Copy Southbound Podcast

Part 3 of the Series with Steve Shearer from the South Australian Road Transport Association and Sharon Middleton from Whiteline Transport.

Part 2 of the series with Steve Shearer from the South Australian Road Transport Association (SARTA) and Sharon Middleton from Whiteline Transport where we discuss Sham Contracting.

Thorpdale is synonymous with potato cartage and the Durkin name is right amongst it. With Michael Durkin kicking off the transport business on the family farm, he was known for some pretty flash gear for the era. His son Kelly now heads the trucking side with a full family affair making this business tick along nicely. A few of Bruce's favourite trucks reside in the fleet so it's a wonder he's not still down there!

In Part 1 of the series with Steve Shearer - SARTA and Sharon Middleton - Whiteline Transport we discuss the current fuel crisis facing the Australian Trucking Industry.

The Missing Link Podcast pulls back the curtain on what really happens when things go wrong in the heavy vehicle industry, from incident investigations and prosecutions through to the compliance gaps that cause them. As part of the Copy Southbound platform, this series connects real-world experiences with practical insights to help operators, leaders and drivers better understand their obligations and avoid becoming the next case study.

One of the nicest things about doing Copy Southbound is the terrific people we meet who share our passion for our transport industry. Bruce had the opportunity to sit with Norm and Nola Bransgrove, something they'd bee trying to organise for some time and discovered the most genuine people and family network that anyone could hope for. Through plenty of ups and a family tragedy, this loving couple managed to survive by having an absolute love for each other and for what they do. Needless to say, Bruce was touched by the entire family, their attention to detail, their lobbying for a better industry and their views on life.

Bruce has known Wayne for many years through the vintage truck scene, admiring Wayne's stunning and well-travelled needle nosed Kenworth that frequents events everywhere. Wayne has had a long career in the trucking industry and has piloted some unique machines over the years. At the recent ATHS show in Maffra, Chappo suggested Bruce and Wayne have a quick chat on the podcast so 5 odd hours later it was over! A hilarious interview with a definite character

The Overend name is legendary in the East Gippsland area of Victoria so it was fitting that Bruce was finally able to catch up with Chris 'Squeeker' Overend. Squeeker is well known in transport circles due to his family heritage along with his ownership of one of three iconic Australian produced V12 W Model Kenworth's. To capture the story of Overend Transport along with Squeeker's exploits throughout the years was something we've been waiting for and we are sure you'll enjoy it as much as we have

Whenever we talk about favourite colour schemes, Bruce never shuts up about Elliott's of Tumut so it was only fitting that he finally made it down there for an interview. Bruce sat with Grant Elliott, son of the founder and currently CEO of this proud country operation. Grant's dad created the amazing striping design and Bruce had him on a pedestal until he found out he was colour blind! This is a great interview with a super nice person in our industry with an amazing passion and eye for detail.

SYDNEY TRUCKFEST

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They say that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and that applies to two of the nicest people we know. We thought that Geoff Cootes was a terrific bloke and then we met his brother Paul - they obviously came from great stock. Paul made his own way in the transport industry and like his famous father Ian, worked in the dangerous goods area but in bottled gas, expanding at a very young age before selling out in an outstanding fashion. He loves trucks, loves attention to detail and is an incredibly proud Cootes family member and one of those people you meet and feel like you've known him forever.

Everyone has a story and Leigh Hudson is no exception. Following an early start into a career as a driver, Leigh progressed to owning his own truck before a dream became reality with the launch of his Iconic Replicas brand, something that has taken off amongst all collectors. Leroy has managed to overcome the odds and developed an honest miniature reproduction of some of our favourite model Kenworths, all while retaining his image as one hell of a nice guy.

Copy Southbound has been trying to get an interview with Lindsay Fox for some time and although it hasn't happened as yet, the next best thing was a chat with Lindsay's long term, right hand man Mick Best. Apart from discussing his history in the transport industry, Bruce also had quite a serious discussion with Mick on the future of the road transport, training and the dreaded compliance rules that we currently face. Mick is widely known throughout trucking circles and we appreciated his time out of his busy schedule.

Bruce's long term mate Melissa Van Look has been Graeme's neighbour for many years and after hearing his stories from the days gone, she lined up a fantastic interview with him to share his past. The Hovey name is well known and was a permanent fixture in the Geelong area with their stunning red, white and black trucks in a timeless colour scheme. We'd like to thank Mel and Crispy for pulling this together.

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Gerry Hicks' outstanding W Model Kenworth cemented his status amongst truck enthusiasts many years ago however, there's far more to him than having an iconic truck. A meticulous operator, Gerry built a very successful business based on morals, ethics and trust along with relying on some old school, heartfelt handshake agreements that are seldom seen today. We have become great friends with Gerry over the years and were thrilled to finally get the time to sit and record his history.

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The stunning fleet of Goz Dawson's are a fixture on our roads and stand out in their varying green and white livery. Bruce got the chance to sit with a very humbled Goz at his home recently and discovered a man who has a passion for the industry, love of trucks and gratitude toward his life choices that have led to his success. Moreso, his pride on the popularity of his Dolly's Dream combination has had an everlasting impact on his conscience that drives him to give back to the community that has supported him. What a great man, enjoy this like we did.

