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00:00Music
00:23Today on Rides Down Under, Aussie Truckers.
00:26The crew from TCB Trucks head to Alexander Trucking Show for this huge trucking event.
00:32We pay our respects in the memorial to Aussie truckers who have lost their lives.
00:38Don and the boys from Diesel Doctor fabricate the new front bar and lights for Frank's Kenworth C509.
00:46Works continue on the SAR as Don takes a bonnet to Accident Repair Centre MacKinnon,
00:51where we meet master painter and panel beater Lou Zafiro.
00:55Meanwhile, Diesel Doctor fabricators begin work on the brand new firewall.
00:59But first up, Kevin and Dodd head into the CBD to deliver critical precast panels
01:05to the new CFMEU Wellness Centre building.
01:08So we get an inside look at how this crew safely unloads these huge panels.
01:14Music
01:24It's one of those days, you know, where you've got to get going fairly early and get things sorted
01:30just because of the job that we're doing and where they want us and what time they want us on site.
01:35So today's job will be involved taking a panel into Lichester Street into the heart of Melbourne
01:40and the boys there will do their job and what they do.
01:43The panel I've got on is a fairly tall panel.
01:45It's not one out of the ordinary as such, but it's just where it is in the trailer.
01:50It doesn't lay over like it normally would on a walkway trailer.
01:54So it's pretty much standing vertically.
01:56So we'll just check the height of that now, make sure we're all good
01:59and that we make all the clearances for all the tunnels and infrastructure and everything else before we go in.
02:04We'll go from here on to East Link.
02:07From East Link we'll go through the Melbourne Tunnel straight up to Hoddle Street.
02:11We'll veer off at Hoddle Street, go up to Victoria Parade, then take a route up to Rathdown Street
02:17and then turn left into Queensbury and left down into Lichester Street
02:22just before Elizabeth Street in the city.
02:24It's something that's inbuilt into me to make sure that the route that I'm taking
02:28I double check with where I'm going, with all the mapping system that's available to me
02:33and I guess all the information that's practical and required.
02:37We'll be in my normal everyday ride which will be my 200.
02:41That's my usual everyday truck.
02:43We'll get going within the half hour.
02:45That way then that just gives us a little bit of wriggle room and a little bit of breathing space
02:49for a bit of traffic that will start to build, you know, sort of around about that 5.30ish mark anyway.
02:54You know, you want to try and be out of everybody, as much of the peak hour traffic as you can.
03:02Duncan!
03:06Just another one of our comedian truck drivers.
03:08There is a lot happening, I mean, from most days of the week here at TCB.
03:13Anywhere between about 4.30 in the morning onwards it's starting to move
03:19and drivers are in, drivers are out.
03:21You know, they're getting themselves prepped up, ready for what they need to be doing for the day ahead as well.
03:26This morning we're delivering a paddle for the CEMFU Wellness Centre in the city.
03:32We've got the young Kevin here driving a truck this morning, so we're basically all out here this morning to see how this all works in the construction industry.
03:38So we've got stop and go ladies here, we've got all sorts of people this morning, so it's all full on.
03:44So basically you've got the crane operator way up in the sky there and then you've got the doggies down here on ground level.
03:50And basically they hook up the panel, make sure it's all safe and secure, make sure the chain's on right.
03:54And then they communicate with the crane operator to give them all clear.
03:58And once it all clears there, up she goes.
04:00We obviously get trucks delivered, myself or the other two doggies that are on site.
04:04We can rotate who goes here in the street and who goes up top.
04:08But yeah, we've got the crane operator way up in the sky there and then you've got the doggies down here on ground level.
04:12And basically they hook up the panel, make sure it's all safe and secure, make sure the chain's on right.
04:16And then they communicate with the crane operator to give them all clear.
04:20And once it all clears there, up she goes.
04:24We obviously get trucks delivered, myself or the other two doggies that are on site.
04:28We don't know who goes up top.
04:30But yeah, we just unload all the material that comes off the truck and direct the crane where to go.
04:34Speak to him, always in contact with him.
04:36You always got to look at the load, see if it's safe, make sure the chains are in date,
04:41they're good to lift, good for the weight, for the load as well.
04:44Just got to be mindful of things.
04:45No one's allowed to walk under a load, so that's why all the barricades are up.
04:49Or we've got all the traffic set up, so stop the pedestrians and traffic and cars are coming past.
04:56Especially with loads like that.
04:58I love my job, mate.
04:59It's lovely, you know, being around the boys and, you know, coming into work and doing my job and go home safe.
05:03Oh, it's just an exciting gig that we have over here, man.
05:06Just operating the crane, you know, working with a good bunch of fellas here.
05:10Main, you know, communication is through weight radio.
05:13A lot of the times I don't get to see the boys, so I really have to rely on that communication.
05:18So it's a team effort from that point of view because they have to rely all the info that they need from me in order for the crane to do what they need, you know, and requires to do.
