Dan Skipper is a third-generation member of a road transport industry family, so it is not surprising that trucking is in his blood.
The 32-year-old works for Mackay based company M&P Services and was driving a Western Star 4800 XB when Big Rigs saw him tending to a trailer beside the Townsville Port Access Road.
“I am carrying general and oversize and have been a truckie for 12 years,” he said.
Skipper arrived in Mackay three years ago and has worked for M&P Services for the past 18 months.
“This is the best company I have been employed by and my boss Aaron is great,” he said.
Before that Skipper was a small fleet owner in Brisbane where he had four trucks.
“My grandparents had a company called Kisu Transport until about 20 years ago,” he said.
The company services central Queensland and the Bowen basin predominantly and anywhere else in Australia where its clients require freight transported.
Skipper likes stopping at the BP Cluden Roadhouse during his busy week.
“The showers for truckies there are excellent and so is the food,” he said.
He said there is not enough rest areas for truckies and because he has fair skin provided a sensible message for people who go outdoors. “Make sure you slip, slop and slap,” he said pointing out it was a very hot day.
Skipper rates the Peak Downs and Capricorn Highways as challenging to drive on.