The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has today announced the finalists for the prestigious 2016 National Trucking Industry Awards.
ATA Chief Executive Christopher Melham said the awards recognise the achievements of some of the most dedicated and professional individuals and businesses in the trucking industry.
“As an industry, we are fortunate to have many very skilled and professional people who work tirelessly to keep our industry running safely and reliably. The quality of this year’s finalists is absolutely outstanding, and I congratulate each of them on their achievement,” Mr Melham said.
The 2016 National Trucking Industry Awards finalists are:
Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Trucking Industry
Award sponsors: BP Australia, NTI and Volvo Trucks
- John Beer, J & M Beer Carrying Service (Romsey, VIC)
- John Rowe, Victorian Freight Specialists (Dandenong South, VIC)
- Bryan Smith, Rocky’s Own Transport (Rockhampton, QLD)
National Professional Driver of the Year
Award sponsors: BP Australia, NTI and Volvo Trucks
- Garry McVey, McVey’s Transport (Fishermans Paradise, NSW)
- Nigel Felton, All Purpose Transport (Underwood, QLD)
- Pamela Jeffery, Plant Hire Services (Kununurra, WA)
Trucking Industry Woman of the Year
Award sponsor: Cummins South Pacific
- Melanie Cosgrove, SRV Road Freight Services (Ormeau, QLD)
- Melissa Taylor, Taylor’s Removals and Storage (Toowoomba, QLD)
- Dianne Carroll, Trans-Help Foundation (Tungamah, VIC)
TruckSafe John Kelly Memorial Award
Award sponsor: Austbrokers AEI Transport
- Richers Transport Pty Ltd (Maryborough, QLD)
- Shackell Transport Pty Ltd (Pottsville, NSW)
- Fellows Bulk Transport (Deniliquin, NSW)
National Training Excellence Award
- All Purpose Transport (Berrinba, QLD)
The award winners will be announced on Saturday 25 June at the ATA Foundation Sponsors Gala Dinner on the Gold Coast as part of Trucking Australia 2016, the ATA’s national conference. To register for Trucking Australia 2016 or book tickets for the dinner, visit www.truckingaustralia.com.au.
The details of the finalists are attached.
Media contact: Kathleen Horne 02 6253 6900 / 0409 524 120
2016 NATIONAL TRUCKING INDUSTRY AWARDS FINALISTS
Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Trucking Industry
Award sponsors: BP Australia, NTI and Volvo Trucks
John Beer, J & M Beer Carrying Service
Romsey, VIC
John Beer is a veteran of the livestock and rural transport industry, with more than 50 years’ driving experience under his belt. As an owner-driver, John is passionate about the safety and viability of smaller operators, and is dedicated to addressing the ‘grass roots’ issues faced by truck drivers every day. He is particularly dedicated to improving the safety of livestock loading ramps, and was the key driver behind the development of ALRTA’s ‘Guide for Safe Design of Livestock Loading Ramps and Forcing Yards’. John is the President and a life member of the Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of Victoria, and a past president of the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association.
John Rowe, Victorian Freight Specialists
Dandenong South, VIC
A keen football player from a young age, John Rowe’s first exposure to the trucking industry was through his friendship with Lindsay Fox, who was captain of the St Kilda 3rds when John was selected as a player. After several years playing and a career-ending thigh injury, John received a call from Lindsay asking him to join his small company, Linfox, in 1966. Since this time, John has held a wide range of high profile roles throughout the industry, and jointly founded his own business, Victorian Freight Specialists, in 1998. John is renowned as a mentor to young people in the industry, and believes this to be his biggest contribution to the transport industry.
Bryan Smith, Rocky’s Own Transport
Rockhampton, QLD
Following a long career in the meat industry, Bryan Smith joined Rocky’s Own Transport as a Sales Manager in 1996. He rose through the ranks quickly, and became CEO in 2005. Under his leadership, Rocky’s Own has been involved in a wide range of safety initiatives, including piloting the fatigue management standards that went on to become Advanced Fatigue Management; implementing satellite tracking into the fleet; and the development of a new integrated mapping system to help plan safer routes and manage fatigue. Bryan is committed to looking after the health and safety of his staff, which has been shown by his implementation of an employee profit sharing scheme, company health scheme, and a quit smoking initiative across the company. Bryan is a true leader of the industry, and has tirelessly invested his own time working with Government and industry on sustainability and safety initiatives.
National Professional Driver of the Year
Award sponsors: BP Australia, NTI and Volvo Trucks
Garry McVey, McVey’s Transport
Fishermans Paradise, NSW
Garry McVey has never had an accident in his forty year driving career. As both the owner and a full time driver for McVey’s Transport, Garry takes pride in the safety and professionalism of all his trucks, whether he is behind the wheel or not! Garry insists that all his drivers put managing their fatigue and safety before their schedules, and ensures that all vehicle maintenance and repairs happen when they are required, not waiting until it’s convenient. He encourages the younger generation, and recently made the decision to employ and train a 20 year old driver despite knowing it would increase his insurance premium. Garry is a strong figure in his local community, and actively supports community activities including his local Relay for Life, Show Society, Men’s Shed and Rural Fire Service.
