Life's a highway: day in the life of a truckie

Truck driving is a skill that’s in high demand as the ongoing shortage of skilled operators across the country continues.

With new reforms expected to significantly reduce the wait times on obtaining a heavy vehicle licence, it’s an excellent time to look at the range of opportunities that this essential sector can offer; from newcomers through to those looking at working through their heavy vehicle licence classes, or indeed, anyone considering a career move into a truck.

Take a ride with us as we jump in the cab with drivers (male and female) who are working a truck across the gamut of Aussie industry, including freight and logistics, livestock transport, tow trucks and a mobile tool shop business.

Day in the life of a tow truck driver

Early mornings in Wodonga have never looked better from the driver's seat of a Grealy Motors & Towing tilt tray tow truck.

Peter Grealy, a mechanic and service tech by trade, is now the third generation of Grealy's managing the successful towing business. Nowadays, he’s delighted to spend more time in the cab of the heavy tow trucks rather than under the hood, diagnosing mechanical issues.

Grealy drivers work in shifts across seven days of the week and can travel as far as Melbourne, Sydney, and Canberra from the regional city of Wodonga.

No two days are the same for Peter and his team of tow truck drivers. The company is an NRMA and RACV contractor, which means they can be busy with emergency roadside servicing, towing breakdowns, and assisting in accident recovery.

“What we do for our customers is vital, especially when it comes to responding to emergency roadside assist.”

“We're very proud of the fact that we can continue to keep the Grealy name in the industry and support and service our local network,” said Peter.

Grealy also takes on the responsibility of transporting and delivering capital equipment, cranes, and vehicles for other businesses in the area. 

Day in the life of a livestock truck driver

A young woman with her eyes on the prize, Piper Williams qualified for her medium-rigid truck licence soon after her 18^th birthday. Planning ahead for her future is second nature for Piper, as she holds down multiple jobs as a sheep farmer, shearer, and owner of her own small business in livestock pregnancy scanning.

Piper knew from the onset that she wanted to attain a truck licence; to be able to transport livestock to markets in Yass and Queanbeyan, as well as move capital equipment, hay and feed around the family farm.

“Our truck is a crew cab model, when I campout for a shearing job there is room on the back seat for a camp bed and sleeping bag,” said Piper.

“When I was a kid, I loved riding in the stock trucks. I would go to stockyards at Yass and drop the sheep off, so it's always been a bit of a dream for me.”

When she isn't transporting livestock or undertaking farming duties, Piper is working alongside her clients to improve the quality of life of their ewes and lambs.

Day in the life of a last mile delivery truck driver

Jack Singh has made his home in the trucking industry as an independent contractor for most of his career, working with well-known carrier Allied Express for the better part of two decades.  

Piloting an impressively customised medium-rigid truck, Jack's workday begins around 4 am with deliveries taking him all over Sydney and out into regional New South Wales.

Securing loads, moving and rotating palettes of stock for his clients, and ensuring everything is delivered safe and sound is all part of the package that Jack delivers on with his customer service.

“I'm an owner operator so it means that I've got my own business and truck,” said Jack.

“I’ve been subcontracting with Allied Express for 17 years now, the work just keeps coming and honestly, I’m thankful for it.”

There are many long days on the road but that is no deterrent to Jack, who grew up around trucks and is passionate about them. When he’s not on the road, Jack spends his spare time cycling to keep fit and tinkering with his truck, keeping it clean and polished to deliver a first-class service for his clients.

Day in the life of a mobile tool shop truck driver

When heavy diesel mechanic Emma Newell-Courtney was approached to start her own Snap-on Tools franchise, she jumped at the opportunity to become her own boss and swap working under the cab to getting behind the wheel.

She services her district of Southeast Queensland in her medium-rigid truck named Suzie-Q. The back of Suzie-Q is a mobile tool shed containing tool storage, diagnostics, power tools, hand tools and more.

She has a weekly roster of clients that she visits as a Snap-on franchisee providing them with high-end Snap-on tools and equipment to their work sites and sheds.

Emma found the switch was perfect for her work and life balance as her Snap-on beat was right near her children's school. She spends up to eight-hours a day on the road, whether that is behind the wheel or in the tool shed. 

“Suzie-Q gets people talking, customers feel happy and comfortable to share stories while their children play in the back of Suzie−whole families congregating around the truck.

“People get brought together and it’s these moments that wouldn’t be possible without this truck. 

The career change meant that Emma was able to continue working with trucks and engines while having more time for her children, even dropping them to school in Suzie-Q.

Interested in streamlining expenses for your work vehicle? Read through these tips on managing whole-of-life-cost.