Former farmer Tom Maisel was transporting a front-end loader from his hometown of Mareeba to Townsville when Big Rigs yarned to him.
Maisel, 57, had parked his 2004 Century Freightliner across the road from the Bohle Puma.
“I have a short wait until the delivery place opens so I’ll go to the roadhouse,” he said.
An owner-operator for the past four years of his company Tow North, Maisel left America in 1984.
“I was a farmer over there and also when I first came to Australia,” he said.
Maisel said the Freightliner was reliable as was his super tilt trailer which is an integral part of the business.
The notorious Gillies Highway which connects the Atherton Tablelands to the Bruce Highway is the one he doesn’t like travelling on.
Although Maisel said an alternative route the Palmerston Highway is much better.
He likes stopping for a feed at the Pit Crab in Cardwell which as a bonus is open 24 hours daily.
When he manages to get time off, Maisel restores antique tractors.