We first met Johnno Johnson at the Kenworth Klassic when he travelled down from Dalby just over 12 months ago. Apart from being a lovely bloke, we were taken with his beautiful factory Gold Nugget SAR still sporting its 2-Stroke Detroit power. Bruce finally got up to Dalby and sat with Johnno to record his history and check out his past with trucks, trials and tribulations. Humble people like Johnno make Copy Southbound what it is and the passion he still has for the industry is what keeps it alive.

Our good mate Paul Biagini lined up this interview with an initially reluctant Andy Soutar and we couldn't be happier. Men like this were legendary on our highways but when you speak with them, they're humble and were simply "Just doing their job". Andy was very well known as an owner operator in his striking black and silver Movin-On styled Kenworth's along with his mandatory pipe hanging from the corner of his mouth. And along with his late wife and soulmate Nadia, he stepped into the box as a spokesman for the industry trying to get better terms and conditions for his mates out there on the road. We can't thank Paul enough for making this happen.

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Bruce ran into John Hamilton from Minlaton, South Australia while on a trip to Adelaide and heard all about his old man Bill. We were able to get back across there a few months later and caught up with Bill for a great chat about his early days doing it tough in some fairly primitive gear. At the release of this episode, Bill will be climbing into a new T610 which will see his time out behind the wheel but what a great career. You guys will enjoy this character and the family tradition will live on for years to come as you'll find out.

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We first met Iain Cann through our mate, Mick Cefai, owner of the legendary "K Whopper" Kenworth. When Mick got it home, he found out that Iain was the original owner of the truck having bought it from Kenworth Lansvale following its stint on the show circuit. Iain has had an amazing career and the more we spoke with him, the more we realised he had a terrific story for you all. We are sure you'll enjoy this.

Evans son Tyson reached out and asked us to call by for a chat with his very humble father Evan. After beginnings as a driver for various companies, Evan branched out on his own and started a local carrying company in gorgeous country town of Beechworth in northern Victoria. He grew the business carefully, branching into different areas while raising his children single handedly and is legendary in the area as a quiet, humble, hardworking and honest personality of the industry.

This is our last installment of our visit to the Mid America Trucking Show and it's an absolute ripper. We sat down with Mike Gaffin aka The Boston Trucker has an enormous following and an amazing YouTube channel that you'll all love.

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We were also able to score a quick chat with Toby Young, the man behind MATS whose Grandfather started the show back in 1971. Toby was so accommodating at such a busy time in the middle of the show and this was a great way to finish off our MATS journey.

It's funny how some names automatically register and Freestones Transport is one of those. With his beautiful Kenworth's and Peterbilt's running the East Coast of Australia, this passionate enthusiast ensured a clean, reliable and professional operation that is still running today. Plenty of listeners have requested that we interview Paul and it took a while to get the timing right. And being a lover of all things American, he and Bruce had plenty to discuss.

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Kel Baxter started his career as a farmer but soon purchased a couple of trucks to deliver the farms produce. He soon recognised an opportunity to provide transport services for other businesses in the Riverina, Murray and Murrumbidgee areas of New South Wales. From his beginnings into transport in 1990, the company has grown, now dealing with local storage and handling centre's operating the ports and feed mills throughout the eastern States of Australia. A regular at industry body conferences, Kel has been vocal in improving conditions and regulation across our transport industry.

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Another installment from our trip to the Mid-America Trucking Show MATS 2025 and we caught up with a couple of great guys, Charles Justice (CJ & John McIntyre from Revolution Energy Services. Two down to earth guys who love the trucking industry and are great advocates for all things trucking.

We were also able to sit down with some great people from Radio Nemo. Dave Nemo has been the voice of trucking radio through more changes than you'd believe – through AM radio, satellite ratio, and now digital streaming. And through all the changes, he's managed to keep professional drivers of the US awake, alert and hopefully, alive.

Jimmy Mac is a native New Orleanian who has visited 49 states and called 4 of them home. Having worked in law enforcement, education, contracting, and the entertainment industry, he is now proud to be a member of the Radio Nemo family.

Lindsay Lawler is a singer, songwriter, radio host, and Nashville-based entrepreneur. She spent many years as the national spokesperson of the Highway Angel program in the trucking industry, and her song "Highway Angel'' has become an anthem for truck drivers everywhere. She founded the Highway Angel Truckstop Tour and performed free concerts for truckers at truck stops across the country. Last year she released the song "I'm Okay" which People Magazine highlighted in a personal interview with Lindsay, and in addition to countless singles including a duet with 80's star Tiffany.

From humble beginnings as a landscaper on Sydney's Northern Beaches, Pat used his business sense to begin supplying products around the area and eventually became a household name around the country. His passion for all things mechanical has been absorbed into his business and his green and gold colour scheme and logo has been one of the best marketing themes ever. He is an incredibly busy man and we thank him for taking the time out of his schedule for a brief talk on how he became the self-made success story that he is today.

In this next installment from the Mid-America Trucking Show, we sit down with Raiko Graveran who has one of the most amazing stories you will ever hear. We also sit down with Twins, Carl & Peter Caporal who kept us entertained with their passion for the industry, their banter and amazingly positive attitudes.

