Big Rigs 4 August 2023

A BRISBANE-based heavy transport and machinery business has been fined $1.2 million after pleading guilty to 37 charges of contravening the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).

Foley Contracting Pty Ltd entered a guilty plea on May 16, 2023.

The investigation, led by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, followed a truck accident on August 6, 2020. Court documents reveal that the truck rolled after “one of the drivers misjudged the hydraulics on the side tipper mechanism of the trailer and caused the entire combination to fall over on its side”.

Though fatigue wasn’t found to have contributed to the accident, the subsequent investigation found that eight of the company’s truck drivers had committed a large number of fatigue regulated breach-

$20m

es during a five week period from July 1, 2020, to August 6, 2020.

A total of 83 critical risk breaches, 15 severe risk breaches, 14 substantial risk breaches, and 81 minor risk breaches were recorded.

The role of these drivers was to transport large rocks, weighing between five to eight tonnes each from the Ravenswood goldmine to a stockpile near the construction of the Port of Townsville Expansion Project.

The case was heard at the Holland Park Magistrates Court in Queensland, where Magistrate Young said it was important to note that neither the drivers nor the executive officers at Foley Contracting were being sentenced.

According to court documents, “The defendant [Foley Contracting] paid its drivers by way of a generous hourly rate and unsurprisingly the

relevant drivers sought to maximise their income but in doing so paid little regard to the fatigue regulated driver obligations of the HVNL.

“The drivers submitted weekly workbooks as the basis of their hourly claims. Even a cursory review of the hours worked by the drivers on a weekly basis shows significant concerns but instead of stepping in to end the drivers offending conduct, the defendant paid them substantially – although not entirely – in accordance with their claims, and in doing so have been held to have encouraged the drivers to continue to disregard their fatigue obligations.”

It continued, “It is relevant to the culpability of the defendant that in paying the drivers in such a way the defendant needed to be proactive in avoiding circumstances of the drivers not complying with the fatigue regulations to increase

their take home pay. As the opportunity and temptation to the drivers was obvious, the company needed to be diligent in overseeing the obvious risk.”

During the investigation period, 40 weekly worksheets were submitted by drivers, with 31 of these modified by the defendant’s officers after referring back to the drivers about their claims.

The company’s director Neville Foley is an experienced operator who started the business together with Amanda Foley back in the 1980s.

He fully cooperated with the Department’s investigations by undertaking two recorded interviews and providing documents on behalf of the company as required.

Earlier this year, Foley Contracting has engaged a separate employee to deal with logbook and driver fatigue related matters. Limitations on driver hours are also now being en-

forced by the company.

When contacted for comment, Neville Foley said he was considering whether to appeal.

• For an expert guide on industry CoR and HVNL obligations, turn to pages 34-35 of this issue.

for cleaner trucks and better city roads

THE Victorian Government is hoping its new $20 million grant program will help to improve air quality in Melbourne’s inner western suburbs by encouraging the uptake of greener trucks and sealing local roads.

Of that spend, $15 million will target truck operators who regularly use inner

western roads, with grants made available to support a transition to trucks that produce fewer emissions.

The remaining $5 million in grants will be available to local councils to seal local roads, with the aim of reducing dust pollution. The Department of Transport and Planning will work with

Hobsons Bay, Brimbank and Maribyrnong City Councils on establishing a list of potential local roads that most strongly meet the program’s criteria.

“We promised we’d make air cleaner in Melbourne’s inner west and that’s what we’re doing: replacing emissions-heavy old trucks and

sealing roads to reduce dust pollution,” said Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne.

The Victorian Government says Melbourne’s inner west experiences significantly higher volumes of heavy vehicle traffic than other parts of Melbourne due to its high concentration of industrial

uses, including empty container parks, and its proximity to the Port of Melbourne.

The completion of the West Gate Tunnel Project in 2025 and the introduction of truck bans is set to remove around 9000 trucks from roads in the inner west and cut congestion on local roads.

The case was heard at the Holland Park Magistrates Court in Queensland.

Busy Melbourne servo gets tougher on truck parking

BY JAMES GRAHAM

JUDGING by the reaction on social media, this picture of a truck being towed from the busy Truganina bp was the best news many interstate drivers had received all week.

Brisbane-based driver Courtnay Anderson, who snapped the shot and also shared it with Big Rigs, said he was relieved to see that finally action was being taken to free up slots for those who need them most.

“I think it’s a good idea to make more people aware of the issue,” said a frustrated Anderson.

“Interstate truck drivers are struggling to find suitable parking at most service centres.”

On the day he took the picture, Anderson asked staff what was happening and said he was told that they were towing all trucks that have been parked up “for a while”, with truckies having to cough up at least $600 to recover them from the towing yard.

“My response was, ‘It took you long enough”.”

A bp spokesperson later

confirmed that following safety concerns raised by truck drivers, bp Truganina is towing vehicles that do not comply with the eight-hour parking restrictions on its site.

“Some vehicles, including trucks, have been left unattended in rest areas for extended periods, in some cases weeks at a time,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

“It is critical that all truck drivers have access to parking for their compulsory rest periods, and areas across the site with parking restrictions are clearly signed. bp asks that drivers are shown the respect they deserve by allowing them access to the rest areas.

“This week, a truck was towed as it was parked outside the parking bay along the kerb inside the gated truck parking area, blocking the driveway for other trucks.”

Due to the number of locals using the site as a depot, Anderson said it’s been almost impossible to find a spot at Truganina. He just stops there to fill up and then parks down the street.

“Every time I go to Mel-

bourne, especially in that area, I’ve got to park on a side street somewhere.

“It’s a huge inconvenience because the first thing we all want to do after a 14-hour shift is to have a shower, have something to eat, and go to bed, but most of the time in Melbourne, you can’t do that.”

For Anderson it means he’s often trudging along the road on foot for up to 500m to use the closest facilities.

It’s not just bp Truganina that causes headaches for long-distance drivers in the area, added Anderson, who also singled out the Shell Express and bp truckstops in Laverton, and Eastern Creek in Sydney as other trouble spots.

“They are terrible for dump trucks and trailers. In my opinion I think it’s time that the three major companies Shell, Ampol and bp need to all step up and have some consideration for the truck industry.

“Policing the truck parking more frequently would be a great start.”

By deadline for this issue, bp was the only major servo retailer to respond to Big Rigs’

question on this issue.

“Accessible parking for drivers for their compulsory rest periods is an issue impacting many sites across the country,” a spokesperson said. “bp is working with stakeholders on a satisfactory solution to this issue and, in the meantime is managing this on a site-by-site basis.”

High-profile driver Rod Hannifey agreed that it’s a long-running problem and a struggle for servo operators to manage.

He’d even heard of a security guard being physically attacked at the bp on Cooper St after challenging a driver over their length of stay.

“It’s one thing if they park their truck there and they’re respectful and they park two in a row, but then these blokes take up a B-double space with their truck, and then when they go to work, they put their car in it.

“We understand how difficult it is to park, but that’s just a step way too far.”

Hannifey said he supports Truganina’s towing policy and said the issue also highlights the need for more councils to

relax after-hours street parking rules for trucks in industrial areas.

“I don’t expect people to allow us to park our refrigerated

B-double outside their house in Sydney, but why can’t we legally park in an area where no one lives and be away in the morning?”

Brisbane-based driver Courtnay Anderson shared this shot of a truck being towed from bp Truganina.

More trucks removed from roads after height breaches

NSW is continuing with its hard-line vow to remove trucks from the roads for breaching overheight rules in Sydney’s road tunnel network.

Since Friday, July 14 – and up to the deadline for this issue – six more companies and one owner-operator whose vehicles breached height clearance rules and stopped traffic have been served with registration suspensions, part of the Minns government’s “zero-tolerance” approach to overheight incidents.

BG Drilling Pty Ltd has been issued with a suspension notice for an incident on June 16 in which a truck registered to the company struck sprinklers in the Airport Tunnel, activating the deluge system.

A northbound lane had to be closed and traffic held in both directions while the truck was taken out of the tunnel.

BG Drilling owner Ben Galvin said he did not wish to comment about the incident.

Absperex Services Pty Ltd will also be without a truck after an incident on June 29 when its truck fitted with a self-loading container arm hit

the physical barrier ahead of the Cooks River Tunnel before the driver lowered the arm inside the tunnel and proceeded to a breakdown bay on the M5, disrupting traffic.

The five other companies that will have one less truck in their fleets for the next six months are Brisbane Transport Pty Ltd, Recycling Metal Industries Pty Ltd, Transpacific Superior Pak Pty Ltd, D & H Group Australia Pty Ltd and an individual operator,

according to a Transport for NSW media release.

These follow the first registration suspension in late June since a deal between the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and the NSW Government which sees all overheight breaches automatically referred to Transport for NSW for investigation and sanction.

The operator impacted in that first case, Simon Hengl of Hengl Transport of Tomago in the Hunter, told Big Rigs at

the time that he was planning to appeal the ruling.

“The driver was given a penalty with a minor breach, no demerit points and a $354 fine. We don’t understand the severe penalty received post receipt and payment of the driver’s fine,” Hengl said.

“The impact on the business is considerable.”

Minister for Roads John Graham said the NSW Government is a supporter of the freight industry and the over-

whelming majority of truck drivers who do the right thing, know the height of their load and plan accordingly.

“These registrations suspensions are necessary because our message of zero tolerance has unfortunately not yet got through to all drivers,” Graham said.

“The message to those who own and operate trucks is if you do not plan properly and your drivers find themselves overheight and being backed into a slip lane then there are severe consequences for your business – not just the individual driver’s licence and bank account.

“Registration suspensions are one way to ensure we see fewer cases in which Sydney traffic is brought to its knees. We have also formed the Overheight Truck Taskforce, bringing together NSW Police, the freight industry, transport and the Transport Workers’ Union to formulate new strategies to address this persistent problem.”

Road Freight NSW CEO Simon O’Hara, who has a seat on the taskforce, said his

preference is always for education over enforcement, but clearly some operators need to examine “what they’re doing and how they’re doing it”.

“Particularly when I start hearing about heights of 5.2m, I wonder to myself, ‘What are you thinking?’

“But on saying that, we want to lead with an education and technological approach that incorporates telematics, amongst other things.

“I think the new lights that are going to go up for the harbour tunnel are going to be a net benefit for both the community and also all the truckies.

“They’ll stop a situation occurring right at the mouth of the tunnel, so we don’t have the situation where trucks have to back up.”

The NSW Government recently approved the deployment of $5 million in infrastructure upgrades, which will include moving sensors further back along the Warringah Freeway to ensure heavy vehicle drivers can take earlier evasive action to avoid blocking traffic.

The NSW Government isn’t wavering on its ‘zero tolerance’ approach to overheight trucks in Sydney’s tunnels.

Call for taskforce to ensure resilient freight networks

TWO peak trucking bodies are calling on the federal government to join forces to help build more resilient freight networks across northern and remote Australia.

Western Roads Federation (WRF) and Northern Territory Road Transport Association (NTRTA) believe that it’s critical that the government establishes a joint industry taskforce to tackle the ongoing issues disrupting supply chains.

WRF and NTRTA warn that the loss of critical freight routes in WA and the NT due to adverse weather events and poor road maintenance continues to compromise food and fuel security, strategic defence operations and economic development, given there are simply no alternative roads for trucks to use.

As a result of the “seriously degraded” road networks across the north and northwest, WRF and NTRTA reveal that freight costs have skyrocketed, up to 80 per cent higher than other parts of the country, at a time when all Australians are suffering a cost-of-living crisis.

Speaking at the Developing Northern Australia Conference 2023 in Darwin on July 25, NTRTA executive officer Louise Bilato said a nationally-led joint industry and government taskforce would help deliver a resilient, sustainable freight network across vulnerable parts of WA and the NT.

“The freight industry has learnt the hard lessons through the pandemic and why the nation needs a network of resilient roads which secure supply chains across the nation,” Bilato said.

“As a nation, we need to ensure that essential foods, fuel, medicines and groceries can be transported uninterrupted to communities and businesses in regional and remote parts of the country.”

WRF chief executive Cam Dumesny said the Commonwealth Government’s Defence Strategic Review had brought renewed focus on northern Australia.

However, northern defence bases and capabilities will require logistics support from the south.

“Any sustained military de-

fence operation in the north or north-west of Australia will depend on civilian road transport and logistics operators to help sustain supply operations, but we question how we’re expected to meet the demands of defence given our challenges supporting civilian communities and businesses now due to increasing freight disruptions?” Dumesny said.

“As the Defence Strategic Report identifies we need a ‘robust national logistics’ system. But support to the North is built on a fragile logistics system.

“WRF and the NTRTA are offering to work with the federal government on a joint taskforce to contribute the hard learnt lessons of the transport industry.”

In the short term, the WRF and NRTA say that adopting the “activation of national collaborative governance arrangements”, as per the Australian Disaster Recovery Framework 2022 produced by the Australia-New Zealand Emergency Management Committee (ANZEMC), would be a great start.

The increasingly frequent

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BRISBANE

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loss of the Perth – Kimberley - Darwin freight route due to flooding, means that road trains need to be sent via Port Augusta in SA then up to Katherine NT then back into the East Kimberley.

That’s a return distance equivalent of driving one way from the English Channel at Calais to Vladivostok on the Sea of Japan.

However, to meet freight volume needs cost-effectively, the industry has to negotiate each time to allow triple road trains on the detour route. This requires negotiation with the WA, SA and NT governments, as well as with the NHVR in SA on permit and operating conditions.

Concurrently, approvals then need to be sought from either state or federal governments to cover the additional freight cost of up to 80 per cent, so that cost isn’t unfairly worn by the local communities.

“Standing arrangements need to be made such that both approvals and subsidies can be immediately activated by a delegated authority.”

In the longer term, the peak

bodies recommend re-building warehouse and storage in vulnerable regions, so they can continue to supply communities and businesses until an adjusted freight supply is implemented, which would also help offset the public’s urge to ‘panic buy’.

Other measures suggested include building more “agility” into the logistics system so

that the loss of a single route doesn’t create 6000km detours.

“Achieving this will require accelerating new identified road freight routes, hardening of vulnerable parts of the network, investigating the role of coast shipping and multi-modal hubs in regions,” said a joint WRF and NTRTA media release.

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PERTH R , WA 6106

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When moving Heavy Loads comfort equals Safety.

Road trains had been using a temporary low-level crossing over the Fitzroy River until heavy rainfall caused it to close.

Senator demands answers over ‘sham contracting’

WA Labor Senator Glenn Sterle has sent a hard-hitting ‘please explain’ letter to the peak farming body in response to an “alarming” job advertisement for an MC driver.

Sterle, a former truckie himself, demanded answers from National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) CEO Tony Mahar over what he felt was a classic example of “blatant wage theft” and sham contracting.

In the Facebook job ad, made by someone looking for an MC driver for the upcoming harvest season in Walgett, NSW, the hirer says the position would be for approximately 12 weeks carting harvest grain to the local receival.

Peak

Among the many requirements for the role, the driver also must have an ABN.

The pay offered was $20/ hr+ (negotiable), but as Sterle rightly points out, the starting hourly rate for driving a double-articulated vehicle up to and including 53.4 tonnes GCM – including B-doubles –in NSW is $26.16.

“To advertise a job $6 less than the award is a sham and is blatant wage theft,” Sterle writes.

“I would be interested to hear your views on whether employers in your industry should be allowed to get away with offering drivers conditions far less than what they are

body

NINE out of ten trucking businesses would be able to resolve contract disputes through the Fair Work Commission rather than the courts under a plan from the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) to fix unfair contracts.

The ATA refined the plan after a meeting between ATA director and past chair David

entitled to as per the award.

“Furthermore, this advertisement is a clear case and example of sham contracting.”

A sham contracting arrangement is when an employer attempts to disguise an employment relationship as a contractor relationship.

Employers do this so that they don’t have to provide the following: time and a half, double time, meal allowances, overnight allowances, sick leave, workers compensation, annual leave and superannuation – all which are included as part of an award rate, Sterle states.

“Sham contracting is illegal under the Fair Work Act 2009. The Australian Business Regis-

ter’s website also states that an employer shouldn’t ask a worker to get an ABN as a condition of employment and yet here we are.

“If this is just business as usual for you, it is no wonder you are campaigning against the government’s planned reforms to crack down on the exploitation of workers.”

In an emailed response to Sterle’s letter, Mahar told Big Rigs that there is “no place in our industry for people who underpay their workers”.

“The NFF is on the record supporting stronger wage theft laws,” Mahar added.

“To say we’re campaigning against that is wrong and just

The hirer says the position would be for approximately 12 weeks carting harvest grain to the local receival.

ridiculous,” Mahar added.

“In addition to supporting stronger wage theft laws, we’ve also called for better resourcing of the Fair Work Ombudsman

to pull this kind of practice into line.

“We hope Senator Sterle has taken the time to report this case to the proper authorities.”

pitches plan to fix unfair trucking contracts

Simon, ATA CEO Mat Munro and the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Tony Burke.

“The meeting was a valuable opportunity to discuss the positions adopted by ATA members,” Simon said. “Under our plan, trucking businesses with a turnover of less than $2 million per year would be able to

SUPPORTING CONNECTORS

resolve contract disputes in the Fair Work Commission rather than needing to go to court.”

Simon said that the 3900 larger businesses in the transport industry would continue to resolve unfair contract disputes through the courts, but against new, industry-specific standards.

“The FWC is not the right

place for complex contract issues involving two large companies to be determined,” he said.

“The filing fee to go to the commission to deal with an unfair contract would be higher than the unfair dismissal fee, but it would still be very low cost compared to going to court.”

The ATA working group

also considered:

• The FWC’s powers in relation to freight rates and cost schedules. The commission should not have the power to fix rates.

• The need to exclude businesses operating heavy vehicles from digital platform regulation.

• A two-stage order-making

process, with road transport orders published for consultation two years before coming into force.

• How to ensure the FWC’s role does not overlap with road safety regulation or driver licensing.

• The ability of the minister to require the FWC to stay and review an order.

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Inspiring truckies

JAMES GRAHAM

SURE, there’s a lot of serious issues and news out there in the industry that we are duty-bound to report on. But rest assured, where time and space pemits, we’ll also hold the mirror up to the ‘lighter’ side of the ledger, every chance we get.

I’m talking about stories like Danielle Gullaci’s in the last issue on Glen Lewis and his epic circumnavigation of Australia in his converted T950 to celebrate his 60th. That’s our birthday boy in Ryan Lee-Taylor’s brilliant cartoon on the right, if you haven’t twigged arleady.

I’m still three years shy of that milestone, but Glen’s already got me thinking about doing something memorable. It all goes by so quick, why not? Anyone on the other side of 45, or so, will know what I’m talking about. I’m not sure I’ll sign up for MasterChef, like our cover star Rhiannon Anderson, 47, but something out of the comfort zone appeals.

Maybe a Big Rigs Roadshow: that has an inspiring ring to it.

HOT WEB TOPICS

Winner of trucking’s biggest prize Epic 16,600km birthday adventure

WHAT better way to celebrate a special birthday than with a trip around Australia – and Glen Lewis is doing just that, with his Kenworth T950 and a shipping container he’s converted into a mobile home.

