The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has today announced the finalists for the 2020 National Trucking Industry Awards, recognising businesses and individuals who have gone above and beyond the requirements of their role to improve their workplace and the industry.
"While we are in the midst of unprecedented and stressful times, it has never been more important to celebrate the valuable contribution of the trucking industry and its people," ATA Chair Geoff Crouch said.
"Trucking is essential to the Australian way of life and is connected to every industry from agriculture to construction and retail. It's important we recognise the outstanding businesses and individuals whose actions inspire others and make a positive impact," he said.
The 2020 National Trucking Industry Award finalists are:
Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Trucking Industry
- Rex Chapman, Total Insurance Agencies, Strathpine QLD
- Robert Cavanagh, Cavanagh's Transport / Stockmaster, Inverell NSW
- Lindsay King, Transking, Wetherill Park NSW
National Professional Driver of the Year
- Sarah Brosnan, Fonterra Farm Milk Cartage, Latrobe TAS
- Philip Crowe, Western Suburbs Concrete, Penrith NSW
- Russell Lee, Directhaul, Darwin NT
National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year
- Bette Phillips-Campbell, Uniting Victoria, Euroa VIC
- Roslyn Anderson, Wales Truck Repairs, Smithfield NSW
- Candice Lureman, VISA Global Logistics, Banksmeadow NSW
National Training Excellence Award
- Chemtrans, Truganina VIC
- K&S Energy, Truganina VIC
- Wagners Transport, Toowoomba QLD
TruckSafe John Kelly Memorial Award
- SRH Milk Haulage, Rutherford NSW
- DT Rogers Bulk Transport, Wallace VIC
- Brown's Citrus Transport, Gayndah QLD
Mr Crouch said the award judging panel, led by former ATA Chair Trevor Martyn OAM, were extremely impressed with the professionalism and passion demonstrated by the award nominees.
"I would like to thank all award nominees for their service to industry and commitment to ensuring its safety and professionalism," Mr Crouch said.
Mr Crouch said that while usually the award winners are announced at the ATA's Trucking Australia conference at the Foundation Sponsors Gala Awards Dinner, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic means the award presentation will be delayed.
"The safety and health of the community is our highest priority. We will give our award winners the proper recognition they deserve when it is safe to do so, at an event that pays appropriate respect to the history and prestige of these awards," Mr Crouch said.
The National Trucking Industry Awards are proudly sponsored by BP, Volvo, National Transport Insurance, Cummins South Pacific, Sutton Road Training Centre TISC, and AEI Transport Insurance Brokers.
The Australian Trucking Association and its member associations collectively represent the businesses and people of the Australian trucking industry. Together, the ATA and its members are committed to safety, professionalism and viability.
2020 NATIONAL TRUCKING INDUSTRY AWARD FINALISTS
Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Trucking Industry
Award sponsors: BP, National Transport Insurance, Volvo Trucks
Robert Cavanagh
Cavanagh's Transport / Stockmaster, Inverell NSW
Well known in the trucking industry as an expert in livestock transport, Robert is Managing Director of Cavanagh's Transport / Stockmaster in Inverell, NSW.
Robert has more than 35 years' experience in the industry and is an active and committed member of state and national rural road freight transport associations. He is a strong advocate for safety, technology and animal welfare and is often recognised for his future thinking, ability to adapt to change, and an early adopter of technology and modern business practices.
Robert has served as President of the Livestock, Bulk and Rural Carriers Association, and has also held the roles of President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary of the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association. In 2018 he was awarded an ALRTA life membership in recognition of his significant contribution to the organisation and to the promotion of rural transport as a sustainable, responsible and safe contributor to Australia.
Rex Chapman
Total Insurance Agencies, Strathpine QLD
Director of Total Insurance Agencies in Strathpine, QLD, Rex has had an interest in transport from a young age when he started his first business buying a bread run and delivering to customers around the Brisbane area.
Throughout his career, Rex has gained a wealth of experience across many roles, purchasing Pacific Coast Trucking in 1988 with his wife Judy, before moving into the insurance business in 2006.
Rex has served on the Queensland Trucking Association board of directors and held the role of President, building his reputation as a dedicated advocate of the heavy vehicle industry.
Rex is passionate about improving the transport industry and is committed to ensuring it remain viable and safe in the future. Rex continues to contribute to, and support, the trucking industry by attending state and national conferences and events.
Lindsay King
Transking, Wetherill Park NSW
Lindsay is owner of Transking in Wetherill Park, NSW, first working in the industry as a motor mechanic in 1968.
