The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has today announced the finalists for the 2014 National Trucking Industry Awards.
ATA Chair Noelene Watson said the awards highlighted some of the most dedicated and committed individuals and businesses in the trucking industry.
“Our award finalists have, collectively, made an enormous contribution to the trucking industry and Australia. Between them, they have demonstrated great professionalism, improved safety and delivered the goods,” Mrs Watson said.
The 2014 National Trucking Industry Awards finalists are:
Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Trucking Industry
• John King, Toll NQX (Karawatha, QLD)
• David Simon, Simon National Carriers (Toowoomba, QLD)
• Phillip Crook, Toll Group (Homebush, NSW)
National Professional Driver of the Year
• Neville Thacker, BP Regional Operations (Townsville, QLD)
• Barry Grimson, Unanderra Tanker Hire (Shellharbour, NSW)
• Tom Scotney, Hardy’s Haulage (Warwick, QLD)
Trucking Industry Woman of the Year
• Dianne Carroll OAM, Trans-Help Foundation (Tarcutta, NSW)
• Teresa Armesto, Armesto’s Transport (Beerwah, QLD)
• Lynne Jack, Griffin Motors (Newcastle, NSW)
TruckSafe John Kelly Memorial Award
• Directhaul (Berrimah, NT)
• Rocky’s Own Transport (Rockhampton, QLD)
• Sunchip Group (Maryborough, QLD)
National Training Excellence Award
• Ostwald Brothers (Dalby, QLD)
• Toll Mining Services (Newburn, WA)
The award winners will be announced on Saturday 7 June at the ATA Foundation Sponsors Gala Awards Dinner at Trucking Australia 2014 on Hamilton Island. The finalists were selected by a committee of judges led by former ATA Chairman Trevor Martyn.
The details of the finalists are attached. To register for Trucking Australia 2014 or book tickets for the dinner, visit www.truckingaustralia.com.au.
2014 NATIONAL TRUCKING INDUSTRY AWARDS FINALISTS
Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Trucking Industry
Award sponsors: BP Australia, NTI and Volvo Trucks
John King, Toll NQX
Karawatha, QLD
John first entered the road transport industry in 1971, and worked his way from self-described ‘general dogsbody’ to become a branch manager at Comet Overnight Transport. He was approached by NQX to manage its Brisbane operations in 1980 and has stayed with the company ever since. Today he is its National Manager – Linehaul. Safety is a major priority for John, and under his guidance the NQX fleet has gained TruckSafe accreditation, been speed limited to 90km/h, and had in-vehicle cameras installed in every vehicle. As a result of his work, Toll NQX records the lowest rate of linehaul accidents per kilometre travelled of any Toll business. John is a member of the TruckSafe board, and was the recipient of the 2013 QTA Industry Excellence Award.
David Simon, Simon National Carriers
Toowoomba, QLD
David Simon began loading and unloading trucks for his family’s company, Simon National Carriers, in 1984 before succeeding his father as the Managing Director in 1988. He has been a director of the Queensland Trucking Association since 2002, and joined the board of the Australian Trucking Association in 2003. David has just stepped down following his second term as Chairman of the ATA, where he represented the industry through his positions on the NHVR project implementation board, the HVCI reform board, and as an observer to the Standing Council on Transport and Infrastructure. In early 2013, David delivered a televised address at the National Press Club where he discussed the state of the industry and how governments can improve road funding and planning.
Phillip Crook, Toll Group
Homebush, NSW
Phillip is a long time contributor to the road transport industry, and has held various roles within Toll Group Australia over the past twenty years. He was a board member of the NSW Road Transport Association and assisted with the development of the ATANSW Policy Council when it first began. As a member of the ATA’s Safety, and Transport and Economics committees, Phillip has shared his time and expertise to make life easier and safer for trucking operators and drivers across Australia. Phillip was the winner of the 2014 ATANSW Outstanding Contribution to the Industry award.
National Professional Driver of the Year
Award sponsors: BP Australia, NTI and Volvo Trucks
Neville Thacker, BP Regional Operations
Townsville, QLD
Neville has driven fuel tankers for 25 years, and in this time has maintained a blemish free driving record. He has been employed by BP Regional Operations for the past 11 years, and has accumulated more than 3 million accident free kilometres over various road conditions across North Queensland. He is highly respected for his professionalism and commitment to the industry amongst line management, peers and customers alike. Neville was awarded the QTA Professional Driver of the Year Award in 2013.
Barry Grimson, Unanderra Tanker Hire
Shellharbour, NSW
Known as ‘Sleepy’ by his peers, Barry started driving for his father’s business in 1964. A conscientious employee, his high standards and positive approach to his work are an inspiration to the other employees of Unanderra Tanker Hire. Barry is dedicated to improving conditions for his fellow drivers, and is unofficially known at his home depot as the ‘drivers’ advocate.’ Barry was involved in the initial stages of the construction of the Australian Truck Drivers’ Memorial Wall at Tarcutta, and has been involved in many Camp Quality Convoys for Kids.