Though his career was in the coal mines, he says his passion has always been in trucks.

When we shared his story online, Big Rigs readers wished him well.

On Facebook, Kayley Job wrote, “Wow great setup. Happy travels champ,

sounds brilliant.”

“Great idea, great adventure, all the best mate,” said Bob Burns.

“Gidday Glen, massive set up and rig, travel safe mate,” wrote Richard Al Mildon.

Peter Merkli added, “Congratulations! Well done and safe travels.”

And on LinkedIn, John Ambachtsheer said, “Happy 60th and enjoy your trip around this beautiful country of ours. Happy to have a beer at the Currumbin RSL Gold Coast if you’re over this way, I’ll even shout you lunch!”

GEAR UP

A 63-year-old WA operator recently won trucking’s biggest prize, a brand new Kenworth Legend SAR valued at $413,085, with a $1000 raffle ticket.

The lucky punter purchased one of 1000 tickets in the famous draw run by the Hepburn Football and Netball Club.

Peter Whytcross was out driving his triple road train when he got the call about his incredible win.

“Top guy, top operator. Great to see the truck found the perfect owner. Safe trucking Pete,” wrote Gordon Regan

on Facebook.

“Well deserved win, Peter is a credit to the transport industry and a lifelong mate,” shared Mick Pattel.

“Congratulations Peter, very well deserved mate,” said Darryl Pedersen.

“Awesome, congratulations mate, great to see,” wrote Joann Cartwright.

“Nice move trucker, keep on rolling,” said Sheila Hay.

“Another fantastic raffle run by a fantastic football club. HFNC is just a small Victorian country football club doing big things for their community,” added Macka MacPherson.

EDITOR

[L-R] Ron Ludbrook from Kenworth DAF Melbourne, raffle winner Peter Whytcross and organiser Jason Dooley.

Glen Lewis has embarked on a six-week trip. Photo: ABC Newcastle, Romy Stephens

Lightweight triple road train tankers a world first

AUSTRALIAN composite materials business, Omni Tanker, has launched a worldfirst composite triple road train, which can move almost 100-tonnes of payload in a single haulage run.

Three triple road train sets have been delivered to Townsville Logistics for use in heavy acid transport across northern Australia.

Townsville Logistics, along with Sun Metals Corporation, is a local subsidiary of South Korea’s Korea Zinc, the world’s largest base metals producer.

The new triples are helping to reduce operational costs, with their greater payload capacity meaning fewer trips.

Employing advanced composite materials and engineering practices commonly found in aerospace, Omni Tanker’s new triple tanker features world-first “Mould-in-Baffles”

to better manage the movement of fluid (surge) in the road tankers, in order to enhance safety, while advanced fabrication techniques also reduce the weight of the trailer units.

The Omni Tanks used on the triple road trains were required to contain baffles inside, as a safety feature to mitigate sloshing of fluids, and to meet dangerous goods transport tank regulation requirements.

Omni Tanker says the Mould-in-Baffle principle has been five years in the making, with the technology set to enter service in the Australian market, as well as export markets including North America and Europe.

The Mould-in-Baffles developed for these tanks are highly specialised and unique to Omni Tanks. Based on a

moulding process that produces the internal baffle at the same time as the lining of the tank, there are no seams or joins associated with the baffle joining the tank wall. As a result, the interior lining of the tank is weld free – a major enabling feature for the triple road train.

This was a collaborative project between Omni Tanker and Mick Murray Welding.

CEO and founder of Omni Tanker, Daniel Rodgers, said, “Omni Tanker is combining advanced manufacturing technology with aerospace materials and heavy-duty trailers to deliver game-changing liquid payloads for the critical minerals processing industry – right here in Australia.”

He added that Mick Murray Welding was crucial to successfully create the company’s first product in the mining sector. “They knew what

the mining industry demanded, and they knew the harsh operating conditions they operate in, so it made absolute sense to combine Omni Tanker’s lightweight tanks with their high-tensile steel-skeletal trailers.”

Rodgers continued, “Via

advanced manufacturing techniques and outstanding partners, we were able to boost the payload carrying capacity of road tankers for chemical liquids from the current 85 tonnes per load, typical of stainless-steel tanks, to 98 tonnes – a 15 per cent uplift.”

Type approval of the new Mould-in-Baffle structures has now been granted, with unit builds completed for Australian road trains in late 2022, followed by first type approval for European Swap Tanks under the European ADR (Road) and RID (Rail) in early 2023.

Quad-axle floats popular in booming trailer rental sector

AUSTRALIAN trailer manufacturer Brimarco has identified a new market for its Tough As range of quad-axle floats, with an increasing number of customers entering into rental agreements with the company for the heavy-duty trailer.

Brimarco produces the quad-axle float and other Tough As trailers at its Ballarat manufacturing facility, catering to markets including civil construction, earthmoving, farming and agricultural, heavy equipment and capital equipment hire industries.

With the economy slowing and customers increasingly looking to stabilise their balance sheets and im-

prove cash flow, Brimarco is reporting a surge of enquiries from customers wanting to rent trailers and floats instead of committing to outright sales, opening a new market for the business.

“With little growth in the economy and our customers preparing for the challenges ahead, we have definitely noticed a change in purchasing patterns,” said Brimarco managing director Matt Kirwan-Hamilton.

“As a manufacturer we have responded to this change by offering customers the opportunity to rent our products instead of making an outright purchase which could expose them to costly finance at time of higher

interest rates, or reduced savings when cash flow is critical.

“Quad-axle floats are available for short- and long-term

rental and we are also offering a rent to buy option on several specification combinations, which we believe no other

manufacturer is offering.”

Brimarco’s quad-axle float was developed in response to specific customer requests and specifications, as a natural extension to its heavy-duty range of tri-axle wideners.

Kirwan-Hamilton said Brimarco ventured into the quad-axle float market in response to customer demand.

“We embarked on a rigorous process of intensive customer consultation and field-testing prototypes in real world conditions, as well as designing model variants and options to suit demand,” he said.

“In our quad-axle range, we have fixed width, and 3.6 metre widening models that can carry 35 tonne at any width. Both models have

8mm Bisalloy steel floor and combing rails as standard.

“The tare weight of our quad widener is significantly less than our major competitors, yet it retains the same structural strength.”

A long-time Brimarco tri-axle customer, Jarrod Gore of Gore Haulage, was instrumental in testing and assisting with the refinement of the new quad-axle design.

‘’The quad tows and steers extremely well and I love its look, highlighted by an excellent build quality and finish,” Gore said. “The ability to rent the quad from Brimarco was massively appealing in the current financial climate, and having no kilometre restrictions was a huge positive.”

A Gore Haulage prime mover towing a Class Lexion Header on a Brimarco quad-axle float.

Omni Tanker says this triple road train boasts a 15 per cent gain in payload compared to stainless steel tanks.

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500,000 truck trips off Vic roads

WORK is finally underway on a $400 million freight terminal in Melbourne’s north that is expected to take 500,000 truck trips off the city’s suburban roads each year.

The Somerton Intermodal Terminal being built at the 45-hecture Austrak Business Park by the Intermodal Terminal Company (ITC) is forecast to create 400 jobs during construction and a further 90 permanent jobs when operational in 2025.

It follows the start of services between the SCT Logistics Interstate Freight Facility in Altona and the Port of Melbourne last month in a major milestone for the Port Rail Shuttle Network.

Port Rail Shuttle Network will enable trucks to deliver or pick up containers from hubs in outer metropolitan Melbourne instead of driving to the Port of Melbourne, which is in turn investing $125 million in new rail infrastructure to cater for these shuttle trains.

ITC CEO Mishkel Maharaj was joined by Minister

earlier this month.

“The investment by the State and Federal Governments and the private sector into the Port Rail Shuttle Network, enables these major investments to occur which will put more freight onto rail, take trucks off local roads and support exporters,” Horne said.

A recent report by the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO) criticised the Andrews government’s efforts since 2014 in getting more trucks off the city’s roads.

The report found millions in government funding had so far failed to increase the share of freight going by rail.

To reduce rising traffic congestion the state wants to have 30 per cent of freight travelling on trains by 2050, compared to about 5 per cent now.

But to reach that target, there would need to be 215 return train trips a week, or 31 per day, between the port and hubs at Dandenong South, Somerton and Altona, and that seems unlikely.

“The share of rail freight going in and out of the Port of Melbourne by rail is now less

than half its 2013–14 peak,” VAGO wrote. The volume of freight carried by train has stayed static over this time.

“This means that trucks have carried most of the 30 per cent growth in the port’s container freight trade.”

Truck safety tech trialled in Victoria

HEAVY vehicles being used for a major road project in Victoria will be the first to trial a new safety technology system.

The technology has been installed in several heavy vehicles being used on Stage 1 of the Mickleham Road Upgrade.

Powered by an advanced artificial intelligence based smart camera, the side view technology incorporated into the system is specialised in detecting specific vulnerable road users –including pedestrians, cyclists and scooter riders – and not other objects or obstructions.

The system also incorporates an attention-grabbing audible and flashing light alert system to help reduce the likelihood of an unexpected collision.

Electronic flashing lights and alarms initiate inside and outside the vehicle, providing the operator with advanced warning if they need to act to avoid a collision. It also acts as an alert to those outside of the vehicle.

Students dominate pedestrian traffic in the area during school terms, with close to 1000 students attending the nearby prep to year 12 Aitken College, and the Mary Queen of Heaven Primary School and other preschool facilities being close by.

sult of collaboration between Major Road Projects Victoria, construction partner BMD and SGESCO-MAX, to find new ways to reduce the likelihood of safety incidents with members of the public during construction.

Success of the new technology will be closely monitored and evaluated, with a view to rolling this and similar systems out more broadly across more of the state’s road projects.

“Today’s trials are tomorrow’s business as usual. We’re so impressed by the technology that we’re looking to equip more of our heavy vehicles with this system to address blind spots for our crews,” said BMD senior project engineer Todd Stemmer.

Stage 1 of the Mickleham Road Upgrade will include building extra lanes in each direction on Mickleham Road between Somerton Road and Dellamore Boulevard, along with new traffic lights, intersection upgrades, and better walking and cycling connections.

Mickleham Road between Somerton Road and Dellamore Boulevard is used by more than 25,000 vehicles each day and is a key arterial route for Melbourne’s growing north-

Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne, second from right, breaks ground at the new site.

Photo: Melissa Horne/ Facebook

Helping hand for truckies on road

Local trials of zero emission eEconic about to begin

MERCEDES-BENZ Trucks

Australia says it will soon begin a local validation program for the eEconic that will become available in Australia and New Zealand in the near future.

The electric eEconic builds on the diesel Econic model, which was developed from the ground-up to work in densely populated areas and is known for its excellent visibility, practicality and active safety features.

Ahead of its local trials, the eEconic will be on show at the Australasian Waste and Recycling Expo (AWRE) in Sydney on July 26 and 27.

The manufacturer says it produces no local emissions and operates in near silence.

Production of the eEconic started last year in Europe.

The eEconic uses much of the same electric architecture as the Mercedes-Benz Trucks eActros, which is currently part of a validation program in Australia and New Zealand.

As the first manufactur-

er to launch an all-electric truck when Fuso introduced the eCanter locally in 2021, Daimler Truck already has considerable experience with electric trucks in Australia.

Mercedes-Benz Trucks Australia pacific director, Andrew Assimo, says the eEconic will be an exciting feature of the AWRE event.

“The waste and recycling industry is determined to reduce its transport carbon emissions in a practical way, so the eEconic is a perfect fit,” Assimo says.

“We are thrilled to be able to have it on our stand in Sydney before it gets to work as part of our validation trial.”

RADIO communications company GME has partnered with Rural Outreach Counselling (ROC) in a bid to encourage truckies to open up about their mental health.

The Open Road, Open Up initiative uses the UHF CB Channel 24 as a free support platform for those who need it, spearheaded by high-profile driver and road safety advocate, Rod Hannifey. For truck drivers in remote and regional areas, staying in touch can mean the difference between life and death, said GME safety expert Tony Crooke.

“GME is proud to partner with ROC, and Rod Hannifey to launch Open Road, Open Up, an initiative that we hope can help change the statistics

surrounding truckies’ mental health through the power of a UHF radio,” Crooke said.

To equip Hannifey with the counselling strategies to support truckies and those in remote areas, he has received mental health resources and support through ROC’s MateKeeper Campaign.

ROC sees the impact that long working hours, isolation, and time away from family and friends has on truck drivers, as well as others working and living in rural communities.

“I know first-hand how hard it can be out there on the road alone,” Hannifey said.

“I have seen friends struggle with their mental health because they don’t have the opportunity to open up properly

and talk about their feelings.

“I want truck drivers to know, if you see my truck, tune in. I’m here on Channel 24 to have a chat whenever you feel like talking.”

More trucks will be rolling out across Australia with Open Road, Open Up signage over the coming months. GME and ROC will also expand the initiative by training more truck drivers to be part of the programme.

While Channel 24 is a public channel to ensure that anyone can tune in and have a chat when in range of one of the trained drivers, they will not be able to identify who is calling in, stresses GME.

In addition, Hannifey and other trained drivers will also not ask for personal or identi-

fying information.

If a driver wishes to speak to a mental health support person or professional anonymously, Hannifey, and the others, have contact information that they can provide.

GME added that recent government research has uncovered the devastating impacts of the often thankless job of truck driving, showing that mental health issues are among the top three most common medical conditions for truck drivers, with one in two drivers reporting some level of psychological distress.

Lifeline: visit the website or call 13 11 14.

Beyond Blue: visit the website or call 1300 22 4636.

Health In Gear: visit the website or call 1800 464 327.

Production of the eEconic started last year in Europe.

Truckie Rod Hannifey is ready to have a chat on Channel 24.

WE ARE THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE IT ON OUR STAND IN SYDNEY BEFORE IT GETS TO WORK AS PART OF OUR VALIDATION TRIAL.“ ANDREW ASSIMO

Townsville Transport duo’s recipe for trucking success

TV

BY ALF WILSON

SMALL fleet operator Dean Anderson would be the envy of most truck drivers around Australia after his wife and business partner Rhiannon was runner-up in the popular MasterChef TV program.

The happy couple run DRA Transport based in Townsville and 61-year-old Dean does most of the driving, whilst multi-skilled Rhiannon handles the administration side, including all the bookwork.

They have four trucks – a flashy yellow Kenworth which turns heads wherever it is, a 1984 model Kenworth, an 85 SAR and a 92 cabover.

They employ two casual drivers and the trucks travel all over the country including to faraway destinations hauling general goods, and even do house removals.

“I started driving trucks in 1988 hauling concrete for Ready Mix and started the business after that,” Dean said. “Rhiannon is the backbone of the company and does all the accounts as well and I couldn’t do without her. She is also a wonderful cook.”

Rhiannon has been on two long trips with Dean in the Kenworth to Mount Isa, 900km west of Townsville, and to Rockhampton, 700km south along the Bruce Highway.

In the past nine months Rhiannon has become famous after being selected from thousands from around the country to appear on Channel 10’s MasterChef series.

It involved being filmed cooking her delights for 50 episodes which climaxed on July 17 with the top-rating grand finale. Rhiannon was named runner-up, with the winner being Brent Draper from the Gold Coast.

The bubbly Rhiannon, 47, endeared herself to audiences around Australia with her humble attitude in praising the winner.

“I was stoked to even make the final and was happy to get to the final 10, then the last five and then it was down to three,” Rhiannon said.

Beside her was an equally emotional Dean who was over the moon for his beloved wife.

“It was tough being away all the time except for a few weeks around Christmas and it did take it out of me and was physically and mentally demanding,” Rhiannon said.

Whilst she was away, Dean was hauling freight as far away as Darwin.

But Rhiannon still managed to do the DRA Transport administration.

“I was doing it at night,” she said.

During that period Dean

know

used to regularly patronise the local Bellevue Hotel which is a hop, step and a jump away from their South Townsville home to have a feed.

It is a watering hole where many off-duty truckies go to for a cold drink, a yarn, and perhaps a flutter on the TAB, Keno or the pokies.

“They got to know me so well there that they didn’t have to ask me what drink I wanted. It just got served,” Dean said.

When Big Rigs visited Rhiannon and Dean at their home this lovely lady walked out with a tray of delicious snacks, sections of lemon sponge cake with tasty cream filling which certainly tantalised the taste buds.

Knowing that Dean is a genuine connoisseur of fine food, I asked Rhiannon what his favourite dishes at home were.

“Dean is pretty easy to please and likes rissoles and mash as well as lamb cutlets. But he does get treated to other meals,” she said.

When Dean goes on distant jobs, Rhiannon prepares take away meals which he freezes and cooks in his truck microwave.

“I was away out near Winton for two weeks and Rhiannon prepared me Singapore Noodles and it was great,” Dean said.

Between them they have five children. Dean is the father-of-four and Rhiannon the mother-of-one and also a grandmother.

I asked Rhiannon how she became such a great cook and chef – a rule of the program was that no contestant could be a professional chef – and she said it was because of her

MasterChef runner-up,

late mum Sue who died in 2021 from ovarian cancer.

“Mum became a chef when I was aged 11 and taught me everything I know in the kitchen,” Rhiannon said.

Before she passed, she told me that I must apply for MasterChef but I never expected to be accepted.”

Since the program final, the Queensland couple – especially Rhiannon – have become famous around Townsville, which has a population of 200,000.

“People come up and congratulate me all the time and some even hug me,” she said.

Dean told of a humorous incident when they went to

the local yacht club recently to give Rhiannon a well-earned break from the rigors of the bookwork and home kitchen.

“A woman came up and told us we were both famous and then wanted to take Rhiannon’s picture. I joked that if I am also famous, how come she doesn’t want my photo?” Dean said.

So, what does the future hold for the now well-known Rhiannon?

At deadline for this issue, she’d been invited to attend the prestigious Logie Awards in Sydney on Sunday, July 30, where MasterChef was one of six nominations for Most Popular Reality Program.

Rhiannon is also looking forward to a visit from Master Chef winner Brent Draper from the Gold Coast and third placed Declan from Sydney who are coming to Townsville.

“They want to see what life in North Queensland is like,” she said.

“During the program I thought I would like to own a restaurant but since then I have gone off that idea.

“I would love to write a cookbook full of recipes from cuisines from around the world and maybe do some guest speaking about food and my experiences. I want to also help people to eat healthy.”

Rhiannon said she was also

interested in writing a cookbook especially for truckies with so many preparing their own meals whilst on the road, with the use of a gas cooker or microwave.

Rhiannon would dedicate any cookbook to her muchloved mum who had always dreamed of having one of her own.

Big Rigs asked Rhiannon for a sample of a simple but tasty meal she would recommend for truckies.

It was Mexican mince with corn chips and sour cream, with some frozen vegetables. “What was left could be used for leftovers the following nights,” she said.

When Big Rigs visited their home, Rhiannon walked out with a tray of delicious snacks.

Since her success on MasterChef, Rhiannon said she was also interested in writing a cookbook especially for truckies.

Dean and Rhiannon Anderson run the Townsville-based DRA Transport with the multi-skilled Rhiannon handling the administration side, including all the bookwork. Photo: Alf Wilson

audiences

her as this season’s

but at home, Rhiannon Anderson is also the ‘backbone’ of a successful transport company.

