After spending 16 years in the army, where he progressed from a medium rigid through to a multi combination driver’s licence, Steve Beasy moved straight into the transport industry – and he hasn’t looked back.
Aged 46, Steve grew up in Victoria and the Northern Territory. He joined the army in Victoria in 1995 and after completing his training, transferred to Townsville, which he has called home ever since.
“Even though I got my MC licence in the army, I never used it. I had my fuel ticket though so when I left I got into fuel tankers, starting out in the heavy rigids and eventually working my way up to road trains,” he explained.
“I’ve moved around a fair bit because I like to try something different. I’ve done local and interstate. I’ve done refrigerated, general, side tippers, and quad side tippers while I was doing FIFO work for Toll out of Cloncurry.”
Another transport business Steve worked for was Hillman’s Transport, doing refrigerated and general transport – and it was here that he met his partner, fellow road train driver Hope Mogg.
In June, Steve began a new role at Hawkin’s Transport, doing a mixture of freight including cement powder, flat top and general work, mostly in triples.
Steve is currently behind the wheel of a 2013 Kenworth C509, which is a big change from the previous truck he was in at Morgan Transport, where he spent the last two years carrying refrigerated freight.
“I came out of an automatic Volvo and into the C509, so it’s a bit different to driving that. I don’t mind it though. Now that I’m back in the long bonnet, it’s been pretty good,” he said. “It’s a bit like riding a bike, you never forget how to drive a Roadranger!”
Though Steve says Morgan Transport was a great company to work for, he was keen to get back into road train work and daytime driving rather than overnight express. “Dave Morgan was a great boss. I always got along with him, and he’s helped me out whenever I’ve needed work.”
When Steve chatted with Big Rigs, he was just weeks into the new role at Hawkin’s and said it was a perfect fit. “I’m enjoying all the different types of loads and the versatility of the work. The runs change so you get to go to places you don’t normally go and it’s a mix of gravel work and highway.”
So far the runs have seen Steve away anywhere up to five days at a time. When he chatted with Big Rigs, he had just arrived at the outback Queensland town of Normanton, carrying a cement ISO on the lead trailer and two dongas on the rear.
Steve prefers to bring his own food and drinks where he can and has his truck set up well for the long runs, with two fridges, a freezer and a 12-volt meal warmer. “I think it’s important to set up your truck so you can travel in comfort,” he said.
In terms of rest areas, Steve says he hasn’t had too much trouble finding somewhere to stop, though many don’t have facilities. “I just try and pull up wherever there’s a decent amount of parking. Out here it’s pretty good, and even from Townsville to Mt Isa there are a few places you can stop,” Steve added.
In terms of tough roads, Steve says a stretch between Millaa Millaa and Ravenshoe in Queensland can be quite the challenge. “It’s a B-double route but it’s up the steepest hill and sharpest bends and it’s really foggy out there because it’s all dairy country.
“And it would be good if the Bruce Highway was duplicated but I don’t reckon it’ll ever happen. Not at this end anyway.”
But all in all, Steve says he enjoys his work as a truck driver. “It’s the freedom of not being told what to do every 5 minutes like when you’re doing the around-town work – you can do your own thing and pull up when you want to pull up.
“I know sometimes people push themselves to get there but at the end of the day, what’s an extra half an hour? If I’m tired, I’ll pull over and have a little sleep, and then I feel good again. I know a lot of guys will have a rest in their seat but I like to get in the bunk where it’s comfortable, even if it is just for 15 minutes.”
Steve added that he’d like to see a lot more young people coming into the industry. “There are a lot of drivers who are in their sixties or older and unfortunately we don’t have any real recruitment path for young people to come into the industry when they finish school.”
He added that there are also a lot of issues around safety on the roads at present. “You get cars just brake checking and doing stupid stuff or cutting in front of you and then slowing down.
“And I reckon a lot of people come into the industry thinking they know everything, which is why there are a lot of accidents now. They come in a bit cocky and don’t listen to the older guys. There seems to be a lot of that now.”