Looking for a challenge and an escape from the daily office grind, Tash Hughes decided to ditch the corporate world and try her hand at trucking – and three years on, she hasn’t looked back.
Tash, 33, now travels to some of the most remote locations in the country, with her dog Roger by her side.
Originally from New Zealand, Tash lives in Alice Springs with her partner.
Tash Hughes travels to some of the country’s most remote locations, with her dog Roger by her side. Images: Tash HughesShe’s been working for Stanes Transport since 2022. “I mainly deliver refrigerated goods to remote indigenous stores in Central Australia. We do go as far as South Australia and Western Australia as well. My main runs now are generally day trips, with a weekly overnighter into the APY lands (Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara) in South Australia,” explained Tash.
Her job is definitely not for the faint-hearted. “Most of the runs are rough. The red dirt can get quite badly corrugated, and during summer, when we get much of our rain, these roads can get flooded fairly easily.
“I’ve been on roads where the rain comes so quickly that water is flowing past me as I’m driving, and it just kept getting deeper and deeper.
“Some roads that don’t flood, get slippery. You can’t stop because you’ll never get going again, but the trick is finding a good speed, so you don’t lose control or get stuck. It’s all about reading the road and the conditions – and driving to them.
“All the communities are only accessible by dirt roads, but some of the runs do include bitumen.”
With her current runs, Tash usually tows one or two trailers. She’s hoping to begin pulling triples into WA too though, within the next few months.
Tash’s longest trip away to date saw her on the road for five days. “I did my regular run down into the APY lands and then continued on to Port Augusta to collect a fairly large wheel loader that I brought back to Alice. It was a great experience for me, getting the chance to load and secure the machine to a drop deck as well as driving an oversized load, it was very different to our usual freight.”
Tash lives in Alice Springs and works for Stanes Transport. Image: Tash HughesSurprisingly though, trucking wasn’t always on the cards for Tash. “I have to admit, I didn’t realise I wanted to drive trucks until I began driving trucks!” she said.
“I sort of fell into it really.”
“My partner and I had moved around the country a couple of times and then finally decided Alice was going to be home.”
Originally from a small town called Invercargill in the deep south of New Zealand, Tash moved to Australia in 2013 so her partner could pursue his career as a pilot.
Roger loves it in the truck. Image: Tash HughesAs she explained, “We lived in Perth for a few months, then moved to Coober Pedy in South Australia where he worked on sheep and cattle stations. Then we made the move to Alice Springs in 2016.”
Tash secured her HR licence in 2021, at the age of 30. “The main reason was because my partner and I were heading back to NZ for a few months while we supported an unwell family member. Knowing we were going to have to work to support ourselves, the easiest way to get a well-paying job was to do the one-day HR course which converts to a NZ class 4.”
After spending a few months in New Zealand, Tash returned to her government office job in Alice Springs. As she quickly found, she wanted something more.
Her main work is delivering refrigerated goods to remote indigenous stores in Central Australia. Image: Tash Hughes“Discovering the stacks of paperwork that was left for me to process, I decided to respond to a job advert on Seek. The next morning a reply was sitting in my inbox and as they say, the rest is history!
“Being in the office, I was struggling with all of the office politics and was feeling very unfulfilled. This opportunity at Stanes came along and I really love it.”
When she first joined Stanes, Tash was in a Volvo rigid, gradually working her way up to something bigger. “I’ve just recently been trusted to drive the brand new Kenworth C509, which is an absolute privilege and way better than the other trucks in the fleet,” she laughed. “Well in my opinion anyway.”
Stanes Transport is owned and operated by Mark and Kylie Stanes – and for Tash, the company has been the perfect fit.
“I didn’t know a huge amount about the industry when I came into it. Joining Stanes offered me a great opportunity to progress in the industry. Having staff in the company that supports each other and treats each other with respect, especially with me being a woman and new to the industry, is extremely important and more valuable than they are probably even aware of.”
She was recently given the keys to a brand new Kenworth C509. Image: Tash HughesWhen asked what she loves most about the job, Tash is quick to respond. “Everything!” she said.
“Where do I begin? After working office jobs for years, I love that I’m not inside all day. I have a sense of freedom. I like being in my truck with some good music and my dog Roger.
“I love the team I work with, and the laughs we all have.”
“Every day has its own challenges, and I’m constantly learning. As someone who struggles with being out of my comfort zone, this has well and truly put me out of it, and I really think it has improved my mental health and my confidence too.”
When quizzed on her favourite places to travel, Tash says she looks forward to her fortnightly day run to a Northern Territory Aboriginal community called Hermannsburg, and then onto another community called Haasts Bluff.
“The first time I did this run was one of my favourite moments in the truck,” revealed Tash. “The first drop off was to Hermannsburg, then carrying on west it follows the road passing Gosse Bluff. This road is sealed and quite a popular tourist route, but it’s winding and hilly and very spectacular. Then onto what is known locally as ‘Beer Can Corner’ which links up to the Papunya/ Haasts Bluff Road.
“It’s all dirt and not being the main access road, it often lacks maintenance, but it’s awesome. It has a few river crossings which are soft when dry but with a bit of rain they start flowing and can take months to dry up.
“On the way back it was starting to get dark, just as I pulled onto Namatjira Drive a full moon had risen and shone over Ormiston Pound lighting up the hills. Namatjirra Drive is also hilly and as I was driving past the gaps and gorges, a lightning storm started brewing over Alice so I had a front row seat as I was coming into town too.”
She also does the occasional oversize load too. Image: Tash HughesGiven her small stature, Tash says she’s had to find her own ways of doing certain things. “Being that I am only 5’2” and 50kg, I do struggle with the physical things like changing tyres and lifting bonnets, etc. But I have managed to find techniques that work for me, and although it may take me a little longer, generally I can still manage these things, and I thoroughly believe it shouldn’t discourage others in my position from giving the industry a go.”
By taking a dive out of her comfort zone, Tash has found her calling in a career she can see herself continuing in for many years to come.
Her advice for anyone considering taking a similar path is, “Just give it a go!”
“I’m probably the last person you would expect to find doing this type of job, but I find it rewarding, empowering, at times challenging, but I absolutely love it. Driving in such remote areas means having to think on your feet when things go wrong, having to diagnose and carry out repairs with limited resources,” said Tash.
“I started as a very green HR driver and was able to progress through my HC and onto my MC in a little under two years. I don’t think I would have gained the opportunities or the time in the seat to achieve this in the same timeframe if I was based in a larger city.”
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