I Integrated design for the DAF Euro 6 XF & CF

Driver’s air bag, seat belt pretensioner and AEBS compatible

Black Ultima 215 Mk2 LED

Engineered to be brighter and bolder,

Truckie shares this special love story from the road

BY ALF WILSON

PARAPLEGIC Asta Johnson enjoys travelling with her truck driver partner Adam Evans who also doubles as her volunteer carer in what is a genuine and touching love story.

I saw the pair sitting near me having a meal at Townsville’s BP Cluden Roadhouse.

Asta’s wheelchair was beside the table and I could hear them deep in conversation about trucks and their trip from Brisbane.

A bit later I drove through the roadhouse parking area and saw Adam holding hands with Asta who was in her wheelchair, and they ended up at his truck.

They looked so happy together and I knew this was a special story.

So, I asked would they mind if we had a yarn and if I could take some pics.

“Not at all and I enjoy being with Adam on trips which are normally between Brisbane and Rockhampton. But this is the longest one yet and we are going to Cairns,” Asta said.

The 47-year-old Adam was driving a 2006 Iveco carrying cars for Brisbane-based Camel Towing and loves the job.

Aged 40, Asta said she had a serious car accident in 2005 which left her a paraplegic and her life has since been severely restricted.

“My life was pretty much a struggle and that has changed since I met Adam about a year ago. He used to live in a flat near me and we fell in love. We are now engaged and will get married soon,” Asta said.

Adam has been a truckie since he was aged 18 and followed in the footsteps of his dad Robert who was also a driver.

Many would consider it a challenge to assist Asta with

her special needs during trips in the truck but Adam relishes it. “I lift her from the wheelchair into the passenger seat of the Iveco and it is no trouble. I love her and will do any-

I LIFT HER FROM THE WHEELCHAIR INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT OF THE IVECO AND IT IS NO TROUBLE. I LOVE HER AND WILL DO ANYTHING TO HELP HER.”

ADAM EVANS

When on their trips, the pair do come across some difficulties and the main one is finding suitable showers and toilets at roadhouses and rest areas which have facilities for the disabled.

“Just recently we stopped at a roadhouse at Marlborough and there was no way Asta could use the toilet. We were told that the nearest facility to cater for disabled people was 1.5km up the road. But trucks could not access it so I picked Asta up from her wheelchair and carried her into one,” he said.

I saw that tender loving care Adam displayed for Asta as he lifted her from her wheelchair and into the Iveco passenger seat.

thing to help her,” Adam said.

Adam was glowing in praise for his boss who fully approves of him taking Asta along.

“Absolutely he supports us fully,” Adam said.

They even pinched a passionate and heartfelt kiss during the exercise.

She looked so content there and was looking forward to many future trips together.

“We are in love, and I want to be with Adam all the time,” Asta said.

Popular truck stop reopens on the Newell Highway

AFTER being closed for almost four years, a popular regional NSW truck stop reopened in late June.

Located on the Newell Highway in the town of Narrabri, which sits 525 kilometres north-west of Sydney, the Shell Narrabri Truck Stop offers plenty of parking, clean showers, laundry facilities and great freshly cooked meals.

The property is owned by Nareshkumar Patel and Pankaj

Berry, with Mohsin Malek coming on board as store manager.

Since reopening, Malek says the truck stop has been welcoming an average of 60-70 truckies each day.

As Malek explained, “Truckies who stop here have been very happy because we’re offering almost everything they need. We have room for around 25 trucks to park and there’s a truck rest stop just across the road too.

“For drivers travelling from

Brisbane to Melbourne or Melbourne to Brisbane, this is their halfway point, so it’s a good spot to rest. Coming into Narrabri, ours is the first service station in the town. It’s a corner property, so if someone is coming from Sydney, they can see us as well. It’s also a good spot to stop for those trucks running to Adelaide from Queensland too.”

The restaurant serves good hearty meals from 5am until

10pm. For breakfast, bacon and egg rolls are popular for truckies on the go, while bacon and eggs on toast or eggs benedict are a preferred choice for those dining in.

For lunch, hamburgers are a great choice. “Our Works Burger, which is a burger with everything in it, is popular from lunch time through to dinner,” added Malek.

And on the dinner menu, think freshly cooked meat

dishes with chips and salad, or mash and veggies – such as rump steak, T-bones, loin chops, crumbed cutlets, schnitzels, parmigianas, and fish and chips. “There are always plenty of options to choose from,” he said, adding that the food has been getting some great reviews.

“We have some regular truckie customers who usually stop here and have their dinner when they’re passing through

this way. Some of them are here up to three times a week. Along with truckies, we get a lot of locals who come here to eat with their families.”

The Shell Narrabri Truck Stop also offers an outdoor dining area, a truckie’s lounge with TV and two good-sized showers.

“With a proper cleaner coming in twice a day, the showers are always kept clean,” Malek said.

Paraplegic Asta Johnson and truck driver partner Adam Evans are inseparable on the road.

Despite the many challenges along the way, the pair always finds a way to overcome the obstacles.

Doin’ the Dirty? Why not try Fuso’s new 510 Tipper

Our Victorian correspondent takes a closer look at one of the stars of the Brisbane Truck Show before taking

BY GRAHAM HARSANT

ONE of the stars on the Daimler stand at the Brisbane Truck Show was Fuso’s Shogun 510 S Tipper.

With its black on white livery and ‘510HP’ emblazoned on its doors and visor – along with possibly the best-looking bull bar ever made – the truck attracted a lot of attention from those in the market for such a vehicle.

Fuso make a lot of noise about the 510 and with good reason. There is no other Japanese truck putting out over 500 horsepower.

Put those horses and its 2500Nm of torque together with the lowest tare weight of any tipper over 500hp and you have a nice combination.

Low tare means more weight can be carried and that opens up the opportunity to tow heavier gear such as excavators, trailers and heavier combinations in general.

Fuso tell me that the truck

is finding a lot of homes with people looking to use a truck for heavy duty applications. They have also had reports back from customers who say they’re actually getting better

fuel economy from the 510 than the lower powered Fuso 460’s in their fleet.

With a GVM of 26,000kg and GCM of 63,000kg, the Daimler-derived en-

gine transfers its power via a 12-speed automated manual gearbox with auto, economy and heavy modes. Add in crawler mode and rocking-free mode and you have a truck perfectly suited to the demands of tipper work.

Given the confines – particularly in the city – where many of these trucks will work, safety is paramount and the Shogun supplies in spades: Active Brake Assist, Pedestrian Detection (because they’ll be staring at their phones and won’t see you), Active Attention Assist (in case your politically incorrect eyes wander), Proximity Control Assist, Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Anti Slip Regulator, Hill Hold and the usuals, as in ESP, ABS and more, and you have a truck that will do its utmost to keep you out of trouble.

While not fitted to the short wheelbase show truck, longer versions come stan

a radar system that monitors the blind spot on the lefthand side of the vehicle.

In the short wheelbase versions where there is not the room to install the system, you’ll have to make do with the transom window which in itself should be a standard feature on every truck.

It’s more than likely that you’ll be working this truck in the city and suburbs, so it’s a bonus that the active cruise has stop and go functions, meaning that when the vehicle in front stops, so do you. And when it moves off again within a specified time frame, so does the Shogun.

Beyond that time a simple dab on the loud pedal and the truck does its own thing. It all adds up to making your working day as stress free as possible.

The Brisbane Truck Show

Shogun 510 was the brainchild of Daimler Trucks Gold Coast’s SEQ fleet account manager, Jon Hamilton.

He saw the massive num-

ber of infrastructure projects currently happening in and around Brisbane – and this is before the 2032 Olympics to be held in the city, which will only exacerbate the demand for job specific vehicles.

The Shogun is built to Tier 1 specification, required by many of these infrastructure projects, which means an operator can walk in off the street and have a ‘job ready’ vehicle.

Step number one was of course to source a tipper body for the truck and Hamilton went looking for top quality. That led him to AA Diesel Truck Bodies in Dandenong, Victoria.

Whilst at the other end of the country, Hamilton believes that they make the best and it’s hard to argue with him. It’s certainly better built than the tipper I had on my little red pedal car back in 1950-something. Seriously though, it is a beautiful piece of engineering.

Continued on page 20

If you’ve got 510 horses, you may as well shout it out.

Fuso’s Shogun 510 S Tipper in its natural habitat.

The Shogun is the only Japanese truck putting out over 500hp.

510 horses race up the hills

From page 18

WHAT Jon is doing is basically pre-preparing trucks like this so that someone can walk in, get a Tier 1 truck and go straight to work on any of those big projects. It’s often small things like a buzzer going off when a door is opened.

It is the attention to detail that is putting the Fuso Shogun on the radar for many who’ve not looked at a Japanese truck in the past.

The five-year warranty, along with service intervals of 50,000km or 12 months is certainly doing the brand no harm either.

The bullbar fitted to the 510 and manufactured by Whitlock Bullbars at Hallam, Victoria, is literally a work of art. Take the time to have a close look at the accompanying photo and I’m sure you’ll agree.

Now, none of the above matters if the truck is not a

good drive, and I’m here to report that it is.

Driving the tipper through the Gold Coast ‘burbs and up into the hinterland I drove along narrow, winding, poorly sealed roads, up steep hills and a couple of drops that made me feel like I was on a roller coaster.

Those 510 horses make light work of any terrain, powering up any hill with a very effective three-stage

Jacobs brake retarder to haul the truck up quickly down those steep drops.

Inside, the cab is quiet with no wind noise entering and everything falling intuitively to hand.

In keeping with the workhorse nature of the truck – and like most – there are a lot of hard plastic surfaces between the seats, but they are well put together with no gaps or creaking and offer a plethora of stor-

age spaces.

Together with the rest of the cab, the result is a pleasing environment in which to spend one’s days.

Back in the suburbs I find a narrow laneway to back the truck into. This was my chance to replicate something the truck would do on building sites.

My Daimler companion was keen to remind me that this particular Shogun had been sold but with only a

couple of inches spare either side, this sometime truckie had no trouble placing the 510 exactly where I wanted it – a relief to my travelling mate. If you’re in the market for a tipper to do the job, and you want to take it straight to the job site and get into it, have a serious look at the Shogun 510s.

These trucks have got all you could ever need, and then some.

This bullbar is a thing of beauty.

The truck is perfectly suited to the demands of tipper work.

The interior makes for a great “office”.

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Outback truckies put it all on the line in the NT

ment, which is a winter crop,” explained Danyelle.

Along with hay, the Haigh’s inherited 300 lemon trees and 30 almond trees. They’ve also done various trials to determine what else grows well in the rough and rugged conditions they’re faced with. “We’ve been trialling agave and have about 30 of them now. We’re sussing out a few other things that are coming into season too,” said Danyelle.

Along with the farming aspect, the couple has also opened a caravan park on the property. “It’s exciting that we’ve created a space that people actually want to come and stay at. We’ll also start offering different experiences too including interactions with the animals,” said Danyelle.

BY DANIELLE GULLACI

IT’S been over 18 months since Danyelle and Anthony Haigh sold their home in Queensland to move some 3000 kilometres away to a remote 5000-acre farm.

Best known for running Murranji Water Drilling, which saw them living life on the road with their two young sons – Heath, now nine-yearsold, and Theo, aged four – the couple’s move into farming was aimed at providing a more settled life for their boys.

Though they’re no strangers to the outback – as many would know from their regular appearances on television series Outback Truckers – it’s the first time they’ve tried their hands at farming. And there’s a lot riding on them being able to turn it into a successful business model. They have a lease to buy agreement on the farm, located about 200 kilometres north of Alice Springs, to eventually purchase for just under $7 million.

Theirs is one of only six farms in the Northern Territory

to be producing hay. “That will be the main source of income,” said Danyelle. “The farm was completely nothing when we took it over, they hadn’t really grown much here for several years. It’s been hectic – crazy busy. We don’t know whether we’re coming or going!”

Although her farming expertise was very limited, “I didn’t even know how to grow a veggie garden,” Danyelle admits, she believes it’s definitely been the right move. “Our boys love it here and they have normality and stability now. We have an oasis in the middle of Australia. We all love it, it’s nice to call this place home and feel settled. It’s been a big change though. We’ve been working our butts off around the clock and trying not to lose everything since we took such a big risk in doing this.

“We sold our family home, many of our possessions and took this on not knowing whether the crops were going to grow, or whether we’d have any clients. We had a lot of hiccups along the way,

but now we’re coming out the other side.

“We’re still doing the water drilling but nowhere near as much. That’s what is keeping us afloat while we’re still developing this place.

“Anthony loves being in the bush and loves living off the land. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it, but it’s definitely been a game changer.”

While the hay industry in the Northern Territory isn’t huge, the cattle and beef industry is.

“We were looking for a station to buy up here and initially thought of cattle because we wanted to slow down a little from the drilling, especially for the kids. Then this place came along so we got the opportunity to do something different,” added Danyelle. And with that, the focus turned to hay.

With many Northern Territory cattle farms getting their hay supplies from South Australia or Victoria, freight costs can be quite high as a result.

With the help of Danyelle’s 2015 Mack Superliner – or ‘Pink Bits as she’s named it –

and Anthony’s Western Star 4964 prime mover, the idea is that they can provide lower transport costs to their clients, as they can grow the product and transport it themselves.

Their latest endeavour has been documented in a six-episode series called Outback Farm. It’s been produced by Prospero Productions, which was also behind Outback Truckers.

“The show pretty much follows our day to day activities. There are no scripts, no lines, it’s literally what happens in the middle of outback Australia –the hurdles and things you have to overcome to achieve your goals. It shows what it’s like to live off the land; and how hard it can be to live off the land.”

Executive producer Julia Redwood explained, “They’ve set the goal to produce good quality hay and to be able to deliver it cheaper than their rivals. They’ve put in a 28-hectare field serviced by a massive pivot.”

The couple is hoping to bring in $1.6 million a year

from their hay, which is what they’ll need in order to turn it into a profitable business.

“Our last hay season finished in May and we sold all of our hay before we’d even cut it off the paddock,” said Danyelle.

Irrigation across the farm is provided via the use of pivots. “We have three pivots with Rhodes Grass Hay now up and running and we’re looking at putting in a fourth pivot to get more hay growing out there. Hay is a seasonal thing so we have oats growing at the mo-

And there sure are animals aplenty. “We have cows, donkeys, goats, pigs, horses, ducks, guinea fowl and chickens. They’ve all been hand raised and are very tame, so you can pat them, cuddle them, play with them and feed them. Then we have some sheep, buffalos and camels on the way. I’ve always dreamed of having a Noah’s ark and having lots of animals. The kids love it – they go and say good morning to them every day.”

Outback Farm will premiere on 7Mate on August 22 at 8.30pm.

The remote 5000-acre farm is about 200 kilometres north of Alice Springs.

Theirs is one of only six farms in the Northern Territory to be producing hay, which will be the farm’s main source of income.

Danyelle and Anthony Haigh with their two young sons Heath (9) and Theo (4).

1984 LTL is larger than life

deck and a flat top, as well as a set of tippers. I have done a bit of powder tanker work as a pocket road train lately and we have also been doing a lot of crane work recently carting the boom sections and counterweights. It’s well set up for what we do, and the more weight you get on the six-rod the more it likes it. Doubles suit us, as you can’t run triples into Mackay,” Roy said.

Originally blue in colour, the truck was resprayed in its current hue by Trevor Jenkin before his illness saw the Ford parked in a shed for a couple of years. Under the ownership of the Ikins the truck has had the magic touch of signwriter Gordon McCracken on the lines and scrollwork.

“We took the tanks off it as they weren’t done, and we got Gordon to do the paint, so we put it in the shed and he went to town on it,” Roy said.

sleeper because it has the big doors on the sides.”

With the larger sleeper the exhausts were relocated from the rear to the side, and the truck has seen some of the alloy highlights replaced in favour of stainless steel.

“It goes to work every day, so I don’t want to spend all weekend polishing it!” Roy said with a grin.

Roy and Vicki had ventured south to Brisbane for a few days to get a new steering box and some new tyres fitted to the Ford, also taking in the opportunity to display the big LTL to the considerable number of visitors to the Rocklea Showground across the weekend, allowing for some downtime.

today there are few LTLs on the road working regularly, but the truck was one of the flagship units for many fleets such as Lindsay Brothers among others in the 1980s.

“Back then they were $50,000 cheaper than a W-Model and they had the same running gear, they all ran 3:7 diffs and 13 speeds so they were all 100 mile-an-hour trucks,” Roy explained.

“There were a lot on express freight and that’s why you don’t see many around anymore because a lot of them ended up in the trees. Back then they got in and they sent them! There are very few of them working these days.”

BY DAVID VILE

“I HAVE a 9-0, but mine has a few more zeros,” said Roy Ikin with a smile, highlighting just one of the many differences between his classic 1984 Ford LTL 9000 and the current-era Kenworth T9 range.

It would also be fair to say that there would be few 39-year-old trucks still working hard and looking as sharp as Roy’s, which was on display at the Rocklea Heritage Truck Show in mid-May.

Based at Homebush, just out of Mackay, Roy and his wife Vicki now own the big-bonneted Ford, with the LTL the truck in which Roy began his career behind the wheel over 30 years ago, running up and down the highway from North Queensland for Trevor Jenkin.

“It’s the first truck I drove out on the highway, I used to run NQX into Townsville and unload, then run up to Mareeba to load spuds and come back down and then Trevor would overnight it through to Sydney. He owned it for about thirty years – he got crook and his wife Virginia asked us to buy it and take care of it, so we did and we have had it now for about five years,” Roy explained.

Over its working life the Ford has seen a few changes

both on the exterior and under the bonnet and cab. Having run Cummins 400 and 444 powerplants in the past, today a Detroit Diesel Series 60 rated to 575 horsepower provides plenty of punch, with the original 13 speed Roadranger swapped

out in favour of an 18-speed double overdrive unit, with the original six-rod suspension still in place. Rated to 90 tonne, the Ford is well specced for the job.

“We run mainly through North Queensland as a double road train, we have a step-

Midland.

INSURANCE BROKERS

“He did all the work by hand and kept the style of it true to that era – we didn’t want to make it a new truck. The sleeper is now a Truck Art 60 inch, originally it had a 30-inch Sleekline bunk – its known as a ‘Coonabarabran’

“We usually do the Convoy for Kids and take the truck to shows to catch up and have a chat. It’s a social thing, not who has a better truck or this or that, it’s a fraternity…most blokes you pass on the road you chat to for a couple of minutes and that’s it, this is a chance to catch up, unwind and meet new people,” said Roy.

With the passage of time,

With the LTL not too far off the 40-year milestone and still out on the highway every week, it would appear that there are still a few miles left to be made before the truck heads off into retirement.

“Virginia Jenkins asked me to look after it, so I have tried to do that. She still holds her own on the road and nothing makes me happier than when I pull out and bag up a 909 and grab another cog. That gets a bit of notice!” Roy concluded.

There is plenty of ‘Ol Skool Cool’ to like about the LTL. It may be closing in on 40 years, but this Ford LTL is still earning its keep.

“It’s a team effort.” Vicki and Roy Ikin with the LTL at Rocklea. Photos: David Vile

Versatility that’s good for business

Versatility is what distinguishes the DAF range from other trucks in its class. So you’re in the business of transporting liquid goods? There’s a DAF for that!