05:27So you need to sort of know what you're lifting roughly.
05:30It doesn't have to be exact, but roughly what you're dealing with in weights and all that.
05:34Size as well does matter to know.
05:36Especially when you don't see what you're lifting, you need to know that because it plays a big part when it's on a windy day.
05:42It plays a lot to know what is going on and what you need to do.
05:47To me, it's just another lift, you know.
05:50The only difference is the weight and the size.
05:53I have to be more careful up there in size because of the area being so small.
05:59We need to sort of be careful of when we're slewing and where we're going and all that.
06:04But as in preparing, there's nothing to prepare really.
06:08It's just another lift.
06:09It's just different in size and weight.
06:11I don't know where it goes until the boys tell me where it's going.
06:14Then we sort of look for that.
06:16And then I sort of try my best to give it to them so they can deal with it.
06:20And then once it's in their hands, then they adjust what they need in order to put it exactly where it needs to go.
06:26That's when the boys come into play with guiding the crane, you know, where it needs to go.
06:32And they have to allow for the weight and all that as well to play with the crane.
06:36It is an excellent thing to be part of the union, man, because...
06:39And for as long as I've been in construction, I have been part of the union for that long.
06:43It is an excellent part because they tend to look after all the...
06:49And take care of issues that go on on site.
06:52And all the dealings that we don't really get to do, they do it for us.
06:56So it is a good thing.
06:57So you're sort of getting looked after by them.
07:00So basically the crane's got lifting gear, chains and lifters that go into the panel.
07:04So they're all going to be certified to a certain weight to the panel.
07:07So I think this panel's approximately 11-tonne, 12-tonne panel.
07:10So obviously the gear has to be certified for that, which the doggies know.
07:13They read off the plans and stuff like that.
07:15Because every panel's different.
07:16Some panels are 5-tonne, 10-tonne, 12-tonne.
07:18So they'll do that.
07:20Then make sure it's all secure.
07:22Hook them on.
07:24And go.
07:33Coming up next, we head to Accident Repair Centre McKinnon to see how the work's going on the SAR.
07:39We have some great merchandise here.
07:47In fact, it's trucking good.
07:49See what I did there?
07:50Yeah, it's pretty smart.
07:52We have t-shirts, we have hoodies, we have bar mats, caps.
07:56Special trucks were built over the years.
07:58I noticed that you've also got the Italian-themed one showcasing your heritage.
08:02How cool is that?
08:03I absolutely love it.
08:04Plus, like you said, every size possible.
08:07And I like an oversized hoodie.
08:09And I was lucky enough for Don to actually give me one.
08:12Did I?
08:27The truck we're working on is the SAR.
08:29It's been sitting in the shed for a while.
08:31So I've decided to get off my backside and make it happen a little bit quicker now.
08:34So I've called the team in and we're going to push this along.
08:38So today we're a good friend of mine who's called Lou at Accident Repair Centre McKinnon.
08:41And basically I've given him a bit of a task to fibreglass his bonnet.
08:45And I've got a few different designs I want to do off the bonnet.
08:48I want a nice, smooth look.
08:49So I've come here.
08:51We're going to try to weigh up some ideas.
08:53I've brought my team down as well.
08:55I've got the fibreglass in, the grill, lighting.
08:58So we're just going to go through this process today and hopefully we get a plan because it's
09:03been a while now.
09:04So I've got Lou here and I've got a couple of my employees from Diesel Doctor.
09:08Nicole and Jessie.
09:10And I've also got another guy here called Damo.
09:12He does a lot of fibreglass for me back at my shop.
09:15So we're all going to put our heads together today and come up with a plan.
09:20I love the vision that we have for this truck.
09:23I love the freedom that we've got to sort of work on it.
09:25We definitely need to pull Don in a few times to try and work out what it is that he wants
09:30and pull that out.
09:31But give him the ideas and let him be the one that chooses what the end's going to look like.
09:36So this is the white SAR we stripped down.
09:38So I've got a lot of process on this truck at the moment.
09:41I've got people coming to look at the interior, bonnet, paint work, suspension.
09:46I've got the whole team on at the moment so they're all hands on and hopefully we'll get this thing rolling.
09:51So Don's ideas are great but we've got to make sure that structurally they're going to work
09:55and we're going to be able to put it on the truck and make sure the truck is safe and functional.
09:59So, you know, we'll work together to make sure that his ideas come to fruition but within reason.
10:05So basically I just want to do a couple of things different.
10:08That's what I like to do.
10:10The Kenworth grill has all got all the chrome surround in that and I just want to take all that off.
10:14I just want a nice smooth look and I was going to try to put a one piece grill in it.
10:18I'm not sure what design yet.
10:19That's why we're here today to discuss that and even off the edges a little bit more.
10:24Just make it nice and smooth and we'll see what happens.