We met Garth through our mate Mike Minogue and they've been mates for many years. Garth has been around, driven all types of vehicles and is still doing it with an undeniable love for the old days, fast trucks, hot rods and horses, hence the nickname Cowboy. It was great to hear his story and we are sure you'll enjoy it as well.

We met Mick through our great mate Mike 'HOSS' Minogue and he was more than happy to come on and tell his story. He believes that if people don't tell these stories there will be no history left. He has a great story to tell including his days at CJ Dean and we know you'll enjoy it as much as we did.

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Dwayne & Janelle Nienberg have one hell of a story and are two of the nicest people we have ever met. It was a pleasure getting to know them both.

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You'd have to be driving with your eyes closed not to notice a sea of red and white up and down the east coast of Australia. Starting back in the 50's by Tom and Peter Lindsay, Lindsay Brothers had a permanent presence on our highways up until they became Lindsay Australia in 2002. This interview is with Peter Lindsay's daughter Tracey who is heavily invested in keeping the memory of her father and uncle alive by organising reunions for the old drivers and recognising them for who they are – heroes of the highways. A great chat with an enthusiastic advocate for the way it used to be.

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We did many recordings at the Mid America Truck Show and amongst them was the delightful Miss Flatbed Red and her 'Lost in the 70's' husband Chris Budke. These two live and breath historic trucking and a lot of you will already know Red from her YouTube interviews, that she has been conducting with ATHS Members for quite a few years – they are an incredible couple and we are indebted to the help that they gave us while over there. You'll love their story and undeniable passion.

Peter Baldwin was mentioned many times in Rob Woolley's podcast and Rob was instrumental in ensuring that Bruce captured Peter at his home in Renmark to hear this amazing mans story. Working for some legendary companies in outback Australia, Peter made a name for himself as both a driver and a Manager for companies enduring our harshest travel conditions. Pete's now retired but his recollection of those days were fantastic and a steep learning curve in each one resulted in knowledge and resilience that only experience can create.

The Cleveland Mack Munchers have been iconic amongst the trucking community for many years with Frank Lenzi at the helm for over 45 years. His recent passing led to the closing of the company which was met with tributes flowing for the well respected icon. A number of enthusiasts purchased examples of the old Cleveland fleet including Jarred Sacca, a heavy haulage operator from Mackay in Queensland. Jarred pulled as many strings as he could to get this podcast together with two ex-Cleveland employees, Lance and Arthur, to share some extremely funny memories of their times peddling the Mack Munchers across the Nullarbor.

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Bruce has often mentioned his long term mate David Kent who we lost to cancer at the end of 2023. Dave and Deidre Kent were the proprietors of Spencer Gulf Coaches in Port Pirie and a recent catch up with their son, Jared and Dave's best mate, David Walsh, allowed Bruce to sit with them both and reminisce about the awfully talented Dave and the impact he made on not only the bus and coach community but also the historic truck restoration community. Often described as a mechanical genius, Dave was known for his no bullshit approach and hard work ethic that infected all around him, his teaching skills and his never ending help to his mates along with his contributions to both the National Road Transport Hall of Fame and more recently, The Stories of the Road Museum where his legacy will remain for many years to come.

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Nuriootpa Traders was a family owned and operated business for over 40 years and over this time grew to become the largest local transport company operating exclusively between the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Adelaide areas. The company was sold to new owners in 2018 and continues to operate in the same capacity however, we managed to catch up with Kym Roocke, son of founders Jim and Denise Roocke, to get the first part of this fantastic story and it's humble beginnings.

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The stunning Kuchel fleet has graced our roads for many years and was enough to have Bruce approach Jacob to ask him to sit down and tell the story of their long history in transport. Along with the trucking side, the company has also developed a reputation for producing some fine restorations out of their Barossa Valley workshops. The company was founded by Maxwell Kuchel over 50 years ago and is a true family business with all members working in the operation and is in its third generation of extremely talented owners.

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Sharon and Bob Middleton are extremely well known in the transport industry, not only for their striking black, white and red fleet, but also for their constant battle to improve the industry, with tireless efforts lobbying for better conditions, treatment and acceptance from the authorities, and the general public. This discussion with them goes back to their grass roots, but also visits the recent legal battle that they faced, following a terrible accident involving one of their vehicles. There is a lot to learn from this podcast, as the hell that they faced over the past few years could have happened to any one of us. Bruce and I are truly grateful to Sharon for sharing this incident with all of us, with the hope that it will help others out there.

Following the interview with Keith Anderson in Toowoomba, his son David contacted us with a lead to Peter Zimm who had a strong affiliation with Leader Trucks after marrying into the family. The Leader story is exceptional in regard to ingenuity, resilience and trying to compete with big business in a small Australian market. Peter owns an incredibly rare Leader and like all enthusiasts, has researched and collaborated to ensure that the detail of these unique trucks is there for all of us to remember.

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We have to be honest, having a chat with Jon was something we debated for a long time however, one thing we hate at Copy Southbound is trial by social media so, after many recommendations from people we highly regard in the industry we approached Jon for an all out discussion about his life, his rise and fall, his life after HHA and of course, his passion for trucks in general. He wears his heart on his sleeve and we came away with a new mate as his passion and attention to detail is something to admire. We hope you enjoy this as much as we did.