Whether your needs are long-distance haulage, city distribution, construction transportation, bulk or tank transport, the versatility of DAF keeps you moving, and that’s good for business.

Wheels still turning on this 1942 beauty in

BY ALF WILSON

IT’S the oldest continually working and registered ambulance truck in Australia, seen daily by tourists visiting the Ambulance Museum at Charters Towers, in north Queensland.

The 1942 Ford is known as a Jail Bar, as the vertical strips on the front grille resemble prison bars.

The body structure is made of timber and is sheet-

ed in metal and ply. It has a 114 inch wheel base, and a half ton 85hp 51C series motor.

The Jail Bar was delivered to Charters Towers in 1945.

Volunteer John Stubbs who is the Museum curator was delighted to yarn about the wonderful history of the old girl.

“It has been in the region since 1945 and we are certain it is the longest continually working ambulance truck in

the country. It still goes on jobs,” he said.

With Stubbs was fellow museum volunteer Robert Bland who gladly lifted the bonnet to display the motor.

The Ford saw active service at the historical town of Ravenswood, which is 80km from Charters Towers, between 1952 to 1978. After that it returned to Charters Towers and was fully restored in the mid eighties.

The historical vehicle can be seen at the museum on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays during the tourist season.

The ambulance building at Charters Towers was the first ambulance station outside Brisbane (the first QATB building in Queensland).

The old ambulance was also recently seen driving along Gill Street in Charters Towers, as part of NAIDOC Week celebrations.

Truck show celebrates its triumphant return after Covid

WAUCHOPE’S Vintage Truck & Machinery Show returned for the first time in three years, to the delight of visitors.

Following two events cancelled due to Covid and a total washout in 2022, organisers were pleased to get the show rolling for 2023.

Held at the Wauchope Showground in NSW on July 8-9, the event featured an impressive display that included 109 trucks, 45 tractors, 20 motorbikes, over 20 cars, 46 stationary engines and more.

Exhibiters came from across New South Wales and even Queensland to Wauchope, a town on NSW’s Mid North Coast region.

The event is put on by the Wauchope Yesteryear Truck and Machinery Club. It’s president, Syd Ramsay –whose 1976 R-Model Mack was among the trucks on display – said the day went really well.

“The club was founded in 1989 at Timbertown, Wauchope as the Timbertown Steam and Oil Engine Club Inc. In April 2011 the Club moved to its new and current venue at the Wauchope Showground. Late in 2014 the Club assumed the new name of The Wauchope Yesteryear Truck and Machinery Club,” Ramsay explained.

“Everyone was very pleased with the show and are looking forward to next year.”

Syd

1977.

Ramsay purchased his Mack R-model new in February

John Stubbs with the old ambulance.

The 1942 Ford Jail Bar travelled through Charters Towers as part of NAIDOC Week celebrations last month.

The vehicle was restored during the 1980s.

Museum volunteers lifted the bonnet for a closer view of the engine. Photos: Alf Wilson

Truck of the Show went to Neil and Trevor Hudson of Taree with their beautifully restored red Diamond T.

Reader Rigs proudly supported by

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!

Truckie Brent Robertson’s motto is ‘delivering happiness to families’. This shot was taken at Colbinabbin of another pool on the way to some excited kids.

Ben Stamatovich (aka The Drone Way) snapped this great shot of a new ‘Star’ on the road.

Yet another ripper shot from Dave Hely, enjoying the fog and sunrise in Raglan, NSW.

Congratulations to Timothy Smith, who has won a $500 Shell Coles Express Gift Card for this great sunrise shot, snapped at a rest area in Parkesbourne, New South Wales.

Becca Ross snapped this shot of the cattle truck in Warrenbayne, Victoria, with the old and little ‘Inter girl’ behind it.

Brendan Nicholas snapped this great shot of the Kenworth 104B he drives for Woody’s Transport, known as “Wanted”, out on the Hay Plains waiting for the storm to pass.

“Just love the sky in the pines, makes the work easy with views like this,” said Michael Roels, while in Orange, NSW.

When the going gets tough, truckies keep everyone going

Josh Rigney kicks the dust out of some wheels near Goodooga, NSW, after loading off a farm back towards Bollon.

Shane Wilkes’ “pot of gold at the end of the rainbow”.

Look at that sky – this Kenworth set-up was looking the goods in this shot snapped by Bryce ‘Baldy’ McGahey in Warwick, Queensland.

Cameron Deans shared this great shot, taken at Mambray Creek, SA, while on the way into Adelaide from Perth.

Tony Griffin snapped this great shot at East Hyden, WA.

Adam Mello snapped this awesome shot while admiring the view at the Great Australian Bight.

Aaron Fuller snapped this glorious Toowoomba sunset shot recently, with his two trailers out of frame.

Highlighting the benefits of AEB and stability control

WODONGA TAFE, Driver Education Centre of Australia (DECA), Trucking Industry Council and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) have teamed up to create a detailed resource and multimedia suite to help educate transport managers and operators of the benefits of early adoption of Advanced Emergency Braking (AEB) and stability control, as well as their limitations.

Road crash trauma involving heavy vehicles has been on the rise in Australia since 2020. According to BITRE’s Dashboard for Road Trauma Involving Heavy Vehicles, there were 201 road deaths involving heavy vehicles in the year to June 2022 which is 20.4 per cent or 34 deaths more than 2020. Over the same period, fatal crashes involving heavy vehicles increased by 20.8 per cent or 31 deaths more in comparison to 2020. The impact of road crashes on individuals, as well as society, is significant, estimated to cost the Australian economy around $35 billion per annum.

Core modules in the resource cover Antilock Braking Systems (ABS), stability control and finally AEB, with each section covering the Australian Design Rules (ADRs) requirements, system design/ function and background is-

THE VIDEOS AND MULTIMEDIA GIVE PEOPLE A VISUAL EXPLANATION OF THE VEHICLES AND A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SYSTEMS AS TECHNOLOGY SHIFTS QUICKLY WITHIN THE INDUSTRY.”

JASON ATTERIDGE

sues/information.

Jason Atteridge, education leader at Wodonga TAFE / DECA said, “The resources are tailored with both new and advanced operators in mind. Not wanting to leave a stone unturned, with Trucking Industry Council, the resource provides in-depth detail as to how these heavy vehicle safety systems work, as well as their limitations.

“The videos and multimedia give people a visual explanation of the vehicles and a better understanding of the systems as technology shifts quickly within the industry, and will continue to do so in the future.”

You can learn more about this project at wodongatafe.edu. au/HVSS.

Delivery cements long-standing Supercars partnership

TWO new Kenworth prime movers were recently delivered to Supercars on the Gold Coast, seeing Kenworth continue as the official heavy-duty truck partner of Supercars until at least the end of 2025.

That will mark the 26th consecutive year as a partner, making Kenworth one of the sport’s longest standing sponsors.

As part of the partnership, Kenworth provides transportation support to every Australian Supercars event – totalling over 35,000 kilometres each season.

The new Kenworth T610

and K220 feature a full suite of safety options, including adaptive cruise control, stationary vehicle braking, collision mitigation, driver alerts, lane departure warning, highway departure warning, braking autonomous emergency braking (AEBS), and multi lane autonomous emergency braking.

The T610 is also equipped with a Euro 6 engine, optimised to maximise fuel efficiency.

Kenworth has also retained the exclusive rights to the official Kenworth Drivers Parade at the Repco Bathurst 1000.

makingourroadssafer SAFVER

Since its inception in 2006, this parade has become one of the most anticipated traditions of the four-day event.

Supercars CEO Shane Howard said, “We are delighted to extend our partnership with Kenworth as the official heavy duty truck of Supercars. Their unwavering support and dedication have been instrumental in the success of our events for over 20 years.

“We look forward to the next chapter of our partnership, delivering world-class experiences to our passionate fans.”

Michael Long, director sales and marketing for PAC-

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CAR Australia, added, “We are thrilled to be continuing to support Supercars with two new Kenworth prime movers as part of our long-standing relationship. The partnership between the two organisations is in its third decade and continues to grow, creating excitement for everyone who’s involved.”

Race fans were able to check out Supercars’ new Kenworths when they made their first race appearance at Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight on July 2830 at Sydney Motorsport Park.

The event hosted Races 18 and 19 of the 2023 Repco Supercars Championship season. The Kenworth trucks were handed over in July.

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Road crash trauma involving heavy vehicles has been on the rise in Australia since 2020.

Matic Transport celebrates anniversary with FH16 XXL

DANNY Matic’s new Volvo FH16 XXL 700HP twin steer tri-drive prime mover is the largest Volvo XXL to roll off the Wacol assembly line to date.

Matic Group, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, operates a modern fleet of 200-plus trucks of predominantly Volvo prime movers along with over 750 pieces of trailing equipment.

The new Volvo FH16 10x6 prime mover has a GCM of over 200t and will be transporting cement in pressurised tankers based out of Geraldton to remote mining sites around Western Australia.

Truck Centre WA sales representative Ken Dowsen said Danny Matic was looking for a truck that had high GCM, high horsepower and a ‘big cab’ for driver comfort, but it had to be safe for his driver Tony Watson.

One of Matic’s company values is safety and this truck ticked all the boxes. The Matic Group was established in 2002 by Danny and Katia Matic and operates several business entities under the group umbrella.

This includes Matic Transport Australia, Matic Resources, and Bibra Lake Trailers with offices in Perth, Geraldton, Newman, Tom Price, Karratha, Darwin, Alice Springs and Adelaide.

It is a family owned, diversified transport and logistics company that specialises in servicing the resources, con-

struction materials, and oil and gas sectors. Matic Group is committed to safety, their customers, teamwork and performance. The company invests heavily in safety resources and undertakes multiple campaigns to drive the safety culture across its entire operations. Campaigns include Safety First 24/7,

Stop the Job and RESPECT (Home, Workplace, and Community).

Kevin Kelly, general manager Volvo Sales at Truck Centre WA said, “The truck signifies 20 years of dedication Danny has devoted to Matic Group of which Truck Centre WA has partnered with Danny since its inception.”

“Danny can be described as a man who has a genuine respect for all, has always had a dogmatic approach to find better ways to service his customers, which in turn has allowed Matic Group to be at the forefront of providing innovative transport solutions.”

According to Matic himself, it is the team spirit and the dedication from his people that drives him to do the work he does. Truck Centre WA sales representative Ken

Dowsen said Matic was looking for a truck that had high GCM, high horsepower and a “Big Cab” for driver comfort, but it had to be safe for his driver Tony Watson.

“It was a proud moment for Danny and Katia to receive the keys for the first Wacol built FH16 XXL cab,” said regional commercial manager Anthony Raisch. “It was also great timing as this truck marks Matic Transport’s 20th anniversary this year!”

SAF-HOLLAND is one of the leading global manufacturers and suppliers of high-quality axles and suspension systems, fifth wheels, kingpins, coupling products and landing gear to the commercial vehicles industry.

[L-R] Sales representative Ken Dowsen, TCWA CEO Brad Daff, Danny Matic and TCWA general manager sales Kevin Kelly.

This prime mover is the biggest Volvo XXL to come out of the Wacol production facility to date.

DSE Transport well placed for growth after merger

FOLLOWING the recent announcement of its merger with another business, DSE Transport’s expansion plans are well underway, with new trucks just added to the fleet.

DSE Transport employs almost 50 staff and has over 300 subcontracted drivers. It successfully merged with ITS Transport, effective July 1.

“This marks the creation of a formidable partnership that promises a future of remarkable opportunities,” said DSE Transport, in announcing the news.

“Through this strategic merger, we unite the exceptional capabilities, expertise, and resources of DSE Transport and ITS Transport, expanding the DSE operations into Newcastle, Wollongong and strengthening our Sydney business, with a strong fleet of company owned flattops and crane trucks.”

The company has now purchased three new Iveco S-Way AT 360 6x2 rigids to further grow the fleet and help service new contracts. The new trucks will also provide extra coverage to existing key customers across the homewares, building mate-

rials and supermarket space.

This is a first–time purchase of the IVECO brand for DSE.

According to DSE transport state manager – NSW, Mitch Sherry, the company eventually settled on the S-Way after a long search.

“We evaluated several contenders but ultimately were attracted by the features of the S-Way, the added safety compared to others in the segment along with the styling of the trucks was attractive,” Sherry said.

Having started with DSE as a company driver nearly 16 years ago, Sherry transitioned into the office and ultimately into management roles.

“My early life as a driver helps me better understand the challenges drivers face out on the road and from an operational perspective with things such as delays and other factors that are out of their control. I can also appreciate how important it is to have the right vehicle for the application,” he said.

The three new S-Way trucks are fitted with 14 pallet curtain-sider bodies, ‘StrapNGo’ load restraint systems and 3-tonne tail lifts. The curtains feature the company’s distinct livery and the cabins have also been wrapped to match.

With 360hp/1650Nm Euro 6 (Step E) engines cou-

pled to 12-speed Hi-Tronix automated manual transmissions, the trucks undertake a variety of local work along with intrastate runs including multi-drop routes from Sydney to Lismore. Servicing a range of permanent and ad hoc customers, the vehicles travel anywhere between 500 and 1000 kilometres per week.

Sherry said that safety was a major consideration for DSE, which greatly influenced the purchase decision as well as how the trucks were specified.

“Safety and compliance is front of mind for us, it’s one of the reasons we went for the larger AT cabin rather than the day cabin. Having a spacious

and quality cabin allows for proper rest should the drivers need it, whether as part of their fatigue break requirements or if they feel tired and just need to stop for a rest.”

Standard safety features in the S-Way include advanced emergency braking system, brake assistance system, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning system, electronic stability program with ABS (disc brakes all round) and ASR (anti-slip regulation), hill holder and driver style evaluation plus driver attention support (DSE + DAS).

According to Sherry, the truckies behind the wheel of the new S-Ways have been ex-

tremely pleased.

“They love them. I’ve had feedback from them saying that the trucks were more comfortable and well appointed than their own cars. They comment on how quiet, smooth and easy to steer they are as well,” he said.

One thing that sets DSE apart from many competitors is an operating structure that sees a team of trained operators/allocators also act in a customer service capacity. This means that when customers contact the company, the person they speak with will be responsible for all aspects of handling the load, from booking, allocating, job monitoring to financial processing.

Sherry says this customer-centric approach, transparency and accountability is something that he has also experienced with S-Way selling dealer, Sydney IVECO.

“We’re enjoying a good relationship with Sydney IVECO. It’s the friendly staff, and they always get back to me promptly and effectively. We’ll also use the dealership for ongoing servicing and maintenance of the trucks,” he said.

The company purchased three new Iveco S-Way AT 360 6×2 rigids to further grow the fleet and help service new contracts.

DSE Transport successfully merged with ITS Transport, effective July 1.

What to know about chain of responsibility and HVNL

WITH a number of recent chain of responsibility (CoR) convictions under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), McInnes Wilson Lawyers associate Nick Wilson has published a guide that details what operators and schedulers need to be aware of.

“All parties in the chain of responsibility must take proactive steps to discharge their duties and obligations under the HVNL to not expose individuals to a risk of death or serious injury or illness,” he said.

“Importantly, it is not necessary for an accident or incident to have occurred for a prosecution to be brought against a company or individual.”

He uses a recent conviction against a New South Wales transport company and two schedulers as a case in point.

The company itself, along with two schedulers were collectively fined $210,000 for failing to comply with their obligations under the HVNL as parties in the chain of responsibility.

A Brisbane company was also fined $1.2 million recently for contravening its primary

safety duty under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (see page 2).

Wilson explains that HVNL currently applies in all Australian states and territories except Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The law covers the use and

operation of heavy vehicles with a gross vehicle mass or aggregate trailer mass of over 4.5 tonnes.

He shared the following:

What is the chain of responsibility?

Under section 26C of the

HVNL, the safety of transport activities involving heavy vehicles is the shared responsibility of each party in the chain of responsibility. These laws are designed to prevent driver fatigue, overloading, speeding, and other safety risks inherent with the operation of

heavy vehicles.

While each party within the chain of responsibility has a primary duty to ensure the safety of their transport activities relating to the vehicle, the level and nature of each party’s obligations depend upon:

• the functions the person performs or is required to perform as opposed to their job title or the functions described in their employment contract;

• the nature of the public risk created by the carrying out of the transport activity; and

• the party’s capacity to control, eliminate or minimise the risk.

If a person in the chain of responsibility fails to comply with the duty, then that person can be found guilty of an offence. Whether the conduct constitutes a Category 1 (section 26F), Category 2 (section 26G), or Category 3 (section 26H) offence depends on the nature of the offending.

Critically, a person or company can be prosecuted for contravening their primary duty before an accident or incident has even occurred. That is because each party within the chain of responsibility has a proactive obligation under the HVNL to eliminate and mitigate public risks so far as is reasonably practicable.

Who is a party in the chain of responsibility?

A person performing any of the following functions will be a party in the chain of responsibility for a heavy

Nick Wilson is a corporate lawyer at McInnes Wilson Lawyers in Brisbane, specialising in the transport sector.

HVNL laws are designed to prevent driver fatigue, overloading, speeding, and other safety risks inherent with the operation of heavy vehicles.

vehicle:

• Employer: If the vehicle’s driver is an employed driver, the employer of the driver.

• Prime Contractor: If the vehicle’s driver is self-employed, the person who engages the driver to drive the vehicle under a contract for services.

• Operator: A person responsible for controlling or directing the use of the vehicle.

• Scheduler: A person who schedules the transport of goods or passengers by the

vehicle; or the work time and rest time of the vehicle’s driver.

• Consignor: A person is a consignor of goods, for road transport using a heavy vehicle, if:

o the person has consented to being, and is, named or otherwise identified as a consignor of goods in the transport documentation relating to the road transport of the goods; or

o the person engages an operator of the vehicle, either directly or in-

directly or through an agent or other intermediary, to transport the goods by road; or

o if neither of the above apply - the person has possession of, or control over, the goods immediately before the goods are transported by road.

• Consignee: A person is a consignee of goods if they:

o consent to being, and is, named or otherwise identified as the intended consignee of the goods in the transport documentation relating

to the road transport of the goods; or

o actually receive the goods after completion of their road transport.

o However, a consignee does not include a person who merely unloads the goods.

• Packer: A person is a packer of goods if they:

o put the goods in packaging, even if that packaging is already on a vehicle; or

o assemble the goods as packaged goods in an outer packaging, even if

that packaging is already on a vehicle; or

o Supervise an activity mentioned above; or

o manage or control an activity mentioned above

• Loading manager: A person is a loading manager for goods in a heavy vehicle if they:

o manage, or are responsible for the operation of, regular loading or unloading premises for heavy vehicles where the goods are loaded onto the heavy vehicle, or unloaded from the

heavy vehicle; or

o are assigned by a person mentioned above as responsible for supervising, managing or controlling, directly or indirectly, activities carried out by a loader or unloader of goods at regular loading or unloading premises for heavy vehicles.

• Loader: A person is a loader of goods in a heavy vehicle if they;

o load the vehicle, or any container that is in or part of the vehicle, with the goods for road transport; or

o load the vehicle with a freight container, whether or not it contains goods, for road transport.

