So I had a few lessons in the truck with dad.

I went and got my HR licence about 10 years ago and had that for a couple of years, then I decided I wanted to beat my dad and get a licence he didn’t have – as we’ve always been very competitive with each other, so four years ago I got my MC, though I haven’t had a chance to use it yet.”

In December 2022, Rachel booked herself in for a checkup with her GP after experiencing a sharp pain in her ribs on her right side. “There were no other signs or anything but then the pain just became excruciating,” Rachel recalled.

“I thought it was just from getting in and out of the truck. It was my husband who said, let’s get home and get it checked.”

What they found was a 9.5cm tumour in the centre of her liver. “At first, they thought it was benign and said it’ll be fine, don’t worry about it. Then my surgeon said he wanted to do some biopsies. Before I even woke up, I was booked into Westmead Hospital.”

Rachel was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of liver cancer.

“It’s one of the most savage cancers you can get. It was already at stage four.”

Within two weeks, Rachel underwent surgery to remove the tumour – that was just over a year ago on January 23, 2023.

She said everything hap-

Rachel and her husband Wayne Kriss do FIFO work on the Snowy 2.0 Project in the Snowy Mountains.

She got her MC licence four years ago and says getting into road train work is on her bucket list.

pened so quickly. “There was the shock of it but there was no real time to sit and dwell on it.

It was just get it done and hope you survive.

“I walked through the door not knowing if I would see my husband, parents, sons or grandkids again. I came out of surgery 14 hours later and all was well. They got the whole tumour out, so I lost 80 per cent of my liver – that’s as much as they can take – and my gall bladder. The surgeon said if they had found a spot anywhere else in the healthy liver tissue, the surgery wouldn’t have gone ahead as there would be no point,” she revealed.

But despite the surgery being successful, the next day Rachel got an infection and then spent the next 10 days in intensive care.

“I have no recollection of it. I was on five different drug ports. They put two drains in and I had to carry the surgical bags with me for about six months. I named them Bill and Ben. I had them with me almost up until I went back to work in August last year.”

Along with the physical scar – which she says stretches from her sternum, right down to her belly button and then across her hip – Rachel says the ordeal affected her mentally as well.

“My family was worried about me getting back to work too quickly but they just told me to do whatever I needed to do. I was starting to get mentally fatigued. It was a real mental game to get through that six months in hospital,” Rachel revealed.

“There were a lot of really dark times where I didn’t want to be on the planet anymore.

Even though I went back to work early, I think it was great for my recovery. I got out of hospital in July and went back to work in the Snowy Mountains in the middle of August.”

The couple typically does two weeks on and one week off, but over Christmas decided to work right through for five weeks straight.

“The alarm goes off at 3.45am. Depending which job we’re at, it can take one hour to an hour and 25 minutes to get to work. We have buses and they pick people up along the way. Our company puts us up in houses, because there’s not enough room on camp for everyone. It does mean you’re having to cook and do everything yourself, but there’s the bonus of having your own home away from home,” explained Rachel.

In the months following the surgery, Rachel also under-

Rachel’s diagnosis came shortly after their wedding day.

Rachel Kriss was inspired to get into trucking by her truckie dad. Images: Rachel Kriss

went chemotherapy. “I did six months of chemo while I was at work. That finished about three months ago. I lost a lot of my hair too. I had really long hair and was complaining to my son about losing it, so he said I should cut it off on my own terms, not on cancer’s terms.

“The support of my family has been incredible. My husband still had to go to work and still had to function, not knowing if I was going to live or die. People see me but you don’t see the family that has to keep going on. My mum and dad looked after me when I couldn’t move. And my work crew have been absolutely amazing.”

Along with the support of her family – including her husband, parents, two sons and five grandchildren – Rachel says her employer Leed Engineering was super supportive too.

“I never had to worry about not coming back to a job. They were always ringing, texting and checking up on me. I remember when I was at my lowest point, mum said to me, just think of a happy place back in that Moxy,” Rachel said.

“I was employed as a driver, so that’s what I went back to.

I love the freedom of being in the truck, it makes me happy. I started on the Moxys and then progressed to the tipper, which is busy and I love being busy, it makes the day go quick. I’m also getting in and out of the

truck, which has been good for the internal scarring too – moving the body the way I normally would.”

Now, Rachel says she’s trying to tick as much off her bucket list as she can.

“I’ve decided now is the time I want to just do what I want and what makes me feel good, and the company I work for is all for it. I’ve been there for two years, and they’re awesome.”

On top of her list is getting into road train work. “I’m really drawn into wanting to do that. I’ve driven them a little bit but not enough that I could claim it. I would be thrilled knowing I could give it a go,” she said.

“I’d prefer a mine site because that’s what I’m good at and I know. It’s somewhere I feel I’d be of great value. So long as I’m on a roster, I’d love to do FIFO work, where I could still drive back home.”

Also on the bucket list is travel. “My husband and I are hoping to go to Scotland and Greece at some point this year.

I’ve got a Scottish background, so I went there when I was a kid. We’re planning to go over and catch up with some of the family. And with Greece, I’d love to visit the islands.”

And she wants to spend as much time as she can with her young grandchildren, who range from six months to seven years of age. “So even though they are young, they can look back and remember me.”

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18 FEATURE

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

The adventure of a lifetime

It’s been three years since this young man and his trusty old tractor hit the road for an epic adventure that’s seen him raise over $225,000 for charity.

BY DANIELLE GULLACI IT sure has been one hell of a ride for Sam Hughes – better known as The Travelling Jackaroo – who at just 21 years of age, has already achieved so much.

When he last chatted to Big Rigs, he was only 18 and just a few weeks into his trip – still not completely sure of what to expect.

Since then, his adventures have seen him gain quite the following along the way, with his Facebook page now topping 210,000 followers.

Hughes had to learn on the road and has gained quite a bit of mechanical knowledge. He also got his HC truck licence in December too.

Hughes set off from his hometown of Maleny, Queensland, in March 2021, driving his 1957 Chamberlain 9G tractor on a journey that has seen him travel the length and breadth of Queensland, the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia – with plans to visit the remaining states throughout 2024.

His set-up certainly stands out, with the tractor pulling a trailer with a motorbike and car inside, and carrying a boat and a plane on top.

The aim of the trip was to raise money for his three chosen charities: the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Drought Angels and Dolly’s Dream – and to raise awareness for mental health.

He set out to raise a total of $250,000 and he’s already so close, just $25,000 shy of his ultimate goal.

“I’d like to imagine the tractor has helped spark conversations around mental health. The reason it’s been built the way it has and it stands out so much is because it starts conversations by being that outlandish,”

“Outlandish” is how The Travelling Jackaroo describes his 1957 Chamberlain 9G tractor set-up.

Images: Sam Hughes/The Travelling Jackaroo

said Hughes.

So far, Hughes has travelled over 20,000 kilometres – and he anticipates he’ll clock over 25,000 kilometres by the time he finishes the trip and begins working towards his next endeavour, but more on that later.

It’s quite a bit further than the original route he’d mapped out, which was only 14,500 kilometres.

“I originally went from the Sunshine Coast to Perth, doing no more than 35km/h so it took a very long time.

And there’s no power steering or air con either in the old girl,” Hughes said.

“The plan changed a little bit when I got to Port Augusta and decided to go back up to Queensland, then head up to the NT to go for my truck licence. It’s a handy skill to have; something I think most people should have if they can afford to get it.”

And how has the tractor held up? “Touch wood, it’s been pretty good. I’ve had a few hiccups but the Chamberlain is a pretty rough old

He’s already travelled across Queensland, the NT, SA and WA, with plenty more kilometres to conquer in 2024.

reliable fella,” he added.

While the tractor mostly required just the “regular maintenance sort of stuff”, Hughes told of how the engine blew while he was in the middle of the outback.

“The old one blew up between Geraldton and Perth. I blew an oil line and that blew it to pieces. The new engine came courtesy of Geraldton Towing. They swapped it out for a truck motor – a Perkins Phaser.”

While the trip has mostly been a positive, Hughes does admit, “It has had its ups and downs – there have been some really long points. But it’s been an education. I’d say I probably learnt more in the past three years than I did in all my other years. I left home not knowing much, but I’ve been learning as I go.

I got to meet a lot of people, raised a lot money for charity and have made contacts all over Australia.

“It’s the knowledge that I’ve gained and people that I’ve met. You see all these amazing places too but when

you pull up and get to have a yarn, that’s the best part.”

Undertaking such a grand adventure at such a young age, we asked how his parents reacted when he first broke the news.

“It went down like a lead balloon,” he laughed. “They knew they couldn’t really stop me, but a lot of people, including some of my family, thought I’d quickly turn around and come back. But I kept going and my family has been incredibly supportive. They’re really proud of me for what I do.

“When I first started, I didn’t think it’d get the support I’ve got. I was just going to plod along and hoped I’d be able to get some donations. I’ve been doing this for so long now that my camp is pretty much my home. When I go home, I miss being in my camp. When I’m on the road, I miss my family.”

So what is it that has kept him going for three years?

“It’s just the driving force to help people. That’s what keeps me going.”

Over Christmas, the 21-year-old spent some time back home on the family farm in Maleny, Queensland.

For the last few months, Hughes has taken a temporary hiatus from his tractor travels, working as a tilt truck driver for Berry Springs Mechanical in Darwin, as he saves up some coin for the next leg of the trip.

“I’ve just clocked in over 100 call outs and over 10,000 kilometres in the tilt truck. I’ve been shifting everything from cars to containers and doing roadside assistance work like batteries and tyres. It can be long hours but I enjoy the work.

Everyday there’s a new challenge and something to keep the brain ticking along,” explained Hughes.

“I love driving the truck – it’s some of the best work I’ve done. With the roadside assistance, if someone breaks down in the middle of nowhere, we’re who they call.

It’s a good job.”

Hughes and his tractor are due to return to the road around late February/early March. “Hopefully in the next couple of months I’ll get to Adelaide, then Vic-

toria, go over to Tasmania, head back through Victoria, up through NSW and then back up to Queensland.”

The long-term vision is to finish the trip by the end of 2024, so he can spend 2025 building a mobile museum, which he can then take on the road in 2026.

“The museum will focus on the Aussie battlers – on the people who built the country including our truckies and the transport industry,” Hughes explained.

“I’m thinking of building it into a trailer, so it’ll be a walk-through design and then I’ll transport it around the country on the back of a truck – that’s why I needed to upgrade my truck licence.

It’s also a handy thing to have if I want to spend some time driving trucks.”

Hughes added that once he retires his tractor set up from the road, the plan is to have it on display in a museum. “I’ve been in talks with one museum which has said they would potentially take it,” Hughes said.

Hughes has raised over $225,000, which has been donated to three charities: the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Drought Angels and Dolly’s Dream.

20 TEST DRIVE

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Talking about a revolution

With Daimler soon to launch one of its big eGuns here in the form of the Mercedes-Benz eActros 300, our test driver ventures out for an early spin.

BY GRAHAM HARSANT OVER 100 years ago Karl Benz revolutionised the world when he invented the automobile. And the world laughed. But not for long.

As soon as it was permissible to drive a vehicle without someone walking along in front of it with a red flag, transport was transformed.

‘Horsepower’ came to mean something else entirely.

In those intervening 100 plus years, propulsion for cars and trucks has evolved and been refined, but has substantially remained the same. While some have played around with other means of power, the internal combustion engine (ICE) has reigned supreme. Until now.

Whether you like it or not – and talking to the average truckie, it appears most don’t – the fact is that diesel will be supplanted by other fuel sources.

In trucking, the manufacturers are betting on hydrogen – to be used in Fuel Cells and/or in new versions of ICEs now that Europe has designated those as zero emission – as a means of covering long distances. For shorter trips all the good money is on electric.

Every truck manufacturer in the world is investing in ‘volts’ and they’re not doing it for fun. Businesses around the world are also champing at the bit (pun intended) to get involved as well. Just as horsepower became kilowatts, kilowatts will become kW/h.