10:27So we'll be using nut sets in here to attach the grill to this particular truck.
10:34Obviously the lighting where your Kenworth logo is will be great.
10:38Depending on how we do the grill, we'll have lighting all the way around as well.
10:41But yeah, lighting is what makes these trucks shine.
10:45I just can't wait to get behind the burn and start ticking away.
10:50All my trucks I like to give a name and this truck's going to be called Increase the Pressure.
10:54I think it's doing that already.
10:55It's not even on the road because the blood pressure's right up.
10:58So I think it really suits the name of this truck.
11:05This is a special build for Dom and TCB Transport.
11:09Dom's asked us to paint it up for him and make it all look nice.
11:13We've filled in a lot of the holes that were on there.
11:15The Kenworth badge has been deleted.
11:17All the indicators, side indicators are all gone.
11:20Yeah, just trying to make it a nice, clean, straight looking truck.
11:24Not too busy.
11:25Yeah, the boys are building a custom grill for it.
11:28So we've actually got to design a bit of a difference around the front here.
11:31We're going to snipper all this up and either go straight or curve it.
11:37But not as pronounced as this.
11:38So the grill is sitting nice behind and really highlight it.
11:42The inside, we're actually going to smooth it all out.
11:45Just fibreglass and gel coat.
11:48Nice smooth like it would be on the outside.
11:50And spray all that, the colour of the exterior as well.
11:54Gel coat is fibreglass and the gel coat sits and flows over the glass sheeting.
12:00And just makes it all nice and smooth.
12:03I started my painting career as a truck painter.
12:06Done that for 10 years and then for some reason decided to open a panel shop doing cars.
12:11But yeah, every now and then we do a few trucks.
12:13And we do quite a few classic and hot rods and that.
12:16Have been for many years.
12:19We've been working on the cut out of the firewall just to get a template so that we know once we've got the aluminium in place that we're going to actually have the right fit for the firewall.
12:34The accuracy is imperative to the function of the actual firewall itself.
12:51There is no room for error.
12:53We've got to be millimetre perfect.
12:55So we've got to make sure that we've got everything in place.
12:58The measurements were the first things that we had to get right.
13:01That obviously took a little while.
13:02We created our template and there was a lot of messing around with our template.
13:05Because if we're going to get it wrong, that's where we want to get it wrong.
13:08Once it's on the alley, it's not forgiving.
13:10We need to have that perfect.
13:12So once we got our template, three sheets of alley just in case we got it wrong.
13:16We put our templates onto our alley.
13:18Got it right first time.
13:19But then yeah, put the alley in and we had to make sure that Dom was happy.
13:23Because he did change his mind about three or four times throughout this whole process.
13:27So yeah, we got that right and then yeah, cut the alley and put it up.
13:32It really helps having two of us there because we throw ideas off each other in terms of what would be the best way to get these measurements.
13:46He might miss things, I might miss things.
13:49So it's really good to have two of us there.
13:51The next steps now are to build some boxes to cover all the cables and the air boxes that come out of the firewall.
13:58Then everything will go off to be painted before the true fit happens.
14:10We started working on a few of the boxes that will go to cover some of the cables and the air cables that are coming out of the firewall there.
14:16We're not too sure if we're going to use stainless steel or alley yet, but I've started welding up some of them today just to see what it looks like.
14:28Coming up, there's a brand new Kenworth C509 at Diesel Doctor and the crew are fabricating some bling out the back for this monster.
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16:07So basically we've got a C509 Kenworth here, which is a brand new truck.
16:11We've got a client called Frank Furrier.
16:13He does want this truck overdone, but he just wants little bits and pieces done.
16:17So basically what we're doing here is back bumper, front and rear, their cleaners.
16:23He wants the old school steps on it, which I think is going to look cool.
16:26He's a very old school bloke, this guy.
16:28Making shelving for him for his extra fridges he wants in it and things like that.
16:33I think it's going to be a really cool truck.
16:35This truck's a C509.
16:38It's 130 ton rated.
16:41Good for three and four trailers.
16:43Got the new way suspension in it.
16:45A 56,000 pound back end.
16:48Heavy duty seven ton front axle.
16:50It's not just a stock truck.
16:52A stock truck's come out with a 44,000 pound back end.
16:55Not as heavy duty as this one.
16:57Only good for a 100 ton, 97 ton rating, where this has got a 130 ton rating.
17:03And I can even go higher with this truck in the rating.
17:06The motors are a 620 horsepower C15 Cummins with a 22,000 pound gearbox.
17:13All the power there that you need.
17:21What the diesel doctor's doing on the truck at the moment is putting what we call all the bling.
17:26As in putting the guards on the truck.
17:28Stainless steel guards.
17:30Stainless steel back bumper bar.
17:33Checkered plate on the chassis.
17:35Stainless steel around the back of the sleeper.
17:38Putting different steps on for the fuel tanks.