Glenn Nightingale operated out of the Wollongong area with his stunning light blue fleet of American trucks. Like everyone, he started tough and eventually was able to build up a strong clientele with reliability and service his key factors. After many years of operation, Glenn was approached to sell the company and now lives a quiet life in Ipswich where he met with Bruce to share his story.

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A chance meeting on a road trip led Bruce to sit and record Greg and his story as an owner operator. Following a yarn at a caravan park, he agreed to share his life story as a simple, one-truck owner, battling away like so many others. Greg started his career back in a hard era of road transport and built his business with some strong customers and some strong trucks.

Bruce topped off his Southern adventure by catching up with Stephen O'Hare in Romsey, Victoria. For those guys out there older than me – Bruce's age – the legend of Tyrone Malon's Super Boss, Bruce McDonald's Detroit Devil and Terry O'Hare's Waltzing Matilda are Legendary. Stephen is Terry's son and has recently written a book on the famous jet truck which also captures the history of Re Car and Terry's incredible entrepreneurial brilliance in a way that had Bruce totally star struck.

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Damien Smith contacted us just before heading on our Southern trip and requested we interview his Uncle Mick following a bout of illness. It was meant to be as the plan was to travel straight through Heathcote so we were able to record these awesome members of a diehard trucking family. Bruce was amazed at his surroundings as he was picked up in a 1943 Ford Jailbar and taken to Mick's parents house that was over 100 years old to sit and record Micks golden era trucking history with Damien by his side.

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After working for a couple of well known and respected transport operators, Alina Hawkins met her future husband Kane and started a transition into livestock cartage and road train driving. The two of them ran two-up for quite a few years before expanding the company and running a number of trucks which saw Alina expertly piloting one following her expert tuition. In 2016 she received the LRTAV Outstanding Industry Contribution Award and her ability to research, consult and communicate to rural trucking and Government following years of industry experience resulted in her appointment as COO of the LRTAV. An amazing asset to road transport and a very insightful podcast.

Copy Southbound has opened doors that we never imagined, but by far, the greatest gift has been the amazing people we've come to connect with. One amazing man was Barry Grimson, who became a great mate to Bruce and I, and as we soon discovered, was admired by all who knew him. His passing last week following a long battle with cancer cut deep and as tributes flowed across social media, the values and pride Sleepy had in the transport industry resonated with every heartfelt comment.

As a small tribute to Barry, we decided to go back and have another listen to the interview that was recorded back in 2021.

This special episode of Copy Southbound is dedicated to mateship, pride, dedication, survival and honour, all attributes that Sleepy fought for to keep the industry alive as he knew it. Rest easy Good Buddy and thank you for making what we do so worthwhile, we'll miss you.

After fearing we'd be banned after Episode Number 1, we are bold enough to poke the bear yet again by bringing Bernie Learson back for Round 2!! In all seriousness, Bernie swallowed his pride and took a risk for us and we couldn't think of a better way to celebrate 100 episodes than listening to him for another few hours to see what the last 4 years have held for him. It's hard to put into words just how humbled we are with the continual messages of praise, wisdom, suggestions and admiration for Copy Southbound. On behalf of Bruce, and myself, thank you to all of our listeners, sponsors, BANGERZ Members, interviewees and partners in being part of our community. And a special thanks to Meg Becker and our ever loving families for encouraging and believing in us.

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Paul and Jenny Fellows reside in Deniliquin where they own and operate Fellows Bulk Transport. Not only are these two as genuine as they come, they have also made some amazing contributions to the transport industry and the community in regards to safety, education and promotion of road transport. Along with that, Paul is also the Chair of Natroad, Chair of Trucksafe and recipient of the John Kelly Memorial Award and was also Mayor of Edward River Council. And Jenny recently won the coveted Trucking Industry Woman of the Year. Above and beyond is an understatement.

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Continuing on Bruce's Riveria trip, he caught up with Bernie Hayllar from Narrandera to get the story of long term company Hayllar Transport. A fair dinkum transport operation, Hayllar's were well known in country NSW as well as up to Darwin where they operated road trains for many years. Bernie took the company over from his father following a unique sidestep out of the family business working in truck sales where he delivered some iconic mid 80's show stoppers before returning to run this iconic operation where he still is to this day. Some great history here.

Bruce has been great mates with Dave Willis of Mangoplah for many years and often comments on his amazing knowledge of all things Mack in Australia. The chance to interview Dave ended up even better than expected when his father Matt and brother Andy joined the interview for a great insight into their family history. It's obvious that Dave had no hope in his upbringing after hearing how Matt and Andy brainwashed him but he's used it for eternal good in his knowledge of some of our early transport history.

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We are fortunate to have an overwhelming band of supporters and followers with Copy Southbound but none fly the flag for us quite like Mike Minogue of Coolamon near Wagga in NSW. Like so many, Mike has a story that stems back to his childhood where a physical setback didn't stop him from pursuing his dream. He drove for many years and we are fortunate to call him a friend of the podcast and a true mate of ours. You're an inspiration Mike and a true Cowboy of the Transport Industry, sincerely in its truest form.

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We've always loved the Muscat fleet of Kenworth's with Bruce regularly boring me with the same old details of each of the 900 Legend's – once is enough mate, I get it! Anyway, he asked the boys how they felt about an interview and although incredibly humble, they agreed, and with their Dad Tony in the background correcting the conversation from time to time, they told the story of their mentors and inspirations behind one of the most elegant fleets gracing the Eastern Seaboard. This was also the start of an eight day road trip into the Riverina and then country Victoria where we captured some terrific stories to share over the next few months.

