Goulburn-based earthmoving and bulk haulage operator Andy Divall has received the prestigious Ted Pickering Memorial Award for his outstanding contribution to the Australian road freight industry.
The co-owner of Goulburn business Divall’s Earthmoving with brother Mick received the honour at the 2022 National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) conference at Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast at the weekend.
“Andy has been an outstanding advocate for the transport industry and an active promoter of truck driving as a career,” said NatRoad chairman Paul Fellows.
“His company, Divall’s Earthmoving, holds ‘come and try’ days for people to get a feel for trucks and earthmoving machinery to sow the seed of them joining the industry.
“Andy speaks at schools and conducts a Women Behind the Wheel program in which his business sponsors female driver training and licensing.
“He also sits on the Convoy for Kids committee, raising money to support children with special needs in our community.”
Andy and his brother Mick started their operation in 1989 with one truck, affectionately known as ‘The Gravel Sniffer’.
In 1991 they consolidated the business, based in the highlands of NSW, with the purchase of their third truck, ‘Cause for Divorce’.
Today, Divall’s employs more than 350 people in transport, civil construction and also in retailing through a sand and soil business.
The company continues to grow, winning major contracts including haulage for the Goulburn Bypass.
The Ted Pickering Memorial Award is awarded each year to an individual for their outstanding contribution to the Australian road transport industry. First awarded in 2012, it is named after one of the founding members of NatRoad, Ted Pickering.
“Andy is a 20-year NatRoad member, and Australian Truck Association board member and a director of Trucksafe,” Fellows said.
“On top of all of this he is a loving and devoted husband to Jodie and father to Jack, Harry, Meg and Zoe.”
Divall’s also celebrated another major win at the NatRoad awards with Jamie-Lee Hayes taking the gong for Excellence in Operational Support.
The NTI-sponsored award recognises an individual with a demonstrated commitment to the road transport industry and outstanding customer service, whose positive approach, enthusiasm towards their job and demonstrated leadership potential, reflects positively on them, their employer and the road transport industry as a whole.
Hayes commenced her employment with Divall’s on March 20, 2017 in the transport administration office and quickly progressed to her current role of senior logistics officer.
She is known for her can-do attitude, commitment for continued learning and personal desire to achieve a high level.
“Jamie-Lee’s commitment to her role has seen her flourish in her pursuits, she’s an inspiration to others and demonstrates the integral role operations staff play in our businesses,” Fellows said.
Daniel Thornton from MG & KJ Boland Transport in Winton, Victoria, is NatRoad’s Professional Driver of the Year.
The Professional Driver of the Year award, again sponsored by NTI, recognises a truck driver whose demonstrated skill, safety record, professional approach and overall performance reflects positively on them, their employer or company and the road transport industry as a whole.
Thornton has been employed by Boland Transport since May 2020. With little interstate experience prior to joining the team, he was on a “very steep and concentrated learning process”.
“Daniel takes the time to work closely with new employees, is always available to offer advice whether it be correct load restraint requirements or making sure they’re aware of their obligations with the ever-changing safety requirements,” Fellows said.
“Daniel has an amazing ‘can do’ attitude, is always smiling and ready to step up and help out when needed.”
[l-r] Warren Clark, Denham Liddicoat, Jamie-Lee Hayes, Daniel Thornton and Mike Edmonds.NatRoad’s Youth Employee of the Year 2022 winner is Denham Liddicoat of GC & GE Liddicoat Transport.
The NTI-sponsored award recognises a young employee (30 years and under) working in any part of the road transport industry, whose positive approach, enthusiasm towards their job and demonstrated leadership potential, reflects positively on them, their employer and the road transport industry as a whole.
Liddicoat, who is from Karratha in Western Australia, has been working as a truck driver for GC & GE Liddicoat for three years, regularly stepping up and running the business when owner Gerard Liddicoat is away.
“He is a very safe and alert driver. Having trained a mechanic he goes out of his way to check company vehicles, making sure minor issues don’t become big problems,” Fellows said.
[signup]
The post Goulburn operator Andy Divall awarded top prize at national conference appeared first on Big Rigs.