Waiting to get loaded at Jeremy State Forest, NSW.
We’ll choose a pic to appear in our Facebook cover slot, and will publish some of the best pics in our upcoming print edition of Big Rigs where you now also have a chance to win a $500 Shell Coles Express Gift Card.
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A notorious Toowoomba rail bridge has been struck again with Queensland Rail releasing the footage to remind drivers to check the height of their loads.
CCTV video shot near the North Street crossing shows the prime mover attempting to clear the overpass about 6.25am on Friday, April 4.
One freight train was delayed due to this latest incident, with the truck severely damaged.
Toowoomba’s North Street railway bridge was the first regional site to receive a Structural Monitoring and Alert System in 2023, which captures bridge strikes on camera in real time and can also measure the force of the impact.
The new alert system is supported by signage which clearly shows the clearance of the bridge at this location is 3.5 metres and it’s up to drivers to know the height of their vehicle and take a detour if necessary, said Queensland Rail.
The latest incident follows similar collisions in 2020 and 2021.
In a 12-month period recently, there were 386 rail bridge and protection beam strikes across the Queensland Rail network.
Drivers who damage rail infrastructure can be fined from $1290 and four demerit points, to a $12,904 penalty if the matter goes to court.
Queensland Rail is asking drivers to avoid all that cost, danger and embarrassment by knowing your height, planning your route and obeying the road rules.
Queensland Rail said rail bridge strikes should immediately be reported using the telephone number on the identification plate fixed to the bridge or by calling Emergency Network Control on 1800 079 303.
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High school students and other job seekers from across South East Queensland get the chance to explore career opportunities available in the automotive industry at a free Automotive Careers Expo in Brisbane on May 22.
Motor Trades Association of Queensland (MTA Queensland) has partnered with Capricorn to host the event at the Brisbane Showgrounds which gives local students, and others, the chance to connect with trucking businesses, and other sectors, who are offering career pathways.
With rapid advancements in technology and an increasing demand for skilled professionals, the automotive industry is facing a significant skills shortage.
In Capricorn’s State of the Nation Report in 2024, 54 per cent of business owners from the automotive industry surveyed said one of the biggest challenges they faced in running their business was finding good staff (including apprentices).
The report also found owners weren’t just sitting on their hands waiting for someone else to solve the issue with our pipeline of talent.
Thirty-seven per cent said they were either extremely or very likely to take on an apprentice in the future. This makes it even more important to engage the next generation and spark interest in automotive careers.
MTA Queensland CEO Rod Camm stressed the importance of apprenticeships in securing the future of the industry.
“Apprentices are the future business owners and leaders of the automotive sector. Training apprentices is essential for the long-term sustainability of our industry,” Camm said.
With businesses in need of skilled staff, apprenticeships are the way forward.
Capricorn QLD Member Director and Board Chair Mark Rowe echoed these sentiments, noting that the expo is a great way to introduce young people to the diversity of roles in the industry.
“As an auto-electrician, I know firsthand how important it is to expose the next generation to the career opportunities in the automotive sector. Events like this are crucial to our industry’s growth and the continued success of our workforce.”
The Brisbane expo follows a series of highly successful events across Queensland, including in Bundaberg, Cairns, Hervey Bay, Mackay, Rockhampton, Roma, Sunshine Coast, and Townsville, where, collectively, over 700 students and their families had the opportunity to explore automotive careers.
Many participants from these events have already taken their first steps toward careers in the industry, securing work experience placements and apprenticeship opportunities through connections made at the expos.
Representatives from various Australian Apprenticeship Support Networks and Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) will be available to provide guidance on Vocational Education and Training (VET) pathways.
The expo is open to all local high school students, job seekers, parents, guardians, and automotive employers. RSVP is required here.
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The current truck driver shortage in nothing new – nor is it something exclusive to Australia. For a number of years now, in countries all around the world, transport operators are struggling to get bums in seats.
As more and more older truck drivers leave the industry due to retirement or a range of other factors, there’s been a constant struggle with trying to attract young people into the role.
A recent global survey conducted by IRU in Geneva examined the truck driver shortage crisis in countries around the world.
They released the Global Truck Driver Shortage Report 2024, on March 24, 2025.
It studied truck driver shortages in 36 countries and found that in those locations, 3.6 million positions remain unfilled – a similar figure to what was reported in the previous year’s results.