17:42Putting the waffle steps on rather than the cheese grater blades.
17:46So he's doing all of that.
17:48And also putting the lights on the tanks as well.
17:52Lights on the front of the bull bar.
17:54This has got two red dots on this truck.
17:56One for the sleeper, one for the driver's cabin.
17:59And putting stainless steel mesh in the condensers on the roof.
18:03So yeah, Jesse's doing all the bling on it.
18:07So basically in the shed here, diesel doctor.
18:13I've got Mitch and Nicole on this project.
18:16They're right into it.
18:18So it's getting their hands dirty.
18:20And it's a lot of preparation, believe it or not.
18:22You've got to make the size.
18:23Make sure everything fits nice and tight.
18:25Just make sure all the preparation's right for it.
18:27And then you go for it.
18:29We're working on this amazing C509.
18:32I love it.
18:33It's a big truck.
18:34I love all things big.
18:36And we're putting shiny stuff on it.
18:38Jesse and I do put our heads together to try and work out what's going to look best in terms of the custom fab stuff.
18:44It's all of the little stuff behind the scenes.
18:46So the brackets that hold things up and the wiring that I sort of do most of the work with.
18:51I'm wiring the step trim today.
18:58We've got 17 lights on each side on the step trim.
19:01So they will definitely provide a little bit of glow on the side.
19:05So lots of amber coming, glowing out the side, which is what you want for a big, beautiful truck like this.
19:12A big truck needs lots of lights.
19:14And then we've got another 10 or so lights on the air tank, another five lights on the mirror.
19:18So it's just going to be lit up on the sides, which I love.
19:21Dad was an electrician, so wiring is something I've done before.
19:25It's fiddly.
19:26There's definitely a process and you can't miss any steps.
19:28So your dad would have been proud of me.
19:38Having two heads on the jobs and both very passionate about what we do and working with steel and making sure the job's done properly.
19:44And a lot of the finishes people don't notice, but we notice.
19:48And I think we sort of play off each other in terms of what's the better way to do things and which way is going to look better.
19:55And it's a bit of a competition as well.
19:57I've known Don for a long time because my son works with Hickory's Engineering and concrete panels.
20:04Don does a lot of work for them.
20:06And my son spoke to Don and said, look, my dad's buying a truck.
20:10Are you interested in doing it up?
20:12Don said, look, if your dad wants to bring the truck up, we can do it up for him.
20:15And my son said, Dad, why don't you take the truck up to Donny's?
20:18He'll do a good job and look after you.
20:20And I said, all right, well, I'll do that.
20:22And that's why the truck's here now.
20:23So I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product.
20:26Once we get it finished, well, then I'll work out what I'm going to do with it.
20:29I've got no work for it at the moment, but I don't doubt for one minute after the years
20:33I've been in road transport that I won't find work for it.
20:36If this is my last truck, I'm buying this one to go into retirement.
20:40And if I can't get work for it, I'm not particularly worried.
20:43I'll just use it to take it around and go and have coffee with it every morning.
20:58It's a next level.
20:59Yeah, compared to what you would buy a truck out of the factory, like when it comes out
21:03of the Kenworth factory standard, this has been taken to the next level.
21:07There's a lot of other trucks, not only this one.
21:10Owner drivers buy the truck and then they take them along and bring them up to the next level
21:15of trucking with the bling and everything they put on them.
21:32Next up, we head back to the CFMEU and check out their new wellness centre.
21:38Not to mention, we catch up with the legendary John Sector.
21:49Hi, I'm Colin.
21:50If you're looking for tyres, mechanical service, or just general advice,
21:53come on down to Moonee Pines Tyres.
21:55We offer a full range of servicing from tyres to brakes to all sorts of general mechanical repairs.
22:00Every vehicle will get an inspection to make sure the vehicle is safe.
22:03In terms of tyres, we do a large range of tyres from the smallest lawnmower tyre
22:07right the way up to the largest earthmover tyre.
22:10We do wheel alignments, we do batteries.
22:12Any time you need any tyres, just come and see us.
22:15So we've got a $30 million wellness centre being built next door.
22:31And in that wellness centre, there's going to be an indigenous cultural sensitive centre there.
22:35There's going to be a women's support centre there.
22:37There's also going to be a gym there that's been designed by the professionals.
22:41So you can work out in it, but it's also for rehab.
22:44So what will happen is as a CFMEU member, if you get injured on site,
22:48they have this return to work policy.
22:50And sometimes the doctors just give you,
22:52here, go to some gym and do these exercises and your shoulder will get better.
22:56Well, you're going to be able to come to the CFMEU wellness centre.
22:59You're trained there and you might have 10 sessions there.
23:01Learn how to do it properly, how to get your shoulder back to 100%.
23:04And then once you've done that, you can then go to the gym closer to home and do it.
23:08So that's received new members and it's absolutely for free
23:11and they don't have to pay anything.