• Unloader: A person is an unloader of goods in a heavy vehicle if they:

o unload from the vehicle, or any container that is in or part of the vehicle, goods that have been transported by road; or

o unload from the vehicle a freight container, whether or not it contains goods, that has been transported by road.

Importantly, a person can have more than one duty because of the functions they perform, and these duties cannot be transferred to another person.

A driver of a heavy vehicle is not a party in the chain of responsibility unless they perform another function such as a loader of goods.

Each party within the chain of responsibility has a proactive obligation under the HVNL to eliminate and mitigate public risks so far as is reasonably practicable.

Tippers deliver all day long for Melbourne operator

the Allison (4430) auto and the airbag suspension which rides better on the road.

“I really love going to work in it… I can drive it all day and don’t feel too weary when I get home.”

The standard MyIsuzu Co-Pilot 10.1-inch High-Definition touch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility might be over-specified for this self-confessed penand-paper man, but Peacock enjoys the comfort of the ISRI 6860 air suspension seat – regarded as one of the best seats in the business.

In comparison, Peacock’s NMR 45-150 Tipper with 6-speed Automated Manual Transmission – from Isuzu’s 4.5-tonne GVM Ready-toWork range – looks like a pint-sized cousin against the shoulder of the beefier FXY.

working on site, these two tippers are pulling their weight for Clay Excavations. Peacock expects them to last out Isuzu’s generous six-year warranty and six years of roadside assistance aftercare package – but admits he enjoys the feel and presence of a new machine beneath him.

The earthmoving man keeps coming back year-onyear to Patterson Cheney Isuzu for the next best and biggest available.

He says it’s Isuzu’s reputation for connecting with local businesses like his own and knowing what he needs that leaves him satisfied with service and product.

“The people there are lovely, you go in and they treat you as part of a family,

I think they’re really good at what they do.

“It’s likely that I’ll end up buying a bigger horsepower Isuzu truck, probably in the next year, and two or three years down the track I’ll have another one again.

“I virtually ordered the FXY 240-350 tipper a week after I bought the beavertail in 2022, that’s how impressed I was with the trucks.”

DINO Peacock’s work boots are coated in mud, but his two Isuzu tippers gleam in the morning sun.

“It’s the way we keep them here,” says Peacock proudly.

“It does look good when you rock up to a job and you’ve got new gear like this.”

Peacock’s two tippers are engaged in excavation works for his 37-year-young company Clay Excavations, which services non-commercial digs in Nar Nar Goon North, sitting on the outskirts of Pakenham in Melbourne’s southeast.

Peacock prefers to keep things close to home, helping his neighbours and nearby farmers with excavation work that varies from horse arenas, earthworks and cuts for farm buildings, driveways and dams. Whether its small or large, ‘local’ is his specialty.

“My customers pay as soon as I finish and with a smile on their face,” Peacock reports.

“When I’m not digging with the machinery, I’ll be carting crushed rock for days backwards and forwards in the big tipper, averaging about eight loads a day.”

Peacock is a familiar face down at the nearby Fulton-Hogan quarry, where he collects crushed rock in a steady stream with the larger of his two trucks, a new 6×4 FXY 240-350 Auto.

This big Isuzu unit is equipped with a Hardox Steel tipper body from AA Diesel Bodies; designed for impact strength and durability for load after load. It replaces Clay Excavation’s 2022 Isuzu FXY beavertail, also fitted by AA Diesel Bodies.

Matched with the grunt of the FXY 6×4 platform – which offers a generous Gross Vehicle Mass of 24,000kg and Gross Combination Mass of 45,000kg – it’s an unflappable package that can, and does, deliver for Peacock all day long.

Aside from a primo performance tipping crushed rock, Peacock compliments the comfort level of the cabin and the FXY’s payload and power to tow and load machinery.

It’s fitted with Isuzu’s 6UZI-TCC engine, producing 257 kw (350PS) at 2000 rpm of power and torque of 1422 Nm at 1400 rpm.

“I can pull an 8-tonne tagalong float with a 5.5-tonne excavator or roller on it, plus a posi-track loader on the tipper tray,” Peacock says.

“It’s a beautiful drive with

Its small size doesn’t mean it doesn’t pack a punch though.

The efficient four-cylinder Isuzu common rail engine keeps jobs ticking along nicely and it’s sized just right for tight access spots where a bigger truck wouldn’t have a hope of squeezing in.

The NMR Tipper’s 2.0 cubic metre capacity and car licence nominal payload of 1,695kg equates to a very practical transport solution, and Peacock is pleased with the versatility it offers Clay Excavations.

At the moment, it’s either Freddy (Peacock’s right-hand man) carting machinery or Peacock’s daughter behind the wheel, both using a regular car driver’s licence.

“Funnily enough my daughter’s car engine blewup recently, so she’s been driving our little tipper, clocking up the kilometres… but since it’s got our name stamped all over it, it looks like a big billboard driving around.

“You’ve got to be in it to win it!” Peacock quips.

Whether on the road or

The business has been going for 37 years.

[L-R] Dino Peacock, Teena and Freddy.

Dino Peacock’s two tippers are used for excavation works at Clay Excavations.

Fleet decarbonisation and reducing emissions

On the other hand, EVs powered by Australia’s abundant renewable energy resources are projected to achieve an economy-wide emissions reduction target of 43 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 – and net zero emissions by 2050.

As an operator of a massive fleet, the Australia Government has joined the international Zero-Emission Government Fleet Declaration, which commits the government to procure 100 per cent zero emissions vehicles, including heavy vehicles, by 2035.

their bases and the range of a battery powered truck is a mismatch with the work they’re required to do.

There are two potential answers for heavy vehicle fleet operators wanting to decarbonise. The first, biofuels, are available and in use today. The second, hydrogen, is a potential solution, but significant investment will be required, not only in fuelling infrastructure, but also in sourcing clean, green hydrogen.

trucks replaced equivalent diesel-powered trucks, avoiding 1300 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.

THE climate crisis and the need to reduce emissions means EVs and alternative fuel vehicles are in the hot seat. Transport makes up 19 per cent of Australia’s total carbon emissions, while passenger and light commercial vehicles contribute to 60 per cent of that total. Clearly, cleaning up transport is one of the major tasks we face as a nation if we’re going to hit net-zero by 2050. It’s a message Australia, for

so long living under an EV rock, is finally getting on board with. According to the latest numbers from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), which tracks new vehicle sales, EVs made up 8 per cent of new vehicle purchases in April of this year. That works out to be 8124 registrations and year to date sales of 32,050, up a whopping 275.2 per cent over 2022.

The question is, where does

this leave fleet operators, particularly those running heavy vehicles? Is battery power on the cards, or are there other options out there?

Batteries just won’t cut it – yet

As outlined in the Australian Government’s National Electric Vehicles Strategy, released earlier this year, transport is projected to be Australia’s largest source of emissions by 2030.

However, the reality is battery power, with ranges and charging times acceptable for light passenger cars and trucks doing lots of short trips, just won’t cut it – yet – for heavy vehicles. There are several reasons for this. Battery power density isn’t where it needs to be for a truck, meaning a battery-electric heavy vehicle would require massive packs that take hours to recharge and would contribute significantly to gross vehicle mass, affecting the business’s productivity.

For fleet operators, there’s also a lack of charging infrastructure unless they install it at

Australia has abundant natural resources to make clean hydrogen; the Australian Government is investing $1.4 billion in building a competitive hydrogen industry. Australia’s National Hydrogen Strategy aims to grow the industry and position Australia as a major player by 2030.

At the end of 2021, a world-first project saw five hydrogen-powered trucks deployed to transport zinc from Sun Metals’ Townsville mine to the Port of Townsville. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) conditionally approved $3.02 million in funding to support the deployment. The five zero-emission

There is also a third option: transport operators can also look to technology as a solution to decarbonisation. Insights from telematics around vehicle performance and driver behaviour to reduce fuel usage and rates saves users an average of 12.7 per cent, according to Teletrac Navman’s 2019 Telematics Benchmark Report. Here in Australia, for example, Jarratt Transport Solutions, based out of the Port of Brisbane, in Queensland, estimates it saves around 3000 litres of fuel per month by using telematics to coach drivers in more efficient driving.

Battery powered heavy vehicles will eventually have a place on Australian roads. In the meantime, operators can look to biofuels and – potentially hydrogen – as a way of decarbonising their fleets. And technology, including telematics, also has an important role to play in improving driver behaviour and lowering fuel use. They’re all part of the puzzle as Australia aims for net-zero.

Battery powered heavy vehicles will eventually have a place on Australian roads but there are other options too.

TN360 provides the tools to help eliminate guesswork. See past the day-to-day to identify and mitigate risks that would previously have been invisible for a safer and more productive operation.

Workshop inventory management made easy

EFFECTIVE inventory management is crucial for truck and trailer workshops to ensure they have the necessary parts on hand for emergencies and after-hours breakdowns. However, for many workshop managers, handling inventory can be a significant headache as their expertise lies in fixing

vehicles, not necessarily managing stock.

To address this challenge, Tranzmile, Australia’s leading family-owned truck and trailer parts supplier, partnered with Brisbane-based software developer Brightfox, to create a user-friendly inventory management software called

Tranzmate, which among many features, is also ideal for workshop inventory management.

Kathy Smith of Brightfox said, “Tranzmate is perfect for dealers like Tranzmile, who have been using the software to take their customer service to the next level, but also ideal

for mixed-use fleets like Santos, who for example, heavily use the Pre Start functionality.”

Tranzmate is offered to Tranzmile customers for free, providing customers the tool as a value-added service. Cameron Black, managing director of Tranzmile, emphasised their commitment to delivering the best customer service in the industry, and believes that providing customers with tools to enhance efficiency and save money is the right approach.

“We provide Tranzmate for free to our customers so they get all the power of this amazing software in their business just for being a customer of ours. We figure if we can give our customers the tools to help them make and save money, then we should,” he said.

“With Tranzmate, a workshop can build one or many inventory lists and set up the parts that they want to keep on hand. It’s super easy to do, and simple to manage. You can add your own bin locations, and even your own part numbers and descriptions. A stock check with Tranzmate

takes only minutes, with super quick re-ordering of what is required.”

For workshop owners interested in optimising their operations, Tranzmile extends an invitation to explore how Tranzmate can save time and money by simplifying the parts supply process.

“If you’re running a workshop, then we’d love to show you how we can save you time and money through a better and smarter way to supply you with parts,” added Black.

“Better still, let us give you the Tranzmate software system –and the hassles of managing inventory will be a thing of the past. We take the complexity out of parts, so it runs as professionally as the rest of your business.”

With branches in Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Townsville and the Burnett, Tranzmile caters to customers across Australia, PNG, and Asia, making it a trusted and reliable partner for truck and trailer parts supply.

Do you have inventory on hand and need a solution to help you manage it?

Tranzmate is a user-friendly inventory management software.

Isuzu parts warehouse keeps the wheels turning

AS the highest selling truck brand for 34 consecutive years, Isuzu’s parts warehouse is meeting surging requirements for parts and aftersales support.

Isuzu Australia Limited’s (IAL) 15,000 square metre National Parts Distribution Centre, located within the IAL head office at Truganina in Melbourne, is recognised as one of the largest truck parts and component sites in the southern hemisphere.

According to IAL, it’s a key asset in helping Isuzu maintain its reputation for efficient and effective parts turnaround.

Now in its fifth year of operation, the Melbourne-based site also incorporates the Isuzu Power Solutions operations and development centre, and IAL administration, sales, engineering and services.

Last year, Isuzu Trucks sold 13,360 units in Australia, marking a new record and its 34th consecutive year of truck sales leadership. This year sees the upwards trend continue with sales increasing a further 22 per cent (983 units) for Isuzu through to the end of

May 2023.

The IAL Parts Distribution Centre has expanded to process upwards of 16,000 items per day out to the dealer network by air, rail, road and even by sea for partners throughout the South Pacific. This requires people power of just under 50 staff on rotating shifts from 5am through to 10pm each day.

IAL receive and process an average of 450 x 40-foot shipping containers every year – a number that is growing with local truck and Power Solutions sales.

“We pick an average of 3000 lines of stock every day, which equates to over 600,000 every year,” said IAL parts warehouse manager Leanne Peterson.

“From that number, over 70,000 consignments are shipped-out every year to wherever they need to go. It is critical that we move extremely efficiently at this end of the supply chain so our customers can get out on the road again as quickly as possible.

“The Isuzu dealer network is digitally connected to the

National Parts Distribution Centre which ensures access to view all national parts inventory, including peer dealers, maximising the dealer’s ability to provide the best customer service possible.”

The warehouse holds about seven million items in stock at any one time, which includes the smallest electrical components right up to replacement cabs, engines and transmissions.

At any one time, IAL’s National Parts Distribution Centre holds in the vicinity of 35,000 lines of stock, distributing this across 100+ locations in the Oceanic region.

“Our calculations tell us that we pick, pack and ship around 7.5 million kilograms of parts every year,” added Peterson.

National parts sales manager Joel Gledhill added, “Our Genuine Parts range is developed and manufactured to stringent Isuzu quality standards and testing, which ensures maximum produc-

tivity and a high level of performance for our customer’s trucks.

“This also assists them to optimise the future re-sale value for those vehicles where Genuine Isuzu Parts are used.

“Our Approved Parts range includes a number of leading brands such as Meritor, Fleetguard, Eaton, Hendrickson and Allison, to name a few, and provides a wide range of trusted products.”

Isuzu’s ‘BVP’ range comprises a comprehensive selec-

tion of service parts to suit older model Isuzu Trucks.

Included are starter motors, alternators, drive belts, brake components, clutch components and filters.

IAL says the next 24 months is set to be an interesting period in Australian trucking history with the competing forces of high-volume sales, lingering supply chain issues and the manufacture of new battery electric technology to contend with.

Now in the process of de-

signing an all-new model line-up, including its first EV platform expected to land on shore within this timeframe, Isuzu Trucks is geared for a busy time ahead, but Peterson says the National Parts Distribution Centre is well equipped to meet demand.

“There certainly is growing demand but we have the facility, the technology and importantly the people to ensure Isuzu continues to be at the forefront in meeting the needs of our customers.”

The 15,000 square metre National Parts Distribution Centre is located atTruganina in Melbourne.

IAL parts warehouse manager Leanne Peterson.

IAL national parts sales manager Joel Gledhill.

The Tanami Road upgrade should be worth the wait

Road between Charters Towers and the Lynd Junction.

It had been a dangerous and mostly narrow highway but has also been upgraded and is now much safer.

Blitz in NSW rural town

The Tanami upgrade is great news

Over the years, hundreds of truckies have nominated the Tanami Road in WA as amongst the worst in Australia to travel on.

So, it is great news that a section of the mostly dirt road will be upgraded, albeit with work not to be completed until 2024.

But as the old saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day”.

Over the years Spy has seen many highways upgraded from dirt to bitumen.

These have included the 250km Hann Highway between Hughenden and the Lynd Junction.

It had been a notorious route for the many drivers who used it and since the eighties has been upgraded and is almost all bitumen now.

Another which comes to mind was the highway from Lakelands to Cooktown in the far north.

I used to travel it every year to cover the Cooktown Rediscovery Festival and there had been many rough stretches of dirt.

However each year some parts were upgraded and now it is also totally bitumen.

The other is the section of the Gregory Development

Some of my good truckie contacts in rural NSW reckon there has been a blitz by police on drivers around the scenic town of Murrurundi.

It is located in the Upper Hunter Shire and about 193km north west of Sydney, along the New England Highway.

Spy travelled through Murrurundi recently and saw a lot of trucks cruising through.

I saw quite a few drivers who had stopped at the roadhouse there too.

So if you are heading towards or through Murrurundi, beware of the boys in blue.

Big cat debate

Over the past decades Spy has spoken to some truckies from around Australia who claim to have seen big black panther like cats while travelling on remote highways at night.

Nobody has ever been able to take a genuine photo of such a cat, but a Victorian couple travelling in a caravan claim to have seen one cross the road in front of them on a sunny day.

In the latest alleged sighting Don and Nicole Street were cruising along the Gregory Development Highway between Greenvale and Charters Towers near Basalt around 2pm on Sunday July 9.

“It wasn’t a feral cat. It was a panther. It was jet black and

was glittering in the sun. It was about 80cm tall, 3m long, including its tail which was long and hooped,” Nicole told the Townsville Bulletin.

Having done stories on such sightings back as far as the eighties, I was always intrigued as to how these panthers, which supposedly don’t inhabit Australia, could possibly be here.

Some of those claimed they had spotted black panthers in the Gippsland area of Victoria and in parts of NSW.

They had all been reluctant to go public for fear of being ridiculed.

The theory was always that some American servicemen who were stationed in the far north during WWII had young pet panthers.

Rather than have them euthanised when they had to return home after the war, they released them into the bush and some have bred.

So if you are a truckie and have seen one, please let Spy know – better still if you can snap a pic.

NT road train kicks goals

A road train more than 50m long kicked plenty of goals at Traeger Park in Alice Springs during an AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and Sydney side GWS on July 2.

The Tanami Transport truck was parked at one end of the football field and certainly was a hit with spectators and television viewers around the country.

I watched the game live on Fox Sports and the coverage made numerous crosses to

show the Kenworth, with excellent commentary from former Brisbane Lions AFL great Chris Johnson.

It rained for much of the game and the Kenworth stood out like dogs ‘you know what’ during the coverage on the box.

Spy also heard truckies talking about it at a far off roadhouse eatery in Queensland.

Tensions are high over parking

After recent heavy rain in the Queensland outback, many caravan travellers decided to park up near the roadhouse at Julia Creek.

The only problem for truckies was that it is a popular parking area for heavy vehicles travelling along the Flinders Highway.

Julia Creek is 650km from the coast and about 250km from Mount Isa and many truckies rest there to abide by fatigue management laws.

Spy has been told by various sources that tension was high between some truck drivers and the van people.

There were some angry verbal “conversations” between them as the truckies spoke of the angst over not being able to find a park.

But a few of the van drivers wouldn’t back down and advised them the parking area was for all travellers.

To add to the dilemma, it was freezing cold.

Opinions about weather

I had an interesting conversation about the weather with a well known Tasmanian who

GET THE EATON LUBE INTO YOUR AXLES!

lives beside the Bass Highway.

He told Spy that it was about 10 degrees which was probably the normal for that region at this time of the year.

When I told him that the temperature was similar up in Queensland at places as far apart as Toowoomba and Mount Isa, he offered this assessment.

“Yes, but having lived in Queensland for many years in the tropics, that temperature there would feel much colder than it does down in Tasmania,” he said.

Recently several truckies who do a lot of interstate travel have offered a similar opinion.

The Apple Islander went on to say he reckons it is something to do with a hole in the ozone layer above Tassie.

Smart dresser at roadhouse

Having stopped at a roadhouse parking area whilst the trouble and strife (wife) went inside for a bite to eat, Spy noticed something rather unusual.

A truck driver was dressed to the hilt in expensive jeans, a shirt which would do a company executive credit, and a quality pair of boots.

Most of the truckies I come across either have one of those orange shirts or perhaps a singlet with rubber thongs on their feet.

At first I thought this gent was going to see another driver who had parked there.