Worryingly, Australia ranks as having one of the oldest truck driver workforces. The countries found to have very high percentages of older drivers, aged over 55 include Spain at 50 per cent, Australia at 47 per cent, and Italy at 45 per cent.
In line with overall labour force participation rates for this age group, the percentage of truck drivers who are over 55 has increased by 1.6 per cent in the past year. The average truck driver age globally has gone up to 44.5.
Over the next five years, the report forecasts that 3.4 million truck drivers will retire in the countries studied.
That means that in Australia, 21 per cent of current drivers will have retired by 2029. In China it is 18 per cent; and across Europe is 17 per cent.
IRU says that for Australia and several European countries, notably Germany, Italy, Slovakia and Spain, the widening structural gap between younger and older drivers is particularly acute.
Across the 36 countries studied, young drivers under 25 make up just 6.5 per cent of the total truck driver workforce.
“The truck driver shortage crisis continues to deepen with, most alarmingly, an ever-widening chasm between young and older drivers,” said IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto.
“Without concerted and continuing action, this demographic timebomb will explode, seriously impacting economic growth and competitiveness across the globe.”
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Is it a truck? Is it a plane? Turns out it’s both.
This is certainly not something you see every day – but earlier this week an RAAF Classic Hornet jet was among three large pieces of equipment that made their way through Canberra.
The RAAF F/A-18F Classic Hornet was bound for Anzac Hall at the Australian War Memorial in Campbell, Canberra.
The Australian War Memorial is currently undertaking its largest relocation of military technology to date, with plans for these objects to be on display by 2026.
Along with the RAAF Classic Hornet, a C-130 Hercules and Bushmaster have also made their way from the Australian War Memorial’s Mitchell warehouse to Anzac Hall.
The Hornet was the first of these large objects to hit the road, travelling on Monday night, March 31.
This Hornet, A21-022, retired in 2020 after over 6000 flying hours. The Australian War Memorial revealed it was the first RAAF fighter jet to drop bombs in combat since the Korean War, taking part in patrol and combat missions over Iraq and Syria.
Video captured by a member of the public showed the Hornet travelling past the intersection of Hindmarsh Drive and Athlon Drive, at around 11.40pm, under police escort.
The video was posted to Instagram by @jess_lizzy_ and has been shared below with her permission. When she originally shared the video, she told Big Rigs she had no idea it would be seen by so many people.
“My daughter called me on her way home to see if I knew what was blocking the traffic. I was on my ambulance night shift, so when she said there was a truck with a plane on it, we definitely had to check it out as we were close by.”
The huge C130 Hercules was then moved on Tuesday night, and the Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The C-130 Hercules has carried Australians out of crisis zones, flown life-saving aid into disaster-stricken regions, and has returned Australia’s fallen home with dignity.
The sheer size of these moves means there is meticulous planning every step of the way. Helping to ensure things run smoothly is Kassandra Hobbs, Manager, Collection Logistics and Projects at the Australian War Memorial.
She was responsible for the temporary transfer of these large items from the Anzac Hall I 2021 and is now involved in refilling the space.
Kassandra has a background in history and collection management, spending 16 years across various Memorial departments. During that time she’s spent six years mastering the delicate and often perilous process of relocating priceless artefacts.
Ahead of Monday night’s move, she explained, “The Hercules move is going to require two cranes to load onto the truck, specialised mounts, and a detour of 38.1 kilometres – nearly three times the normal distance – due to height restrictions under Canberra’s light rail.
“My job involves a lot of communications and paperwork. We have ACT Police, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, specialised transport teams, aircraft specialists and engineers all working together to make it happen.”
For the Hornet fighter jet, which is wider than the C-130, tree trimming, electrical line adjustments, and road signage removal had to be arranged.
“There’s a lot of maths,” she said. “Each crane has a different reach and weight limit. The engineering studies tell us the pressure on the outriggers, and then we bring in geotechnical experts to make sure the ground can handle it. I always have a tape measure on me – every placement has to be exact.”
Director of the Australian War Memorial, Matt Anderson, added, “With every move, from tiny lucky charms to the C-130, Kassandra ensures that history remains intact and each of her teammates are safe at the end of the day.
“From military aircrafts to the Stone of Remembrance, her work isn’t just about logistics – it’s about preserving the past for future generations.
“Moving into Anzac Hall will be huge piece of work for Kassandra, her team and the whole of the Memorial, but this isn’t about scale – it is about stories.”