From its humble beginnings, under Lindsay's leadership Transking quickly gained a reputation in the industry for its proactive approach in developing safer, more efficient products.
Lindsay has led Transking to be at the forefront of innovation for many years and has developed a range of innovative products that have contributed to the ever-growing need for a safer transport industry.
Lindsay created the original concept and design of the Lockerliner, Tightwinder and the Quickloc Automatic Curtain system, the world's first fully automatic curtain locking system.
National Professional Driver of the Year
Award sponsors: BP Australia, National Transport Insurance, Volvo Trucks
Sarah Brosnan
Fonterra Farm Milk Cartage, Latrobe TAS
Sarah is a milk tank driver at Fonterra FMC in Latrobe, TAS, and has been driving trucks for more than ten years. She has had no incidents in her professional driving career.
Sarah actively contributes to and follows all policies and procedures of her workplace. Sarah demonstrates excellence in her industry relationships, particularly those with customers - from farmers to factory, to pack houses to ports, and all her co-workers. Sarah is respectful and always works to convey a professional image of her company and of the industry.
Sarah is a strong supporter of initiatives to increase the representation of women in non-traditional roles in the transport industry. She is recognised as an ambassador for a strong and diverse future workforce and is a participant in the 2020 Teletrac Navman Driving Change Diversity Program.
In 2019, Sarah won the TTA Tasmanian Professional Truck Driver of the Year award.
Philip Crowe
Western Suburbs Concrete, Penrith NSW
Philip is a driver at Western Suburbs Concrete in Penrith, NSW, where he has worked for more than 17 years. Philip began his career in trucking in the 1970s hauling general freight in country NSW, before moving to Tube Makers carting steel tube and then on to Shell for ten years.
Philip is recorded as the best driver in the fleet regarding fuel economy with 2.48km/L and is often called on to play the role of 'fuel coach' to help his colleagues achieve better efficiency.
Philip is well regarded as a respectful and experienced driver and maintains a high standard of safety and productivity.
Russell Lee
Directhaul, Darwin NT
Russell is a road train driver with Directhaul in Darwin, NT, and has served the business for more than 30 years.
Russell is a role model at the company and is described by his colleagues and management as safe, dependable, professional, trustworthy and hardworking. He is well-known for his extremely positive influence on Directhaul's workplace culture.
Russell is a well-respected senior driver in the industry, and holds valuable knowledge and experience of driving conditions, job requirements, risks and challenges that can be faced in the various geographic regions of the Northern Territory.
In his 32 years with Directhaul, Russell has driven an estimated 11 million kilometres and delivered more than 509 million litres of fuel.
In 2019, Russell was a finalist for the ATA's National Professional Driver of the Year award.
National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year
Award sponsor: Cummins South Pacific
Bette Phillips-Campbell
Uniting Victoria, Euroa VIC
Bette is Manager of Uniting Victoria, a grief work service in Euroa, VIC. For more than 25 years, Bette has been a champion for reducing death, injury and disease in the trucking industry, and has provided free and professional counselling and support services to families and their communities impacted by death.
Bette has been active in regional communities across Australia, working with individuals, families and industry to raise awareness of the risk associated with truck driving, and how to support bereaved families.
Since 2006, Bette has provided service to more than 120 families in the trucking industry, and strongly advocated for truck deaths to be treated as work-related, which has now been agreed to by Work Safe Victoria. Bette founded the Victorian truck drivers annual memorial service and was instrumental in creating the Victorian Drivers Memorial Wall.
Roslyn Anderson
Wales Truck Repairs, Smithfield NSW
Rosyln is Chief Financial Controller at Wales Truck Repairs in Smithfield, NSW. Roslyn grew up around trucks and has a longstanding passion for the industry.
In her time with Wales Truck Repairs, Roslyn has been responsible for multiple divisions and keeps a pulse on the latest issues by attending a range of industry events. Demonstrating a proven commitment to her business and relevant industry matters, Roslyn is a member of the Transport Women Australia and Women in Transport Australia networks.
In 2018, Rosyln became a Transport Women Australia board member and was named winner of the Road Freight NSW Woman of the Year Award. Roslyn was a finalist for the 2019 National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year.
Candice Lureman
VISA Global Logistics, Banksmeadow NSW
Candice is a driver at VISA Global Logistics in Banksmeadow, NSW. She is Australia's only profoundly deaf female road train driver and is the first deaf woman to drive super B-Doubles in Australia.