Karl Benz’s descendant, in the form of Daimler Truck is as heavily invested as any in finding a way forward in the Brave New World.

Their subsidiary, Fuso has been around in Australia for some time now with the eCanter – the second generation of which is about to be released into our market.

The eCanter has found success with those who see the benefits in electrical last-mile delivery and the second gen

will no doubt build upon that success.

Now Daimler is launching one of their big eGuns here in Oz in the form of the Mercedes-Benz eActros 300. First trialled in Europe in 2018, the production version was introduced there in 2022. It is now here, undergoing validation before being released to market.

Based on the M ClassicSpace cabs, the two validation trucks are 4x2 rigids with a tare of approximately 10 tonnes and a gross weight of 15.2 tonnes with 6 tonnes on the front axle.

While the GVM has a technical figure of 19 tonnes, 16 tonnes is the practical figure in Australia due to front axle weight restrictions. A 6x2 rigid will also be available at launch.

The three lithium-ion battery packs have 336kW. Peak output is 536 of those old fashioned horses (400kW) and 443hp (330kW) continuous output and, as an aside, would power your average family home for four weeks.

Daimler suggest a range of up to 300km (with the air-con on) While pointing out that exact range will vary depending on geography, ambient temperatures, load, body type and of course, driving method.

Well aware of people’s natural tendency to suffer range anxiety, the company has taken a (very) conservative approach to range. In local testing to date, they have achieved that 300km with 20 per cent battery left when fully loaded.

Charging from 20-80 per cent – if you have a 160kW charger – will take all of an hour and a quarter, but we are talking pretty heavy duty here and some customers may opt for a less powerful and hence cheaper 22kW Portable Charger which will of course lengthen that time, possibly up to 12 hours. It will depend on customer requirements.

Mercedes-Benz is not the first to the Australian market

with heavy duty EVs with another Euro having released their range last year. Mercedes-Benz boss, Andrew Assimo concurred that, “While it’s always nice to be first, our goal is to do it better.”

To that end, the eActros drive system is the company’s in-house developed eAxle which integrates the differential with two liquid-cooled motors and a two-speed transmission into the one unit. Is it a better system I hear you ask? Well, that other Euro is working on having it so I’m guessing it is.

The other benefit of eAxle is to free up space between the chassis rails – because you never know when you’ll need more range and hence more (or bigger) batteries.

It is important to note that Daimler Trucks is not about flogging off some electric vehicles and leaving the customer to it. In fact it is quite the opposite as Andrew Assimo points out.

“We are taking a holistic approach to electric vehicles,” he said. “This means sitting down with the customer and discussing their needs and requirements in detail. We have some parties keen to go the whole hog on electric almost immediately but sometimes we have to rein their enthusiasm in a bit.

“We investigate the daily routes these vehicles traverse.

How many hills and dales, what cargo the truck will pick up and drop off along the route and how much it may weigh. Often the client doesn’t know all the parameters themselves, so detailed analysis is called for. Then there is the available electricity supply, be it mains and/or solar and what the grid will handle.

“A pragmatic approach is essential so that we can provide zero emission vehicles for relevant applications.”

The trucks, the infrastructure, the consulting and the planning to provide the client with tailor-made solutions all comes under what

The three lithium-ion battery packs have 336kW. Image: Daimler Truck

Daimler is launching one of their big eGuns here in Oz in the form of the Mercedes-Benz eActros 300. Image: Daimler Truck

Based on the M ClassicSpace cabs, the two test trucks are 4x2 rigids with a tare of approximately 10 tonnes. Image: Daimler Truck

Daimler’s eServices. It extends to financing, not only of the EV itself, but all areas associated with running it, for example power delivery and other infrastructure.

With some controversy surrounding lithium-ion batteries and Teslas seeming propensity to catch fire, it is worth noting that Daimler have gone to the extreme in battery safety management systems.

The high voltage system

can be shut down manually by the driver from within the cabin and this is backed by a number of automatic safeguards.

Each battery has an individual management system that fully controls all of its functions, making it incredibly safe and efficient. Then there are various sensors which will, for example, disconnect the high voltage in the case of a side-on impact.

Along with these are all

The eAxle is a clever use of space. Image: Graham Harsant

the Actros safety features that feature across the range: Lane Keeping Assist, Stability Control, Roll Control, Advanced Emergency Braking – the list goes on.

The EVs also add an Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System that sounds when the truck travels at speeds up to 25km/h, this to make other road users aware of its presence (I didn’t hear it from inside the cab).

Continued on page 22

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22 TEST DRIVE

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Comfort in the extreme

From page 20 NOW it’s time to play. Climb into the cab, foot on the brake and press start. Silence? Well, not quite, but damn close.

The air-con comes on and that is the loudest noise you’re going to hear until you use the indicator. Unnoticeable in a diesel truck, I reckon they could drop its decibels by 50 per cent and then some.

Talking of 50 per cent, that is the stated decibel reduction in the cab – at least, I’d say.

Moving off and driving is positively eerie, such are the sounds of silence. I recorded some conversation with Mercedes-Benz Trucks product expert Noel Griffiths riding shotgun and was amazed all over again when I played it back later.

This is the place to spend the day in busy traffic and get out refreshed at the end of the day – as I was. Regenerative power back into the batteries is by braking and the five-stage ‘intarder’ on the steering column. It takes but 10 minutes to forget about the foot pedal and pull to a virtual stop just using this wear-free brake. I was told by Noel that the truck will actually regenerate more power back into the batteries going downhill that it takes to go up the same hill. So, I tried it – and it’s true. Clever stuff.

Apart from some changes to the dials – you don’t need a

tacho for instance – this is all standard Actros in the interior.

And that is a very good thing.

The truck seems to shrink around you, is a breeze to place on the road and is comfortable in the extreme.

We played around in city traffic, we hurtled (quietly) down freeways, we climbed hills much more quickly than any equivalent truck, we won all the traffic light drags against those same trucks by a country mile - not the best way to conserve the eJuice, but a heap of fun – and we tried out some country roads.

The eActros 300 4x2 does its job superbly. Daimler tell me that the interest from prospective customers is intense and will no doubt increase when the eActros 300 4x2 prime mover becomes available later in the year.

These will be joined by the 300 6x2 Dual Tyre, eEconic 300 6x2 Single Tyre and Dual Tyre variants. Later this decade we will see the eActros 600 LongHaul and H2 Fuel cell and ICE powered trucks.

Fifteen years ago we’d be hard pressed even dreaming of electric transport in the heavy vehicle sector, but it’s here. I’m excited to see what the next 15 years will bring.

Better make that 10 years, Daimler; I’m not getting any younger. Karl Benz would be pretty proud, I reckon.

We won all the traffic light drags by a country mile.

The mirror cam ups the ante in clarity and depth perception.

Everything about the truck is comfort in the extreme.

The two validation trucks are 4x2 rigids.

Used cooking oil powering Cleanaway trucks

The cooking oil powered trucks will operate out of Cleanaway’s depot in Dandenong, Victoria. Images: Cleanaway

TWO Cleanaway trucks have begun using a renewable diesel called HVO100, a fossil fuel alternative made from used cooking oil.

The trial, launched on February 2, will include a City of Casey Volvo FE 2020 council truck and a Volvo FM11 front lift organics collections vehicle that services Coles Supermarkets in South-East Melbourne, among other customers.

These trucks will operate out of Cleanaway’s Perry Road Depot in Dandenong, Victoria.

As Coles general manager of sustainability, Brooke Donnelly, explained, “Thanks to this partnership with Cleanaway one of their trucks that collects organic waste at our stores in South-East Melbourne will run on a fossil fuel alternative made from used cooking oil for the next six months.

“It’s an excellent example of how we’re working with our suppliers to create a more sustainable future and achieve our sustainability ambitions.”

According to Cleanaway, the cooking oil fuel product reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 91 per cent.

Cleanaway is using Neste’s ‘Neste MY Renewable Diesel’, made exclusively from used cooking oil.

The business says that the drop-in renewable diesel requires no infrastructure modification and minimal capital investment.

Neste is an established HVO100 manufacturer with over 15 years’ experience in the European and American markets and a commitment to sourcing 100 per cent renewable and traceable raw material.

“Neste is very pleased that this demonstration kicks-off

at a time when the Australian government is carrying out a consultation to revise the Fuels Quality Standard to recognise renewable diesel as a fuel that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Neste head of public affairs Asia Pacific Steven Bartholomeusz.

“We hope that data from this demonstration project can provide insights into how renewable diesel can reduce emissions from heavy transport and industry.”

Following the August 2023 acquisition of AEO Scanline, Cleanaway is now collecting and processing used cooking oil and supplying this as feedstock to Neste, among other end-markets.

Speaking of the trials, City of Casey chair of administrators Noelene Duff added, “The City of Casey is proud to support Cleanaway with the launch of the kerbside collection vehicle

powered using low-carbon, diesel alternatives. We encourage our community to keep an eye out for the bright blue truck operating exclusively on used cooking oil as it drives throughout Casey.

HVO100 is a scalable option for fleet decarbonisation that maintains performance and payload. Cleanaway has been working with its fuelling partner, Viva Energy, on new and emerging solutions. In addition to HVO100, Cleanaway will add two hydrogen rubbish trucks to its fleet as part of Viva Energy’s New Energies Service Station, which are expected to be operating in Geelong before the end of the year.

Speaking about the move, Cleanaway managing director

and CEO Mark Schubert said, “We’re launching our HVO100 demonstration, with two vehicles powered by this 100 per cent traceable and circular fuel, that will emit up to 91 per cent less greenhouse gas than regular fossil diesel. The use of HVO100 in Cleanaway trucks is part of our Blueprint 2030 strategy to reduce the carbon impact of our operations and increase circularity from the material we collect.”

Cleanaway says it will use the insights gained through the demonstration to work in partnership with the Australian government, customers, and key partners to identify barriers and create a pathway for the scaling of HVO100 that addresses budget, operational and regulatory priorities.

Cleanaway’s head of corporate affairs Mark Biddulph and Coles general manager of sustainability Brooke Donnelly.

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24 EVENTS

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Quality and quantity on show at big Koroit event

BY GRAHAM HARSANT

ONE of the nice drives out of Melbourne is to head southwest by Geelong along the Great Ocean Road – or the Princes Highway if time is of the essence – past the historic bluestone fences, through the seaside city of Warrnambool and arriving at the relatively sleepy Irish village of Koroit.

Worth a visit any time of the year for its pubs, bakery and fish and chip shop alone, as well as the Irish Festival held at the end of April, Koroit becomes a mecca on the Australia Day weekend for any truck aficionado.

The Koroit Truck Show may not be the biggest, but to these eyes it is certainly up there with the best. Every year the quality of trucks attending seems to rise to new levels. Given the prize pool is valued at over $45,000 – unmatched by any other show – this should come as no surprise.

The Geelong-based Cornwill brothers, Wayne, Troy and Rick discovered the show a few years back and have been staunch advocates ever since, winning multiple awards along the way. This year they brought along four of their magic rigs, including their amazing new SAR Legend (the subject of an

EVERY YEAR THE QUALITY OF TRUCKS ATTENDING SEEMS TO RISE TO NEW LEVELS.” GRAHAM HARSANT

upcoming Big Rigs story), and won an award for each of the trucks plus the Best Fleet.

They didn’t win the big one though!

There can be only one winner of Truck of The Show, but that winner can do it more than once. And so it was the case this year with

Andrew Derham’s V8 Mack Value-Liner backing up from 2023, and taking it out again against some incredibly stiff competition.

We congratulate Andrew on his superb presentation of the truck. Wonder if he can perform a hat trick? If you’ve not been to Koroit, put it on you must-do list. Richard Allen, Graeme Morris and the committee do a sterling job of presenting a show that goes ahead leaps and bounds each year in the quality of trucks presented. With a share of $45K in prizes up for grabs, why wouldn’t you be there?

Duells Furniture Removalists showed off their fleet.

All the winners on the day. See category details below. Images: Graham Harsant

The Cornwills won just about everything except the big one.

