NatRoad’s Professional Driver of the Year 2024 has said you’ve got to “do your homework” if you want to stay safe on the roads.
James Ellison from Ditton Bulk Haulage, who won the prestigious award last week, has been a truckie for 12 years without a single incident.
At the awards, he was praised for his impeccable safety record, and he told Big Rigs that it’s all the “one percent things” that make all the difference.
“Especially if you’re in a road train or B-double, you’ve got to help yourself out,” he said.
“If you get a load and you’ve never been there before, you do the one per cent – that’s making a phone call, introducing yourself, checking what time they are open until.
“You make sure you know what sort of weight you’re carrying, what load restraints you need, what PPE you need.
“Use the tools available to you – go on Google Earth and have a look at the map, zoom in on the entrance and exit. Forward planning is a must.”
Ellison, who drives interstate and carts everything from tanks to ammonium nitrate, said he sees someone doing something stupid on the road every single day.
“It doesn’t matter where you are in Australia – the problem is, everyone’s in a rush these days.
“Truck drivers are the most patient drivers on the road, not because we want to be but because we have to be, because we’re driving killing machines.
“We need to operate with courtesy and care.
“We’ve all got to make a mile, but at the end of the day, it’s not worth dying or killing someone for. It’s just freight.”
Ellison said it all comes back to licensing and training.
“There’s been a lot of talk about licencing, especially around MC licencing and potentially splitting that class up.
“There are plenty of companies that will just get someone straight through to their MC with hardly any experience, put them in a B-double and away they go.
“I think that needs to change.”
He also thinks car drivers need more education around how to share the road with trucks.
“They don’t understand how long it takes us to get up to speed and to drop speed, and they’ll try to sneak up the inside of you when you’re turning.
“You’ve got to be so aware of your environment all the time.”
Despite the challenges facing drivers today, James still loves trucking.
“I love trucks, but it’s not just about that,” he said. “I love the whole scene. I love the freedom.
“Every day is a new challenge, and it provides a good income for my family.”
He encourages other drivers to try to stay positive when they go about their day.
“It’s about putting on your boots every morning with a good attitude.
“You can have a shit day but if you can turn up with a smile on your face and make someone else’s day a bit better, they’re going to remember you.
“It’s about building those relationships with the people that you deliver to and for.”
He shared some advice for young truckies getting into the industry.
“I was very lucky that I had some great mentors and I was given the opportunity to try some really nice gear when I was coming up.
“Young fellas coming up need to grab the old boys and ask them questions, and listen. There’s so much knowledge out there.
“If someone’s willing to show you something, don’t think you know it all, because some silly looking old bugger might teach you something that’s the best thing you’ve ever been taught.”
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