We've always loved the Muscat fleet of Kenworth's with Bruce regularly boring me with the same old details of each of the 900 Legend's – once is enough mate, I get it! Anyway, he asked the boys how they felt about an interview and although incredibly humble, they agreed, and with their Dad Tony in the background correcting the conversation from time to time, they told the story of their mentors and inspirations behind one of the most elegant fleets gracing the Eastern Seaboard. This was also the start of an eight day road trip into the Riverina and then country Victoria where we captured some terrific stories to share over the next few months.

We attempted to interview Dennis over a year ago thanks to a recommendation from our mate Glenn Reedman. Unfortunately, Dennis took ill in the middle of recording and it's taken this long to finally get back there and capture this unique person's story. From driving trucks to rolling them over (on purpose), this very dry and humorous bloke still had us laughing as he recounted how he stumbled into the film industry and ended up as an icon to all who know him.

Following many years as a driver and then a long stint in Management, Les Tucker teamed up with Colin Walters to form Success Freightlines in Geelong. They operated Australia wide before his retirement and Les was kind enough to sit with us to discuss his history and career that spanned over 6 decades. We must thank Adam 'Lefty' Hotchin for his introduction to Les along with his incredible photo history that helped pull this story together.

Bruce has been mates with Rob Woolley for close to 30 years and refers to him as a "font of knowledge" due to his unmistakeable eye for detail with all things transport related. He's been waiting for a long time to corner Rob for a podcast and finally the starts aligned and they managed to sit for a marathon effort and record the history of S.C Woolley Haulage. Bruce definitely retains a lot of information on transport but credits Rob with filling in the blanks.

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Every now and then we are contacted by someone with a story that is so moving that we act on it as soon as we can. This was one of those phone calls. Brett Harder owns a neat transport fleet on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia and called Bruce to share his story. A passionate truck enthusiast which is obvious by the quality and presentation of his fleet yet this is about his early signs and sudden diagnosis of a terminal illness. We always say that life is short but it's easy to get complacent, so Brett's willingness to share his current situation was embraced to remind us how lucky we are. Please note that there are some sound issues again as Brett was a bit quiet at times but this doesn't overshadow this remarkable man. Thankyou Brett, it was an absolute pleasure.

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Doyley is a man known by many following well over 50 years behind the wheel. We got out to Trangie to finally interview Doyley and hear of his love of trucks, the industry and what it is that keeps him going as a driver in his mid-80's. He was part of the legendary Grey Ghost crew and a good mate of Gary Darlington who recently passed away. We'd like to thank Graham for his hospitality, honesty and relentless sense of humour.

Any truck enthusiast will be familiar with the legendary Freds of Shepparton fleet that grace our highways. With some customised and very individual designs, I think that most people would be proud to steer one. But with our recent catch up with Danny Borg, son of founder Fred Borg, we learnt about the non-traditional start to the company and a foundation that has ensured that Freds will be here to stay for a long time yet.

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Bruce has known Brian Taylor through historic truck runs for many years and finally got to Yerong Creek in the NSW Riverina District to record the family history. Brian was joined by his father Geoff as the two of them recalled the early days of Taylor Brothers Transport and the trials that are faced by operators on a daily basis. Brian is still peddling up and down the highway and when he's not reliving the early days in his original, unrestored, one family owned Cummins powered International and McGrath trailer.

Pattens Transport had humble beginnings in 1938 as the family moved into trucking following a career in farming. The company steadily grew thanks to the local cannery along with a contract with Ricegrowers which lasted for almost 50 years. This resulted in the end of the transport business but in their wake the Patten family left a legacy in the Leeton district that will remain for many years to come. Bruce caught up with Jack and his son Steve in Leeton to record the history of this well-known transport company.

With many changes in transport we figured it was time to approach the NHVR for another interview and they happily obliged. Bruce and I see a lot of things happen in the industry and get asked many questions. The ramping up of things such as Enforceable Undertakings, Supervisory Intervention Orders and Prosecutions had us wanting to clear up a few stigmas surrounding them all. We were joined by outgoing Director of Prosecutions Belinda Hughes along with recently appointed Director of Investigations Emma Watson to discuss various ways in which companies could prepare themselves in the event of an incident.

After Murray contacted Bruce about some Kenworth Klassic information, a lengthy discussion resulted in him being invited onto the show. Murray has had an extensive career in road transport including being a company driver, Coach Captain and then owner driver. What appealed to us was the humble nature of this passionate truckie especially his selfless dedication to assist people struggling with life in our industry. It was our absolute pleasure to record this and share it with you all.

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Bruce had a chance meeting with Evan Jones while recording up around the Toowoomba area and was so taken with his humour, memory and knowledge of the industry that he approached him for an interview before heading back to Sydney. Evan is now a publican in a little town called Nobby, between Warwick and Toowoomba. Evan kept saying to Bruce "I know you from somewhere" and true to his word, Bruce remembered him once he saw his truck. Hopeless. Evan has been around and shared some great stories of trucks, transport and the fact that even in his mid-70's, he can't get away from them and is still running a 904 Kenworth incase he's wanted for that "odd job". What a terrific way for us to finish our road trip in the area.