Candice is actively involved in industry, working with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator to establish how to best support deaf truck drivers, and is also working with Deaf Australia, the Pilbara Heavy Haulage Girls and Strategix Training to train the next generation of truck drivers in Australia. Candice lends her time and expertise to mentor others who need encouragement and support.
Candice is a strong role model and is determined to help others become involved in the transport industry and achieve their goals.
National Training Excellence Award
Award Sponsor: Sutton Road Training Centre - TISC
Chemtrans
Truganina VIC
Chemtrans is a wholly owned division of K&S Corporation, specialising in the safe delivery of dangerous and hazardous goods throughout Australia.
In 2017, after experiencing an increase in minor incident rates and near-misses involving deliveries of Class 8 corrosive liquids, it was realised that the company's current resources were lacking.
As a result, Chemtrans developed a dangerous goods bulk tanker load/unloading simulator. The simulator enables the company's trainers to place drivers in real-life situations without risk, enabling them to experience complex situations. The training involves theoretical and practical components to enhance drivers' knowledge in Class 8 Corrosive Liquid distribution tasks, hazards involved and controls to be implemented.
Since the simulator implementation, Chemtrans has recorded a 51 per cent decrease in incidents.
K&S Energy
Truganina VIC
Based in Truganina, VIC, K&S Energy has fuel contracts across the country, as well as LPG and LNG gas distribution contracts in Western Australia performing a mix of bulk and multi-drop deliveries.
Recognising the risks that are often involved in truck driving, in 2017 K&S Energy implemented a defensive driver training program: You & I can avoid crashes. The program uses five steps to defensive driving, education drivers with the skills to better evaluate challenging situations while on the road.
K&S Energy places significant emphasis on trainer development and has also delivered a Train the Trainer program which involves classroom-based learning, activities, and on-road practical application.
To date, more than 340 drivers have been trained in the You & I can avoid crashes program, while 40 trainers and mentors have completed the Train the Trainer program. The company has recorded a 25 per cent decrease in incidents across the division.
Wagners Transport
Toowoomba QLD
Based in Toowoomba, QLD, Wagners is an ASX-listed operator in domestic and international markets and one of Queensland's largest construction materials and mining services companies.
While Wagners has had in-house driver trainers since the business was established, the company has developed an online driver training program for remote project drivers, as well as concrete agitator and local transport drivers.
The program objective is to ensure all drivers are trained to meet legislative, company and customer requirements. New, inexperienced drivers are accompanied by a 'buddy' who is assigned to them until they are deemed competent. Then, an assessment with trainers or subject matter experts will be conducted.
The implementation of the program has resulted in a higher-skilled workforce and more internal job opportunities, as well as an improved safety culture among drivers as they understand their requirements and the requirements of others.
TruckSafe John Kelly Memorial Award
Award Sponsor: AEI Transport Insurance Brokers
SRH Milk Haulage
Rutherford NSW
SRH Milk Haulage is a family owned business that began with one truck and tanker in 1996 and has grown to a business with 63 trucks and 110 tankers, servicing areas in NSW, Western Australia and Victoria.
SRH Milk Haulage has been a member of TruckSafe since 1998 and believe that their accreditation has helped shaped the business they are today in ensuring they are doing the right thing for their employees and customers.
SRH Milk Haulage is always looking at ways to use the latest technology in their fleet and since February 2019 have installed Seeing Machines Guardian in all new trucks.
DT Rogers Bulk Transport
Wallace VIC
DT Rogers Bulk Transport was established in 1992, when David Rogers began working as an owner-driver carting fertiliser and grain. In 2000, David began to expand his workforce and now has three truck and dog tippers with drivers who have been with him for more than twelve years, and a livestock truck which he drives himself.
DT Rogers Bulk Transport has been a member of TruckSafe since 1998 and a NatRoad industry member since 1996. David has served on the TruckSafe board and is currently Vice President of the Livestock & Rural Transporters Association of Victoria.
With a strong customer base, DT Rogers Bulk Transport pride themselves in understanding customer needs and requirements while providing efficient, safe and reliable service.
Brown's Citrus Transport
Gayndah QLD
Brown's Citrus Transport's beginnings stemmed from a sand and gravel family business in 1955, before changing to livestock transport and then transitioning to modern day freight, including citrus.
Reg and Janette Brown have managed the business together since 2002 and are proud of the dedication and passion demonstrated by their staff. The business takes pride in how they operate, from the casual staff, drivers, and permanent employees who play an important role in administration and operations.
Brown's Citrus Transport have been a TruckSafe member since 2003, with a fleet that consists of 22 prime movers, 39 trailers and four body trucks.