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Beaudesert truckie Kris Jennings leaves for his first hay run into flood-stricken Quilpie tomorrow before an even bigger mercy mission a week later, if the roads remain open.
The boss of Jennings Bulk Haulage was finalising gear for his voluntary haul into the hard-hit Quilpie and Adavale regions carrying two decks loaded with 90 bales when Big Rigs called today, relieved to have all the initial impediments behind him for the 1000km trip.
Moved by recent TV news footage of the flood devastation in the state’s south west and desperate to do what he could to help, Jennings had put the call out on social media for hay donations a few days back.
He was swamped with offers but said he was then told by Rural Aid that there wasn’t any demand for the fodder and the Department of Primary Industries said unfumigated hay from outside the region was too much of a fire ant risk.
The state department has engaged Rural Aid, a not-for-profit that supports farmers during natural disasters, to coordinate hay and feed drops for animals that managed to survive the rising water.
When he shared the disappointing news on social media that his offer to help had been knocked back, there was an outcry of support for Jennings that reached all the way up to the Queensland Premier’s office.
“We understand the situation with South West Queensland and fire ants and weeds but any other day of the week if we fill out a hay declaration, hay can go anywhere,” Jennings said in an impassioned video.
“Because two mates want to get together with their own money and other wonderful local Australians and do something good the agency has put us down.
“I don’t know what this country has come to, but if this was anyone overseas they would bend red tape to help people.
“To say they have enough hay out west for these people is bulls–t and I bet if we were a charity this would be OK, but because it’s two local Australian lads it can’t happen.”
A defiant Jennings promised that he was going to make the run without official support, but fortunately it didn’t come to that with the DPI misunderstanding quickly cleared up.
“It is wonderful to see the thousands of shares and it’s pulled some strings and the right people are behind me,” he said.
“To the head at DPI thank you for doing the right thing, reaching out to see me this morning, asking what went wrong, it is much appreciated, thank you for you sending your men out to get the hay inspected and giving me the certificate, it is appreciated.
“To the fire ant people thank you for calling me and saying you will get behind me to make sure there’s no hold up so we can support the people in the bush.
“To the people who’ve reached out to offer money and support it is not needed, I don’t want a cent, send the money out west, ring the local pub ask them who the money can go to.”
Jennings said the proposed follow-up hay run from the end of next week will be “bigger than Ben Hur”, with 10-15 loaded road trains and voluntary drivers ready to help out.
The big-hearted truckie has also put the call out for fridge van and food donations from the respective majors and already got a call from Nolan’s Interstate Transport putting their hand up to help.
“I don’t want to step on any toes. I just want to get out everywhere that’s gone under water and not got power.”
Jennings paid tribute to his staff at Jennings Bulk Haulage for affording him the time to step away the 11-truck fleet and do what he can to help.
“We’ve got beautiful staff. I can step away at any given time and those boys just keep the show going for me.”
Rural Aid CEO John Warlters told ABC News that the organisation hasn’t stopped anyone from delivering fodder.
“That’s not our role, we don’t have the authority to do that,” he said.
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A section of the Cunningham Highway will receive $16.89 million in improvement works including road widening, roadside hazard removal, intersection upgrades and the installation of double barrier line marking.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is delivering the upgrades, which will take place on the Cunningham Highway between Lyndhurst Lane, Warwick and the Milmerran-Inglewood Road intersection in Inglewood.
According to TMR, the upgrades aim to improve safety and reduce the frequency and severity of crashes on this section of the Cunningham Highway.
Works along the 100-kilometre section of the highway will begin this month (April 2025) and are expected to be completed in April 2026.
The project is being delivered by the Queensland Government under the Targeted Road Safety Program.
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Rising Aussie country music star Josie has today released her latest track, called Nothin’ Without Truckin’.
She says her new song pays tribute to the truckies who keep Australia moving. Nothin’ Without Truckin’ is a high-energy celebration of life on the road, featuring big hooks, raw storytelling, and an undeniable passion for the transport industry – inspired by her truckie father Allister.
The Townville-based singer says she wrote the song as a heartfelt salute to the men and women who spend countless hours behind the wheel, ensuring the country’s wheels keep turning.
Josie with her truckie dad Allister. Image: Gavin Bain“Growing up in and around road trains with my dad really solidified my understanding of the importance of truck drivers in not only our country but the world, from a really young age,” says Josie.
