Big Rigs

Truckies travelling through southern Queensland are being urged to plan ahead, with a popular truck stopping bay on the Gore Highway temporarily closed for safety improvement works. The southbound truck stop opposite the BP Service Station at Captains Mountain, southwest of Millmerran, closed on Wednesday, July 1, and is expected to remain unavailable for about three weeks.

Woolworths is to roll out a fleet of 148 Foton battery electric trucks (BETs) over the next few months with the support of Australia’s government-owned green bank, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), and Zenobē Australia. The CEFC has committed $22 million to electric fleet specialist Zenobē who will lease the Foton T5s to the supermarket giant for initial use across last mile deliveries in NSW and Victoria.

“We’ll make you stand out!” is the motto of Twin City Truck Detailing, and it is the primary aim of the owners, husband and wife team Mick and Kim O’Brien, to ensure every truck that leaves their Albury workshop is doing exactly that. From humble beginnings, the business has gone from strength to strength, today providing heavy vehicle polishing and detailing services across a wide area, along with a retailing division selling a growing range of truck care products and accessories.

With changes to the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) fast approaching, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is urging industry to prepare using the extensive guidance, tools and resources available ahead of the August 1 start date. NHVR Director of Strategic Policy Paul Daly said the final month before commencement was a critical opportunity for all industry stakeholders to ensure they understand the changes and remain compliant with the amended law.

Like many in the industry, Daryl Redden, owner-operator of Deniliquin-based DJR Tilt Tray & Transport, didn’t start driving trucks straight out of school. In fact, he didn’t get his truck license until he was 40 years old, proving it’s never too late to chase something you’re passionate about. Daryl’s journey into transport began while helping a mate on the farm. Spending time around heavy machinery quickly sparked an interest that soon turned into a career.

Veteran driver Darren Tenace drives an Isuzu for Cairns-based Neta Tires and Wheels in a beautiful area of Far North Queensland. The 57-year-old was heading along the Captain Cook Highway when Big Rigs saw him pull up at a rest area. It was at Craiglie near Port Douglas and Darren was on the way to Mossman just up the highway. “It is a good job, and I get around to many places up this way,” Darren said. Darren said the trusty Isuzu was a reliable truck and suited the work he does perfectly.

Police say it is “nothing short of a miracle” that no one was killed after six trucks erupted into flames following a devastating crash at the Windmills Rest Area on the Hume Highway near Goulburn, NSW, yesterday. Emergency services were called to the rest area on the outskirts of Breadalbane at about 5am on Tuesday following the multi-truck crash, which left six prime movers engulfed in fire and closed the highway for hours.

Seven women have become the first graduates of the revamped Volvo Iron Women program, an initiative designed to help more women launch careers in Australia’s road transport industry. The inaugural graduates were recognised at a ceremony held at the Museum of Vehicle Evolution (MOVE) in Shepparton after completing the enhanced 12-week program.

Aged 70, veteran driver Garry King drove numerous military trucks after he joined the Australian Army in 1973 and served for 15 years. He was based at Townsville’s Lavarack Barracks, in Brisbane, and at Penrith in NSW and loves trucks. These days Garry works for Carey’s Freight Lines out of Tamworth and travels as far as Sydney and to many other places in the region. “I am carrying frozen meat and am at Wyong today and was at Wagga few days ago,” he said.

Image: Aaron Corstorphan A great pic snapped at Kilmore, Victoria, bound for Bulleen Road. We’ll choose a pic to appear in our Facebook cover slot, and will publish some of the best pics in our upcoming print edition of Big Rigs where you now also have a chance to win a $500 Shell Coles Express Gift Card.