When Noel Harris was a kid, he had dreamed of one day driving trucks. Now aged 63 – with 45 years on the road – he can’t see himself in the job for much longer.
His passion for the industry is still strong and though he loves being in the truck, he’s fed up with the dangers he sees out on the road on a daily basis, fuelled largely by inexperience.
Harris believes the volume of experienced operators walking away and being replaced by inexperienced drivers is a “disaster waiting to happen.”
Based in Pakenham, Victoria, Harris got into truck driving when he was 18.
Since 2017, he’s worked as an owner operator, carrying fertiliser throughout Victoria and into southern New South Wales with his 2021 Kenworth T659 and B-double set of tippers.
“After 45 years of driving and owning my own business, I don’t understand why someone doesn’t listen to the experienced drivers like myself who are walking away or seriously considering it,” said Harris.
“This industry is being driven by people with less and less experience. I predict – but I don’t wish it – that there will be a big accident one day, even bigger than what we’ve already seen, because too many transport businesses are happy to put inexperienced drivers in their trucks.
“It’s forcing people who are truly passionate about the industry to get out of it. I’ve been a member of various organisations in the past. When you put your two bob in, you might get a response, but there’s never any action.”
Harris is one of many veteran operators who believes truck driving is a skilled occupation that should require a traineeship or an apprenticeship.
“You can’t tell me a two-day course is enough to be in charge of a road train. Look at Western Australia and the amount of road trains that get tipped over. New drivers need to spend time in the truck with an experienced operator – to show them everything we have to do, loading, understanding axle weights, how to tie down, and all under proper supervision.
“Things need to change. I don’t know how some truck drivers have their licence. In this industry there are good Aussie drivers and bad Aussie drivers, and there are also good international drivers and bad international drivers.
“The issue is not about where a driver comes from, it all comes down to experience. There are truck drivers out there who get scared when another truck approaches them, because they don’t know what to do.
“These days, I nearly have an accident two or three times a week. People blame trucks, they want them out of the cities and off certain roads. But in a country like Australia there will never be a time where you don’t need trucks on the road.
“I’ve been brake checked that many times, because there are idiots out there who think if I run up the back of them, I’m going to be in the wrong. That’s why we need to have dash cams these days.”
Harris pointed to a recent example of what he saw on his travels. “There was a tanker with sparks coming out from the back of the trailer. I tried calling on the UHF and there was no response. He ended up blowing two more tyres. Years ago, if that happened, the driver would pull over and you’d pull over with them. That doesn’t happen anymore.”
Highly publicised issues with driver shortages are being exacerbated by an ageing truck driver workforce – with so many experienced drivers leaving the industry, and not enough young people coming in.
Though Harris also believes that this job is not for everyone. “I really do love this industry but it’s a tiring role and it takes a toll on your life. Trucking and farming are among the few jobs where, if you start at 18 and are at the same place 40 years later, you’re still working just as hard. Even at my age, you’re still doing the long hours, still loading and unloading,” he said.
“It’s not the kind of job you do just for the money, you need to have that passion. This is not your regular eight-hour job. It’s hard work. And I need to get out of it before I lose that passion completely. I’d be shocked if I’m still doing this in the next 12-24 months.
“And I’d be walking away as someone who is passionate about truck driving and still loves being in the truck. It’s just become too dangerous.”
Harris has already put his trailers up for sale, though says he plans to hold on to his truck for a little longer, as he decides on his future in the industry.
I started professional truck driving at 15 when I took a day off school to drive my father’s truck. My father was a truck driver and all his brothers and my grand father worked horses. I started driving single axle trucks and as I improved I got a bigger truck. Now truck drivers pay for a truck licence and after a few lessons start with big trucks and have poor distance and weight experience. In the old days if you weren’t good enough you couldn’t hold a job driving trucks. Now if you got a bit of paper you got a job until insurance cans you.
Like Noel, I started young, at 16. Back then it was possible to get a full heavy-rig licence in SA at 16. I drove on and off, and worked in other areas of logistics, such as fork-lift driving and crane operating; and, even managed to work up to warehouse manager. But, my most enjoyable times were ‘on the road’. Like us all, I loved being a long-distance driver, and I was proud of what I did. No-one was ever harmed due to my driving. I had a good early tutor; and, I learned many ‘old-school’ skills early-on. I am in total agreement with Noel; but, the main causes of all our transport industry problems lie with micro-managing accountants, and stupid politicians. [ And, I do mean stupid. I’ve been in meetings and consultations with Senators and Members of the Lower House. End results: got nowhere fast! ] I always remember Greendog and the blockade. We should have an even larger, well-planned blockade; and, make the pollies and accountants fully aware of how, when the truckies stop, the country stops. And, don’t end the blockade until the poliies listen, and take immediate action to resolve all the problems. That’s my ‘two bobs worth’!
from wa I’ve been in the industry 34 years and definitely noticed professional operators dropping off and no one to replace good example couple of months ago talking to a young lady just in her 20s got her licence a week before behind the wheel of 165 ton quad the conversation was how easy it was for inexperienced drivers to get a licence yet couldn’t acknowledge she was in that category her idea was because the company gave her a job that made competent operator