Tom Scotney, Hardy’s Haulage
Warwick, QLD
With just two employers during his 33 years of truck driving, Tom has shown enormous commitment to the road transport industry. He is often seen assisting other road users and younger drivers in the industry. His work ethic is beyond reproach, and he makes a point of being impeccably attired every day. In the last 10 years, Tom has travelled more than 6.3 million kilometres without receiving a fine. He is not afraid to stop other people if he sees them doing a job in an unsafe manner and encourages those around him to adopt safer practices. Tom was recognised as the 2013 NatRoad Professional Driver of the Year.
Trucking Industry Woman of the Year
Award sponsor: Cummins South Pacific
Dianne Carroll OAM, Trans-Help Foundation
Tarcutta, NSW
After losing her first husband in a truck accident in 1994, Dianne established the Trans-Help Foundation in 2005 to support drivers and their families. The foundation provides emergency respite, a national 1300 support line and mobile health and support units to assist transport families across Australia. Dianne received an Order of Australia Medal in 2010 for her service to the community, and was also voted ‘Australia’s Most Helpful Person’ in a national competition. Dianne has studied counselling and psychology in order to further her work with the foundation.
Teresa Armesto, Armesto’s Transport
Beerwah, QLD
Teresa joined Armesto’s Transport at 17, when the company had five tippers running in north Queensland and two trucks running between Brisbane and Sydney. She is now the General Manager and oversees a fleet of more than 120 trucks and 250 trailers. Teresa has a wealth of knowledge in all aspects of the business, from administration and scheduling operations to the mechanical side of things. Teresa is genuinely committed to getting her drivers home safely to their families, and ensures her vehicles are maintained to their best standard at all times.
Lynne Jack, Griffin Motors
Newcastle, NSW
Lynne first entered the trucking industry working for her father’s Volvo dealership in administration and the spare parts department. She took over the running of the business in 1984 and was elected as a member of the Volvo Dealer Council six years later. A founding member of the Newcastle and Hunter Road Transport Awareness Day, Lynne has assisted in raising more than $1.4 million for charity through this yearly event. Lynne also assists at the Hunter TAFE to provide heavy vehicle and plant apprentices with hands-on experience and access to mentors within the industry.
TruckSafe John Kelly Memorial Award to recognise excellence in the TruckSafe program
Award sponsor: Austbrokers AEI Transport
Directhaul
Berrimah, NT
Starting as a single tanker operation out of Katherine in the early 80s, today Directhaul specialises in bulk fuel and oil deliveries across remote locations across central and north Australia, as well as parts of Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia. TruckSafe accredited since 1998, Directhaul operates a fleet of more than 90 road-train rated prime movers and 290 trailers and dollies, with an average prime mover age of 3 years. Directhaul’s highest priority is providing its customers with exceptional service in the safest manner possible.
Rocky’s Own Transport
Rockhampton, QLD
Rocky’s Own Transport began trading in a small timber yard in Rockhampton in 1985, and today runs a fleet of 137 trucks between depots in Brisbane, Helidon, Kalgoorlie and Gladstone. The business includes general, refrigerated, project, bulk and explosives transport divisions, and is committed to proving reliable, safe transport to its clients. TruckSafe accredited since 2000, the Rocky’s Own Transport fleet uses in-house designed vehicle tracking systems and driver cams to help ensure compliance throughout the business. The business is also committed to looking after its people, with a company health care scheme for permanent employees.
Sunchip Group
Maryborough, QLD
The Sunchip Group specialises in the harvesting and hauling of wood from pine plantations and harvests 100 B-double loads of wood each day in Queensland alone. With a strong focus on innovation, the business has a developed a unique B-double design to haul long length timber, effectively allowing it to replace 35 standard combinations with 10 of the new B-doubles. First established in 1997, the Sunchip Group attributes its success to its people, with very low turnover and several family groups within its 120 staff.
National Training Excellence Award
Award sponsor: Driver Education Centre of Australia (DECA)
Ostwald Brothers
Dalby, QLD
Following two vehicle rollover incidents at the same location in 2013, Ostwald Bros engaged external consultants to conduct a review of its safety systems. The review identified that the roll speed at that location was just 34km/h. To prevent similar incidents, Ostwald Bros implemented a new rollover training program and added in-cab warnings to its fleet monitoring system, which now notifies drivers of their approach to a potentially dangerous site. The system also provides daily driver monitoring, with drivers encouraged to improve their safe driving score in a ‘driver of the month’ competition. Since the system was implemented, Ostwald Bros has recorded significant improvements in both safe driving behaviour and driver attitude.
Toll Mining Services
Newburn, WA
During a safety review in December 2012, the Toll Mining Services management team concluded that providing rollover training to drivers was just an administrative control – the lowest level on the risk control hierarchy. This conclusion led to the decision to introduce engineering controls including a comprehensive rollout of ABS, EBS, mobile tracking data and driver state sensor technologies throughout the fleet, as well as speed limiting all units to 90km/h. Drivers were provided with extensive training on the new equipment, with all fuel drivers also receiving defensive driving training. Toll Mining Services expects to complete the rollout across all its sites within the next year.
