Before returning as a truckie, versatile Joe Allen had been a bus driver for 22 years.
“I got out of being a bus driver taking tourists around because I was tired of dealing with some of the people on them,” he said.
The 53-year-old gained his licence at age 20 and was travelling from Mareeba to Townsville when Big Rigs met him at a rest area near Tully.
“I used to live at Rosebud in Victoria and barrack for the Footscray Western Bulldogs in the AFL. But I also follow the Cowboys in the NRL as I live up here now,” he said.
Allen doesn’t stop at many roadhouses for food and said he tries to carry his own on trips.
“I generally take sandwiches along with me as it is hard to find a good place to get meals,” he said.
Whilst Allen feels there could be more driver friendly rest areas along the way, he has a preference for one.
“It is near Babinda on the Bruce Highway and is a good place to stop,” he said.