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Ben was part of our compliance team in Sydney and he's been mentioned on the podcast plenty of times. Now residing back in Oakey out of Toowoomba, Ben looks after the compliance and training for Mort & Co and is an extremely talented operator. But his beginnings stem back to early days as a driver as he worked his way through the field. We have a lot of time for Ben as we learnt to respect his knowledge after the couple of years he worked with us and we truly miss his openness and sense of humour. He also has a natural ability to be as blunt as a ball pein hammer and has a dickhead meter more sensitive than mine and Bruce's combined. Brace yourselves................

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We were lucky enough to meet some great people at Casino Truck Show last year and amongst them was Barry and Maree Sjerp, a truly delightful couple from Limestone Ridges, South of Ipswich. We learnt of Barry's introduction to trucks as well as his childhood, being raised without a father after his beloved Dad was taken in a truck accident when Barry was only three years old. His tribute to his family and love of trucks saw Bruce reach out to Barry who graciously parked up his new A-double to sit and relay the story of his family and his father and his passion for transport, something that is evident in his stunning new 909. Thanks Barry for this heartwarming interview.

After conversing with Paul Biagini over social media for some time, Bruce realised how similar they were with their love of trucks, cars, writing. He approached Paul to tell the story and was invited up to Paul's place in Mulgowie in the high country south of Gatton in Queensland. With a childhood around trucks and a strong history as an owner operator, Paul openly discussed his highs and lows in trucking, love of cars and music, historic trucks and life in journalism. We know you'll love this raw interview of Paul's life.

Our first interview for 2024 sees Bruce interview recently retired Greg Williamson who spoke about his career in the livestock game that stemmed back to the late 50's. Driving an array of trucks – including Bruce's beloved Commer's – Greg became a long time operator of the Mercedes Benz brand and ran a small fleet of them for many years. He ended up driving for Mort & Co in Toowoomba and told a terrific story. We hope you enjoy this.

The Wickham fleet is well known on our roads and Graham Keogh has been on our radar since Copy Southbound's inception to sit with and hear the story. We finally managed to create a time and were not disappointed. The operation in Warwick is a standout with state of the art facilities, servicing and equipment that identifies them as leaders in their field. Yet, the humble beginnings of the company to their current status was met with as many trials and tribulations as the next person and the result is admirable to say the least.

Jim and Helen Savage sat with Bruce on his recent trip up the New England to capture some of our industries standout operators. After working as independent livestock haulers for some years, Jim and Helen formed Stockmaster, a name well known in Tamworth and surrounding areas. They were both instrumental in improvements and safety standards in transport and initiated a number of firsts in their area of expertise. We must thank Ian Pendered for nominating this amazing couple to share their story.

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This bloke needs little to no introduction due to his enormous popularity following his stint on the Outback Truckers program, a show that takes Australian trucking to the rest of the world.

Glenn Kendall, affectionately known as Yogi, is a larger than life character who was shoved into the limelight via the show and gained a following due to his humor and infectious personality.

Even though he is a single truck owner operator, he dedicates as much of his time as he can to support events and spread the word about the positives in our beloved industry.

We've had Gary's name on our list of people we've wanted to interview for the past three years and finally, the opportunity presented itself and it was worth the wait. From paper trucks to one of the earliest Grey Ghost drivers, Darlo made a name for himself driving these legendary machines for a few fast years before becoming Linehaul Manager for TNT and then branching out on his own. He's also the subject of one of the coolest photos of a Grey Ghost, leaning up against the bulbar like he'd just conquered a road race and even that well known photo has a cracking story behind it. We are indebted to Gary and his family for this interview.

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In this episode, Bruce sits with Glen Lewis who recently gained some recognition after driving his pristine T950 around Australia to celebrate his 60th birthday. A trucking tragic from an early age, Glen has dabbled in transport through the years and is a huge advocate for charity work and helping a mate. Also, He's been a massive fan of Copy Southbound since we started so we thought we would help him celebrate his birthday in style by asking him to tell his story.

Patty Morris has been a mate of Bruces for many years and shares his love for trucks, transport and history. He's widely known amongst the historic truck movement for his great collection of old trucks and tractors and, like Bruce, enjoys a yarn as you'll find out. Kick back as we hear about his introduction to transport, life on the road and ambition to restore as many pieces of history as possible before his time's up in a very entertaining interview as both of these blokes battle to draw a breath while talking.

On a recent trip to Western Australia, Bruce had the pleasure of catching up with Dennis Thorburn to discuss his career in the heavy haulage industry. Well known throughout the industry as Darkie, Dennis made a name for himself doing what they do best in the west, hauling some mammoth loads with some impressive equipment through some of our toughest country. He even featured in Truckin' Life back in the day as they recorded one of his epic trips inland. We're extremely grateful to Darkie for sharing his story.

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Tony Savage was a neighbour of Bruce's and he still recalls Tony's brand new LNT 9000 Louisville parked on his front lawn sporting Kingston colours as a young Tony embarked on a career in heavy haulage. Recently retired, Bruce caught up with Tony, someone he's admired for many years, and sat to discuss his life in transport.

