Each Friday, veteran truckie Ken Sheppard stands out from other drivers, as he dons a colourful shirt with a truck screen printed on the front.
“I purchased it at a local shop a few years back and wear it every Friday. It only cost $30. People often mention it and ask is it my truck on the shirt,” said the 56-year-old truckie.
Sheppard drives a Western Star 4800FX powered by a 600hp motor and with an 18 speed manual gearbox.
He works for Neal Bros. and was hauling pipes for his weekly run between Townsville and Mount Isa, 900km away.
“The Flinders Highway which I travel on is pretty rough in places between Charters Towers and Cloncurry,” he said.
Sheppard’s favourite roadhouse is at Richmond which is 500km from the coast.
Sheppard said he doesn’t have time for hobbies as any time off work is spent with family.
Born in Seymour, Victoria, Sheppard grew up at Ipswich and loves being a truck driver.
I noticed that Sheppard had a white beard which with natural growth in a month’s time might make him an ideal Santa Claus.