Former farmer and shearer Ewan Turner became a truckie four years ago and is now destined for a long career as a driver.
Aged 33, Ewan has been with Port Lincoln-based Harder Transport for 18 months and was parked up in Townsville with his Kenworth T909 when he chatted with Big Rigs.
“I came up empty and will pick up sand at Cairns and then head off to a mine near Daly Waters in the Northern Territory,” Ewan said.
Growing up on a farm, Ewan spent years as a shearer but has fallen in love with driving trucks.
“I just enjoy trucks and reckon I’ll be doing this all my working life. But I still like shearing,” he said.
The worst road he gets on is out of Border Town in South Australia.
“It is bad heading towards Victoria,” he said.
Ewan’s favourite roadhouse is the Barkly Homestead in the Northern Terriotry for several reasons.
“The food is good and the atmosphere there is great. I like rump steak,” he said.
While Ewan would like to see more rest areas for drivers he did nominate one as being good.
“It is just out from the Nullarbor Roadhouse near the coast,” he said.
He also supports Port Adelaide Power in the AFL.
When I asked to snap a pic, Ewan did mention that his truck was a bit dirty for a photo.
However, considering he had travelled all that distance from South Australia to North Queensland, he had a good excuse.
I told Ewan if I had a dollar for every driver I spoke to who said that, I would be a rich man.