The winners

Rig of the Show Winner: Andrew Derham Best Crane/Tow Truck Winner: Whitehauls Transport Runner Up: Brent Price Best Restored Vintage Winner: Andrew Derham Prime Working Mover 0-1 year Winner: Barney Jakes Runner Up: Adam Clark Winner for the second year in a row, Andrew Derham with his Mack Value-Liner.

Robert Rawlings won an award for travelling the furthest to attend the show in his 1979 Atkinson.

Prime Mover 1 to 5 years Winner: Rick Cornwill Runner Up: Dylan Campbell Prime Mover 5 to 10 years Winner: Jeremy Jardine Prime Mover 10 to 15 years Winner: Rick Cornwill Runner Up: Whitehaul Transport Prime Mover 15 to 20 years Winner: Rick Cornwill

Daniel Goodrope and his son, Taj in front of a 2020 K200 owned

by Condoluci Transport.

Graeme Moore and young Niklaus in front of a 2015 T909 owned by Merrett Logging.

Prime Mover over 20 years Winner: Colin McDonald Runner Up: Andrew Derham Best Rigid Winner: Jason Duell Runner Up: Buddha Campbell Best Rigid Tipper Winner: Jack Blazely Runner Up: Toby Sheedy Best Customised Winner: Damian Toms Runner Up: Paul Neal Best European Winner: Jayden Barlett Runner Up: Lane Transport Best Japanese Winner: Jayden Barlett Runner Up: John Mahony Best American Winner: Jed Clark Runner Up: Josh Orchard Best Farm Truck Winner: Ethan Sawyer Runner Up: McCosker Trucking

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26 READER RIGS

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Reader Rigs proudly supported by

Matt Langley sent us this shot - “bush bashing” on the Numbulwar Rd, NT.

Share your truck pics to win with Shell Rimula

SHELL Rimula has partnered with Big Rigs in a big way – so there’s even more reasons to send in your best truck shots.

Each month, the Big Rigs team will choose a #PicOfTheMonth, with the lucky winner receiving a $500 Shell Coles Express Gift Card.

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!

Michael Roels sent us this shot of his wife’s K200 on its way to get another load from Burraga, NSW.

Josh Quinn snapped this as he was loaded up with hay, heading towards Rockhampton.

Tom Charlton took this great snap in Brendale, QLD just after the rain.

Thanks to John Davis for this amazing shot, “playing around with the new Christmas present” at the Great Australian Bight.

Brock Gladman snapped this great shot, showing off an “old school cool” W model from Mcintosh Transport.

Cameron O’Hara sent in this cool pic, taken while tipping off grain at a feed lot.

READER RIGS 27

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024

When the going gets tough, truckies keep everyone going

David Wall snapped this fantastic shot at Winton, Queensland.

Emma Courtney shared this awesome shot, snapped at the Heathwood pads before the rain caught up with her.

We love this snap from Brendan Nicholas, dark and gloomy on the Adelaide Road at Nhill.

Kayla Chappell took this awesome shot on the Stuart Highway in the NT.

Adam Mello sent us this great snap, loading sheep at sunrise at Nundroo spelling yards, SA

Thanks to Jake Green for this stunning photo taken on a chilly morning out the back of Oberon, NSW.

Andrew Page took this ripper pic at Chittering on the Great Northern Highway, WA.

28 EVENTS

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Email kayla.walsh@primecreative.com.au with your event details

Mark these in your diary

HERE are a few major trucking events happening near you to mark in your diary.

JANUARY The Gulgong Show Society Beaut All Vehicle Show February 17, 2024 Gulgong Showground, NSW gulgongshow.org.au A host of new and old trucks, utes, cars, bikes and machinery will be on display at the Gulgong Showground next month. The Turtle Woods Memorial B&S Display will also be on show, with attractions including live entertainment, comedy duck races, an animal nursery, rodeo, wood chop and more. Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for seniors and $5 for children and tickets are available online here. For more information call Rooster Andrews on 0408 615 341.

Walcha Antique Machinery and Truck Show February 17-18, 2024 Walcha Showground, NSW Facebook: Walcha Antique Machinery and Truck Show Walcha Antique Machinery and Truck Show is hosted by Oxley Riders and includes

The White Hill Truck Drivers Memorial will take place in March.

Image: Simon James Passehl Photography

a tractor trek, street parade, vintage – trucks, bikes, cars, engines, chainsaws and more.

Late model trucks and forestry machinery, a tractor pull, market stalls, food stalls and kids’ corner.

Camp Quality Geelong Convoy February 18, 2024 Beckley Park, VIC campquality.org.au Camp Quality’s Convoy Geelong is a fun way for anyone who drives a truck or motorbike to show their support for kids and families experiencing the challenging realities of a cancer diagnosis. The convoy

will travel a 43km route, starting and finishing at Beckley Park, taking in Lara, Corio, Waurn Ponds and Geelong.

Attendees can also look forward to a Show and Shine, with rides and entertainment taking place throughout the day.

Livestock Bulk and Rural Carriers Association Conference February 23-24, 2024 Wagga Wagga, NSW lbrca.org.au The annual LBRCA conference, held at the Range Clay Target Shooting Range and Function Centre, is a gathering of fellow truck owners and driv-

The Lockhart Heritage Truck Show is coming back for its 15th year. Image: Lockhart Heritage Truck Show

ers, government, suppliers and industry representatives to focus on the needs of rural and regional heavy vehicle transporters. Issues range from unfair infringements and regulation to unsafe loading and unloading facilities. Attendees can also expect a trade exhibition, the Young Driver of the Year Award presentation, Gala Dinner and Auction Spectacular.

Truck & Bike Show is coming back, with live music, trophies, door prizes and much more.

Running from 10am to 2pm, it promises fun for all the family. Entry is $20 per car and truck, $10 per bike and free for the general public, with funds raised going towards the Isabella and Marcus Paediatric Brainstem Tumour fund. Trade stands welcome.

Craigieburn Car, Truck & Bike Show Feb 25, 2024 Craigieburn Central, VIC facebook.com/ craigieburncentral Craigieburn’s ninth annual Car,

MARCH White Hill Truck Drivers’ Memorial March 2, 2024 Murray Bridge, SA facebook.com/WhiteHillTruckDriversMemorial

The White Hill Truck Drivers Memorial, which was previously held in November, has changed its date to better suit local grain carters. A convoy of trucks will depart from BP Wingfield at 8.30am, to proceed to White Hill (via the East Bound Parking Bay). A service honouring truck drivers who have lost their lives will then take place at the White Hill Truck Drivers’ Memorial Wall at 11am. This year organisers are delighted to bring back the truck show and family fun day, with lots of entertainment for young and old alike.

Lockhart Heritage Truck Show March 2, 2024 Lockhart Showground, NSW facebook.com/LockhartTruckShow The Lockhart Heritage Truck Show is coming back for its 15th year at the Lockhart Showground. Incorporating the National Historic Truck and Commercial Vehicle show, its focus in 2024 will be supporting the health and well-being of truck drivers, in conjunction with OzHelp Foundation.

In addition to the display of

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EVENTS 29

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024

Email kayla.walsh@primecreative.com.au with your event details

historic trucks and other vehicles, the fun will continue on into the evening with a Country Concert until dark. Prizes will be awarded on the day and there is no entry fee for exhibitors. For registrations and further information, contact Peter Smith 0458 422 808 or Trevor Slater 0407 513 974.

Tasmanian Truck Owners & Operators Annual Truck Run March 3, 2024 Longford Showground, TAS facebook.com/ Tasmaniantruckowners andoperatorsassociation The Tasmanian Truck Owners & Operators Annual Truck Run is back this March, heading from Glebe to Longford Showgrounds. Join in the fun and help raise some much-needed funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Tasmania.

QTA Diversity in Transport Breakfast March 6, 2024 Hillstone, St Lucia Golf Links, QLD qta.com.au After 12 years of the QTA International Women’s Day Breakfast, the association is making a change, launching a new event to project the growing diversity in the transport and logistics workforce. The QTA Diversity in Transport Breakfast will feature a professionally facilitated

Heath Rice previously won Truck of the Day at the Tasmanian Truck Owners and Operators Annual Truck Run. Image: Tasmanian Truck Owners and Operators

panel of speakers, who will share their personal experiences and insights. Speakers include Bronwen Howell (Director of the VE Group, 2023 QTA Trucking Woman of the Year) and Drew Hipwood (Manager of Corporate Affairs, IOR).

Tickets are $88 per person or $670 for a table of eight.

Clunes Historic Vehicle Show March 10, 2024 Clues Showgrounds, VIC Facebook: HCVC Ballarat Branch Organised by the Historic Commercial Vehicle Club Australia (Ballarat branch) and held at the Clunes Showgrounds from 9am to 4pm, this event is open to vehicles over 25 years old. The show has something for everyone,

The Oaklands Truck Show promises fun for all the family. Image: Oaklands Truck Show

with a vast array of vintage and classic vehicles and motoring memorabilia, as well as working displays and food vans.

Entry is $10 for adults, free for children under 16. Camping is also available. For further info contact Murray on 0429 434 306.

Oaklands Truck Show March 16-17, 2024 Oakland Recreation Reserve, NSW Facebook: Oaklands Truck Show The Oaklands Truck Show promises fun for all the family, with car, ute and bike displays on Saturday and a truck show on Sunday, plus kids’ activities, market stalls, raffles, a bar, and live entertainment.

The deadline for truck registration is 9am, March 17 and the

registration fee is $20. Tickets are $15 for adults, free for children under 16. For more info email oaklandsts@hotmail. com or phone Jimmy on 0428 570 325.

Kyabram Mack Muster March 16-17, 2024 Kyabram Showgrounds, VIC Facebook: Kyabram Mack Muster The Kyabram Mack Muster is a must-attend for Mack fans, featuring all Mack models and associated brands, but it’s also open to other truck makes.

There’s free entry for exhibitors, with a Friday BBQ at the showgrounds and a meal at the Kyabram Club with a guest speaker on the Saturday night.

For further details contact Dave Willis on 0428 692 753, John Laffan 0427 484 247 or Tim Daws 0458 868 988.

VTA State Conference March 17-19, 2024 Phillip Island, VIC vta.com.au Technology, artificial intelligence, and cyber-security are just a handful of the issues that are currently impacting the transport industry. This year’s VTA State Conference, held at the Silverwater Resort on Phillip Island, will look ahead and examine Future Freight Landscapes and their consequences for modern freight and logistics operations. Experts from the transport industry, regulators, academia, and the government will be present to inform the discussion. Ticket prices start at $638.

LRTAQ/ALRTA Combined National Conference March 21-23, 2024 The Goods Shed,

Toowoomba, QLD lrtaq.com.au The Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of Queensland (LRTAQ) will be hosting its annual conference in partnership with the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) this March. LRTAQ members, industry members, suppliers, service providers and government representatives are all invited to attend to receive the latest updates, discuss the future of our industry, and enjoy great social events.

WA Mack Muster and Truck Show March 24, 2024 Quarry Farm, Byford, WA mackmuster.com.au The WA Mack Muster and Truck Show brings Mack and other truck model enthusiasts together at the beautiful Quarry Farm in Byford, WA. The grassroots, family-friendly muster experience promises a fun day out with a truck display, food trucks, a kids’ zone, exhibits, local trucking celebrities and more. The committee raises money for cancer research and encourages everyone to get involved.

Have you got an event you’d like included in the next industry calendar? Email all the details to kayla.walsh@ primecreative.com.au

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30 FEATURE

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Truckspotting teens gain following with online fans

BY KAYLA WALSH

ANYONE who has ever been to a truck show will probably have noticed a few ‘truckspotters’ - those people you see roaming around with cameras, snapping pictures of rigs that catch their eye.

In the past few years, there has been a definite increase in amateur truck photography, and more and more youngsters are now getting in the game.

Two teenage truckspotters – 13-year-old Archie Constable from Merriwa, NSW and 16-year-old Riley Turner from Pomona, Queensland – have recently popped up on the scene.