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We were invited to speak with the amazing Keith Anderson in Toowoomba to hear the incredible life story of this 99 year olds association with the iconic Western Transport. It was well worth the trip as Keith is as sharp as a tac and his recollection of his years working with them was something to behold. We'd like to thank David Anderson for making this happen as we consider the opportunity to speak with his father celebrating his 100th year to be an absolute honour. Enjoy this piece of transport history.

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Bruce has often mentioned his luck in being invited to the States to drive historic trucks for the Klenske family and on his recent trip across, took the time to sit with Dalton Trucking's Josh, son of owner Terry Klenske. A similar history to any transport company in Australia with highs and lows, good luck and good management and with a collection of old vehicles that has Bruce needing a cold shower.

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As the long term Executive Officer of the South Australian Road Transport Association (SARTA), Steve Shearer has been instrumental in his support of the Transport Industry and lobbying Government for change. Steve is one of the few people who front the media as a spokesperson for all Road Transport issues and we could all take a leaf out of his book to back the industry that the majority of us still love, live and breathe.

With SARTA's upcoming annual conference being held next Saturday, 19th August, we decided to pull forward this great interview with Steve to coincide with the event. We're sure you'll enjoy this as much as we did.

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A recent trip to the USA saw Bruce sit down with his mate and idol Paul Cox. Bruce has been in awe of Paul's perfect Kenworth Aerodyne for years and both Paul and his truck were a huge influence when he restored his cabover. Bruce has been around restoration for many years so when he refers to Paul's Aerodyne as 'one of the worlds best vehicle restorations' it really must be something special. And this humble Englishman living in California is just as unique as his truck.

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Alan Ross has been around for many years and with the help of family, friends and loyal staff, has built a transport company and solid reputation for service and reliability. With a current fleet exceeding 60 vehicles, Alan has dedicated himself to giving back and supports charity events and personal needs of many like many on the South Coast. And, he's hilarious! Bruce was in stitches listening to Al's take on life and predictions of the future. It's a raw, open and honest discussion – and loud!!!

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Nev Storey started in transport as a young bloke following in his Dads footsteps at East Coast Transport and then Intermodal. Another one of Bruce's restoration mates – yes, he has a few – Nev has focussed on not only running a successful company but also restoring some of our countries most unique vehicles. He is also known as being one of our most generous and helpful operators with a reputation most would envy. We are sure you'll enjoy this one.

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Bruce originally met Alby Twyford on the first Haulin' the Hume and was in awe of his beautifully restored and period correct trucks. Alby has been an owner operator for many years as well as an avid restorer and his attention to even the smallest details makes his collection of vehicles stand alone as pure time warps. This interview was fitting for Alby as he had just retired the week before and is now free to concentrate on bringing the past back to life.

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The South Coast and Hayes Haulage go hand in hand following a few generations of the Hayes family keeping the legend alive. With some big equipment for the day and some unique ones at that, a reputation for rebuilding vehicles the old way and improvising with whatever was available at the time, Hayes Haulage has been a common sight down the East Coast of Australia with a history that had Bruce in his element.

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From humble beginnings to a successful transport operation, Camsons started out like many other companies, but the qualities instilled by Chris Sultana, founder and head of the company, have remained true to his legacy. Bruce has often mentioned this highly regarded, family owned organisation and you'll hear why, as he records their fantastic history.

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PK was born and bred in New Zealand before heading to Australia only to be lured into the Golden Era of interstate driving, and what a career, driving for some of our iconic fast trucking organisations.

This is a cracker of an interview.

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There aren't too many transport companies who can lay claim to being 100 years strong but Pittman's Transport is one of them. This proud, family owned organisation is in it's fifth generation and has one of the most incredible photo histories that we have ever seen. Innovative, resourceful and a clever business sense has been the survival methods instilled into the company from the very beginning. We're sure you'll enjoy the story of this amazing company.

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Bruce & Brendon decided that it was time to share their knowledge and experience following close to 10 years working in compliance. It's a minefield really, but with a bit of direction, we hope that this discussion may help some of you. Please understand that this information is from our experience as Auditors, Trainers and Incident Investigations that we've been involved with and it's something that all employees of transport companies can be exposed to.

It is not legal advice, but purely a guide that we hope you benefit from and an acknowledgement to the many queries we've had, both online and in messages.

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Glenn Dawson is one of those naturally talented blokes who can turn his hand to near anything automotive and does it with perfection. A long term close mate of Bruce's, we finally convinced him to come onto Copy Southbound to share his experiences in a raw and at times, emotional interview discussing the highs and lows of his career. I know for a fact that Bruce is indebted to Glenn for life following the countless hours that he spent helping Bruce get his prized cabover finished and anyone who can put up with Bruce's ridiculous attention to detail must be something special.

Well what can we say about Crackers? Gordon was raised by one of the legends of the older generation, Harold McCracken, a fastidious and well known operator who made his name with his B Model Mack 'Ramblin Rose' and his traditional Cortina hubcaps. The detail on this first truck set a precedent for Gordon who, as a self-taught pinstriper, began to line and scroll everything in the house that had a hard surface. We're sure you'll a kick out of his history, love of trucks and absolutely hilarious sense of humour.

Bruce has waited for some time to interview Bryan Webb and finally got the chance to sit and learn all about his career in trucks. After a stint out west followed by a few years as an owner operator, he took a job with the legendary McIntyres of Goulburn before biting the bullet again and finishing his career with his own. Bruce has always talked about Webby so we really hope you enjoy his story.

