Danielle Gullaci

With the commencement date of the amended Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) locked in as August 1, 2026, Big Rigs spoke with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) to break down how the changes will impact transport operators and drivers. Those changes have been on the table since the National Transport Commission (NTC) commenced a review back in 2019.

Mel Shaw, 52, says she’s never been one to stay still for too long. “Trucking suits my lifestyle. I’ve travelled the world and travelled Australia – and this is the perfect way to get paid for it!” Originally from Brisbane, Mel has spent the last few years juggling nursing and trucking. “I did 20 years of nursing, doing contract work all around the country, but I decided I wanted more, I wanted to be in the big rigs,” she said. Mel now divides her time between Brisbane and Western Australia.

JJ Stevenson & Sons is a true family business in every sense, with a story that spans across four generations. Based in Griffith, NSW, it has evolved from humble beginnings – one man, one truck and a whole lot of determination. It was back in 1964 that Jeff Stevenson was gifted an older tractor crane for his 21st birthday from his father Bob Stevenson. Bob was an early pioneer of the area.