July 2010

Good Vibrations

Good Vibrations is a 2007 Western Star 4964FXC piloted by Kiwi Steve Norman and his partner Vicky from Perth to Kununarra return each week which incase you're wondering is 6,500 kms! The Western Star runs a 550hp CAT engine with a 18 speed Eaton Fuller box, Dana Spicer D52 -190 diffs rated to 130 tonne. The return trip uses 5-5500 litres of fuel and Good Vibrations is made to work pulling three 45 foot trailers which usually consists of two fridge trailers with food and the third which is a curtainsider with general freight.

Steve and Vicky drive 5-6 hour stints then swap as the trip is approx 40 hours each way.
A trailer load is delivered to Halls creek on the way through and then the truck is parked up in Kununarra for the night before delivering the other fridge load the next morning.
By then the curtainsider has been unloaded also so Steve and Vicky load up any backload, hookup and head for home. In the produce season they'll have anywhere from one to three trailers to backload usually with Melons, Pumpkins, mangos etc which are loaded with a pallet jack in the heat of the day.

The roads are pretty average in quite a few places so sleeping in a moving truck is something you just have to get used to but most people can sleep anywhere if they're tired enough. There's not alot of fences around so there's all sorts of wildlife such as cows, horses, kangaroos and even the odd camel but swerving is out of the question with a third trailer in tow as it can tip up pretty easily. Steve brakes for cows but doesn't blink an eye for the roo's which sounds a bit cruel but theys the way it is.

Both Steve and Vicky decided to come to Australia but it took them two years before they were able to. Vicky had just started training for her National Certificate in Road Transport and Steve had been driving for seven years before that for Mainfreight Cromwell. They both worked together for Northern Southland transport Wanaka while Vicky finished her certificate.

Once they arrived in Australia they had to convert their licenses over. The NZ Class 5 converts to Heavy Combination and they both needed Multi Combination to drive Road Trains. A day course and $1,000 each and they had the MC License they needed. Looking for jobs Steve and Vicky found that most employers wanted experienced road train operators so Steve answered an ad to drive with another guy two - up and luckily it ended up that the boss also wanted a two - up team so he took Vicky on aswell.

Employed by Teasdale transport who contract to Centurion Transport who are one of the largest freight companies in Western Australia they did one trip with the boss and then they were on their own. Before coming to Australia Steve and Vicky had heard stories about the big money over the tasman and now they're there they can tell you they're pretty much true. Steve is on double what he was back in NZ and Vicky is on two and a half times more pay. They've now been working for Tony Teasdale for near on two years and have clocked up an impressive 500,000 kms!! Steve and Vicky reckon they'll do the same amount of kms again and then head home to NZ.

Both Steve and Vicky would like to thank Tony Teasdale for the great opportunity.

I personally would like to thank Steve for the information and photos for this story.
Checkout Steve's tattoo..now thats dedication!!

Good Vibrations

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