Of Hungarian and Romanian descent, Tibor Nyitrai is very much an Aussie truckie who is enthusiastic about his job.
Nyitrai, 28, was driving a Western Star 4900fx Pittsworth-based Sizer and Cogill when I saw him at Townsville.
“I have come up from south with panels for Boral and am waiting for news of a backload. This is my second day in this job but I have been driving trucks for six years,” he said.
Born in Fairfield, NSW, Nyitrai had parked his Western Star at the BP Cluden and walked over to the eatery – I ambushed him on his return.
“I slept in this morning and am glad I did or I would have missed you and the opportunity to be in Big Rigs,” he said proudly.
A very friendly driver, Nyitrai barracks for both the Cronulla Sharks and Penrith Panthers in the NRL.
“I would like to see more rest areas for truckies in Queensland. On some highways they are close by and at other areas you don’t see one for hundreds of kilometres,” he said.
Nyitrai has enjoyed stopping at the BP Charlton in Toowoomba in the past and said working in the tropics was often challenging.
“Sometimes I will open the door to the truck and mosquitoes fly in,” he said, although the day we yarned it was a cool 25 degrees and drizzling rain, making it a great “driver’s comfort level” when not behind the wheel.