While many careers in transport begin through a generation of truckies and a family business, Tom Charlton’s path to the road came with a very different starting point… A kitchen.
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Deciding to trade his chef’s apron for a seat behind the wheel, Tom was sick of working in a fast-paced kitchen and needed a change.
“I had a few mates in the transport industry, and that’s when at the age of 20 I decided I didn’t want to be a chef anymore, so I became a truckie instead,” he says.
Seventeen years later, Tom is a seasoned truck driver working for a small business named Bean Express, based in Brendale, Brisbane.
The company currently owns three rigs, but the one that caught Deals on Wheels’ attention was its brand spanking new 2024 Kenworth T909.
The sparkling silver flat roof is a sight for sore eyes. With its one-coloured base, sky-high matching stainless-steel exhaust pipes, hub caps and detailing, its minimalism appeals to many, although the Bean Express boss wasn’t too impressed.
“It’s a unique spray and the boss himself chose the colour and customised it, though we didn’t really like it when we picked it up,” he says.
“He chose everything he wanted for the truck; he wanted something different because our other trucks are all white, but he just didn’t like the colour in the end.
“We have a new truck joining the business and the 909 has been my dream truck since I was a kid, so he gave me the option of what colour I would like.
“Now a black rig is on its way and built identical to the 909.”
Though Tom and his boss weren’t the biggest fans of their silver stunner, they were in the minority – and the rig picked up Best Custom Truck at Matty Hillcoat’s Truckies’ Day Out this year.
Tom admits that though there were initial doubts, the Kenworth can’t help but steal the spotlight.
“It doesn’t matter where we drive, it gets attention from everyone, everywhere,” he laughs.
“People break their necks to look at it!”
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