When southern Queensland driver Tony Cross stopped at the BP Cluden Roadhouse late on February 19 he was fortunate to find the last available parking space.
Aged 55, Tony was driving a MAN TGX 26-540 for Simmons Logistics which is based at Brendale in Brisbane.
“I have come up from Brisbane with Iplex material for delivery to the Bohle near here and have some to pick up to take back south,” he said.
Veteran Tony has been a truckie since he was 18 and started off working at a fruit shop where he had to get a licence to drive an Acco International.
“It all started from back then and I love being a driver,” he said.
Tony was about to head over to the roadhouse for a shower as the temperature was more than 30 degrees.
Asked to nominate the worst road he gets on, Tony quickly named the Bruce Highway.
“The Marlborough stretch between Rockhampton and Mackay is terrible. It has lots of potholes,” he said.
Tony added that the MAN was a great truck with an automatic gearbox. “It is very comfortable but could do with a bit more grunt.”
Having driven through a plague of insects on the way up, the MAN was a bit dirty.
“It scrubs up beautiful when washed and polished,” he said.
I asked Tony what food he liked when out on the road. “Most, but I try and stay away from junk food – it is not always possible.”
Outside work, Tony barracks for the Redcliffe Dolphins in the NRL and is into old cars.
“I have an old 1974 XB Falcon which I am restoring,” he said.