Based at Wagga Wagga in NSW, owner-operator Mark Close of Closey’s Transport was far away in Townsville when Big Rigs saw him at BP Cluden.
“I have brought up mill run for the Atherton Tablelands and have a backload of spuds to pick up at Pentland for Sydney,” Close says.
Close drives a trusty 2000 model Freightliner Argosy which he has had for over four years.
Three of his biggest fans are grandsons Hunter and Blake and granddaughter Mack who love trucks – which is not surprising as their father (Close’s son-in-law) is also a truckie.
“One of the grandsons tells me to trade in the Argosy and buy a Kenworth,” Close says.
He adds that many parts of the Bruce Highway were challenging to travel on. “There are so many roadworks on the coastal road,” he says.
The Gilgandra Shell is one of his favourite roadhouses. “They have good home style cooking and staff is friendly,” he says.
The first truck Close drove was a petrol fuelled AA60 International.
Close says that the Coronavirus Pandemic has impacted his business. “Things have slowed down a bit,” he says.
A passionate Canberra Raiders fan in the NRL, Close hopes the side can go one better and win the premiership after losing last year’s decider to the Sydney Roosters.
Hobbies for Close when he jags time off are riding his Harley Davidson motorbike and going for a cruise in his speed boat. “I go onto Lake Albert at Wagga,” he says.