Despite their young age, the truck-mad teens have taught themselves how to take some great snaps, and are quickly gaining traction on social media.

Inspired by truck-driving Pop

Archie Constable’s love for the industry was inspired by his grandfather, who drives a Western Star and sometimes brings his grandson along for the ride.

“I would go for trips with my Pop here and there, and I would always enjoy sitting in the cab, even if I had to work,” he said.

“Pop would tell me interesting stories about his truck driving career and how many trucks he has driven.

“Every trip we did, I would always come home with about 30 videos on my phone.”

When Archie saw a photo of his grandad’s Western Star taken by another truckspotter, he decided he wanted to get in on the action too.

His dad gave him an old camera he had lying around

Archie is always honing his photography skills.

Image: Archie Constable

the house, and he started to take photos of trucks from the side of the Golden Highway in Merriwa.

As it became increasingly clear that photography was something Archie was passionate about, his grandad surprised him with a Canon EOS 200 DSLR Mark II – a major upgrade on his previous camera.

He’s steadily getting better at shooting photos and improving his editing skills, with access to Adobe products like Photoshop and Lightroom thanks to the generosity of a teacher at his school.

He’s also set up a Facebook group, Merriwa Truck Spotter, which now has over 900 members.

“The bus trip to school is about an hour each way, so I use that time for editing purposes,” he said.

“I really enjoy photography and it motivates me to do better and better each day.

“I want to share a special thank you to my mum and dad, my Uncle Rip, Pop, and the rest of my family for being here for every step I take.”

Helping hand from family and community

Queensland teenager Riley Turner also developed an interest in trucks through a family connection.

“I’ve grown up on a farm and my grandfather, my dad and my uncle have all had a bit to do with trucking,” he said.

“My uncle has a Kenworth T909, and before that he had a 904, which was a truck I really liked.”

Riley started out taking photos of trucks on his phone before graduating to a Canon EOS 1500d.

His first major foray into truckspotting was at the Lights on the Hill Memorial event in Gatton, Queensland last year.

Since then, he has taken photos at the Brisbane Convoy 4 Kids, and he plans to attend many more truck shows in 2024.

“I think I’m improving every time I get to have a go at it,” he said.

“Next year I want to get my name out there more, and keep building up my Facebook page, Riley’s Photography.

The 13-year-old took this shot of a Kenworth T950 Legend with a Kenworth C509 pulling a 140-tonne reel of wire. Image: Archie Constable

Archie shares his snaps on his Facebook group, Merriwa Truck Spotter. Image: Archie Constable

“I also want to get to shows like the Casino Truck Show and the Dane Ballinger Memorial Show, and do some more professional shoots with trucks.

“I’m very grateful to my mum and grandad for bringing me to events, because otherwise I wouldn’t be able to go.”

Riley finds most truckies are very approachable, and happy to let him take photos of their rig.

He has also received plenty of help and advice from more experienced truckspotters, for which he is grateful.

“The community is really willing to let people in, share their experience and

help you grow.

“I can message guys like Gotcha By Karl and Dave Hely from DJH Media and they will tell me how I can improve, and the best way to go about editing a photo.

“Not all professions are like that, and it’s pretty amazing. It makes it easy for young people to have a go.”

THE COMMUNITY IS REALLY WILLING TO LET PEOPLE IN, SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE AND HELP YOU GROW.” RILEY TURNER

Riley dreams of becoming a professional photographer one day. Image: Riley Turner

Riley started out taking photos of trucks on his phone before graduating to a Canon EOS 1500d. Image: Riley Turner

The teenager dreams of becoming a professional photographer in the future.

“I love photography because it’s an art form that can capture what words can’t,” he said.

“There are a lot of different styles, and you can always try something new, which makes it really fun.

“If my photography takes off, I would love to pursue it as a career.

“But even if I don’t make any money from photography, I’ll keep truckspotting.

It’s my passion.”

For more great pics go to bigrigs.com.au or search for Merriwa Truck Spotter and Riley’s Photography on Facebook.

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BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024

Smart on-board mass: Is your fleet future-ready?

FleetWEIGH offers an allin-one approach, being the first dual-certified TMA Service Provider with telematics and Smart OBM by TCA. FleetWEIGH offers a simplified, streamlined experience for fleet managers and drivers.

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FleetWEIGH: How it works, visual illustration. Images: WHG

IN the evolving transport sector, exciting developments are set to increase weight limits and road access with the introduction of smart on-board mass (Smart OBM), as road managers grant access to routes approved as suitable that may have previously been unavailable for vehicle types due to identified infrastructure risks.

Smart OBM provides greater assurance to road managers that heavy vehicles are operating within the approved mass limit for that part of the network and on routes that have been approved as suitable for their use. As the transport sector is gearing up for the broader use and adoption of Smart OBM systems becoming a compliance mandate across Australia there are a number of key dates to be

aware of. The question looms: Is your fleet future-ready?

Key compliance dates

Victoria’s deadline for high productivity freight vehicle combinations to adopt Smart OBM has already past (being June 2023), while Queensland and New South Wales compliance dates for eligible vehicles are fast approaching, with the deadline of June 2024 only five months away. These dates are not just markers on a calendar; they are the final calls for action for fleet operators to implement Smart OBM or face the consequences of non-compliance.

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Picking the right technology provider for Smart OBM systems is crucial. You want a partner who not only provides technology but also assures peace of mind with their products and support. As the gap between technology systems like telematics and Smart OBM narrows, it is critical to select technology that scales ensuring you maximise your investment to tackle these mandated requirements.

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Multiple PETRO tanks at a road transport depot. Images: PETRO Industrial

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36 FEATURE

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Prowling the paddocks of

Sue Watson welcomes a modified 2010 Kenworth T358 into her fleet that could be the first in a new line-up of fertiliser spreaders.

BY DAVID VILE

The twin spinners on the rear can cast fertiliser in excess of 40 metres.

“WE have to put the truck through its paces, we have had it set up for just over 12 months, but you need to test it across all the environments we work in.”

The truck Sue Watson is referring to is a 2010 Kenworth T358, which has been modified to operate as a fertiliser spreader in her Watson Agriculture operation working across the Riverina.

While a bonneted Kenworth might not spring to mind as a contender for paddock-based work as opposed to other bands and configurations, the truck has so far been acquitting itself well.

Based in Mathoura, Watson Agriculture services a large geographical area with the haulage and on-farm spreading of fertiliser, with the ‘on road’ fleet of Kenworths backed up by eight paddock spreaders, seven of which are cabover MANs. Looking at maximising servicing turn arounds and maintenance costs led Sue to trialling the T358 in a spreading role, acquiring the Ken-

worth which had previously worked in Melbourne as an agitator.

“The rest of the spreaders are MANs - but the problem is with parts and so forth you have to go to Melbourne so I

thought I would try a Kenworth, and if it goes all right we might replace the MANs down the track.

“With our other Kenworths, we do all local servicing with our own mechanic

The Watson T358 spreader, not your average paddock truck. Images: David Vile

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and the parts that we have there on the shelf, we can get stuff done in our own workshop rather than going to Melbourne.”

The Kenworth, which is Cummins powered and

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FEATURE 37

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024

the Riverina with a T358

has an automatic transmission, had larger hubs fitted which accommodate the 600/50R22.5 ‘floatation’ tyres on the rear end, and an Air CTI tyre inflation system installed.

Comspread Engineering in Violet Town handled the fit-out of the spreader body and on-board scales along with all the GPS telemetry required to distribute the fertiliser, which for the most part comprises of gypsum, lime and urea.

As Sue explained: “It is a standard body that they have put on, complete with the twin spinners on the back, which has a big cast on it.

For urea we will spread at 36 metres to allow proper coverage across the paddock whilst gypsum and lime can vary between 12 and 24 metres.

“Everything is controlled from the cab; I can upload maps onto the screen and alter the rate of spread in different parts of the paddock using the GPS coordinates - its more cost effective for the farmer as you are putting the right amounts of fertiliser where they are needed.”

The Kenworth is also fitted with a tow ball as it usually pulls a trailer with a JCB for loading the fertiliser out in the paddock.

Both on and off-road Sue

Watson Agriculture managing director Sue Watson with the Kenworth.

reckons the Kenworth has been up to the task.

“It will sit on 90 k’s on the road and it actually rides quite well on the road without a lot of road noise considering the tyre size, and obviously they work well in the paddock and the manoeuvrability is not too bad with the short bonnet.

“It is a little heavier than the MANs so there is more chance of getting bogged but in terms on useability on some of the bigger jobs we do its fine.”

The Kenworth is painted in the new corporate colours of the Watson Agriculture enterprise, with blue being

the primary colour across the ‘on-highway’ fleet which also saw the recent arrival of a T659.

“All our highway trucks are tippers with a mix of A-doubles and B-doubles.

“I also have a float and dolly as that’s my hobby, I love doing a bit of heavy haulage,” she said with a smile.

“I have rebranded the business to Watson Agriculture with the navy blue. I want the trucks to be a marketing tool, but I want them to also be easy for the driver to look after.

“It’s alright to have the bling and chrome but with the work we do on-farm and the dirt roads we run it’s hard to keep them clean.”

With the headquarters at Mathoura and depots at Deniliquin, Echuca and Wakool, the Watson operation works across to Swan Hill and Hay and down into the Goulburn Valley and central Victoria, along with a client base in south-western Victoria.

As agriculture and transport go hand-in hand, the floods in 2022 across a large part of Victoria has had an impact on both agricultural production along with considerable damage to infrastructure, which has a flowon effect.

“The roads are shocking, the damage that is being done to trucks by these big potholes, it is going to cost a lot of money to fix the roads now,” she said.

Following a visit to the Brisbane Truck Show last year, Sue reckoned she was considering investigating in the next few years the potential of electric trucks being used as spreaders but they would have to be fit for the task.

“There’s no way I would have an electric truck in a

large [on-highway] scale but I might pursue seeing if one could be used as a spreader it would need to be practical, I don’t want to be half-way through doing a paddock with rain coming and have the batteries go flat.”

In the meantime, the T359 will continue to work and be measured up against the MANs and keep working its way across paddocks for some time yet.

“It’s a test bed and we will see how it goes but it has been a pretty good thing.”

600/50R22.5 tyres on the rear with an Air CTI inflation system.

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38 HALL OF FAME

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Honouring our trucking legends xx Furniture removalist looks back on 50 special years

Allan Duell comes out from under the radar to celebrate a memorable milestone with his induction into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame.

BY AINSLEIGH BILATO

LAST year will be remembered by Allan Duell and his team at Duell’s Furniture Removals as a year of celebration, accomplishment, and reminiscence.

Achieving a feat that few business owners are fortunate, or indeed unflagging, enough to reach, Allan commemorates 50 years of service.

“I just can’t believe how the time has gone by,” Allan says.

“To be upfront, I think, because I like what I do, you don’t think about the time. It goes so quick.”

Allan’s impressive contributions to the transport industry were recognised through his induction into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Alice Springs’ National Road Transport Museum.

At the induction, which caught Allan by surprise, he remarked to his wife, Sandra, that he had managed to make it 50 years in the industry largely under the radar. She reassured him: “They see you, alright!”

Allan’s introduction to the transport industry came through his father, Jack, who owned a contract sawmill.

Allan came to appreciate the role that transport played in building, economically and literally, his home of Mount Gambier, South Australia.

In 1964, aged 15, Allan left school to drive his father’s truck. The International, loaded with timber, would be the first of many trucks that Allan would come to drive.

By age 18, Allan was working for Schweppes, delivering drinks to the businesses of South-eastern South Australia and Western Victoria. At 22,

Allan, behind the wheel of a Bedford, was delivering for Coca-Cola.

In 1973, a newly married Allan sought the next challenge in his career.

“My dad said that if I was ever going to be in business on my own, I needed to do it while I was younger,” Allan remembers.

“That way, if it didn’t work out, I could at least get on with other things.”

Allan and Sandra opened a local delivery service, freighting goods from both passenger and goods trains that reached Mount Gambier from Kingston, Adelaide and, later, Melbourne.