23:12So it's their centre, it's for them.
23:14And that's why it's been built.
23:17My role here is to make sure that everybody goes home at the end of the day,
23:21everything's done safely and to create workplace harmony.
23:26So all the boys and girls get along and we make sure that the builders follow the rules
23:30and do everything correctly.
23:31On a smaller project like this, we just work together with Capital
23:35and we just try and get everything to come in
23:37and make sure that they follow the correct sequence
23:40so we get it all done safely.
23:41It's a difficult job because of the size of it.
23:44It's very challenging, but Capital and TCB
23:47and everybody's working together and it's been great.
23:50Basically, the girls will get a list in the morning of what's coming in
23:56and they will then tell the dogman.
23:59Sometimes they don't always come when they're supposed to,
24:01so that's when it becomes quite difficult.
24:03So then we have to work it around.
24:05Sometimes we have to swap the trucks around.
24:07And my role basically is to make sure that everything's getting done correctly
24:11and everybody knows what's happening.
24:18So we're just watching the pedestrians and we're making sure that everyone's safe,
24:22being the workers and all the traffic around here.
24:24We're getting big trucks in that have a lot of loads for the crane,
24:27so ensuring that all the traffic's stopped around it.
24:30Obviously, the worst possible outcome would be something dropping,
24:35so we're just ensuring that the pedestrians are stopped
24:38and everyone's safe while the load is getting done.
24:41It's really dangerous being in traffic. It's very high risk.
24:44There are a lot of drivers that are now being distracted by their phones
24:47or anything else like that, so you just need to keep an eye out
24:50and be really alert, so not touching your phone or just standing around.
24:54You've got to be really alert of what's going on around you.
24:57It can get quite fatiguing, especially if you're doing long hours.
25:00Like, a lot of the people in the industry do do a lot of overtime
25:04and they're mostly just trying to get the job done,
25:06so it's very important to manage your fatigue
25:10and just stay active, stay hydrated
25:12and prepare yourself for a long, busy day
25:15because it's most likely going to happen.
25:18You get all the gear, so, like, all the raincoats and everything else
25:21for when it is really bad weather.
25:23Obviously, being with CFMEU, they really take care of us,
25:26so when it does rain, they want everyone out of the rain and work stops.
25:30So, it's good when it's sunny, but it can get really cold
25:33and even the wind can be really crazy sometimes.
25:36The industry is very welcoming and, like I said, encouraging to women
25:40joining the industry if that's something that they're interested in.
25:43So, I think that it's amazing.
25:46I've met so many incredible women that are now in the industry
25:49and it's really great to be a part of.
25:51Also, all the guys are very level with how everyone is going to be treated
25:56and is respected, so it's beautiful.
25:59Being a member of the CFMEU is great.
26:01They obviously look after us a lot
26:03and their main priority is taking care of their workers
26:06and ensuring that everyone has an amazing working environment, really.
26:11So, this will be a fantastic space.
26:16This will save lives.
26:18It's a new training and wellness centre for the CFMEU
26:21with a fantastic women's space, an indigenous cultural centre,
26:25and there'll be a state-of-the-art gymnasium,
26:28a big rehabilitation centre for workers returning to work after an injury.
26:32There'll be a number of the non-high-risk training will come here
26:36from Sabre Drive in Port Melbourne
26:38and a number of event spaces
26:40and a lot of really good mental health initiatives is what we need.
26:44I've been a CFMEU shop steward for 25-plus years
26:48and I just love being a trade unionist
26:51and the CFMEU now is a buzz in. It's growing.
26:54There's been a 15% growth across Australia with unionism
26:58and, to me, it's an honour and privilege to work here
27:01under the likes of Johnny Setko and Derek Christopher and Elias
27:05and all the executives.
27:07Robbie Graumans, who's the president,
27:09and Joey Miles and Mick.
27:11We've got a fantastic executive team
27:13and a great bunch of young organisers
27:16and the union is just growing
27:18and, to me, I just love working here.
27:31Coming up next, the TCB crew paid their respects
27:39at the Alexandra Trucking Memorial.
27:45So, Pacemaker is traditionally known as Pacemaker Headers
27:54and, as a company, we are an exhaust manufacturer.
27:57It has its origins in the 1970s.
27:59As a company, we're bordering on the 50-year category now
28:02and we've got our origins in our product range
28:04that we still make today.
28:06Our exhaust systems are all made from 409-grade stainless steel.
28:09It's a 1.5mm wall thick, all fabricated and built here in Australia.
28:14Pacemaker have developed advanced technologies in our mufflers and our cats.
28:19We have a very special high-flow cat setup
28:21and Pacemaker also use long-strand fibreglass in our mufflers
28:24and double-skinned walls as well.
28:26There's a gain in both performance and economy.
28:28Economy is picked up because the engine is not having to work as hard
28:31as what it once was before to remove the exhaust gases from the engine,
28:34but, obviously, by doing so, that frees up the engine
28:37and allows the performance to improve.