The release of Nothin’ Without Truckin’ follows the success of her breakout single Freight Man, which racked up over 5 million views on TikTok.
Produced by Michael Paynter and Michael Delorenzis of the award-winning MSquared, Nothin’ Without Truckin’ is built for truck radios, country pubs, and anyone who knows what it means to hit the highway
From riding shotgun in her dad’s Western Star road train as a kid to sharing stages with country icons like James Johnston, Brad Cox, and Troy Cassar-Daley, Josie has carved out her own lane in Australian country music.
With Nothin’ Without Truckin’, Josie continues to honour the hardworking truck drivers who fuel the nation.
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The Australian government should invest an additional $5 billion over ten years in targeted road upgrades to support high productivity and zero and low tailpipe emission trucks, as well as network resilience – that’s according to the Australian Trucking Association (ATA).
ATA Chair Mark Parry said that supporting the trucking industry to use longer, safer trucks should help to reduce costs for families and businesses.
He made these comments while speaking today (Friday April 4) at the 2025 Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters’ Association (ALRTA) and Livestock, Bulk and Rural Carriers’ Association (LBRCA) conference in Canberra, where he released the ATA’s productivity and carbon emissions policy for the 2025 election.
“We’ve heard a lot in this election campaign about the cost of living,” Parry said.
“Better government policies to improve the trucking industry’s productivity would save a typical Australian household more than $400 per year on their everyday purchases.
“To achieve this, the next Australian Government should invest an extra $5 billion over ten years in targeted road upgrades to link up high productivity and zero tailpipe emission truck networks and to make the road network more resilient.”
Parry spoke of how high productivity trucks, such as 36.5 metre long A-doubles, can go a long way into reducing the cost of moving freight and the amount of fuel used.
“These trucks can only operate on defined networks, and often all that’s stopping their increased use is a single stretch of road, an intersection or an out of date bridge,” he continued.
“The government needs to eliminate these gaps, accompanied by changes to the states’ networks. It also needs to press on with changing the national truck law and introducing a national automated access system to reduce the need for special access permits.
“Later in the campaign, I’ll have more to say about eight critical road projects that need to be funded to boost the industry’s productivity, in addition to these targeted upgrades,” he said.
Parry has also called on the next government to repeal mandatory climate reporting, which is already in force and will apply to businesses with more than 100 employees from mid-2027.
“Climate change is happening. We need to track our emissions – you can’t manage what you can’t measure – but mandatory reporting imposes yet more unnecessary requirements on businesses. There is no reason the bureau of statistics can’t just do a survey,” he said.
Parry said the ATA would also like to see the next government supporting the domestic production of renewable diesel, with the goal that Australia’s diesel supply be five per cent renewable before the end of the 2030s.
“Australia’s trucking industry is diverse. We haul long, heavy loads in remote areas. It is simply not possible to replace diesel trucks for much of our freight task,” he said.
“Renewable diesel can be used in existing diesel engines. We need to produce it domestically to reduce emissions and strengthen Australia’s fuel security.”
To address greenhouse gas and noxious emissions in Australia’s cities, the ATA suggested introducing a voucher scheme covering half the price difference between comparable electric and diesel truck models.
“Battery electric trucks are available now; they are ideal for urban and near urban freight tasks. The next government should make it easier for businesses to buy these trucks by covering half the cost difference,” Parry said.
“Because the vouchers would be handled through truck dealerships, the tens of thousands of small trucking businesses and other small businesses that use trucks would be able to take up this opportunity.”
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After years of lobbying, the Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of Queensland (LRTAQ) is hopeful that road train restrictions may soon be eased.
For over a decade, drivers of type 2 road trains have had to break down their combinations in order to access the Emerald Saleyards – a process LRTAQ says is causing delays of up to three hours and disrupting local communities.
LRTAQ representatives met with Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg and Gregory MP Sean Dillon to discuss improvements.
“Enhanced access will improve safety, operational efficiency, and cost-effectiveness, while reducing heavy vehicle traffic and minimising cross-loading risks,” said LRTAQ.
Truck driver Ken Dillon from Clermont Livestock Transport also took Minister Mickelberg out in his truck to demonstrate accessing the Emerald Saleyards with a type 2 road train – see video below.
“We remain committed to continuing these important discussions to ensure safer, more efficient transport solutions for Queensland’s rural economy. Thank you to all those involved in working toward these essential improvements,” LRTAQ added.
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