For Melbourne-based truck driver James Strapp, 29, there was always something about trucks and road trains that intrigued him. That’s probably not surprising either, considering both his father and grandfather drove trucks too.
“When I was younger, my old man was a truck driver, he worked for K&S Freighters and they would do ‘bring your child to work’ days, so I got to go with him on the changeovers a few times a year,” explained James.
His father Brad Strapp did regional work throughout Victoria, along with Tarcutta changeovers.
“I would have been about eight when I started going out in the truck with Dad. I remember falling asleep and him waking me up. I’d chuck a tantrum because I didn’t want to get out of the truck,” added James.
“But Dad unfortunately got sick and passed away when I was 15. So for me, trucking was always a pipe dream.”
At first James took a different path and spent several years working in civil construction. “I knew that wasn’t for me though. In the back of my mind, I thought trucks were something I could fall back on because I had always wanted to do it.”
It wasn’t until 2019, that James decided to take that first step, at the age of 24. “I pulled the trigger and went for my heavy rigid (HR) licence,” he said.
James secured work driving a 14-pallet rigid with Queensland Freighters. “I was there for about 12 months. We used to do deliveries to National Logistics, and that’s how I met them and got this job.”
James has been with National Logistics ever since, spending just over six months in the rigid, then moving onto a semi and expanding into interstate work for about 12 months, before spending another 12 months doing B-double work. Earlier this year, he progressed into triple road trains. And for James, this is exactly where he wants to be.
From behind the wheel of a 2022 model Kenworth T610 SAR, James’ main runs are into Brisbane, but he also travels into Sydney and Adelaide too – carting general freight and pulling anything from B-doubles and A-doubles through to B-triples.
“The runs swap and change. We deliver anything that fits onto a pallet. It’s all depot to depot work, and then we do pick-ups on the way home. The company also does storage and distribution.”
National Logistics and its sister company BJL’s Transport are owned by husband and wife Luke and Beverley Andrews, with depots in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The company specialises in general freight, operating everything from rigids up to road trains.
For James, it’s been a perfect fit. “They covered all of my training, which I did through Armstrong’s. It was a progressive thing, like an apprenticeship. I began in the triples about six months ago,” he said, adding that his boss has been instrumental in helping him to achieve his dream of getting into the bigger rigs.
“My boss Luke is very hands-on. He started out as a driver and still gets in the truck to do runs here and there. He’s like one of us.
“Luke taught me everything I know, alongside some of the other experienced drivers here. When I was starting out, I’d always be on the phone with them and they’d give me pointers if I ever got stuck. Luke always ensures we know what we’re doing before letting us into the bigger trucks.
“Road trains was the end goal for me, so it feels like a massive achievement. Pushing myself to achieve that level of licence, pushing my career further and bettering myself. It’s been very surreal. I was so fascinated by how long they were and the fact that you’re in control of such a big piece of equipment.”
Though James admits it was a steep learning curve. “It wasn’t so much the length, it was more the weight and being able to safely operate the road trains down big downhill stretches and also going uphill as well.
“The triples go up to 90 tonne, so they’re quite heavy. You need to learn to respect that weight.”
When asked what he enjoys most about the work, James’ passion shines through. “I just love it – the sound of the trucks, the flexibility of the work,” he said.
“I work well on my own, I find being in the truck quite therapeutic, chucking on some music and being on the open highway.”
Like many interstate truckies, James says being away from home for long stretches can be challenging, but his partner Ashleigh Hewatt has always been supportive, pushing him to achieve his dreams.
“Being away so much is tough on us, but we make it work. It’s helped pay for our house, so it’s done great things for us. And we met at the company too.”
When asked about his future plans, James said he’s in it for the long haul. “I’m not going anywhere for a while. The company is a great bunch of people to work for and I have them to thank for everything they’ve done for me. They’ve put their faith in me and gotten me to where I am today – and they’ve put their trust in me to be able to drive some beautiful Kenworth rigs.
“The T610 is absolutely unreal to drive. I’ve driven plenty of cabovers and in comparison, these are so comfortable and so well made.”