The Australian Trucking Association has honoured Australia’s top truck driver and other leading industry figures in the 2014 National Trucking Industry Awards.
The awards were presented at the ATA Foundation Sponsors Gala Awards Dinner on Hamilton Island on Saturday.
The 2014 National Trucking Industry Award winners are
Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Trucking Industry
David Simon – Simon National Carriers, Toowoomba, QLD
National Professional Driver of the Year
Tom Scotney – Hardy’s Haulage, Warwick, QLD
National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year
Lynne Jack – Griffin Motors, Newcastle, NSW
TruckSafe John Kelly Memorial Award for excellence in the TruckSafe program
Directhaul – Berrimah, NT
National Training Excellence Award
Toll Mining Services – Newburn, WA
Don Watson Memorial Award for conspicuous achievement in furthering the industry’s objectives
Tim Wedlock – Austbrokers AEI Transport Insurance Brokers, Gordon, NSW
The National Professional Driver of the Year, Tom Scotney, has travelled more than 6.3 million kilometres in his career, and has not received a fine in the last decade. Mr Scotney is known for encouraging those around him to adopt safer work practices, and is not afraid to stop someone if he sees them doing work in an unsafe manner.
“What can I say – this is unbelievable. I’d like to thank my wife Dianne for her support for the last 33 years,” he said.
“I feel privileged to receive this award, and I hope to be a worthy ambassador for the transport industry. I’m very proud to be up here representing the industry I love.”
The Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Trucking Industry Award went to David Simon of Simon National Carriers. Mr Simon is the immediate past Chair of the Australian Trucking Association, and has 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.
“The awards are about recognising those who contribute to the industry – there are many in this room who have given much of their own time and money,” he said.
The winner of the National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year Award, Lynne Jack, took over the running of her father’s Volvo dealership in 1984 and was elected as a member of the Volvo Dealer Council six years later. She is a founding member of the Newcastle and Hunter Road Transport Awareness day.
“Oh wow, what do I say? There are so many people to thank, especially the team at the ATA and my friend Jodie at ATANSW,” she said.
The TruckSafe John Kelly Memorial Award went to Directhaul from Berrimah in the Northern Territory. Beginning as a single tanker operation out of Katherine in the early 80’s, today Directhaul operates a fleet of more than 90 prime movers and 290 trailers and dollies.
Brian “Spud” Murphy said the award recognised the efforts of Directhaul’s dedicated and hardworking team.
“It’s great for this award to keep recognising the dedication and passion of John Kelly. I’d like to thank my people and my management for understanding the importance and the value you get out of maintenance,” he said.
The National Training Excellence Award went to Toll Mining Services in Newburn, Western Australia.
“Our aim over the next six months is to put MTData, EBS, 90km/h speed limiting and DSS to detect fatigue into every truck – it’s a big task,” Toll Mining Services Regional HSE Manager Geoff Massey said.
Phillip Crook, the General Manager Compliance for Toll, added the Toll Mining Services Team had achieved very high safety levels with consummate ease.
“We place very high standards on them, particularly in regards to safety. It doesn’t come at a small price - $25,000 - $30,000 per truck – and that makes them amongst the safest trucks in our fleet.”
The Don Watson Memorial Award was presented to Tim Wedlock, the Managing Director of Austbrokers AEI Transport Insurance Brokers. Mr Wedlock has more than 25 years of experience in providing insurance services to the transport and logistics industry.
“I sit here, like all of us, trying to work out who the winner is – and this year it’s me! Goodness me,” he said.
The National Trucking Industry Awards are sponsored by ATA Foundation Sponsors BP Australia, NTI and Volvo Trucks; Cummins South Pacific; Austbrokers AEI Transport; DECA and Castrol.
2014 NATIONAL TRUCKING INDUSTRY AWARD WINNERS
Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Trucking Industry
Award sponsors: BP Australia, NTI and Volvo Trucks
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.
National Professional Driver of the Year
Award sponsors: BP Australia, NTI and Volvo Trucks
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. Tom has travelled more than 6.3 million kilometres in his career, and has not received a single fine in the last 10 years. 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
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 Insurance Brokers
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.
National Training Excellence Award
Award sponsor: Driver Education Centre of Australia (DECA)
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.
Don Watson Memorial Award for conspicuous achievement in furthering the industry’s objectives
Tim Wedlock, Austbrokers AEI Transport Insurance Brokers
Gordon, NSW
As the Managing Director of AEI Transport Insurance Brokers, Tim Wedlock has spent 27 years of experience providing insurance broking services to the transport and logistics industry. He is a strong supporter of the industry and advocates improving industry safety through risk management procedures, particularly the TruckSafe accreditation program. AEI Transport Insurance Brokers have sponsored the TruckSafe John Kelly Memorial Award since its inception in 2011.