28:38Each vehicle's different, but, you know, across the board,
28:40a set of headers can generally pick you up, you know,
28:42around a 10% gain and it can vary depending on what you do from there.
28:46All reputable exhaust shops and the mechanical workshops
28:50and performance shops stock Pacemaker products
28:52and you can get yours there.
29:01Today we're at Alexandra Truck Show.
29:03So the first day here we're at the Memorial Park
29:06for the past drivers that are no longer with us.
29:09So since 2013 we've been running a memorial service here in Alex
29:13and back then a memorial wall was built here
29:15and it's the Victorian Truck Drivers Memorial
29:18and during that time we've placed the names of 200 truck drivers
29:22that have lost their lives on the memorial
29:24and each year at this time we gather with families
29:27and remember those people that have lost their lives.
29:30Look, it's incredibly sad, but the purpose of the service
29:33is to bring people together.
29:34Families get to meet and they get to permanently remember
29:38their loved ones through a plaque on the walk.
29:40Yes, obviously every driver's got his own story
29:43and this is a beautiful place to remember them.
29:46I wish you all well.
29:48Today the 200th name has been added to the memorial sadly.
29:53So as a volunteer, and it is often concerning
29:56when people don't realise that we are volunteers,
29:58but yes we are volunteers, we train very hard
30:01and regularly, weekly to respond to road crash rescue
30:05and locally the SES at Alexandra.
30:08In the Murrindindy Shire we have three SES units
30:11and they all respond to road crash rescue
30:14and the CFA and YA respond to road crash rescues.
30:18Pager goes off, we have to be out the door in eight minutes.
30:20We respond directly to the scene.
30:23On the way we might get more information that we find out
30:27whether we need additional resources from other units of a road crash
30:33can be very traumatic.
30:35It can resemble a disaster zone.
30:37There could be multiple vehicles involved.
30:39There could be multiple people trapped
30:41or it could even be casualties.
30:44So we have to deal with that along with the other emergency service,
30:48police, fire, CFA and ambulance.
30:52And we work together as one and get the job done.
30:55So I'm here today because my dad was involved
30:57within the transport industry for 50 years
30:59and he passed away last year.
31:02So we've just come here today to give him some recognition.
31:06So my dad was a truck driver, owner driver for 57 years.
31:10He covered the concrete sleepers on behalf of V-Line,
31:13John Holland and Metro trains for 23 of those years.
31:16So he was an old school truckie.
31:19He lived and breathed trucks.
31:20He wasn't out and about in his truck.
31:23He was either working on it or washing it.
31:26It was his bread and butter and also his livelihood.
31:29It's important for my family to have my dad's name up on the wall
31:33because I think he was so dedicated to the transport industry
31:36that he deserves it.
31:38I've also got a company within the transport industry.
31:41So it's ingrained within our family and my uncles
31:44and a lot of our family have been brought up within the industry.
31:48I think he would be very proud.
31:50I run a company in his honour.
31:52So he's left a legacy and his name will be remembered for some time yet.
31:57So I just ran into Lyndall.
31:58I heard her do a nice speech about female trucking.
32:01So I just want to know a bit of history.
32:03I know you're an MC driver, drive road trains
32:06and you've got a big passion of women trucking in the industry.
32:09That's right, Don.
32:10Yeah, I was invited here today
32:13to talk at the Victorian Truck Drivers Memorial
32:17and it's been a really, really lovely day
32:20listening to the stories of the drivers from their families.
32:23You know, sad day as well.
32:25Day to come together and honour them.
32:26But it's a good day to come together, isn't it?
32:28It is a good day
32:29and it's a wonderful thing that they're doing here.
32:31So cups of tea and country scones happening at the moment.
32:35I'm the team leader for Grief Work Uniting
32:39and we support families after a work-related fatality.
32:42So we got our first truck referral in 2006.
32:46In 2012 we had 28 families from the trucking industry from fatalities.
32:52So as a result of that, I approached Alexander Truck Rod and Ute Show
32:57to see whether we could do a memorial service on the Saturday.
33:01And when we did that, 350 people came.
33:05So the Alexander Truck Rod and Ute Show built the wall for us.
33:10And since then we've provided support to the families
33:14who have names on the wall.
33:17We did a lot of work with WorkSafe Victoria
33:20to convince them that they needed to include truck fatalities
33:24in their work death list because they weren't listed.
33:28And these are mobile workplaces.
33:30So we believe that those drivers are in mobile workplaces
33:34and if they die on the job then they're work-related
33:37and so they should be counted in the statistics.
33:39And as a result of that, WorkSafe fund our Grief Work,
33:43they can contact Grief Work Uniting.
33:53Tomorrow, she's all show and shine for all the big banger trucks
33:57that are going to come out.
33:58Let's go.
