It was extremely hot when Big Rigs saw Graham Dennis and his Kenworth K610 parked at a rest area north of Mackay.
Aged 39, Dennis works for Lindsay Transport and is based at Acacia Ridge. He was carting produce which had come from farms at Mareeba on the Atherton Tablelands.
“Another driver brought the truck down from Mareeba to Mackay where I took over and I am heading for the Brisbane markets,” he said.
A truckie for the past 11 years, Dennis had only been with Lindsay Transport for a month when we spoke and said he was enjoying it.
Dennis rates the Bruce Highway between Sarina and Marlborough as a challenge and feels there are not enough rest areas for truckies.
“At least not where you would want them and we need some more with tables and chairs where we can eat. This one here has concrete tables and is great for a stop,” he said.
His favourite roadhouse is at Gin Gin which I could understand as I had been there a day earlier and it was packed with drivers.
Fishing the waterways around Tweed Heads is a favourite recreation when Dennis gets time off. “I have caught flathead and whiting there,” he said.
Another passion is bike riding. Dennis recently sold his 2013 model Harley.
“My four children aged 11 and 16 with the other two under two years old also keep me busy,” he said.
Dennis barracks for NRL premiers, the Penrith Panthers, and hopes they can continue on their winning way come season 2022.