An undependable Commer van handled mail bags from post offices to rail during the week, both morning and afternoon, while larger jobs, such as containers of groceries and dry goods bound for local shops, were left to a Bedford that came with the contract.

As the railway system expanded, Allan was contracted to transport the furniture of the transferring railway staff. An Isuzu TK with a pantechnicon body was added to the expanding fleet, allowing the business to explore increasing opportunities for furniture removal in Mount Gambier.

Allan also carted goods for Target Australia, first from the rail to the Mount Gambier store and, later, from the Target Distribution Centre in Altona, Victoria, to stores in Colac, Warrnambool, and Mount Gambier. With nine loads a fortnight, Allan held this contract for 15 years.

“Working with Target Australia was a really big help,” Allan says. “I think in the transport game you need to have a

Allan and wife Sandra have many special memories.

Allan Duell, centre, with Nick Lubransky and Frank Bilato.

bit of luck that you get some company or contract that you have for several years and gets you established. Target made our business at the time.”

With three new Isuzu JCRs, Duell’s Furniture Removals was established. Quickly gaining a reputation as “the Gentlemen of Moving”, Allan and his team have garnered contacts in all capital cities in Australia.

Today, Duell’s Furniture Removals has a fleet of approximately 14 vehicles, three of which are new Kenworths delivered in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

“That’s been a real proud moment for the business”.

“The boys say they’re getting sick of people staring at their trucks when they’re travelling,” Allan jokes.

Although Allan runs a varied fleet, with a range of Isuzus, Volvos and Kenworths, there is one thing all his trucks have in common: their eye-catching purple colour.

“In those days, trucks were red or green,” remembers Allan. “So, when I went around to my dad’s place and I said, ‘I’m going to paint this truck purple’.

He said, ‘If you paint that truck purple, you may as well close your business now because you’ll never have any customers’.”

Refusing to heed his father’s warning, Allan and his purple truck were the talk of the railway.

“In about a month’s time, I went around to dad’s place, and he said, ‘If you’ve painted that truck purple, I don’t want to see it’.

“As soon as he saw it, he said, ‘You’re going to lose everything’.”

Looking back, Allan says, “It was a bit of a laugh, and now it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. Everyone recognises the colour.”

Allan’s purple trucks have accompanied him on countless

Allan is still an integral part of the operation.

trips across Australia, but several memorable ones. A Mount Gambier local once phoned Allan and asked, “Do you cart planes?”.

“I thought he was having me on for starters but then he got really serious”.

Despite Allan’s insistence that he couldn’t move a plane, the caller reiterated that Allan’s reputation for efficient and damage-free transport was what he needed for this move.

That was how Allan came to spend a weekend moving a plane, albeit dismantled.

“That would be the most unusual load that I’ve ever delivered!”

Allan also tells of delivering furniture to a dugout in Coober Pedy. The underground home did not have power and so Allan recounts the difficulty of moving the furniture in the dark.

Used to the straight passages offered by his traditional delivery locations, the jagged rocks

that made up the walls of the dugout presented a challenge for Allan and his team. Leaving with only a minor hand injury, Allan jokes, “it was definitely a unique experience.”

With 50 years of experience, Allan offers some sage advice for transport operators hoping to own their own business.

“I would recommend you start small and don’t be overconfident. Everyone in transport has felt the highs and lows and you need to be comfortable that you’re not overcommitting yourself financially.”

Today, while Allan isn’t behind the wheel as often, he is still an integral part of the dayto-day operation of the business.

His son, Jason, is the operations manager and Allan is positive that Duell’s Furniture Removals is in competent hands.

“It’s like anything – if you’re passionate enough about it and you get the opportunity, you’re going to make it work.”

The distinctive Duell’s fleet has always got plenty of attention thanks to the eye-catching purple. Image: Allan Duell

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40 TRUCKIE PROFILES

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Two-day party for milestone It’s a good life for this truckie

BY ALF WILSON

FOR more than four decades, Andy Barra has owned and run his popular roadhouse just south of Ingham in north Queensland.

Barra celebrated his 80th birthday on September 2 last year and still works daily at Andy’s Roadhouse, along with driving his 1979 Mack around the district.

“It was a big party and went on for two days. I just loved it,” Barra told me.

Two of the guests at the party were MP’s Bob Katter and Nick Dametto.

“Happy 80th birthday to the man, the myth, and the legend. You have achieved so much in this lifetime with much more to come I’m sure, but the true measure of success is the family and friends that surround you,” Dametto said.

One of the questions I ask every truckie I interview at random weekly is about their favourite roadhouse.

Numerous mention Andy’s and they have been based as far away as WA, SA, Victoria, NSW and the NT and had been travelling through the north.

When I was down in Tasmania recently a couple who had previously worked in the tropics asked me if Andy was still around.

The truckies I have spoken to about Barra have been

IT was freezing cold when Jamie Van Essen, 51, pulled up in his 1989 Mitsubishi Canter at High Clare Roadhouse in Tasmania at around 11am.

The owner operator runs his business Corebuild and Construction based at Somerset, which is beside the Bass Highway in northern Tassie.

“I travel mostly in the area to Burnie, Wynyard and other places and it is a good life,” he said.

The temperature was

around six degrees and another driver said that just up the road at Waratah it was much colder and snowing.

“I enjoy the weather and for eight years was at Bundaberg in Queensland where it got very hot,” he said.

Van Essen said he often stopped at the roadhouse when travelling the Ridgley and Murchison Highways for work.

“It is always good food and they open up very early in the morning,” he said.

Hard working Van Essen had also been employed at a mine in Queenstown, Tasmania, for some time.

A Richmond Tigers supporter in the AFL, Van Essen is also into caravan travelling.

“I intend to go to WA for six months later on in the van,” he said.

Van Essen said he couldn’t nominate a really bad road in the Apple Isle. “They are all pretty good, at least the ones I get on,” he said.

80-year-old Andy Barra still works daily at the roadhouse.

Images: Alf Wilson

glowing in their praise for this gentleman who is one of the best known identities at Ingham, which is 110km north of Townsville.

He is friendly, always up for a chat and serves up good food including what many describe as amongst the best burgers in the country.

“I do get plenty of good comment about our burgers,” Barra said.

A community-minded citizen, Barra also sponsors

events and runs a well attended country and western entertainment event at the roadhouse; as well as a boxing tournament.

Now that Barra has entered his eighties, I had to ask him what were amongst the biggest changes he has seen over the decades in the industry. “A lot of the older drivers used to stop here but not so anymore. Sadly many have passed away,” he said in conclusion.

Owner-operator Jamie Van Essen and his trusty 1989 Mitsubishi Canter.

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TRUCKIE PROFILES 41

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024

Truckie reels in a beauty

Tasmanian owner-operator Daniel Mayne runs Tas-X Contracting.

SQUID hunter is an apt description of Tasmanian owner-operator Daniel Mayne who is based at Mornington near Hobart.

Mayne, 32, runs Tas-X Contracting and I saw him parked behind the Ampol Mood Food Roadhouse at Kempton.

He was checking out the load on his 2007 Western Star Constellation.

“I have a Komatsu excavator to take to Oatlands and have had the business for the past five years,” he said.

Like other operators, Mayne said rising fuel prices were hurting him and pointed out that diesel that day was $2.29 a litre.

“It is garbage and our biggest expense. It wasn’t too bad

when the prices eased a while back,” he said.

He likes stopping at the Mood Food because it has plenty of parking and good food.

Mayne said that he found Acton Road in Hobart as challenging to drive on but added the large number of roadworks along the Midlands Highway caused delays.

Outside work Mayne enjoys spending time with family and his children aged three and five are his pride and joy.

An avid squid fisherman, he recently had luck off Maria Island where he caught 16 squids, including one monster which was 410mm down the hood.

“The rings which came off it were like fan belts and it

made good eating,” he said.

I told Mayne that I had caught many squid off Magnetic Island in the tropics over the years but nothing anywhere near as big as that one.

This friendly truckie sent me a picture, see above, of him holding the giant squid to prove it was not a “fishy story”.

Mayne then walked into the roadhouse to get a copy of the latest Big Rigs and gave me a warm wave as he drove away.

Coincidentally, I later saw Mayne at a Lavender Farm eatery at Port Arthur which is 100km from Hobart along the Arthur Highway.

I had stopped there and again yarned to Mayne who said he was going camping with his family.

‘Booze run’: Cheers to that!

IT was just after 7am on a freezing morning when I saw Kerry Byard unloading alcohol from his Kenworth T909 to a hotel in the main street of remote Strahan in southwest Tasmania.

There were no thoughts of this driver whom I had never met being a “cool truckie”.

Perhaps “cold driver” would be a more apt description.

I pulled up across from Byard and asked would he mind if I snapped his pic and have a yarn to him about his work.

This friendly 52-year-old was delighted to have a chat and said he is a small fleet operator who runs three trucks from his Burnie base “I do this weekly and it is called the booze run to Strahan. I have 12 kegs of beer and two pallets of other alcohol,” he said Considering it was just two degrees and very chilly I asked Byard how people in Strahan would want so much cold alcohol at pubs.

“It goes down well especially when you sit near the heater or fire,” he said.

Tourist town Strahan is located in Tasmania’s southwest and Byard’s company is West Coast Freight Line.

He showed me a map on his phone which displayed all of the places around Tasmania he had delivered to in recent times.

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ported freight and livestock all around the state. Byard also goes across Bass Strait to transport livestock from Melbourne under a contract from a Victorian company.

His Kenworth T909 is powered by a 550hp motor and has an 18-speed road range gearbox.

“It is fairly new and has just 66,000km on the clock,” he said.

The Tasmanian roadhouses he likes stopping at include Sassafras, Detention River and Rocky Cape along the Bass Highway.

“We carry potatoes out of

Smithton towards the end of the Bass Highway,” he said.

Byard said most Tasmanian highways were good even though some roadworks along the way held drivers up.

As for the cold, Byard doesn’t mind it and was well rugged up the day I saw him.

This happy truckie then went about helping hotel staff at Strahan to take possession of the alcohol.

It had been wonderful to talk to Byard who I found to be a true gentleman but it was also good to get back into my vehicle with the heater on.

Kerry Byard with the Kenworth T909.

42 COLUMN

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Spy on the Road

with Alf Wilson

Truckie comes to the rescue Truckie rescues stranded van driver

A Perth based railway transport worker was grateful to a truckie who rescued him along the Eyre Highway after he had run out of fuel.

The van driver was returning from Melbourne with his partner after a short holiday with family when they stopped after miscalculating the amount of fuel they would need.

He was armed with a jerry can and walked for two hours to get to a fuel outlet and started hitchhiking back to the van when the truckie gave him a lift.

It was a welcome sight to see the truck pull up.

This had been a trip plagued by incidents as earlier the caravan was off the road in Adelaide after the starter motor failed.

And after the fuel dilemma, the van man hit a giant kangaroo which caused a lot of damage.

Safer highway after roadworks

Now that roadworks have been completed on the stretch of the Flinders Highway from the outskirts of Townsville to the approaches of Charters Towers, it is much safer for traffic.

The numerous roadworks had caused severe delays on a route used by many big trucks including triples and quads.

Whilst that section of the Flinders is about 120km in length, most of it now had a speed limit of 110km/h. That drops to 100km/h on short sections which is the legal speed limit for trucks.

Numerous truckies had told Spy that since the roadworks were finished it was much safer to negotiate, at least on that section.

So I checked it out twice in mid January on the way to and from the Goldfield Ashes cricket carnival at Charters Towers.

They were proven correct and it was actually a pleasure to drive along – unlike the old days.

There is a good roadhouse at Calcium about 50km from Townsville and the once notorious Mingela Range section which has claimed many lives due to accidents is wide and has passing lanes.

Just past Mingela, about

47km from Charters Towers, there is a good rest area with parking space for trucks, toilets, and tables and chairs under shade.

Then up the highway closer to the Towers is the Burdekin Duck Roadhouse where lots of drivers stop.