But when he opened the entrance to the sleeper box and grabbed something I knew he was the driver.

Soon after he jumped into the driver’s seat and took off.

He definitely wins the fashion stakes for the week.

Renovated roadhouse popular

The renovated Bohle Caltex Roadhouse in north Queensland is proving very popular with many truck drivers.

Scores of trucks pull up there daily, many of whom are from road transport depots or

A truck cruises along the main street of Murrurundi.

Trucks on the highway at Basalt, where a black panther was spotted.

The Caltex Bohle Roadhouse was recently renovated.

The parking area at Julia Creek, which had more vans than trucks.

truck sales businesses in the nearby Bohle Industrial Area.

The menu for drivers is good and reasonably priced and the eatery is comfortable.

Spy went there recently on the recommendation of some drivers and was impressed with the range of takeaway food as well.

The chips with chicken salt were freshly cooked and the dim sims were delicious.

There are men’s and women’s toilets and showers and a laundry which gets a lot of use with truckies wanting to do a spot of washing.

Speed limit increase suggested for passing lanes

A suggestion by a North Queensland MP that the speed at some passing lanes on the Bruce Highway should be increased to 120km/h hasn’t gained any support from the truckies I spoke to.

Most of the 1700km Bruce Highway has a 100km/h limit except for large 110km/h sections between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto, who is the Katter’s Australian Party deputy leader, has called for the creation of 120km/h overtaking lanes citing long lines of grey nomads as a regular occurrence slowing down travellers.

Dametto said he regularly travels a notorious stretch of the A1 between Ingham and Townsville and sees dangerous driving because people cannot safely overtake more regularly.

“Frustrations can become

particularly high this time of year when North Queensland is in peak tourism season and caravans and camper trailers line both sides of the highway,” he said.

Spy spoke to a dozen truckies at a roadhouse parking area and they were all against the suggestion.

The most common comment Spy heard was that speed already results in many deaths so why increase it even along passing lanes.

It won’t come to fruition anyway as Queensland’s Road Minister has advised it won’t happen.

Happy retirement after 35 years

Long-time employee Michael Moloney retired from his job on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait on June 30 after 35 years of meritorious service with Sea Swift.

Michael drove many trucks over the decades and the company even placed an advertisement in the local Torres News

newspaper acknowledging his wonderful service.

“Michael is a popular figure in the Torres Strait and we want to take this time to express our gratitude and our utmost thanks for his hard work and unwavering dedication. Happy and well deserved retirement Michael,” it read.

Spy tried to contact Michael through the company media department to also tell his story.

However the reply was that he didn’t like any media attention.

But Spy wishes him a happy and healthy retirement.

Thursday Island, also know as TI or Waiben, is the business centre of the Torres Strait and has a bitumen road network of about 10km.

From Fiji with sweet compliments

Spy has contacts with many overseas people and from time to time receives pictures which include trucks.

I was particularly impressed with one taken by Raewyn At-

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tewell, the wife of journo Paul Attewell, when they were on holidays in Fiji.

It shows trucks lined up outside the Rarawai Mill (Ba) on the main island of Viti Levu.

The first mill built by the CSR was the Nausori Sugar Mill on the banks of the Rewa River which began crushing in the 1882 crushing season.

In 1883, construction began for its second mill in Ba, the Rarawai Mill.

It was forwarded to me with permission from the snapper by former journo and truckie Graham Hunt, who recently went on a trip with me when I was gathering stories for this column.

Joke of the week

Old Spy almost choked on his meal when he heard a truckie aged 68 crack a joke at a roadhouse eatery.

Known as a jovial character who has a genuine sense of humour, this Victorian asked several other drivers sitting in the driver’s room what made him realise just

how old he was on his birthday.

To make it a real genuine “interstate knowledge challenge”, three of the other drivers were from the NT, WA and SA.

They waited in anticipated curiosity for his reply which was, “Because there were more candles on my birthday cake than it cost me from the bakery,” he said.

The laughter from his mates was immediate and even Spy must admit to hav-

ing a good chuckle.

He said such a cake was much cheaper when he was younger but that had changed as the years have rolled by.

Now being a bit of a comedian myself, Spy praised the driver for his joke and offered one of his own.

“You are a real card, you need to be dealt with.”

It is my genuine hope that any stressed out truckies around our country get a laugh from this piece.

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A “reduce speed” sign on the Bruce Highway in the area where a speed increase has been suggested for passing lanes.

The area of the Bruce Highway where a car crashed in between the lanes.

Trucks carry sugar cane outside a mill in Fiji.

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Truckin’ In The Outback

Switching things up from one great ride to another

After over 1 million kilometres in his K200, this truckie has stepped into a blinged up T908 that’s been rebuilt with a 600hp Cummins X15 under the hood.

BY DANIELLE GULLACI

A VETERAN truckie with over 30 years and millions of kilometres under his belt, Jamie Winnell, 53, has worked for Emerald Carrying Company for the past five and a half years.

Though it was a sad day to be handing over the keys to the truck he’s driven for the past five years recently, Winnell says he’s excited to work towards another million kilometres in the head turning 2010 model T908.

Emerald Carrying has had the truck since brand new, though its engine was upgraded from a Cummins EGR to a Euro 5 compliant Cummins X15 in order to better meet today’s emission standards. The new 600hp engine delivers up to 2050 pounds of torque and is paired to a sports exhaust.

“The T908 has nearly 2.1 million kilometres on the clock and it still looks like new. Steven Cullen was the driver who was in the truck before me – he’s from Gympie as well. He’s stepped out of that to go into a new SAR Legend that’s on its way. Steven has done a fantastic job in looking after the truck in the 1 million kilometres he’s put on it over the past five years,” explained Winnell.

“When I put a photo of the K200 up on Facebook, it got over 4900 likes and people were asking why I was getting out of it, but the T908 is the boss’ pride and joy – and he asked me if I wanted to drive it.

“I do like the cabovers, but I also like the bonneted trucks as they’re a hell of a lot more of a comfortable ride, especially as I’m getting older.

But it’s got the same amount of horsepower as my previous truck, so it doesn’t perform or go any different out on the road. Though they do say you’re cool if you’re driving a 9oh,” he joked.

Based in Gympie, Winnell’s usual runs involve carrying B-double loads of general freight from Brisbane to the company’s Emerald depot overnight, carting stone

for concrete plants across southeast Queensland, and transporting general freight to some of the state’s coal mines and their surrounding townships.

“Every day is a different day, every load is different and everything I do is overnight. I love the overnight run – there’s a lot less traffic on the road, it’s a little quieter, it’s a fantastic life, it really

is. I get to go somewhere different every day. We’re always right up on our legal weight too,” Winnell said.

Originally from Wangaratta, he turned to trucking in 1991. “I came from a country town, so there weren’t too many work options but there were plenty of trucks. I started out at Canny’s Carrying Company in Wangaratta

and I’ve been driving trucks ever since. I love trucks and I don’t think that will ever change,” he said.

“Out on the road, the scenery changes every time you look out the window. At school, the teacher used to always tell me to stop looking out the window. Well, I’ve been looking out the window for 30 years now

Jamie Winnell has been with Emerald Carrying Company for over five years.

Despite clocking up over 2.1 million kilometres, the 2010 model T908 looks like new.

Truckin’ In The Outback

until I’m old,” said Winnell, adding that he reckons he’s got at least another 22 years on the road in him.

“People say once you’ve driven diesel, you can never get the diesel out of your

blood. A bad day of trucking is still a better day than sitting in the office. A great man once said to me: If you find a job you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.”

and it pays really well!”

Winnell made the move to Queensland in 2003 and lived in Caloundra for about 10 years before moving to Gympie.

“My family was up here and I thought it was a better lifestyle to bring up my daughter Jasmin, who’s now 21. Her mother walked out on us when she was six months old, so I lived with my parents for 10 years so I could keep driving and provide a good life for her,” explained Winnell, who’s taken Jasmin on countless trips in the truck.

He recalled one particular occasion when she was in grade two. Each student got to take it in turns bring-

ing a toy home (it was Ernie from Sesame Street). Then they had to do a write-up about what adventures they had had. So Winnell, Jasmin and Ernie set off in the truck, some 700 kilometres away.

He married Jodie in 2013 and says he’s been flat out driving ever since.

“This is not just a job, it’s a lifestyle, and it’s a rewarding one. You do miss some things you wish you were home for, but my daughter and wife Jodie have always backed me 100 per cent – and they’ve sacrificed a lot too.”

Being family owned and run, Emerald Carrying is a great fit for this family man. It was started by Bill and Joan Haylock in 1965 and is

now run by their son, managing director Greg Haylock. And now he’s joined by his children: Matt Haylock as group general freight/fleet manager; Ben Haylock who is group operations manager; and Taylor Haylock who works in administration.

“Greg Haylock is a very humble man. Matt runs the general freight side and he’s fantastic – he’s only a young fella with a big responsibility. Emerald Carrying is a real family business and as long as you keep the trucks clean, you don’t hear boo from them,” said Winnell.

“They know all our kids’ names and our partners –it’s really family orientated. There are a lot of companies

out there where people can work for over 10 years, and they don’t even know the names of their driver’s wives and partners.

“Jodie does hop in the truck with me and comes to Emerald sometimes. I just need to let the boss know. My parents still live in Caloundra so I pull in every week and get to see them. This company is fantastic when it comes to work/life balance. I’m usually home by Saturday morning and then load on a Tuesday. Of course that sometimes changes if someone is away or something pops up, but they’re really good to work for. It’s been a fantastic job – and hopefully I can keep going

Its 600hp engine delivers up to 2050 pounds of torque. His daughter Jasmin, 21, has travelled on countless trips with him.

Winnell says his wife Jodie (pictured) and daughter Jasmin have sacrificed a lot, but have always backed him “100 per cent”.

Truckin’ In The Tropics

A top job for this happy truckie

ENTHUSIASTIC driver

Justin ‘Harv’ Harvey, 42, was transporting fertiliser and tiles from Brisbane to Ayr when Big Rigs spotted him at the Gold City Roadhouse on the outskirts of Charters Towers.

Harv was parked and standing beside his Type 1 road train eating some lunch.

“Everybody knows me as Harv and most don’t even know my first name,” he said.

Harv works for DF&DL Drain Transport which is based at Ayr in the Burdekin region of the tropics.

“I have been in the industry for 22 years and with this company for the past nine. They are the best people I have ever worked for. I have never been employed by a better boss,” he said.

Harv enjoys stopping at the Injune Roadhouse which is also a favourite of numerous other truckies I have spoken to.

“The staff are awesome and the food delicious,” he said.

Outside work his hobbies include motor bike riding and barramundi fishing in the abundant creeks and river around Ayr and Home Hill in the Burdekin region.

“I live on a cane farm at Home Hill and catch lots of barra as well as mud crabs and sand crabs. One of the best spots is at Beach Mouth south of Inkerman,” he said.

He would be the envy of many other truckies as these shelled crustaceans are a delicacy and are expensive to purchase, especially in the southern states.

I saw that his truck was dubbed “Anything Goes” and the reason for that sparked my curiosity buds.

“All our trucks are named after songs by the group AC/ DC,” he said in explanation.

As for rest areas, Harv said there are not enough for

drivers but he does have one that he was glowing in his praise of.

“It is between Rolleston and Injune and I am a creature of habit and stop there when in the area,” he said.

Harv barracks for the high rolling Brisbane Broncos in the NRL and loves spending time with family including his three sons.

A connoisseur of fine food, I asked Harv what his favourite meal is.

“It would have to be juicy rib eye steak. I get some when in Townsville at a butcher shop in Condon,” he said.

Harv nominated the highway between Charters Towers and Clermont as the worst he gets on. “Especially a section 20km south of Belyando,” he said.

A community minded truckie, Harv loved supporting the annual Convoy for a Cure in Townsville.

Former road train driver switches things up with latest role

CHRIS Calder, 51, manages Kwik Tow NQ and drives an Isuzu 10260 Tipper, doing a lot of local work around Townsville but can travel as far away as Brisbane.

He used to drive road trains between Townsville and Mount Isa and left that to become a spray painter and panel beater.

For the past four years Calder has driven tilt trucks.

His work involves picking up cars, boats, caravans, machinery, attending to breakdowns, roadside assistance and insurance claims.

“I have managed the company since late last year and really enjoy it. I can do eight or nine jobs a day but sometimes it is only four,” he said.

Calder also works in association with big company ABC Towing.

The friendly Calder loves motor sports and was beside the road near the Townsville RAAF base when Big Rigs saw him.

His phone rang and he had another job within an hour.

Calder enjoys Super V8 Racing and was looking forward to the big event in Townsville that weekend.

“My son Jayden will be working there on pit lane as a speed gun official,” he said.

He is an avid Cowboys supporter in the NRL.

Calder says his favourite food is crumbed lamb chops. “My wife cooks the best chops,” he said.

with Alf Wilson

Chris Calder and his Isuzu tipper do a diverse range of work.

Justin ‘Harv’ Harvey has worked for DF&DL Drain Transport for nine years.

WA truckie wins Fashions in the Desert at festival

BY DANIELLE GULLACI

A PERTH based dangerous goods road train driver has dazzled at the Birdsville Big Red Bash, taking out the top prize in the fashion stakes for his colourful ensemble.

The Big Red Bash takes place each year in the Simpson Desert in outback Queensland, with a whole

range of events on offer. The 2023 rendition ran from July 4-6. As part of the festivities, the Bashville Drags attracted more than 800 people who came along dressed in a Priscilla – Queen of the Desert theme.

Organised by the Outback Music Festival Group, the Bashville Drags is a charity event that raises money for the

Royal Flying Doctors Service.

The spectacle included a 500-metre race down a sand dune, followed by a fashion contest, where a panel of judges determined who was the best dressed.

Judges were at the finish line and roaming through the crowds to select drag queens and drag kings to strut their stuff on the catwalk.

And it was 53-year-old truck driver Chris Hockley – or ‘Baby Cakes’ as per his drag queen alter ego – who stood out from the pack.

Originally from New Zealand, Hockley began his truck driving career across the ditch and then drove over in the UK, which is where he met his partner Jill Barker.

Hockley has been a truckie for over 30 years, having first got behind the wheel at the age of 19.

Carting dangerous goods out of Perth with a pocket road train, his main runs involve carrying liquid oxygen to and from gold mines throughout WA. His longest runs are around a 2000km round trip.

“I love being away and getting out of town – away from

the yard and the office. I used to do the east-west run, but now I’m away for three days at most,” Hockley said. “It’s mainly carting dangerous goods but sometimes I do around town work or containers. I carry anything and everything.”

The couple have become regulars at the Birdsville Big Red Bash, also serving at volunteers at the event.

Last year was Hockley’s first appearance in drag, which came after a chat with a fellow volunteer named Kate, at the campsite.

“We’re in the volunteer camping section and have made some friends there,” said Barker. “And last year one of them happened to have some eighties inspired clothing for Chris.

“But this year she actually made the costume for him and put a lot of effort into it.”

Complete with full makeup and false eyelashes, Hockley donned a purple sequinned tube top, together with psychedelic flares, a floral lei, and yellow gloves with matching pearls.

But the icing on the top was a huge heart-shaped headpiece. Standing at 6ft 6 inches, Hock-

ley was quite the imposing figure with his massive headwear.

Perhaps not the best item to wear while running down a hill, but it certainly stood out from the crowd.

Hockley revealed he had no idea what the costume looked like until just before the event. “I didn’t see it until that morning. It was a bit of a worry seeing the size of the headpiece – and wondering how it was going to stay on!” he said.

“Going down the hill, I had to keep my head up and try and balance it, so I ran pretty slowly. I guess it was more of a prance,” he laughed.

Kate made the headpiece

using four cans of expanding foam, affixed onto a piece of cork, which was then attached to a cap. It was decorated with paper flowers.

When asked if Hockley needed much convincing to take part, Barker was quick to respond, “No – he did not!

Last year he wore Kate’s clothes and took a little too long afterwards to remove the make-up,” she joked. “All the others kept their blokey persona, but last year he came down on his tippy toes. And this year he had false eyelashes and full make-up. He thoroughly enjoyed the limelight. It’s all good fun and he carried it off so well.”

It was a bit of a balancing act for Chris Hockley, wearing this elaborate headpiece.

Chris Hockley with a Hawker Hunter aircraft he transported from Nowra to a museum in Perth.

Zero emission truck leaders choose TAFE Queensland

TAFE Queensland has been identified as a training provider of choice by the exclusive Australian distributors for global heavy automotive manufacturers, Foton Motors, to assist in developing training to enable local Queensland businesses to prepare for a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) takeover in the heavy automotive sector.

Foton Mobility Distribution (100 per cent Australian owned) currently supplies a range of ZEVs including Battery Electric (BEV) and Hydrogen Fuel Cell (FCEV) trucks and buses, and is at the forefront of heavy vehicle technology in Australia.

Foton Mobility announced sales at Foton Mobility, Ross Thompson, stated, “The partnerships we form with educa

their respective areas. TAFE Queensland are well-respected in the industry as developers of

proud leader in the training of automotive apprentices. At June 30, 2022, more than

to Queensland technicians.”

O’Sullivan continued, “We have been offering nationally

dustry members looking to upskill into the ZEV space, which we are offering to members from all corners of the automotive industry.

“We are looking forward to working with Foton Mobility to develop training that will support local industries and equip Queensland for its ZEV future,” he said.

TAFE Queensland is proud to be the market leader for Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Queensland, working closely with government and industry to develop the critical training needed to support Queensland’s future workforces and economy. As part of the Queensland Government’s VET Emerging In

TAFE Queensland is a proud leader in the training of automotive apprentices.

It has never been easier for women to get a start

ier for women to get a start in their chosen vocation.

In terms of capability, on day one of heavy vehicle driver training school, every student regardless of gender stands in front of their training truck looking up at it with varying degrees of trepidation and in 2013, I remember I was certainly no different.

ONE of my favourite “duties” as WiTA CEO is fielding calls from women considering a trucking career. These women do their research thoroughly and I’ve noticed that most – if not all, voice similar concerns.

Will they have what it takes to make the grade in terms of physical capabilities, and will their efforts be met with a brick wall when they finally hit the job search listings, wasting their hard-earned cash on training that gets them nowhere.

Thankfully, “Women Not Welcome” shingles have been taken down from recruitment department doors across the nation as employers recognise increased female heavy vehicle driver numbers as critical to business sustainability.

This significant cultural shift means it’s never been eas-

The road to my first job as a paid truck driver was paved with potholes. As a dedicated “indoorsy,” pampered type, my expertise as a mechanically minded person was stretched when I had to put staples in a stapler – so the thought of jumping up behind the wheel of a vehicle the size of a one-bedroom unit filled me with dread.

When I finally did, the array of gauges, levers and lights on the aircraft-like dash, the “art” of reversing without a rear-vision mirror, the 18 gears and the need to “double-clutch” when changing them was almost enough to send me running back to my comfy, safe existence as a high maintenance shopaholic!

Lesson one I learned on day one of training was that you

can never, ever go near a truck without getting grease all over you! By the time I got home, my outfit was ruined and glancing in the mirror, I discovered at some stage I’d also gained a third eyebrow, running diagonally from the centre of my forehead all the way

across to my left ear!