Nigel Felton, All Purpose Transport
Underwood, QLD
Nigel Felton has been an owner driver since 1999, and has contracted to All Purpose Transport since 2003. Nigel is always keen to develop his skills, and was one of the first drivers to complete his Certificate III in driving operations under All Purpose Transport’s ‘Project APT’ program. Following on from this experience, Nigel approached his management to see if he could be further involved in providing similar training to the rest of the All Purpose Transport fleet, and is now in his final stage of training to become and in-house Driver Trainer for the company. Nigel was awarded All Purpose Transport’s coveted 2015 ‘Owner Driver of the Year Award’, and was the 2015 QTA Driver of the year.
Pamela Jeffery, Plant Hire Services
Kununurra, WA
Pamela Jeffery has an enormous breadth of experience behind the wheel of a heavy vehicle, having operated rigid, truck and dog, semitrailer and quad road train combinations across the Australian outback. Since starting with Plant Hire Services in Kununurra in 2008 Pam has demonstrated a perfect safety record, and is known to be an exceptionally safe, risk adverse and efficient driver. Pam is credited with becoming the company’s ‘safety conscience’, growing Plant Hire Service’s already strong focus on safe outcomes into an all-pervasive safety culture throughout the company. Pam takes great pride in her work and her vehicle, and has not missed a single shift in the whole time she has been employed by Plant Hire Services.
Trucking Industry Woman of the Year
Award sponsor: Cummins South Pacific
Melanie Cosgrove, SRV Road Freight Services
Ormeau, QLD
Growing up in a trucking family, Melanie started her career in the industry by undertaking a traineeship in spare parts with Torque Power Diesel. She is now the Fleet and Compliance Manager for SRV Road Freight Services, where she shines as a role model and esteemed industry representative. Believing that prevention is better than cure, Melanie has brought several programs in to the company to improve awareness of men’s health issues, including Prostate Awareness and beyondblue. Melanie is the Vice President of NatRoad, where she takes part in guiding industry policy. Melanie is also a strong supporter of her local community, and does volunteer work with the aged in her spare time.
Melissa Taylor, Taylor’s Removals and Storage
Toowoomba, QLD
After pursuing a successful career in retail management, Melissa Taylor became the first female in four generations to join her family business, Taylor’s Removals and Storage. Her business acumen is credited for transforming Taylor’s Removals from a furniture removal business to a business with international capacity. Melissa is dedicated to improving pathways into the transport industry, participating in the GenR8 youth engagement program and the ‘Count me in’ program which highlights career opportunities for local women. Melissa has also worked with the QLD government and TAFE to offer all employees the opportunity to complete a qualification in their chosen role. A strong supporter of her local arts and community organisations and the QTA’s 2015 Trucking Woman of the Year, Melissa’s attitude is best summed up by her own statement – “why should we be ordinary when we can be extraordinary!”
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 provides compassion and support to those who come to the foundation for help, but she would rather prevent an accident than cope with the aftermath – in her own words, “If I can ensure the children have their dad come home to them, then I will”. Dianne received an Order of Australia Medal in 2010 for her service to the community, and has studied counselling and psychology in order to further her work with the foundation.
National Training Excellence Award
All Purpose Transport
Berrinba, QLD
In 2012, the senior management of All Purpose Transport (APT) realised there was a growing issue with their aging workforce. With an average driver age of 47, APT realised they needed to develop a pipeline for attracting and developing their future workers – Project APT.
Using APT’s in house driver trainer and in conjunction with the Qld Department of Transport and Main Roads, Project APT provides all APT owner drivers and employees with the opportunity to obtain formal qualifications (Cert III or above), with more than 250 people taking part in this training to date. As a result of this program, APT is proud to say it has the most qualified transport workforce in Australia.
TruckSafe John Kelly Memorial Award to recognise excellence in the TruckSafe program
Award sponsor: Austbrokers AEI Transport
Richers Transport
Maryborough,QLD
Richers Transport began from humble beginnings in 1935, when Walter Richers was given a Model T Ford truck in lieu of wages owed when the ice vendor he worked for ran into financial difficulties. Today, Richers Transport has grown to include an extensive fleet of modern semitrailers and b-doubles, with depots in Brisbane, Bundaberg, Gympie, Hervey Bay and Maryborough. Still family owned and operated, Richers Transport prides itself on being reliable, professional, dependable and – above all – safe.
Shackell Transport Pty Ltd
Pottsville, NSW
Shackell Transport was started by Bob and Robyn Shackell in 1976 with one semi-trailer. Today, the fleet has grown to include more than 25 trucks and 50 specialised trailers to provide a full range of transport services. Shackell Transport runs its own modern workshop at its headquarters in Pottsville, where all vehicles are serviced by its own in-house team of qualified mechanics. With a philosophy of ‘doing it right the first time’, Shackell Transport is dedicated to safety and reliability in every aspect of its business.
Fellows Bulk Transport
Deniliquin, NSW
Fellows Bulk Transport is a family owned business operated by Paul and Jenny Fellows, and has been operating successfully from its Deniliquin NSW base since 1997. In this time, it has grown from a single vehicle to a fleet of thirteen trucks with operations in all the eastern states, and moves some 300,000 tonnes of product each year. All FBT vehicles are equipped with GPS tracking devices which can provide instant reports on vehicle status, location, expected ETA and activity. Fellows also own and run the Blighty Grain Storage Facility and Hay Grains. The business prides itself on putting safety first, and says its greatest asset is its team of dedicated staff.
