Owner operator Nathan Schwarz was hauling a machine to Daintree when I met him in early January.
Aged 39, Nathan has run his business Earthscape Technologies, based at Cairns, for five years and was in an Isuzu with his brother and assistant Mark.
“We picked it up at Clermont and will be dropping it off at the Daintree in the far north,” he said.
Nathan said it has been a genuine challenge to travel along the Gregory Development Road between Clermont and Charters Towers on the way up.
“It is a very rough road at places and you have to be careful,” he said.
His favourite roadhouse is at Croydon near Normanton, on the way to the Gulf of Carpentaria.
I found Nathan to be a happy driver and when I first saw him at the BP Cluden parking area, he was on the top of his load to check it.
“I have been in Australia for 15 years and came from Canada and have been in Cairns since,” he said.
I asked Nathan what his hobbies are and his answer surprised me – as it was a first from any of the thousands I have interviewed.
“I play the piano and my favourite song is Hit the Road Jack,” he said.
Taking into account the challenges faced by small operators, including fuel costs, I asked Nathan his main aim for 2025.
“To spend less money,” he said.