Based at Gin Gin in central Queensland, Arthur Laing drives a DAF Euro 6 for DJ Freight.
Recently, I saw him parked up in Townsville at around midday. He was transporting boats.
The 70-year-old experienced driver usually operates from the company’s base in Loganholme in southern Queensland.
“I travel to most parts of Australia except WA and that is a great part of the job to see different places,” he said.
When asked about the worst road he travels, Arthur said it was a toss up between the Bruce and Warrego Highways.
“They are both terrible.”
His favourite roadhouse is the Roebuck Plains at Broome in WA for several reasons.
“It has good food, cold drinks, lots of parking and friendly staff. My best meal is steak,” he added.
Outside work, Arthur loves following the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL and was still in a celebratory mood after they beat the Melbourne Storm in the grand final the previous Sunday.
Like many trucks I see, the front on his truck was covered with dead insects and Arthur said they were in big numbers on some highways.
“You run into them when driving at night,” he said.
Just then a Magpie bird appeared and must have been on the lookout for food.
“It is very tame,” he said.
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