Veteran South Australian driver Lynton Bruce, 57, has held a truck licence for four decades.
“I had my truck licence at 17 years old due to my family being primary producers. It was a special licence,” he explained.
Lynton works for Lewiston Haulage based at Two Wells, SA and drives a Kenworth T909.
“I mainly go to Perth and back but will go anywhere,” he said.
Lynton added that his favourite roadhouse is the Mundrabilla Roadhouse in WA for numerous reasons. “It is a great family owned business. Awesome people, great meals and clean facilities,” he said.
One of Lynton’s dislikes is seeing people leaving behind rubbish and other things at parking bays. “Stops in SA don’t have long drop toilets so seeing faeces in the park bays annoys me,” he said.
I asked Lynton about some of the trucks he’d driven in the earlier years. “I was driving farm trucks around our property since I was 13-14 years old – an International Butterbox and another Acco, both V8 petrol. Then Dad got a 16-speed, 290hp G88 Volvo. It was a big lorry then,” he said.
“My first full time job as a professional driver was with Trans Australian Livestock out of Milang, SA at age 23. I’ve been in the saddle since then really,” he said.
Lynton added that he enjoys taking food along, packed by his lovely wife.
“She packs me food to go away with like a rump steak and vegetables which are nice. My wife is a truckie’s daughter so she loves me coming home, and loves me going out after a couple of days home!” he said.
Lynton enjoys nothing more than getting home to spend time with his family, and is proud of his son Reece who is a chip off the old block and has also become a truckie.
“Reece was around trucks from a young age,” he said.