A flashy green Kenworth driven by Shane Mitchell, 38, may look good, but it’s been over some of the roughest and toughest roads in Australia.
Based at Wodonga, just over the NSW border in Victoria, Shane was hooking up a trailer when Big Rigs saw him at random in Far North Queensland.
“The truck may be as pretty as a picture but some of the rough roads it has been over include the Tanami Track in the NT and the Peninsula Development Road in far north Queensland,” he said.
Shane had delivered pipes from Brisbane to Townsville and was ready to take scrap down south.
He’s been a driver for 18 years, including the past decade spent with Dawson’s Haulage out of Wodonga.
“This is the best company I have worked for and I wouldn’t want to be with anyone else. They treat me very well,” Shane said.
On his travel, Shane says his favourite roadhouses are at Daly Waters and Stuart Wells – both in the Northern Territory.
Outside work, Shane’s hobbies include watching air shows and travelling overseas.
“I have been to the US and New Zealand many times,” he said.
Regarding sport, Shane follows the New Zealand All Blacks in rugby union and the Newcastle Knights in the NRL.
Having also travelled extensively around Australia I asked Shane where were his preferences. “I love anywhere in the Northern Territory,” he said.