Having praised this as much safer these days, I have to qualify this by pointing out that the remainder of the Flinders Highway heading towards Mount Isa is not so good.

Parts of it are rough and up and down, especially between Hughenden and Richmond, and of course there are narrow bridges.

Monitors on historic bridge

Since Spy did a feature story on bicentennial celebrations for the historic Richmond Bridge in Tasmania reports have come my way that authorities have placed load monitoring devices on it to check on trucks crossing it.

There is a 25t load limit on the bridge and I am told some truck drivers have been infringed for crossing it with heavier vehicles.

I contacted the Tasmanian Department of State Growth for a comment and a spokesperson replied, “The historic Richmond Bridge is the oldest existing stone arch bridge in Australia and one of Tasmania’s most iconic structures.

“As the bridge is vulnerable to vibrations from heavy vehicles, the speed limit across the bridge is 30 kilometres per hour and there’s a load limit of 25 tonnes gross. To prolong the lifespan of the bridge, the Department of State Growth maintains the structure according to a Conservation Management Plan.

“As part of this plan we’ve installed vibration meters on the bridge which give us real time data to help us monitor the structural integrity of the bridge and prevent any problems before they happen. We also do routine visual inspections, where we examine the bridge, assess any defects, and recommend any repairs.

“To measure vibration, we have installed an accelerometer on each of the four main arches. The primary function of the monitoring is to track vibration trends over time to identify the potential for is-

The remote Aileron Roadhouse is located 134km north of Alice Springs. Images: Alf Wilson

Richmond Bridge, which has load limit monitors on it.

sues to arise and address them early. If excessive vibration is detected in a particular arch, we can review video footage and do a targeted inspection.

Vibration data can also assist in early detection of defects such as cracking in the arches or loss of mortar.”

NT roadhouse

The remote Aileron Roadhouse, which is located 134km north of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, is a welcome and popular stop for truckies.

Numerous drivers have told me they like stopping off there because the staff are friendly, and the food is tasty and reasonably priced.

Located along the Stuart Highway, the only buildings at Aileron are the roadhouse and a nearby station.

I spoke to worker Kylie Malone there on January 29 and she said about 30 trucks stop there regularly.

“One just pulled up out the front now and many are repeat customers,” she commented.

I asked her what the favourite food for hungry truckies was, and she said many who stop off in the morning opt for the big breakfast.

“They can have a variety such as bacon, eggs cooked how they want, and hash browns. During the day some like steak and onion sandwiches or rump with veggies or salad,” she said.

The roadhouse is open from 6.30am until 7.30pm seven days a week.

Many of the drivers are travelling from Adelaide or Melbourne to Darwin and stop there for a free shower and to use the toilets.

You can’t miss the Aboriginal sculptures standing on the hilltop next to the roadhouse.

These are sculptures of the Anmatjere Man and Anmatjere Woman and child.

Dry skin relief

Numerous truckies Spy speaks to suffer from dry skin or eczema.

These are common conditions where your skin becomes dry, itchy and easily irritated.

Many of the lads I have spoken to drop into a chemist and purchase one of the many moisturisers on the market.

If it persists a trip to the doctor could result in being prescribed a steroid cream.

A veteran driver who has suffered from the condition for decades was advised that to ease the condition he should rub olive oil onto the affected areas.

At first he was sceptical however after several uses he reckons it worked wonders.

He told Spy it even removed the peeling sections of dry skin.

Rusty old truck earns its keep

There is a rusty old truck just off the highway at Sellheim in north Queensland which has long been retired and deregistered but is still proving to be a nice little earner.

On the back of the truck you will find huge watermelons which sell for $5.

There is no person there to collect the money, which buyers place in a small box under a trust system.

I stopped there recently and picked up two of the melons which proved to be very tasty.

Several others stopped and also bought one or two.

In these tough financial times, this is a big saving for melon lovers who have to pay

The rusty old truck at Sellheim is still an earner from watermelons.

Trucks travelling along the much safer Flinders Highway between Charters Towers and Townsville.

up to $2 a kilo for pieces at some supermarkets.

These melons would weigh around 12kg and are very juicy. Obviously they must be grown at a nearby farm.

Sellheim is located 24km east of Charters Towers and is a sleepy town these days, near the mighty Burdekin River.

It once was the location for WWII military and had been a home to many young Australians making their way to or from the fighting in New Guinea.

You will see numerous other old trucks there.

Truck at airport shop

First time visitors travelling through Launceston Airport in Tasmania are surprised to see an old but flashy truck located in a shop near the departure lounge.

I was there recently and snapped pics of the green truck which has Austin of England printed on one side.

I asked one of the workers at the Launceston Store and was told it had come from a property in NSW. It would have been a logistical nightmare to get the old vehicle into the shop.

But it has become a genuine tourist attraction.

Near-miss on a oneway street

A veteran driver was heading along a one-way street on the way to making a delivery when an idiot on an e-scooter was moving towards him.

It was on a corner with no visibility and for a split second the truckie feared he was going to have a head on with the scooter.

And that would have result-

The 25t gross load limit sign at an end of the Richmond Bridge.

ed in the younger fellow being seriously injured or even killed.

To make matters worse the scooter rider wasn’t even wearing a helmet.

Luckily the scooter daredevil swerved and narrowly missed the truck and even issued a tirade of abuse at the truckie who was not speeding and doing nothing illegal.

The truckie told Spy he was severely traumatised by the near miss and reflected if it had ended in a tragedy the police would have arrived and investigated the matter.

GPS tracker curiosity

Curiosity reigned supreme when a truckie walked into a packed roadhouse eatery with some black tape wrapped around an ankle.

Several whispered that the truckie, who works for a big road transport company, may have been in trouble with the law and had a GPS tracking device on his ankle.

Anyway it was the hot topic of conversation at the packed eatery, although those discussing it were careful not to let the gent hear them.

After about 10 minutes one of the drivers walked over to him and engaged in some idle chatter about road conditions and the standard of the food before popping the big question.

“I noticed the black object on your ankle. Do you have an injury?”

His reply was, “Yes I did sustain an injury and went to a physio and she told me to wrap this rock tape strapping on it and it has worked wonders.”

Another case of looks can be deceiving.

The old Austin of England, located in a shop at Launceston Airport.

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IN CONJUNCTION WITH

44 TRUCKIE PROFILE

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Truckies through Ararat with Darryl Edwards

Striking the right balance between work and family

Dylan Huyton is currently driving a Kenworth K220 for Collins Transport.

Image: Truckspotting Ararat

GIVEN that I see so many Collins Transport trucks through my great little town I figured it was about time that I shared a story on one of their drivers in Big Rigs.

I first met Dylan Huyton very early on in my truck photography journey shooting his truck both at daytime, but also some very cool night shoots as well.

I recently met up with Huyton a few weeks back to find out what makes him tick.

Currently he runs the Horsham to Melbourne, and return, a few days a week which suits his family life to a tee.

Dylan has been driving trucks for around six years now and got his licence at age 18 having started in a little medium rigid delivering oil drums and progressed from there to driving for Collins.

He is currently driving a Kenworth K220 which he

believes is the first prototype of the 220 series that Collins secured, and so far, he has very good feedback on said truck.

He does at times jump in and steer one of the 200s, or some of the older 104s as well.

Now, when it comes to a favourite place to stop and grab a bite, Dylan reckons you can’t beat Chris ‘N Di’s in Stawell to grab a steak and pepper pie and I have to admit, I agree.

When it comes to advice for the new generation of drivers, Dylan says be prepared to make sure it’s something you actually want to do.

Be willing to listen to others and learn new things, while always taking on constructive criticism.

Put your head down and work hard, says Dylan.

Away from the job, Dylan is a normal family man

BE WILLING TO LISTEN TO OTHERS AND LEARN NEW THINGS, WHILE ALWAYS TAKING ON CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM.” DYLAN HUYTON

spending time with his partner and their kids, whenever he gets the chance.

In terms of a dream truck to own, for Dylan it’s a Kenworth T900 Legend.

But in today’s world he says he’s smart enough to not own his own truck just yet, but one day.

Meeting the drivers who drive the trucks that keep our country running is a pretty unique thing in itself, and to be able to share your stories is something I enjoy, so thank you for your time Dylan.

COLUMN 45

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024

Looking after your mental and physical wellbeing BUSINESS GURU GRAHAM COTTER Author of Don’t Suck the Pencils

How ya goin mate?

Bit crook actually.

Been to see the doctor?

Tried to get in to see one, that bloody long a wait I’ll be dead before I get to see anyone.

STARTING to sound familiar in your individual worlds?

Well get used to it because it is not going to get any better, it’s only going to get worse.

As the conventional world of medicine becomes chocked up with the sheer number of people with serious illness, especially cancer, the waiting listing to see a medical professional will become an eternity.

Please take the time to read this article as it may well save your life in the future, or the life of someone you love and care about.

As a two-time cancer survivor – bowel cancer in my

Graham Cotter says that without you this country would grind to a complete stop and people would starve to death. Image: Jackson Photography/adobe.stock.com

mid-40s and prostate cancer 12 years ago – I know firsthand about the importance of physical wellness.

Added to this in my mid50s I suffered from severe depression which resulted in my being 200 metres from stepping through a fence, discharging the rifle and taking my own life.

I’m also a retired small fleet owner and driver and I know firsthand the challenges and anxiety you face on the road

and the bureaucracy you all need to deal with on a daily basis.

This is my story on where I am today, helping good people take control of their individual mental, emotional and physical wellness.

If you aren’t motivated enough to take ownership of these aspects of your life, stop and have a look at the alternative. Do you want to put your life totally in the hands of the existing overcrowded world of

conventional medicine?

Not in any way am I saying not to go and see the doctor or utilise the world of conventional medicine. What I am saying that if you want to minimise the interaction with this medical world then you can keep it to a minimum.

You can keep it to a minimum by taking control of your own personal mental, emotional and physical wellness.

Over the coming weeks I will be sharing my knowledge

as a rapid transformational therapist, radical remission teacher/coach and mindfulness facilator, or in summary, Shits Creek tour guide. What I will be sharing are the 10 Healing Factors to help you build immunity to cancer and depression.

I am not a medical practitioner and what I will be sharing is based on legitimate research, commonsense and lived experience of almost 70 years.

Over the coming weeks at bigrigs.com.au I will be discussing each of the 10 factors for building cancer and depression immunity. These 10 Healing Factors are simple things you can easily make part of your everyday life.

They have been developed by a woman by the name of Dr Kelly Turner Ph.D, a cancer researcher and author a couple of books, Radical Remission and Radical Hope.

They are the result of Dr Kelly interviewing over 1000 documented cases of cancer remission around the world.

These healing factors have been reproduced into to teaching format for teachers

and coaches around the world to pass on. I am one of those teachers and coaches and the reason for sharing these 10 Healing Factors with you.

The factors are: • Having a strong reason for living • Following your intuition • Empowering yourself • Changing your diet • Herbs and supplements • Exercise and movement • Increasing positive emotions • Releasing suppressed emotions • Increasing social support • Spiritual connection For me personally, I have the utmost respect for you, the drivers, owner drivers and small fleet operators in this critical industry sector. The work you all do on a daily basis keeps Australians alive, without you this country would grind to a complete stop and people would starve to death.

Looking after your own mental, emotional and physical wellness is not only critically important for you personally, but also critically important to Australia as a nation.

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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Disruption underscores need for waterfront reform VTA COMMENT PETER ANDERSON CEO, Victorian Transport Association

AS another Australian summer draws to a close it’s instructive to reflect on three months of incredible uncertainty at ports around the country, particularly the Port of Melbourne which experienced almost routine-like industrial and cyber-security unrest, and disruptive political activism.

The usual pre-Christmas speculation about supply chain challenges were super charged for stevedore DP World Australia as prolonged industrial action with the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), along with a cyber-attack, heightened concerns freight customers and consumers would be hit with delays and shortages.

Webb Dock stevedore VICT was also a regular victim of unrest with political protestors disrupting loading and unloading of Israeli-flagged

ships, with the flow-on effects felt by landside operators and further down the supply chain.