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34:52So we're here today with Dave Larson, a good friend of mine.
35:05We've known each other for many years now.
35:07Dave, tell us about where we are and what you're doing here.
35:11With the Alexander Truck Show, it's my 16th year of sponsoring.
35:15I reckon 16th.
35:16Yeah, and love it, mate.
35:18Gravest show, I think, in Australia.
35:19Greatest people in Australia.
35:20We come every year.
35:21I think it's great.
35:22You know, we've been supporting it previously in another group that I work for
35:26and now with my own business for the last 11 years.
35:28So it's a great spot.
35:29So Dave, you're a major sponsor here, correct?
35:31We are a major sponsor, yeah.
35:32Have done for a long time.
35:33And what about your other business?
35:36So I own a company called Larson's Truck Sales,
35:38which I run with my sons and my daughter.
35:41Been going now 11 years since we sell trucks and it's been a great job.
35:45Great job for the kids.
35:46They're all involved and it's good.
35:48So tell us.
35:49Right behind my shoulder here.
35:51What have you got?
35:52Smoke in the bandit, eh?
35:53Yeah.
35:54Iconic truck.
35:55Absolutely iconic truck.
35:56And I built it about 12 years ago.
35:58Had to sell it during a great divorce and I was lucky enough to buy it back.
36:02Beautiful.
36:03So I think it's a very iconic truck.
36:05Everyone knows it.
36:06Trans Am to go with it.
36:07I think it's just an awesome thing.
36:08I think it's going to be a great turnout today.
36:10It's going to be great.
36:11They're talking 15,000 people.
36:12Wow.
36:13They're 350 plus trucks.
36:15Your first year here?
36:16My first year, yes.
36:17Yeah.
36:18So it's a great turnout.
36:19Trucks go for about two miles that way and about half a mile that way.
36:22Like it's just amazing.
36:23So we're here with the legend, John Kelly.
36:35No one needs to pump his tyres up because he'll do it himself.
36:38But he's got his own TV show.
36:40Explain that.
36:41Oh, Don.
36:42I suppose back from my trucking days we did a series called Mega Truckers which showcased
36:48I suppose my transport operation and what we did there.
36:51Beautiful.
36:52We did some cool stuff and then we just recently done a new series called Aussie Truck Rehab.
36:56So we're, you know, rising from the ashes, these old trucks and building them up and
37:01having a bit of fun.
37:02That's what I love.
37:03Mate, just hot rodding some trucks for life.
37:05Yeah.
37:06So I've got my own TV shows, you know, as well.
37:09But you see my gear, it's old, but I love doing them up.
37:11I love just doing new designs and just bringing them back up to life.
37:15This industry is all about passion.
37:17It's about heritage, you know, and it's about involving the community.
37:21Exactly.
37:22I just found another friend of mine, Ben Richards, from the Hellam Truck Centre.
37:37How you going, mate?
37:38Good, Don.
37:39Hey, mate.
37:40Good, thank you.
37:41Tell us about your involvement here.
37:42So we're one of the major sponsors, Hellam Truck Centre.
37:46So we bring up a few of our trucks.
37:48We've got Kenworth, we've got DAF.
37:50And then we also bring up a bit of merchandise to sell to the public.
37:54Yeah, it's a good event.
37:55We've been up here, what, 15 years running.
37:57So, yeah, it's fantastic.
37:59This is my first year here, so it's all new to me, but look outside there.
38:04Plenty of people around.
38:05Trucks everywhere.
38:06Wherever you go, there's just trucks, trucks, trucks.
38:09So it's the great thing about this industry is everyone gets around these events, support
38:13the country town.
38:14We're here at 5.30 in the morning setting up.
38:17You know, we've supported Don, TCB.
38:20We've done business with Don's family.
38:22It's been a good relationship for two decades now.
38:27So, basically, I always put Benny under pressure.
38:30I want parts.
38:31I want them yesterday.
38:32He doesn't.
38:34The under pressure is definitely a call.
38:37Don't worry.
38:38That all comes with a cost.
38:40It does.
38:47I'm here with Pat this morning at Pearlcraft, as we can see behind us.
38:55If you have a look at my trucks, you'll see I use Pat's wheels and gear knobs.
39:00Brilliant.
39:01Just make that spark in the truck, don't they?
39:03Yeah, it gives that interior, like we like to call it, the icing on the cake, the finishing touch.
39:08Yeah, it's beautiful.
39:09Just explain a bit about your business, how you started.
39:11Yeah, so, well, Pearlcraft actually started back in the 40s.
39:14Wow.
39:15We've had owners in nearly 80 years.
39:17We bought the business about 10 years ago.
39:19Built it up to what it is today, yeah.
39:21So, did a lot of marketing and got back into the truck scene.
39:23I love your work.
39:24Thank you, yeah, yeah.
39:25So, you're basically in the trucks, but you also do for hot rods?
