The four finalists of the Livestock, Bulk and Rural Carriers Association’s (LBRCA) 2021 Young Driver of the Year Award will soon learn their fate, with the winner set to be announced tomorrow, Saturday March 6.
The finalists are:
Matthew Benseman, Maloney Livestock Transport
Aged 33, Benseman lives in Westdale in Tamworth. He has worked with Maloney since 2018 and got to get behind the wheel of a brand new truck last year. He has shown great knowledge and understanding in maintaining safety standards to ensure the wellbeing of the livestock he is transporting.
According to Director of Maloney Livestock Transport, Mick Maloney, Benseman has a good habit of looking at the big picture and is an excellent employee with a no fuss approach to his work
Ken Burge, Divall’s Earthmoving and Bulk Haulage
Goulburn-based truckie Ken Burge is 32 years old. He began his career as a qualified light vehicle mechanic, then went on to work on articulated dump trucks and mini diggers for Divall’s Earthmoving and Bulk Haulage. Now he regularly carts bulk commodities for Divall’s.
Burge is working towards his Certificate II in Driving Operations (Heavy General Freight). He is also trained in First Aid and assists with internal company driver training assessments when required.
According to the team at Divall’s, he is an asset to the company, showing ambition and regularly going above and beyond.
Jeremy Hamilton, Cavanagh’s Transport
From Armatree NSW, Hamilton (or Boo as he is known) has been carrying livestock for Cavanagh’s Transport for the past five years. His interest in trucking stemmed from his grandfathers, father and uncle, who were also truckies.
Previously, he worked for Castlemac Traders, carting grain, before getting behind the wheel of a road train to transport livestock and bulk commodities throughout northern WA, NT and Queensland for Road Trains of Australia.
William O’Neill, Cavanagh’s Transport
Residing in Moonbi, NSW, 34 year old O’Neill also works for Cavanagh’s Transport. He began his career in trucking when his former employer helped his to get his MC licence. After carting coal between Tarrawonga and Gunnedah, O’Neill now carts livestock for Cavanagh’s Transport in Tamworth.
He known for his immaculate safety record, his lateral thinking and professional approach to his work.
Good luck to each of the finalists. The winner, which will be announced in Dubbo, will receive a $5,000 trip to a destination of their choice.