Sitting in the truck gazing blankly at the diagram on top of the Roadranger gear stick, my endlessly patient trainer Allan explained the secret to a successful gear change is to synchronize the truck’s engine revs with the diff revs some-

where between the 1200 to 1600 RPM mark before depressing the clutch and moving the gearstick into neutral, then instantly clutching again to have it mesh seamlessly into the required gear. Piece of cake – not!

After eight weekend lessons

crunching gears all over the NSW Northern Rivers region, Allan finally signed me off as I set a new record for the longest time ever taken to get an HR license! Thankfully, Allan was already grey before we startedbut to this day, I still firmly believe this is a man who deserves an award for patience and guts – for stepping up against all odds to meet this next-level challenge.

Wrapping up my final session – as we neared the truck yard, he said “take the truck through the gate Lyndal.” After a slight pause he added, “The open gate would be good.”

They say trucking gets in your blood and ten years and hundreds of thousands of incident-free kilometres later, I still enjoy every minute spent behind the wheel.

This is a vocation where a great attitude, grit and determination will stand you in good stead. It’s also a vocation where help is always on hand if you need advice or support.

If you’re considering a career behind the wheel and have questions – Women in Trucking Australia is always only a phone call away!

WOMEN IN TRUCKING

LYNDAL DENNY

CEO, Women in Trucking Australia

WiTA Driver of the Month is newly licensed Victorian HC driver Paula Fisher.

Workers require flexibility

In my role as chair of Transport Women Australia Limited, I have been to Adelaide recently for the Heavy Vehicle Industry Roundtable which was a very interesting and worthwhile day.

THERE has been much said and written lately about those wanting to continue working from home and employers wanting their people to start going back to the office.

Of course, truck drivers and other supply chain workers, plus emergency services including police, paramedics and health services workers, have never left the “office”. They have no option of working from home, or a flexible combination.

I understand why people do not want to go back to commuting into the office every day; something I had undertaken this year and did not enjoy. So many wasted hours! However, I now commute for even longer three days each week and work on the train trip, but it is still time away from home and exhausting.

I also understand why employers want their people back in the office, it is vital for innovation, new collaboration, team building and the brain-

storming sessions which are better done in person. The option has been floated that those choosing to continue to work from home should be paid less, how about just paying our essential workers more?

As we try to attract more people to our industry and retain the ones we have, we must be as flexible as possible while retaining a workforce that meets the needs of the industry and ensures the amazing innovation and advancements

in safety, technology and equipment continues.

While some work will never be able to be conducted remotely, most will have a degree of flexibility, and this is what will assist us with attracting more people to the transport and logistics industry if we can meet that need.

If we can eliminate the commute, allow people to manage their workload around a hybrid method and give them more choices, it might solve some of our staffing problems,

unfortunately not our driver shortages though. Although better lifestyles are what they are looking for as well.

All the commuting and the long hours involved in my part-time role has brought home to me the real effects of fatigue.

I find that with all the things happening and trying to get everything done, by the end of the week I am very over tired, and it does affect your thought processes and how effectively you put forward your

ideas, when what you are saying and what you mean to say are not quite the same thing.

So, it must have a detrimental effect on all other processes as well and that is the main reason that I stopped driving to my job and decided to take the train; I could either use the time to work or by Friday, I could relax or take a nap.

Taking the train was certainly the safest option and it made my family happier as well, plus it is a much better financial choice.

I have also presented at CeMAT in Sydney, and we have two Careers’ Expos in Sydney coming up.

I will be attending one in August and other members will attend others as they come along. These schools and careers days are such wonderful ways to expose the next generation to our industry.

We have the Transport Women Unite Red Ball coming up at the Festival of Transport in Alice Springs at the end of August where our Dream Maker Awards will be presented.

We have announced the date and venue for the Transport Women Australia Limited 2024 Conference, and the dates for the 2023 EOY functions around the country with a few still to be confirmed.

They will or do appear on our website on the events page. Also, on the events page is noted where we have speaking engagements. The website is transportwomen.com.au or you can email chair@transportwomen.com.au for any queries.

Prevention is the key to reducing our road incidents

addressed the issue by consistently working on the industry requirements and promoting the Master Code to streamline processes for heavy vehicle operators, reducing paperwork and enhancing compliance efficiency to assist businesses to operate smoothly, facilitating a more competitive and dynamic industry.

drivers must prioritise safety as the topmost concern. Adopting advanced technology such as collision avoidance systems, electronic stability control, and telematics, can aid in improving overall road safety. Regular vehicle inspections and maintenance checks to ensure fleets are in optimal condition are crucial.

in the business and encourage consultation from all stakeholders to report hazardous road conditions and near miss incidents to help identify potential problem areas and contribute to overall road safety.

tracted driving, and improper loading are also significant factors.

RECOGNISING the impor-

tance of standardisation across Australia, the NHVR has

Prevention is key to reducing heavy vehicle road incidents. Fleet operators and

Companies should incentivise safe driving practices to promote a safety culture with-

PROUDLY MANUFACTURED AND BUILT IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA SINCE 1986

Fatigue remains a leading cause of incidents driving industry stakeholders to review and revise existing fatigue management strategies. In addition, inadequate vehicle maintenance, speeding, dis-

To tackle these issues the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has adopted state of the art telematics systems enabling real time tracking of heavy vehicles. This move not only ensures adherence to driving hours and rest breaks but also allows authorities to respond proactively to any potential hazards on the roads.

PREVENTION IS KEY TO REDUCING HEAVY VEHICLE ROAD INCIDENTS. FLEET OPERATORS AND DRIVERS MUST PRIORITISE SAFETY AS THE TOPMOST CONCERN.”

MORGAN O’RANCE

Truck drivers and other supply chain workers have no option of working from home or a flexible combination.

WOMEN IN TRANSPORT JACQUELENE BROTHERTON Chair of Transport Women Australia

Truckie mental health needs to be on national agenda

important paper, The Effect Of ‘Suicide By Truck’ On Drivers.

It found that just as Australian train drivers are exposed to ‘suicide by train’ three times a week, heavy vehicle drivers face a similar rate of truck-related self-harm incidents.

It’s not as if our industry has been standing still.

ing and confusing health rules made an already taxing job even harder.

When you factor in mounting red tape and a regulatory regime seemingly intent on punishing the most trivial administrative offence, you start to appreciate how tough it is to be a truckie.

RECENT publicity about The Open Road, Open Up initiative, encouraging truckies to talk to their peers about mental health issues, was welcome.

It made me think about comments I made a year ago about mental health and our industry.

Mental health isn’t an easy subject for many people in road transport to talk about, despite widespread de-stigmatisation campaigns in the broader community.

The construction industry has long recognised it has a similar issue with tradies.

Australian construction suicide prevention charity Mates in Construction revealed last year that suicide rates between 2011-19 among male tradies were about twice that of other male workers.

The recent collapse of ma-

jor construction businesses like Porter Davis in Victoria can only have heightened anxiety.

One of the few studies into the mental wellbeing of Australian truckies was published by Monash University a few years ago. It found that 19 per cent reported having mental health issues, which is roughly in line with the rest of society.

What was disturbing was that one-in-two drivers also reported some level of psychological distress – and that this was most prevalent in those aged under 35.

Suicide has been shown as one of the leading causes of death in young transport workers, second only to external causes of injury, such as

motor vehicle crashes.

The bottom line is that truck drivers represent the second highest occupational group at risk of suicide, after construction workers.

Incidentally, the National Road Safety Partnership Program (a project by Monash University and the Accident Research Centre) has released an

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator funded the OzHelp Foundation to develop a health promotion and assistance package for owner-drivers.

NatRoad is right behind OzHelp, and also has a relationship with The Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds Foundation (HHTS) which works on the prevention side across the road transport and logistics industries in Australia.

Sometimes, it’s hard to be upbeat in the face of what seems like a barrage of bad news. High overheads and inflation, driver shortages and rising charges are all making it harder for operators and drivers to make a living.

Covid-19 took a toll on the mental wellbeing of millions of Australians – and truck drivers were right in the middle of that as constantly chang-

Long hours on the road aren’t conducive to healthy lifestyles and it’s important to recognise that some drivers can fall into unhealthy lifestyle habits.

But we badly need more pro-active and reactive mental health support for drivers.

Maybe it requires a partnership with the construction industry? It certainly needs more attention from government.

Road freight is an essential service. We need to treat the people in it as essential service workers.

We need a national approach to what is a national problem.

• Lifeline: visit the website or call 13 11 14.

• Beyond Blue: visit the website or call 1300 22 4636.

• Health In Gear: visit website or call 1800 464 327.

The new Open Road, Open Up initiative provides truckies with support whenever they are in UHF range of qualified truckies, such as Rod Hannifey whose truck is pictured above.

Check your load in order to help protect our roads

THERE’S no denying there has been an influx of overheight trucks attempting to enter tunnels in the Sydney region recently.

The NHVR has been working closely with Transport for NSW and NSW Police to assist with these incidents.

New South Wales has more bridges and tunnels with low clearances of 4.6m or less than any other state in Australia.

Overheight trucks entering tunnels have a serious impact on the safety of road users and can cause serious delays and congestion for commuters.

On Thursday, June 8, 2023, the NHVR and NSW Government made a joint announcement that the NHVR will refer all over height breaches to Transport for

NSW moving forward. This is because even the smallest breach is repeatedly threatening safety on Sydney roads.

Under the existing road transport regulation, Transport for NSW can suspend the trucks registration and take them off the road once an

incident has been referred by the NHVR.

At the NHVR, we believe that prevention is the best approach, especially when dealing with tunnel height clearances.

It’s important to have any restrictions assessed prior to

KNOWING THE MAXIMUM LEGAL HEIGHT FOR HEAVY VEHICLES IS IMPORTANT, BUT SO IS KNOWING THE HEIGHT LIMIT OF THE ROAD YOU INTEND TO TRAVEL ON.”

you intend to travel on.

hicle drivers and operators comply with the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL). If you’d like to learn more about some of the methods we use to assess compliance with heavy vehicle dimension requirements, visit: nhvr.gov. au/files/201706-0174-ce3-di mension-assessment.pdf.

For a general overview of mass, dimension and loading requirements, you can view our road access page here: nhvr. gov.au/road-access/mass-di mension-and-loading.

commencing a journey to ensure you have suitable control measures in place. This is so you can be prepared in the event your trip is altered.

Knowing the maximum legal height for heavy vehicles is important, but so is knowing the height limit of the road

Even if your heavy vehicle is compliant in height, it does not mean it’s able to travel on all roads. It’s imperative to plan a journey ahead of time and check the limitations of the roads you intend to travel on. Drivers and operators should also ensure they obey all road rules and be aware of any critical locations before starting their journey and throughout.

We want to urge both drivers and operators to measure the height of their trucks and plan their journeys ahead of time to ensure they comply with tunnel height clearances.

The NHVR provides practical advice to help heavy ve-

Recently, the NHVR partnered with government agencies and launched a video to raise awareness on over height trucks in tunnels.

The video showcases how our safety and compliance officers work alongside other agencies like Transport for NSW and NSW Police during an over height incident. You can view the video at nhvr.gov. au/overheight.

We work collaboratively with both agencies to deliver and increase safety, productivity and efficiency in the heavy vehicle industry, and we are here to keep the network moving and keep motorists safe.

Overheight trucks entering tunnels have a serious impact on the safety of road users.

BRETT PATTERSON

NHVR EXPERT BRETT PATTERSON Director Operations, Central Region

AS we move closer towards legislation being tabled for consideration by federal parliamentarians in relation to minimum standards in road transport later this year, it’s important to outline the position of the Australian Road Transport Industrial Organisation (ARTIO), of which the Victorian Transport Association is a member, and of which I am grateful to be National Secretary.

The issue has been especially prominent this year with delegations of industry groups visiting Canberra for important discussions, ahead of a vote later this year.

At these meetings, Parliamentarians have heard directly from employers and their representatives, and workers either employed, operating as owner drivers, or in the transport gig economy. Across the board, everyone is feeling the pinch, everyone is concerned about the state of the industry, and everyone is ready for change.

Together, we’re all calling for reform to fix the crisis in transport. A year ago, we were part of an industry roundtable convened by Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke which resulted in a shared set of principles unanimously endorsed by employers, employer associations, supply chain clients, workers

and even transport gig companies.

Our industry is more united than ever before over the need for meaningful reform, powered by the experiences and expertise of transport industry participants.

ARTIO and the Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) have continued discussions on how a new system within the Fair Work Commission could operate to ensure a safe, sustainable and viable transport industry, including transparency and accountability for all contract chain participants.

The road transport industry plays a crucial role in Australia’s economic future and the safety of all road users. As a price-taking industry operating on slim margins and tight timelines, it faces challenges with unfair commercial influences and pressures that compromise business viability and lead

to deadly consequences for transport workers and road users.

The industry is inherently dangerous and responsible for more workplace deaths than any other sector, and one of the highest rates of bankruptcies - making it imperative to address these issues.

Transport operations heavily depend on entities with economic and market power, particularly at the top of supply chains and contractual networks.

The economic arrangements imposed by these entities determine the standards that apply to transport operators and workers, significantly impacting the industry’s viability and sustainability.

Some of the most harrowing stories I’ve heard during delegations to Canberra over the last year have been from transport gig workers. They’ve reported horrific deaths, terri-

ble injuries with the company still asking when deliveries will be completed, and contract terminations with the click of a button and not even a reason provided.

The emergence of “gig” type arrangements is a direct threat to our industry and exacerbates the decline in

standards and business viability. We need protections so that this type of work doesn’t destroy our traditional transport operations. ARTIO fully supports the Federal Government’s commitment to enforceable standards to protect us all from this bleak future.

To achieve greater safety, fairness, and sustainability for transport operators and workers in Australia, we need Federal Parliament to pass transport reform as soon as is practicable.

We need fair, reasonable, and enforceable standards throughout transport industry supply chains, and further, to ensure supply chain participants are accountable for maintaining safe and fair networks. Transport operators are only as viable as the contracts they hold, and rely on fair competition to operate safely and sustainably.

ARTIO is committed to working with all stakeholders to enhance the viability, safety, sustainability, and efficiency of the road transport industry amid increasing demands on current processes and operations.

By establishing and maintaining enforceable standards through reform that is informed by industry experts, the road transport industry in Australia can ensure the well-being of its workers, promote fairness, and safeguard its critical role in the country’s economic landscape.

• Anderson is CEO of the Victorian Transport Association and national secretary of ARTIO.

Peter Anderson, in his capacity as national secretary of ARTIO, joined forces with the TWU in Canberra earlier this year to make the case for change.

The road transport industry plays a crucial role in Australia’s economic future and the safety of all road users.

Why our truck drivers are leaving the industry

WHY is it that in Australia

we are happy to lay all the responsibility on just one group while there are many others who should share that same responsibility and carry some of the load.

We have a law that discriminates against one section while failing to administer the same law to others who should also be made responsible as well. Heavy vehicle drivers verse drivers of recreational vehicles towing loads is the area I speak of.

The Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) makes the heavy vehicle driver be accountable to manage fatigue. Within this law he/she faces extensive penalties massively greater than any other vehicle driver.

No other vehicle driver is expected to manage their fa-

tigue at work or while driving, even on their days off.

No other driver must allow an officer to go back in time to check if they have failed or broken a law during a previous time.

No other driver must abide by the regulated hours of work and drive. A recent court case has shown where officers went back four years to get evidence to take a company into court for prosecution.

The recreational vehicle driver towing loads, often at maximum weights, or above,

do not record their fatigue management when driving. Bring those drivers under fatigue management same as heavy vehicle drivers. Any vehicle driver can become fatigued and then can be responsible for causing an incident while driving.

Drivers going through a red light, failing to take a bend on the road, failing to stop or slow down in roadworks controlled by a stop and go sign operator, failing to stay on the correct side of the road or drifting into another lane may

be fatigued. All of those can be deadly to another.

Why does the heavy vehicle driver have to be the only driver required to manage fatigue?

Why have governments decided only the heavy vehicle driver should pay massive penalties/fines while so many other fatigued drivers are allowed to continue to drive fatigued with no listed penalty?

Fatigue needs to be tested in another form, NOT by the start and finish time entered in a logbook by a driver.

Recent official statistics

show that 80 per cent of small vehicle drivers have been found at fault in crashes involving a heavy vehicle and a car.

Why has that 80 per cent given a pardon to manage their fatigue?

Why is it that governments do not regulate the car driver to manage his/her fatigue, especially those drivers who are towing loads such as caravans, trailers and boats?

The HVNL states that fatigue management of heavy vehicle drivers will protect all

road users. Really? Heavy vehicle drivers only control one vehicle not those vehicles meters away from them.

It is about time that as a progressive country we made all road users be responsible to always manage their fatigue whilst driving, then we all are contributing to road safety. Make each driver face the same regulations and penalties for fatigue related issues as required by heavy vehicle drivers OR reduce the penalties for heavy vehicle drivers to be in line with those the lighter ve-

Within the HVNL, truckies face extensive penalties massively greater than any other vehicle driver, argues Sinfield.

The author, a former truckie himself, believes all drivers sharing the road should have to operate under the same fatigue management rules as heavy vehicle drivers.

hicle driver now faces while not managing fatigue.

In April 2022, Australia had 820,000 caravans and RVs registered for road use.

At the same time there were 900,000 registered boats in Australia. Census records show 80 per cent of those are under 6m in length. Let’s say only 300,000 of those less than 6m boats are moved by trailer on our roads. That’s a combined total of 1.12 million recreational units that require a driver to tow them.

Those drivers also can be, and often are, affected by fatigue.

The number of heavy vehicle drivers in Australia in 2021 was 189,500: 1.12mil-

lion drivers do not record or manage their fatigue, that is 5.91 times more drivers that tow loaded units that are not required to manage their fatigue. Not hard to see why I say there is discriminating factors happening.

Some may say those recreational vehicle drivers are only driving short distances. That may be true. BUT so too does many of the heavy vehicles only travel short distances, so that argument becomes null and void right there. The stats from 2015 show the average yearly kilometres travelled per heavy freight vehicle was 68,300.

There are many videos showing caravans wrecked due

to drivers who were fatigued whilst towing them.

That clearly shows the heavy vehicle driver is in the minority at a ratio of 5.91 to 1 against the heavy vehicle driv-

er. That’s 5.91 not required to manage fatigue, to each one that is required to manage fatigue.

Why is there a necessity to regulate only one out of 7 (6.91) drivers who drive and tow loads from boats and caravans right up to the largest heavy vehicles in Australia, all of which are quite capable of causing injury and death if the driver is fatigued?

A driver not stopping at a red light can receive a fine from $150 up to $400 depending on which state he receives that penalty and can also lose 2 or 3 licence points.

On the other hand, the heavy vehicle driver who gets held up at a serious road accident site, and no matter how he tries, fails to manage his fatigue legally caused by him having to work 15 minutes outside his regulated hours. For that he can face $11,000 as a penalty if the case goes to court. This driver caused no risk to anyone but is implicated for being honest with his logbook entry.

That car driver who did not stop at a red light does not face $11,000 fine. That car driver’s actions had a greater danger than the heavy vehicle drivers 15 minutes work outside the regulation for fatigue management.