39:28Hot rods, cars, yeah.
39:29So, back in the day, it started with the trucks.
39:31And in the 70s, it moved more into the cars.
39:34And now it's a good mixture of both cars and hot rods and trucks.
39:38Yeah.
39:39I can't explain how good these look inside the trucks.
39:41I can't explain it.
39:42We're the only ones that do it in this legitimate pearl.
39:46It's a pearl resin.
39:47It's not painted.
39:48It's actually a pearl resin that encapsulates the wheel or the shifter, yeah.
39:51So, Trucking Life has obviously been a magazine around since 1976, but was dropped by its owner in 2017.
40:15So, On The Road Media picked that publication up and reintroduced that in August last year.
40:22So, we've been around with that for 12 months now.
40:24On The Road Media also owns On The Road Radio, which is a live radio channel.
40:30So, we broadcast live for a couple of shows a week, as well as a 24-hour, 24-7 radio station.
40:38Yeah.
40:39And we've recently purchased a semi-trailer, which will be known for us as Steering the Future.
40:45So, it's a program designed to educate and inspire the next generation of drivers.
40:51So, we'll be taking that around to schools, truck shows and things like that.
40:56You know, we're grassroots of the industry.
40:58So, we all still do drive trucks.
41:02My role has changed a little bit at the moment.
41:04So, we all still drive trucks.
41:06We all come from an ownership background as well.
41:10So, we're very passionate about the industry.
41:12So, we're driven to improve and to keep it sustainable.
41:17We're preaching to the converted in here, but we need to get this message outside this box.
41:22And so, that's how we're planning to get around to schools and things like that.
41:31So, here at Alexandra this morning, it's a great show.
41:3527 years into Alexandra.
41:37Fantastic show.
41:38They wanted to bring something new to a community during the long weekend.
41:42And they nailed it with the truck, ute and rod show, the wood chop and everything else.
41:46So, it's been great for us.
41:49We love it here.
41:50There's a lot of good following here for what we've done and where we are in the trucking world.
41:55And I think being in the middle of winter, I think it is in the middle of winter snow season,
41:59it's not a bad time of year for me to come over from the west.
42:02So, I'm part owner in trucking life.
42:05I guess my role is, I don't know where we fit in there.
42:08We've had to sort of, I've had to learn how to write 1200 words.
42:13And I never wrote 1200 words when I was at school in 94.
42:16Now, I've had to go back and write 1200 words.
42:18So, I guess everything I've done up until now in the trucking world and where we've been
42:23and where we've caught up to, it's sort of led me into trucking life.
42:26And I've had trucking life since 81.
42:28So, I'm a big fan of the magazine and what it is.
42:32And I love the trucking life.
42:34So, the feedback with trucking life has been fantastic.
42:37You know, people grew up with trucking life on the wall.
42:41They grew up with posters in their shed.
42:43They grew up with posters in their workplace and in their bedrooms.
42:47So, the feedback has been really, really positive.
42:49But, I guess in a digital world, in a digital age, people want to see a magazine in their hand
42:55and they want to feel it and they want to think you can do it.
42:57What does the future look like?
42:58Well, I'll give about 20 high fives out there to kids coming up.
43:02We've had photos with young men and women.
43:05Very, you know, sort of 14, 15, 16, 18 year olds.
43:08So, I think the future looks good.
43:10I think, you know, I think companies like us will steer the future.
43:15I've really enjoyed mentoring.
43:18And then, so now we've got a program that we want to educate and inspire the next generation
43:22and lead into steering the future.
43:34Next time on Rides Down Under, Aussie Truckers.
43:37It's another early morning for Don and the crew as they take another wide load delivery.
43:42The TCB Big Rigs hit the road from Berwick Fabrications in Dandenong to Toorak.
43:48Jesse and the crew at Diesel Doctor are busy building the engine for the SAR project.
43:53Don heads to the CFNEU Education and Training Centre to take a look at the world-class training facilities.
44:01The TCB crew head to the Victorian Drag Boat Club Championships for a big day on the water.
44:08All that and more on Rides Down Under, Aussie Truckers.
44:12Our crew stays at Quality Hotel Robertson Gardens, Brisbane.
44:16This program is produced by Fuzzy Media.
44:29with the NCB Company and 72 years from the San Francisco,
44:31which is, this program can only be the CRO.
44:32The NCB, flying in Dandenong for a large company where the T wine is atiyo,
44:33that is with the CRO.
44:34The PRX and Association of themitate P Grey have been safe and has been safe.
44:35This program is called CRO.
44:36This program is called CRO.
44:37This program is called CRO.
44:38This program's called CRO.
44:39The ACAD amps and CRO.
44:40is the CRO.
44:41This program is called CRO.
44:42It's called CRO.
44:43The ACAD mass training is a CRO.
44:44The ACAD mass training.
44:45This program is called CRO.
44:47And the ACAD speak with CRO.
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