Within the next year Craig Hyde will become a member of the “nifty fifty” club of the road transport industry.
That doesn’t mean Hyde will be celebrating his 50th birthday and even though he may look that age, he is actually 62.
“I have been a truckie for 49 years and love the job,” he said.
Big Rigs saw Hyde tending to his load when parked up at the BP Cluden Roadhouse.
Hyde works for Burke Management Services based at Hattonvale and was driving a Freightliner Argosy.
“This company is the best to work for. Their trucks are maintained always and if you want anything I ring the boss John and he organises it,” Hyde said.
Hyde was hauling several Army vehicles picked up at Townsville’s Lavarack Barracks and bound for Sydney.
A former Kiwi, Hyde arrived in Australia from across the ditch in 1979.
“Roads in New Zealand are winding, narrow and hilly when compared overall with those in Australia,” he said.
A South Sydney Rabbitohs supporter in the NRL, Hyde said the worst road he has been along is the Tanami Track.
Hyde likes stopping at the Charley’s Creek Café at Chinchilla and the Belyando Crossing Roadhouse, rating the service, food and facilities as great.