One in seven drivers has been made to carry the whole burden of responsibility for fatigue management.

Governments should either reduce penalties for heavy vehicle drivers to match those of the recreational vehicle brigade, or they can bring the recreational vehicle drivers into the same regulations that heavy vehicle drivers are required to be regulated by. That would then have approximately 1.4 million drivers regulating fatigue instead of only 189,500 drivers.

Governments have anti-discrimination laws in place in Australia, so why on earth do they then create a discriminatory law.

Do they think discrimination only belongs to race or skin colour?

The discrimination outlined here is aided by lazy governments who have their eyes shut for road safety but have eyes extremely wide open for revenue raising.

A precedent already exists and has been set by elected politicians themselves, in both state and federal parliaments whereby sittings that go late into the night debating issues of law, there are recorded incidents where politicians have been filmed sitting there asleep, not paying attention to what is debated. How are they so different?

Let us follow those precedents already set by those in government in the same way courts follow previously set precedents. Change the fatigue laws by reducing penalties for heavy vehicle drivers so there is no discrimination against that minority which now exists.

I think it is only fair to request from our elected members that they rule by example, rather than rule by discrimination.

In April 2022, Australia had 820,000 caravans and RVs registered for road use.

Statistics show that 80 per cent of small vehicle drivers have been found at fault in crashes involving a heavy vehicle and a car.

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

SUDOKU

WORD GO

ROUND

Nowordsstartingwithacapitalareallowed, nopluralsendinginsunlessthewordisalso averb.

ACROSS

1 If youare a collectorofClarice Cliff whatdoyou collect? (7)

Across

4 WhatLatin American danceisperformed byseveral peopleinsinglefile?(5)

4 To rinse the throat with a liquid, is to do what (6)

7 Whatare lengthwisethreads on a loom? (4)

DOWN

1 Whichchess piecesaremostnumerous?(5)

2 Whatbrightyellow powderis usedfor flavouring in Asian cookery?(7)

Down

3 InearlyEngland,what was a smalllandholderbetween gentry and labourers? (6)

1 Name a unit of length in the imperial system (4)

7 To be lower in degree, is to be what (8)

8 Whatisthe capital ofLiberia? (8)

8 Which term relates to a year (6)

10 In 1982 who madethe firsttelevised147 break in snooker? (5,5)

9 What do we call one who holds first place in a sport (8)

12 Whichinventor (Thomas ____)tookout more than a thousandpatents inhis lifetime?(6)

13 Whatisthelastwordof“RuleBritannia”?(6)

11 What are roads also called (7)

13 To be far away, is to be what (7)

15 TheMisfits in1961 was the last film starring Marilyn Monroeand which otheractor? (5,5)

15 To involve in strife, is to do what (7)

18 Native toCentral and South America, a tamandua is whattypeofanimal? (8)

4 Whatbranch ofmedicine isconcerned with diseasesand abnormalitiesofthe heart?(10)

2 What do we call a person living in seclusion (6)

3 Name a flightless bird of New Zealand (4)

5 A starthat suddenly brightens thengraduallyfades is called what? (4)

6 Which film,1984’s BestPicture Oscar winner, was filmed inPrague? (7)

4 Alexander Archibald Leach was known as Cary ... (5)

5 To do, perform, or furnish, is to do what (6)

9 Where wasLouisArmstrong born? (3,7)

11 Whichwomanwasmarried on 29April1945, and died the followingday?(3,5)

6 To have sprung through air, is to have done what (5)

17 Which metal urn is used for heating water for making tea (7)

19 What cloth isspreadover a coffin? (4)

20 Whatisaninformal wordfor“avery long time”?(5)

21 What diseaseisalso knownaslockjaw? (7)

20 What might we call a Tasmanian (8)

23 What, perhaps, are hold-ups (6)

24 Name a ball game of American Indian origin (8)

25 To cleave or cling, is to do what (6)

QUICK CROSSWORD

9 What are persons undergoing training in the armed services, etc (6)

12 Whatisthe widening channel of a river wheresaltwater mixes with freshwater?(7)

14 Inheraldry what isthecolour silver?(6)

16 Millionsofrecords fromwhichUS immigration entry islandareaccessible onthe internet? (5)

10 Which people take care of the horses, especially at inns (7)

17 WhichEnglish college wasfoundedby HenryVI in 1440? (4)

12 Name a more common term for a matelot (6)

14 What is a passage to a distant place (6)

16 What is the redemption of a prisoner, for a price (6)

18 To be in front, is to be what (5)

19 Name another term for a passageway (5)

DOUBLECROSS

21 What is good fortune known as (4)

22 To be simple, is to be what (4)

Findafinishedcrosswordbydeletingoneof thetwolettersineachdividedsquare.

Solvetheanagrams.Eachsolutionisaone-word anagramofthelettersbesideit,andthefivesolutions aresequential.Forexample,ifthefive-lettersolution startswithJ,thesix-lettersolutionstartswithK,andso on.

Insertthemissinglettersto maketenwords—fivereading acrossthegridandfivereading down.

Note: morethanonesolution maybepossible

amiramritaariaarumatriaatriumattarauraauriccaratcart cramcurtmarcmariamartraitaratarimutarmactarttiara tracttraittramtraumaTRAUMATICtrim

SOLUTION

Save the date: What’s on around the country in 2023

Here’s a look at some of the upcoming trucking events to mark in your diary.

Casino Truck Show

August 5

Casino, NSW casinotruckshow.com.au

Show sponsored by North Coast Petroleum. The Highway Lights Parade will roll through Johnston and Centre Streets from 10am on Saturday. Truck registrations ($30 each) from 6am at the Casino Industrial Area on the town’s east side. Includes live music, amusements and markets. Over $12,000 in cash and prizes. Presentation at 2pm. Plus plenty of blinged up trucks parked in the CBD. Bobtail and rigid trucks only.

Trangie Truck and Tractor

Show

August 19

Trangie Showground, NSW facebook.com/Trangietruck

tractor

Combining a tractor pull, show and shine, shearing competition, demolition derby, barrel race, market stalls, live music and plenty of kids’ activities, this is an event for the whole family. Organisers are hoping to see plenty of car, truck and

vintage machinery clubs on the day, for a glimpse from across the years. Gates open 8am ($25pp, under 12 free). Camping is also available.

2023 Australian Festival of Transport

August 24-27

National Road Transport Hall of Fame, Alice Springs roadtransporthall.com

The four-day festival will include welcoming new inductees onto the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame and the Legends Gala Dinner incorporating the first ‘Transport Women Unite Red Ball’, with the inaugural Transport Women Dream Maker Award, recognising women in the industry working behind the scenes, and helping those who front the organisation to achieve their dreams, whether it be an owner/operator, a family business or a large company.

Razorback Blockade Reunion

August 26

National Road Transport Hall of Fame, Alice Springs roadtransporthall.com

Held as part of the Festival of Transport, the Razorback Blockade Reunion celebrates

six courageous truckies who in 1979 blocked the then-Hume Highway near the Razorback Ridge in the name of protesting road maintenance taxes introduced as early as the 1950s.

SEPTEMBER

QTA Road Freight Industry Awards

September 9

Royal International Convention Centre, Brisbane qta.com.au

The awards recognise those who have displayed excellence, dedication and commitment.

Kenworth Klassic

September 15-17

Clarendon, Victoria Kenworths new and old, working and retired, restored and original, will come together at the 2023 Kenworth Klassic, which this year celebrates 100 years of the iconic brand.

NatRoad Conference 2023

September 27-29

Gold Coast, Queensland natroad.com.au

NatRoad invites members to its 2023 conference, which includes the ‘NatRoad Parliament’ and the NatRoad Awards presented at the Gala Dinner.

Lights On The Hill Memorial Convoy

September 30 & October 1 Gatton, Queensland lightsonthehill.com.au

The Memorial Convoy will be held on September 30, with the Memorial Service held on October 1 at the Lake Apex Memorial wall. There will be live music at the showgrounds.

OCTOBER

Technology & Maintenance Conference

October 16-18

Melbourne, Victoria new.truck.net.au/tmc

The in-person event is back after four years. It aims to bring new ideas, expert advice, and strategies to help transport operators save thousands of dollars through improved maintenance and purchasing strategies.

Convoy for Kids Sydney

October 29 Clarendon, NSW convoyforkids.com.au

Starting at the Sydney Dragway, the convoy will make its way to the Hawkesbury Showground in Clarendon for a day filled with fun and festivities. It will raise funds for the NETS Ambulance Service.

NOVEMBER

Brisbane Convoy for Kids

November 4

Brisbane, Queensland brisbaneconvoyforkids.com.au

Planning is underway to make the 2023 Brisbane Convoy for Kids even bigger and better. Along with the main convoy, there will be a truck show, family fun and entertainment, and an evening fireworks display.

White Hill Truck Drivers Memorial Service and Convoy

November 4 Murray Bridge, SA facebook.com/White HillTruckDriversMemorial

Honouring truck drivers who have lost their lives, the White Hill Truck Drivers Memorial now has over 100 names. This special day begins with a convoy, with trucks meeting at White Hill and heading towards the monument, where they will line up and toot their air horn ahead of the service that will take place at 11am.

Goulburn Convoy for Kids & Carnival Day

November, 11 Goulburn Showgrounds, NSW convoyforkidsgoulburn.com.au

A jam-packed day of fun for

the whole family, the day will include a huge array of trucks on display, free carnival rides, entertainment galore including the return of Bluey and Bingo, activities and interactive games for the kids.

A variety of food and refreshment stations will be available. Entry for kids is free. The Convoy for Kids Goulburn charity provides financial assistance to local families who have a child living with a permanent disability, special need, cancer or terminal illness.

Illawarra Convoy

November 19

Illawarra, NSW illawarraconvoy.com.au

Touted as the largest truck and motorbike convoy in the Southern Hemisphere, the Illawarra Convoy raises funds for individuals and families affected by potentially life threatening medical conditions, together with charities that work with these people, and local hospitals. Last year’s event raised over $2 million.

Have you got an event you’d like included in the next Save the Date? Email all the details to editor@bigrigs.com.au.

Organisers are confident of another big turnout for the Goulburn Convoy for Kids & Carnival Day in November.

The popular Convoy for Kids Sydney event will once again be raising funds for the NETS Ambulance Service.

The 2023 Trailer of Hope will be unveiled at this year’s Brisbane Convoy for Kids.

Tips and tricks to secure your load

OVER the coming months, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is releasing a suite of loading tips and tricks to help industry better understand the principles of good load restraint.

Under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), parties in the Chain of Responsibility (CoR) and drivers have an obligation to comply with loading requirements to maintain safety for all road users.

These one-pagers will highlight common loading mistakes and best practice methods for securing a load.

The guides have been designed for parties in the CoR to print out and display in their workplace to increase awareness, or to be placed in loading manuals as a quick reference.

The first guide released at deadline for this issue was on dunnage, the packing placed under and between parts of the load.

Dunnage is generally made of either hard wood or soft wood timber and is either square or rectangular in cross-section.

Included with the handy

tips and dos and don’ts was a case study about a heavy vehicle loaded with two packs of flat sheet steel weighing around five tonne each.

Dunnage was placed on its narrow face underneath and in between the packs of the flat plate steel.

When the driver applied the truck’s brakes when approaching a set of traffic lights, the dunnage rolled

over causing a loss of lashing tension and restraint.

“The two packs of flat sheet steel slid forward into the non-rated headboard, bending and breaking the tubular bars. Fortunately for the driver it didn’t contact the vehicle’s cab.

“However, if the load had shifted through and impacted the cab, the result may have been serious injury or death

Nominations open for HVIA awards

NOMINATIONS are now open for this year’s Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia’s (HVIA) National Awards.

HVIA chief executive Todd Hacking said the awards showcase the abundant talent from the length and breadth of Australia’s heavy vehicle industry.

Hacking says the five categories include awards recognising individual initiative, growth and performance, and others that acknowledge a company’s collaboration and achievements across teams.

“The 2023 HVIA National Awards are a great opportunity to recognise those efforts and the amazing outputs and outcomes that they have produced,” Hacking said.

Highlights last year included the presentation of the National Apprentice of the Year Award, won by Hunter Tapping from Brown and Hurley.

Fuel Driver Opportunities NATIONALLY

The Role

Toll Group have full time permanent opportunities for experienced MC/ HC drivers and new drivers wanting to expand their career path for our Fuels Business operating nationally.

Benefits:

• Permanent Full Time Opportunity

• Great hourly Rates and allowances

• Career advancement and training opportunities

• Safety Obsessed Culture

• Modern Fleet with replacement programs

• Varying Rosters to provide a work/ lifebalance

• 5 Weeks A/L

Skills & Experience

• Current MC/HC driver’s license

• Current Dangerous Goods (DG) licensepreferred

• Experience in bulk fuel is preferred,

to the driver.

“This could have been avoided by using square dunnage or by placing the rectangular dunnage on its longer edge.”

When relying on a non-rated headboard as part of the load restraint system, it should be braced with timber pallets/ form plywood and chained to the combing rails to increase the strength, said the guide.

Hacking also singled out the “impressive” Thomas Baggaley of CMV Truck & Bus who was presented with the Peter Langworthy Future Leader Award.

Amongst the company awards, Penske Australia took out the Community Leadership Award, for their Outback Futures program, while the Product Innovation Award was won by Knorr-Bremse for its iMass system.

The Safety Innovation Award was won by Scania Australia for its Securing the Future

of Workshop Safety program.

“Having seen such an abundance of innovation on display at this year’s Brisbane Truck Show, I am sure we will see a similarly impressive array of people, products and programs held up for recognition this year,” Hacking added.

“The nomination process is not difficult, and more importantly, it is time very well invested.”

Award categories include:

• Product Innovation

• Safety Innovation

• Community Leadership

• Apprentice of the Year

• Peter Langworthy Future Leader

The awards portal – hvia. awardsplatform.com – is set up to allow nominations to be started and completed over the course of the next few weeks, before nominations close Friday, August 25.

butalltraining will be provided

• Basic Fatigue Management accreditationpreferred

• Experienced MC and HC Drivers

Working at Toll

At Toll Fuels we are proud to be a leading logistics provider ofbulk liquid, you name it we do it from Metro service stations, JetandAvgas to Mine site distribution withlocal andlinehaul options.

If you are interested in any of these roles, please contact John Markham via email at john.markham @tollgroup.com or phone 0402 965 715 to discuss further.

INDUSTRY LEADING RATES OF PAY & SUPERANUATION OF 15% ROSTERS THAT PROVIDE WORK/ LIFE BALANCE

IF YOU WANT TO LEARN FUEL WE’RE WILLING TO TRAIN THE RIGHT PEOPLE

Toll embraces and celebrates a variety of cultures. We continue to build a business that reflects the values of equality, built on the knowledge and understanding that everyone is welcome including the First Nations Peoples, and those of all ages, genders, and abilities. Women are actively encouraged to apply.

All applicants must be entitled to work in Australia and be prepared to undergo a criminal history check, pre-employment medical and/ or drug & alcohol testing as required.

HVIA CEO Todd Hacking congratulates Thomas Baggaley of CMV Truck & Bus, winner of the Peter Langworthy Future Leader Award in 2022.

When the driver applied the truck’s brakes, the dunnage rolled over causing a loss of lashing tension and restraint. Photo: NHVR

Apprentice follows passion

PARIS Knight has always been drawn to the practical skills needed in mechanics, having grown up rurally on the northeast NSW coast and learning mechanical repairs at a young age from her sparkie dad.

While still at high school she signed up as a TAFE-Delivered Vocational Education and Training (TVET) student and began knocking on doors for work experience, eventually landing at Mavin Truck Centre in Kempsey.

A week there led to two, then a job interview, and Knight was on her way with an apprenticeship, and is now into her second semester at TAFE NSW Coffs Harbour enrolled in the Certificate III in Heavy Vehicle Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology.

“This qualification means I can work in an industry I’m interested in, where there is plenty of work and I can earn a good income, and stay living locally,” Knight says.

“There is more support for females these days, I do believe the stereotypes have been broken. My teachers at TAFE NSW are supportive and encouraging – as is my workplace.”

Dealer principal at Mavin Truck Centre Dean Mavin says Knight has a great skills base through her TAFE NSW training - and a positive attitude,

which makes her a valuable employee.

“This is a fast-evolving industry with huge technical and environmental advancements being made all the time. We have several female apprentices, and they each adapt to new knowledge quickly. We need people like that in this industry,” he said.

“It’s a great time to be an apprentice, with strong incentives in place to accelerate their career and a strong pathway to more senior roles. We are fortunate to have Heavy Vehicle courses here in Coffs Harbour through TAFE NSW, as there is strong demand in this region for these workers.”

TAFE NSW Coffs Har-

bour says it’s also seeing strong female enrolments – Knight was one of six women in her diesel class – and is hoping that interest will help meet demand for quality workers in a growing industry on the Mid North Coast.

Knight said she loves the variety of her work; every day is different with no two trucks

IT’S A GREAT TIME TO BE AN APPRENTICE, WITH STRONG INCENTIVES IN PLACE TO ACCELERATE THEIR CAREER AND A STRONG PATHWAY TO MORE SENIOR ROLES.”

DEALER PRINCIPAL AT MAVIN TRUCK CENTRE, DEAN MAVIN

stepping up to pursue something they’re interested in and getting out of their comfort zones.

She’s hoping to set an example for other women to follow in her footsteps.

“Honestly, just go for it,” say Knight when asked for her best advice.

“Tomorrow is never promised, and you’ll regret it if you don’t go for something that you want to do.”

or engines the same.

“Going from learning in the classroom to learning at the workshop is also really helpful,” she says.

Often, I’ll come across something at work and realise we just learned about this exact problem in class.”

Knight says it makes her happy to see other women also

• Diesel motor mechanics is listed on the Skills Priority List, with a 2022 report finding the estimated vacancy fill rate was particularly low for occupations in automotive trades. Females are also under-represented. In 2019, males accounted for 95.4 per cent of automotive apprentices and traineeships nationally.

Easter Group Pty Ltd Easter Group Pty Ltd

73 Formation St, Wacol

Easter Group, located in Wacol, provides time sensitive road transporting solutions to many companies throughout Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. We are a family owned business, operating since 1976. We currently have the following positions available:

OPERATIONS ALLOCATORS (Brisbane based only)

You will be required to work on a rotating roster including Days-Nights-Weekends

Previous Operations experience preferred.

MC LOCAL, LINEHAUL

& 2-UP DRIVERS WANTED

(Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide Based)

Come and work for us as we are committed to:

• Training and further education

• Your safety

• Maintaining an impressive Fleet

On offer arepermanent full time and roster positions including paid leave entitlements and public holidays. Drivers will need to be available to be scheduled for work falling across the 7 days of the week.

The successful Applicant will:

• Hold a current MC licence (minimum two years)

• Have knowledge of the HVNL and Load Restraint

• Be professional • Be reliable To apply for the Operations/Driver positions please contact Operations Manager or by emailing your resume to

WORKSHOP MECHANICS & TYRE FITTERS WANTED

(Brisbane based only)

To apply for Mechanic positions please forward your resume to Workshop Manager via email to employment@kseaster.com.au

Paris Knight loves the variety of working at Mavin Truck Centre while studying at TAFE NSW.