Thankfully, DP World contained the cyber-attack and associated retail shortage fears were allayed – toys, clothing, homewares, and other Christmas wish-list items were in good supply thanks to customers anticipating delays and keeping warehouses stocked.

The industrial dispute has been resolved with MUA, and Victoria Police have responded effectively and quickly to disruptions at VICT. A silver lining of these activities has been regular media reports of the myriad of issues at play at the waterfront, helping to educate Australians about the intricacies and sensitivities of supply chain management, and the repercussions for them as freight and logistics consumers.

Coming off 18 months of rising interest rates and inflation, Australian consumers have a deeper understanding of why they are paying more now because of what’s happening overseas.

Geo-political conflict, rampant post-Covid labour shortages, and global supply and demand imbalances, regularly

feature on the evening news as reasons for higher prices in the economy. Australians may not like paying more for goods and services, but at least they are appreciating the reasons for it.

This isn’t to say we should lay down and accept price hikes and higher costs that are out of step with community expectations, which is where government can step up and enact reform.

The cost of moving goods in and out of Australia, and more generally worldwide, is increasing exponentially due to higher global container shipping rates, which are mak-

ing things everywhere more expensive than they should be.

In January, the Drewry World Container Index increased by almost a quarter (23 per cent), with the composite index increasing by 82 per cent compared with the same period in 2023. Generally, prices for freight coming from China are skyrocketing with rates on boxes from Shanghai to Los Angeles, New York, and Rotterdam up almost 30 per cent; conversely, prices for returning boxes decreased around 2 per cent, highlighting the imbalance.

The VTA has long advocated for reform that would

contain super profits earned by shipping liners, who currently can access a wide suite of exemptions from Australia’s competition law. Part X of the Competition and Consumer Act (2010) needs to go because it allows shippers to agree on freight rates and quantities and the kinds of goods to be transported on trade routes. Such cartelism has been outlawed in the United States and is complicity unheard of in other parts of the business world.

Unfortunately, landside road freight operators servicing stevedores will be worse off from all this unrest, with

freight customers, primary producers, and consumers, paying higher prices for disruption and uncertainty.

Complicating things even further for the landside operator are the comparatively lower margins they charge, providing them with less capacity to pass on higher costs in full, and run the risk of losing business by not doing so.

While the rate of inflation is easing, prices continue to increase in the economy. Now is not the time for landside operators to expose their businesses to financial risk by limiting cost recovery.

Attaining greater port efficiencies and reducing clogging and congestion for in and outbound trade will be a major issue this year, underscoring shipping super profit reform urgency and for landside productivity improvement to offset seaside disputes.

If we cannot resolve serial waterfront disruption there is a heightened potential for the kind of sovereign risk creation that will give manufacturers, primary producers, and shippers pause to re-consider Australia – with its higher costs – as an export market. Such a scenario must be avoided at all costs.

better break from the public and its governments?

For part of the answer, you need to go back to pre-Commonwealth Australia when each of the states built their own railways to carry freight.

The capacity to move goods across Australia, by any other means besides ship, simply did not exist.

Despite the appearance of the first internal combustion engines in Australia in 1912, our governments by 1920 had struck a general agreement to prohibit interstate road transport. The states had invested heavily in rail, and there was no way they

were going to allow anyone or anything to compete.

It took the Second World War to at least partially change that. By then, the rail system was overloaded and coastal shipping was in short supply. Trucks were suddenly more in favour. The states did not release the brakes fully and there were massive restrictions on road transport. It took a High Court challenge in 1955 to alter the state of play.

Introduction of a Road Maintenance Tax (RMT) in 1956 started a pattern of behaviour where governments took more and more from

our industry. Things came to a head in 1979 with the nine-day Razorback Blockade which was a watershed of sorts ultimately leading to abolition of the RMT. Governments became more serious about working with truckies from the ‘80s despite missteps like the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal and the more recent suspension of the Fuel Excise Levy. But it’s a hangover from the bad old days of restricted trade that we still lack a truly national system of heavy vehicle regulation.

I believe the pandemic and the way truckies carried

essential goods keeping supermarkets and pharmacies operating gave our industry renewed drive to be recognised as an essential service.

The current federal government’s push to introduce a new approach to setting minimum standards across our industry can be a game-changer, if managed correctly, with promised safeguards and industry input.

What’s more, there’s evidence that a government that singles out road transport for favourable treatment will reap rewards at the ballot box.

Two years ago, NatRoad

conducted national research into attitudes towards the heavy transport sector, finding that almost four-in-ten Australians are more likely to vote for a politician who is “truck industry-friendly”.

The independent research showed 37 per cent of Australians who would change their vote are ‘likely’ or ‘much more likely’ to support a Member of Parliament who supports the industry.

With our federal parliamentarians back at work, and the pollies in Queensland heading to the polls this year, this should give us all pause for thought.

There were three months of incredible uncertainty at ports around the country, particularly the Port of Melbourne. Image: Janelle/adobe.stock.com

It’s a matter of history that truckies count as essential INDUSTRY ADVOCATE WARREN CLARK NatRoad CEO

ACCORDING to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there were an estimated 20 million registered vehicles at January 31, 2021 on Australian roads, with 20.7 per cent of them carrying freight.

With one in five registered vehicles carrying the country on their back, why doesn’t our industry get a

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What Melbourne tragedy tells us about CoR laws G E N E R A L K N O W L E D G E

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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) 12 Which inventor (Thomas ____) took out more than a thousand patents in his lifetime? (6) 13 What is the last word of “Rule Britannia”? (6) 15 The Misfits in 1961 was the last film starring Marilyn Monroe and which other actor? (5,5) 18 Native to Central and South America, a tamandua is what type of animal? (8) 19 What cloth is spread over a coffin? (4) 20 What is an informal word for “a very long time”? (5) 21 What disease is also known as lockjaw? (7)

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EXPERT ADVICE RYAN HOWISON Managing director, DSE Transport Fill the grid so every column, every row and 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

SUDOKU

QUICK CROSSWORD 1

A FEW months ago, transport company Connect Logistics was fined a colossal $2.31 million for a serious breach of the Heavy Vehicle National Law. Its managing director, Corey Matthews, was fined $22,000. Its national operations manager, Cris Large, was sentenced to three years in prison. He’ll be eligible for release in January 2025.

It’s one of the most serious breaches of Chain of Responsibility (CoR) legislation we’ve seen in while.

And it’s also one of the most serious penalties ever imposed on both a business and an individual for breaches of the National Law.

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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) 5 A star that suddenly brightens then gradually fades is called what? (4) 6 Which film, 1984’s Best Picture Oscar winner, was filmed in Prague? (7) 9 Where was Louis Armstrong born? (3,7) 11 Which woman was married on 29 April 1945, and died the following day? (3,5) 12 What is the widening channel of a river where saltwater mixes with freshwater? (7) 14 In heraldry, what is the colour silver? (6) 16 Millions of records from which US immigration entry island are accessible on the internet?

(5) delivering to them, is trucks 17 Which English college was founded by Henry VI in nothing short of incredible.

1440? (4)

If properly executed, these laws have the capacity to completely change the industry forever by ensuring every transport company instills a safety DOUBLECROSS culture across every corner of Find a finished crossworditsby deleting one of business. the two letters in each divided square.

But these goals will not be achieved because they exist in a piece of legislation.

From heavy vehicle law to a safety law

I would like the HVNL to transform into more like the 14 15 16 17 state-base work health and safety acts that were born a decade ago.

18 19 I’m talking about: 20 • Stronger enforcement and inspection powers given to 21 22 the NHVR (for example, the power to conduct unannounced yard inspections).

23 24 • The ability to elect or appoint ‘heavy vehicle repreDown Acrossvehicle inspection stations everywhere.

The NHVR cannot have heavy Image: NHVR sentatives’ which have the 1. Jail (8) 1. Uncertain (colloq) (4) dustry 12 months following been Over 800 shifts had fatigue conduct an inspection. power to issue provisional 2. Initially (5) 3. Absolved (8) protected by the corpo4. Paddle (3) 9. Associate (7) shield that was created, his release. rate breaches, 500 of which had The NHVR cannot enforce notices against companies 5. Abstinence (5,7) 10. From inside (5) What the court decision These are pretty impressive and would get away scot-free. been checked and endorsed by the way that a company infor failing to comply with 6. Dare (7) 11. Over time (2,3,4,3) ALPHAGRAMS found penalties. seen these types7. of a supervisor. stils a safety culture within its CoR (thereby triggering an Informant (colloq) (4) 14. Night birdWe’ve (3) the anagrams. Each solutionNHVR is a one-word 8. Feeling, atmosphere (12) 16. Succulent plants (5) Connect Logistics and some of Does it mean CoR really is successful prosecution stories Falsified timesheets.

CriticalSolve workforce. investigation).

(5) 17. Immeasurable the letters beside solutions for its top staff were charged with an effective law? before. period of time (3) 12. Happen non-conformance reports leftanagram The ofNHVR cannot have it, •and Thethe five requirement 13. Leans (8) 18. Arranged by rank (12) are heavy sequential.

For example, if thetransport five-lettercompanies solution and Category 1 and 2 offences unWell, kind of.

For example, in late 2022, unreported to the NHVR. vehicle inspection sta15. Free time (7) 21. Violent person (5) starts with J, the six-letter solution starts with K, and so der the CoR provisions of the De Paoli Transport was fined It goes on. tions everywhere. consignees to demonstrate 19. Punctuation mark (5) 22. Tearfully sentimental (7) on.

20. Competent (4)could Connect Logis23. Poll (8)$180,000 for speed and fatigue Heavy Vehicle National Law Laws are effective at How A lot of the work, in fact, to the NHVR how it is com22. Low (3) insects (4) punishing the worst24. Colonyoffences (HVNL). and the sole directics get away with all this for soEASEL is still done by NSW Police, plying with the national law As we all know, CoR im- offenders tor and scheduler were fined long? by state-based road authorities every quarter.

DIM poses a ‘chain’ of legal respon- The Connect Logistics case $210,000 in total. andRAY by state-based work health • Giving drivers, schedulers SOLUTIONS sibility – meaning that execu- highlights that the HVNL and That company Law is reactive rather GRANNIE and safety authorities. and other workers the right 5x5was found SUDOKU tives at the top can be found its provisions have the poten- to have committed a litany of than proactive to cease work and refuse diROASTING responsible for the tragedies we tial to impose serious penalties breaches from failing to main- The creation of the “primaryTRANSPOSE Laws have the potential rections that they reasonably see on our roads. for the worst offenders. tain adequate systems to failing duty” in the HVNL was ex- to be revolutionary believe are not compliant Category 1 offences are the Obviously, these types of to provide training regarding pected to shift the law from5x5 I may be sounding overly pes-Insert the with the CoR, missing letterswith to an auwords prohibition — five reading most serious offences in the tragedies at this colossal scale driver fatigue. being reactive to proactive. simistic. So let me change thatmake ten tomatic on disacross missals the gridand andretaliatory five reading HVNL. They carry a max- do not happen every single day.

The law requires parties in tone. action DOUBLECROSS down. imum penalty of $300,000 But when they do happen, Laws can’t prevent the supply chain to take a pro- A At theG end of theR day, the for exercising those rights. one solution and/or five years imprison- it is a relief to know that there tragedies active approach to risk man- HVNL potential to beNote: more Everythan single day, our inI has the G be possible. ment for an individual and are laws to punish not only the The evidence established that agement, as they are required a revolutionary piece of proac-may dustry engages in some of the $3,000,000 for a corporation. company but the top execu- Connect Logistics had been to exercise “due diligence” Stive legislation. most dangerous work across A E While Category 2 offenc- tives as well. breaching CoR laws for ages when complying with their The proactive safety duty the entire country. es carry a maximum penalty The whole point of chain – and it took the death of four safety duty legal obligations. is anRincredibly E important eleIt’s time to make it incredof $150,000 for an individual of responsibility is to “pierce police officers for this to finally However, the HVNL strug- Tment of our transportation sysibly difficult for businesses All puzzles © S S Puzzle and $1,500,000 for a corpora- the corporate veil” and punish come to light. gles when it comes to actually tem. The fact that the corpo- to getThe away withCompany conducting tion. individual human beings who Taskforce Paragon was an policing compliance with the rate veil can actually be pierced dodgy practices that ultimately TODAY: GO ROUND WORD Large, Matthews and the have played a role in breaking 18-month police investigation, duty – until something really and hold directors to account results in human death.

