Clear blue skies and a comfortable 20-degree temperature helped to bring massive crowds to Richmond Valley on Saturday August 3 for the Casino Truck Show.
The popular show was forced to cap truck registrations at 600 on Friday as the trucking community signed up online in record numbers and organisers were faced with running out of available streets on which to park any more trucks.
A carnival atmosphere took over the small country town as more than 30,000 people descended on the area for the day – with plenty arriving early and lining the edges of the Bruxner Highway with deck chairs and portable barbecues to enjoy breakfast before the truck parade.
Of the 600 registered trucks, 350 took part in the parade which rolled through the town to cheers and applause for nearly two hours.
Aside from streets lined with the trucks, the show included a busy children’s corner with rides and food, and a wide array of stalls with businesses selling a range of truck products and show merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies and caps for fleets, brands and the show itself.
Richmond Valley Mayor and Casino local Robert Mustow praised the organisers and volunteers behind the show for their efforts in delivering such a big event for the city.
Delivering the Mayor’s Choice award to Phil Ford for his KW Mini, Mustow thanked the truckies for taking the time to come to town and invited everyone back for 2025.
The 2024 show is being hailed as the biggest ever for the event — and it’s possibly the biggest list of trophies of offer in Australia too. See the full winners list below.
Casino Truck Show Winners 2024
Best Service Vehicle: Dynamic Fleet Maintenance (Isuzu)
Best Specialised: Davtrans (KWT401)
Best Car Carrier: Statewide Car Carriers (KW T410)
Best Tanker: Monaro Fuel (KW T610)
Best Tipper – Civil: Matt Lee Excavations (KW T600)
Best Tipper – Bulk: TJK Transport (KW T659)
Best Log Truck: N & N Smith (Western Star)
Best Livestock: MPT (Western Star)
Best Refrigerated: Churchill Transport (KW T909)
Best General Freight: Dawson’s Haulage (KW T909)
Best Heavy Recovery: Anywhere Truck & Machinery (KW T909)
Best Heavy Haulage: SNS Heavy Haul (KW C504)
Best Rigid: JDN (KW T359)
Best Tilt-Tray: All Coast Towing (Hino FE)
Best Day Cab: Lawrence Transport (K100)
Best Bonnetted: HHA (Western Star)
Best Cab-Over: PJB Trucking (K200)
Best Engine Bay: Karraman’s Quarries (Mack Superliner)
Best Custom Truck: S & S McMahon (KW T909)
Best 2470 Local Truck: CMT (KW T600)
Mayor’s Choice: Phil Ford (KW Mini)
Best Sponsors Display: SNS Heavy Haulage
Best Restoration: Wickhams Freightlines (KW T600)
Best Historic: Cromack Transport (Diamond T)
Best Classic: Bondwoods Transport (KW W900)
Best Japanese: TKN (Hino)
Best European: SRH Milk (Volvo)
Best Ford: Ikin Haulage (Ford LTL)
Best Iveco: Bolen & Son (Iveco S-Way)
Best Freightliner: Elite Trucking Co (Freightliner FLB)
Best Western Star: Northern Rivers Council
Best Peterbilt: Spinifex
Best Mack – Old Breed: HHA
Best Mack – New Breed: Milko
Best Kenworth – Pre-2000: Rasmussen Bulk
Best Kenworth – Post-2000: O’Neil’s (KW T909)
Youngest Entrant: Rodic Schubert (Hino)
Fleet Maintenance: N & N Smith (Western Star)
Doing the Business: Collins Haulage (KW T950)
That’s Large: Willet Transport (Mack)
Absolute Banger: Milin Transport (Ford LTL)
Smick As: Fruit Haul (KW 104B)
Bare Essentials: Taylor Holdings (KW T900)
Industry Pride & Passion: Steve McLean Transport (KW T900)
Industry Pride & Passion: Copy Southbound Bruce Gunter (KW K125)
Industry Pride & Passion: Matt Lee Excavations (KW K104)
Great Eight: Drain Transport (KW Legend)
Great Eight: Airlie Beach Hotel (KW T909)
Great Eight: Imy Deen (KW T900)
Great Eight: Lawrence Transport (KW T900)
Great Eight: Grain Trans (KW T950)
Great Eight: Durkin Trans (KW T909)
Great Eight: Maddox Haulage (Peterbilt)
Great Eight: SRV Road Freight (KW T909)
Sensational Six: Eric Ballard (Mack Superiner)
Sensational Six: Lindon Pastoral (Mack Titan)
Sensational Six: Lawrence Transport (KW T900)
Sensational Six: Milko (Mack 100yr)
Sensational Six: TK Reiner (KW K200)
Sensational Six: Land Transport (Western Star)
Top Owner Driver: Hinds Haulage (KW T909)
Exceptional Company Display: Bondwoods Transport
Exceptional Company Display: Carways
Exceptional Company Display: Bloomers Transport
Best Original / Trad paint: Cleveland Transport (KW T600)
Best Custom Paint: STA (KW T909)
Best Line & Scrolls: Causley Transport (KW W900)
Best Airbrush & Artwork: D & J Johnson Transport (KW T904)
Best Paint Scheme: Imy Deen (KW T950)
Judged Elite: DC Campbell (KW T900)
Judged Elite: Graintrans (KW T900)
Judged Elite: TDH (KW C509)
Judged Elite: BT Civil (KW T950)
Judged Elite: Ballinger Transport (KW T950)
Best Fleet: Lawrence Transport
Best Fleet: Winston Express
Best Fleet: VE Group
Show Truck Champions: Robinsons Heavy Haulage (Mack Superliner)
Show Truck Champions: HHA (Mack Superliner)
Show Truck Champions: Nigmel PTV (KW T909)
Show Truck Champions: Lawrence Transport (KW T909)
Show Truck Champions: Schaffer Transport (KW K200)
The Tiny Lollback Rig of the Show: A & J Salter (KW K200)
For more pictures pick up a copy of the next issue of Big Rigs, on shelves August 16.