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Some people go through life leaving a massive impact and Lindsay King is one of those people. From an early start as a motor mechanic, Lindsay moved into express freight before getting a managerial role with the Overnighters in his late 20's. His innovative ideas helped develop the legendary Batmobiles into transport folklore before he moved onto Vawdrey Trailers where he left a legacy in trailer design that will remain for years to come. We take our hat off to him and we know you will to.

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In this episode, Bruce sits with Greg Pierpoint for an in depth discussion about Greg's upbringing and history in transport. It's obvious in this that Greg is as pedantic as Bruce as he goes into detail about his trials and tribulations with trucks, highs and lows and, when all seemed lost, reinventing himself and getting back on his feet following a very difficult illness. This Bloke is a goer and his love of both cars and trucks is evident in this great podcast. We hope you enjoy hearing his story.

We went for a bit of a different format in this episode as we did our recordings at the Dane Ballinger Memorial Truck Show held in Bathurst last November. Formerly the Bathurst Truck Show, this awesome event was the brainchild of Dane and his mate Dean Campbell and has always been a fantastic event. Dane's tragic passing in 2019 hit the industry hard, especially the tight knit group of enthusiasts who got behind this show and the renaming of it to remember Dane was a fitting tribute to his impeccable presentation and popularity. So we have a few interviews for you from the show, a couple that carry messages of hope and encouragement with their unique stories.

Part 1 - Dennis Jones

Part 2 - Greg Sly

Part 3 - Phil Campbell

Burke's Transport of Bathurst recently shut their doors after 40 years of operation, one of a number of long term family companies to close over the past 12 months. Bruce sits with founder Graeme to discuss the early days and growth of this well-known business along with reasons behind the tough decision to call it a day.....

KENWORTH - Kenworth Australia

Gilbert & Roach Huntingwood, Isuzu, Kenworth, DAF Trucks For Sale Sydney | Gilbert & Roach Huntingwood (gilbertandroachsydney.com.au)

Auto Parts & Spares - Filter Kits, Air Fuel Oil Filters, DPFs, Filter Cleaning, Mann Provent Oil Catch Can Kits - Western Filters Sydney Australia

KWS Towing: Sydney, Newcastle Central Coast & South Coast NSW

Brown and Hurley is synonymous with the Kenworth brand and well known amongst the transport industry. We loved being able to interview JJ and to be honest, lucky to pull Bruce away from Jim's collection of vehicles long enough to allow him to say a few words. The rise of the Brown and Hurley group from humble beginnings to the empire it today, will be a story to remember and a legacy that will live on for many years to come.

Vin McKelvey was suggested to us by his close mate Bill Murrowood and we were not disappointed. Vin started off driving for Ed Cameron and, in his early 20's, was king of the road steering some of the first S Model Kenworths in Australia. Now in his early 80's, Vin recalls his days with Mayne Nicholas, driving Grey Ghosts and working in express freight in an interview that left Bruce humbled.

TRUCKS - Kenworth Australia

Auto Parts & Spares - Filter Kits, Air Fuel Oil Filters, DPFs, Filter Cleaning, Mann Provent Oil Catch Can Kits - Western Filters Sydney Australia

Gilbert & Roach Huntingwood, Isuzu, Kenworth, DAF Trucks For Sale Sydney | Gilbert & Roach Huntingwood (gilbertandroachsydney.com.au)

KWS Towing: Sydney, Newcastle Central Coast & South Coast NSW

We couldn't think of a better person for our 50th Episode than Bruce's friend, mentor and inspiration Max Keough. Bruce was raised with trucks but his chance meeting with Max back in late 1977 followed by his introduction to Max's brand new 1978 Kenworth some months later has resulted in a lifelong passion and obsession that drives him daily. My ears bleed at times with him talking about his cabover and its restoration so I think it's only fair that you all get punished for a while as well. And brace yourselves, it's a long one........................

TRUCKS - Kenworth Australia

Gilbert & Roach Huntingwood, Isuzu, Kenworth, DAF Trucks For Sale Sydney | Gilbert & Roach Huntingwood (gilbertandroachsydney.com.au)

Auto Parts & Spares - Filter Kits, Air Fuel Oil Filters, DPFs, Filter Cleaning, Mann Provent Oil Catch Can Kits - Western Filters Sydney Australia

KWS Towing: Sydney, Newcastle Central Coast & South Coast NSW

From washing trucks as a kid for Trial Bay Haulage to driving road trains, Peter Spalding has seen plenty over the years. His knowledge of history and his love for the industry shows in this interview and with almost 50 years behind the wheel, Pete sure has plenty to say in regard to the changes in vehicles and the changing face of the whole transport community. This is a great interview.

TRUCKS - Kenworth Australia

Gilbert & Roach Huntingwood, Isuzu, Kenworth, DAF Trucks For Sale Sydney | Gilbert & Roach Huntingwood (gilbertandroachsydney.com.au)

Auto Parts & Spares - Filter Kits, Air Fuel Oil Filters, DPFs, Filter Cleaning, Mann Provent Oil Catch Can Kits - Western Filters Sydney Australia

KWS Towing: Sydney, Newcastle Central Coast & South Coast NSW