Good 13 A T How many words of four letters can company were found guilty of or more the law. andVery it revealed bad happens. is essential to ensuring a safe If we don’t do something, Good 18some shocking you make? Each letter must be used only Excellent 24 C offences – fines, imprisonment Not just truck drivers, but evidence.

To my knowledge… supply chain. there will certainly be more M once and all words must contain the centre and conditions were imposed. actual bosses.

Over 40 per cent of this The NHVR cannot just The fact even consignees tragedies like the Connect Loletter.

There is at least one nine-letter word.

A a law, theseI company’s shifts had one or show up to a transport com- can be held to account, even gistics saga.

No words was starting with a capital Large banned from are allowed, Without such no plurals ending in s unless the word is also U Thave more fatigue-related breaches. pany’s yard unannounced and if they don’t own any of the You can count on it. working in the transport indirectors would probably a verb.

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

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.

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.

SOLUTION

MOORE

amir amrita aria arum atria atrium attar aura auric carat cart cram curt marc maria mart raita rata rimu tarmac tart tiara tract trait tram trauma TRAUMATIC trim

R

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GENERAL KNOWLEDGE 2

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S T R D E L E T E A P E R T U R E I R U U I N I M B U S P S P R E C I N C T U K A S S I S T S D T B L E S S E D A A L W V A C A N C Y I N E C A L I B R E B L A R R A N G E D A U N P A R S O N F O G A R L A N D S E L S S T A N C E

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THE TEAM AT AIR CTI WORK WITH INTEGRITY, RESPECT & PRIDE. WE VALUE OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL OUR CUSTOMERS. THANKYOU

S R A E Y

WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONFIDENCE & TRUST IN US. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING YOU INTO THE FUTURE.

The AIR CT I team

Across 1 4 7 8 11 12 13 15 16 20 23 24 25 26 27 28

Place of worship Period of time Depart High regard Be victorious Peruse print Transmit Worth Essential Daintily pleasing Tolerable Prohibit Loathe Nimble Still Family members

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

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Across: 1 Temple, 4 Day, 7 Leave, 8 Esteem, 11 Win, 12 Read, 13 Send, 15 Merit, 16 Vital, 20 Cute, 23 Soso, 24 Ban, 25 Detest, 26 Agile, 27 Yet, 28 Nieces.

Down: 1 Therm, 2 Predict, 3 Elms, 4 Dawn, 5 Avid, 6 Yen, 9 See, 10 Tar, 14 Epistle, 17 Toe, 18 Ass, 19 Lotus, 20 Cage, 21 Unit, 22 Eden, 24 Bay.

SUDOKU

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Name a pointed device attached to a rider’s boot heel (4) What are goods wagons (6) Name a downfall of anything (4) What are hollows in a surface (5) To be clear or transparent, is to be what (6) What is confident expectation of something (5) To be open to all the people, is to be what (6) What is an alternative name for a corpse (7) To have remained, is to have done what (6) Name the 28th president of the US, Woodrow ...(6) Which term relates to a year (6) What is the nautical term for at or towards the stern (5) What is a rank, class, or order (5) To be underdone, is to be what (4) What are extremities (4)

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

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To expunge, is to do what (6) What is an opening called (8) Name a bright cloud (6) What is a place of definite limits (8) When one helps, one does what (7) What term means divinely or supremely favoured (7) Which term suggests emptiness (7) What is a degree of merit (7) To have prepared, is to have done what (8) Who is a member of the clergy (6) What are wreaths of flowers (8) Name an intellectual attitude to something (6)

Across: 4 Delete, 7 Aperture, 8 Nimbus, 9 Precinct, 11 Assists, 13 Blessed, 15 Vacancy, 17 Calibre, 20 Arranged, 23 Parson, 24 Garlands, 25 Stance.

Down: 1 Spur, 2 Trucks, 3 Ruin, 4 Dents, 5 Limpid, 6 Trust, 9 Public, 10 Cadaver, 12 Stayed, 14 Wilson, 16 Annual, 18 Abaft, 19 Range, 21 Rare, 22 Ends.

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QUICK CROSSWORD

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Unit of heat Foretell Trees Daybreak Greedy Japanese monetary unit Observe Sailor (coll) Letter Digit Donkey Waterlily Wired enclosure Single entity Paradise Deep prolonged bark

50 CAREERS AND TRAINING

Young owner-driver smashes goals New owner-driver Calab Dihm, 26, dropped out of school aged 15 and has been working hard to achieve his dreams ever since.

BY KAYLA WALSH

Calab Dihm, 26, has worked hard to make his dream come true.

CALAB Dihm grew up watching the trucks drive past his family’s 700-acre farm in Lang Lang, Victoria, and a dream formed in his head.

“I thought I’d love to drive one of those trucks one day – or better yet, own my own,” he told Big Rigs.

Now aged 26, Dihm is the proud owner of a 2003 Kenworth K104 Aerodyne with a Cat C15 550 horsepower engine.

The young truckie was lucky enough to be able to buy the rig off his former employer, Abrehart Transport in Pakenham.

“I know the owner and his wife very well, and they are slowing things down a little bit so they were happy to sell

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16 2024 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Calab Dihm is the proud owner of a 2003 Kenworth K104 Aerodyne. Images: Calab Dihm

it to me,” he said.

“For a truck that was made in 2013, it’s in great shape.

The boss did a lot of work to it, he did me a favour on that.”

Dihm has been an owner-driver for just over a month, carting bulk organic material from one end of Melbourne to the other in a B-double tipper.

“I call it the east-west run,” he joked.

“The job I’m doing now, I’ve been doing it for the last two-odd years, I’ve just taken over the contract from my old boss.”

With seven years of trucking experience under his belt, Dihm wasn’t too nervous about going it alone.

“I thought I had a lot of things down pat,” he said.

“The couple of years leading up to buying my own

truck, I’ve always treated the trucks as if they were my own anyway.”

The only thing that has taken a bit of getting used to has been the admin side of things.

“It was mostly paperwork that I had to figure out things like filling in run sheets and time sheets, my employer would have taken care of those things before.”

He’s loving the freedom of owning the truck, and has a sense of pride in himself.

“It’s funny taking the truck keys home!” he laughed.

“I can take the truck somewhere on the weekend and I don’t have to tell anyone.

“It’s all just fallen into place, I’m loving it.”

Dihm dropped out of school at 15 but his lack of a formal education certainly

hasn’t held him back in life.

He’s not only an owner driver, but a homeowner as well.

“For me personally, school was a waste of time – I couldn’t tell you what I learned from it!” he said.

“I got a job on a chicken farm when I left school at 15, and then when I got my heavy rigid licence at 19 I said, ‘See ya later!’ and went driving trucks.

“I’ve never let anything stop me. I bought a house early and I’ve bought my truck early too. I set goals and I go for them.

“Without sounding up myself, I’m pretty happy where I’m at now.”

Dihm said many people told him he was “crazy” to want to buy his own truck, but he just ignored them.

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THEY TOLD ME I WAS MAD, THAT I HAD ROCKS IN MY HEAD. THAT ALL THEY DO IS COST YOU MONEY. WELL, HOUSES COST YOU MONEY AS WELL, BUT MOST PEOPLE WANT TO UY A HOUSE.” CALAB DIHM

“I’ve heard a lot of negative stories from a young age,” he said.

“When people would ask me what I wanted to do, I would tell them I wanted to own a truck. I had them tell me I was mad, that I had rocks in my head. That all they do is cost you money.

“Well, houses cost you money as well, but most people want to buy a house.”

He wants to encourage other young truckies to become owner drivers if they have an interest.

“Don’t listen to the negative comments,” he said.

“Of course, there are going to be ups and downs.

“But if you know there’s work there for you and you want to do it, go ahead and do it.”

However, he did have a few words of warning for anyone going it alone.

“Trucks can make a fair bit of money,” he said.

“You might be used to a $1500 a week wage and then suddenly you’re making a lot

more when you go out on your own.

“Don’t go spending it on toys like fancy cars and big pickup trucks. Because if something goes wrong with your truck, they cost a lot of money to fix!

“Remember that chrome don’t get you home, but a good clean running engine will.”

Dihm also recommends any new owner drivers “do their homework” and brush up on their mechanical skills.

“You don’t want to be ringing a mechanic for every little thing, so it helps to have some knowledge of how to service a truck,” he said.

“I would also say to look into every new contract properly, and make sure that what you’re being paid factors in your running costs.

“Know the job, know what you’re doing – but never get over-confident, because that’s when things start going pearshaped!”

Dihm recommends brushing up on your mechanical skills.

Applications now open for VET Trainer scholarship

QUEENSLAND-based heavy vehicle technicians now have the chance to win a scholarship to undertake a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE40122), valued at over $3000.

The Motor Trades Association of Queensland (MTA Queensland) has two slots up for grabs, with applications for the latest round closing on February 29.

The program was launched in 2021 to help address the industry’s skill shortage, and in each round one female and one male candidate is given the chance to undertake the highly sought-after course and take the next step in their career.

Designed to teach the skills and knowledge required to deliver training in the vocational education and training (VET) sector, participants will learn skills in designing, conducting, and assessing, while also receiving knowledge on how to facilitate and evaluate the impacts of various learning programs.

Rhys Purkis, a light vehicle mechanic, currently completing his second qualification in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology with Western Truck Group in Rockhampton, was one of the most recent recipients.

Having mentored many apprentices in his role, Purkis has developed an enthusiasm for helping his team progress and

Rhys Purkis, from Western Truck Group in Rockhampton, was a recent scholarship winner. Image: MTA Queensland

hopes to use the TAE to further hone his skills.

“MTA Queensland is extremely proud to continue offering our VET Trainer scholarship program in 2024,” said MTA Group CEO Rod Camm.

“These scholarships provide a fantastic opportunity for industry professionals to grow their knowledge and skillset.”

The scholarship is open to all Queensland-based, trade-qual-

ified automotive professionals who possess at least five years’ post-apprenticeship experience in any of the following automotive areas: light vehicle, heavy vehicle, auto electrical, motorcycle, mobile plant, agricultural, parts interpreting, outdoor power equipment, automotive body repair and refinishing, and underbody.

To check eligibility criteria, and nominate someone for the scholarship, visit mtaq.com.au.

Easter Group Pty Ltd 73 Formation St, Wacol

LEARN FIRST AID As a professional driver, you are likely to come across a person in need of First Aid. Did you know there’s a lot that you can do before the emergency services arrive?

Your actions within the 3 first minutes of an accident, can drastically reduce injury and preserve life.

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:

Truckie First Aid training takes about 30 mins to complete, and you can stop and resume where you left it.

OPERATIONS ALLOCATORS (Brisbane based only)

You will be required to work on a rotating roster including Days-Nights-Weekends Previous Operations experience preferred.

Learn First Aid and you could help someone injured or even save someone’s life.

MC LOCAL, LINEHAUL & 2-UP DRIVERS WANTED

(Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide Based) Come and work for us as we are committed to: • Training and further education • Your safety • Maintaining an impressive Fleet On offer 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

Thank you to Prime Creative Media for bringing this ad to you.

WORKSHOP MECHANICS & TYRE FITTERS WANTED (Brisbane based only)

FREE First Aid training.

Available – anytime, anywhere.

To apply for Mechanic positions please forward your resume to Workshop Manager via email to employment@kseaster.com.au

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VALUE AND RELIABILITY MERITOR RED AFTERMARKET RANGE • A value range of quality aftermarket parts • Approved to Meritor standards • Suits heavy-duty truck, trailer and bus

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