For Truck Moves Australia driver Peter Miles his first foray into truck driving was 42 years ago when he achieved his Class 3 licence at the tender age of 21.
His career evolved from local deliveries in a Pantex truck, to a decade with Australia Post where he upgraded to a HC licence and drove linehaul, Sydney to Grafton, Kempsey and Gundagai.
A change of scenery saw him carting concrete, concrete waste and slurry for the next 17 years before a return to Australia Post driving B-doubles until 2023 when he got sick of the shift work and decided to give Truck Moves Australia a try.
It’s a move he says he wishes he’d made earlier.
“I had a mate who worked with Truck Moves (Australia), long time employee for them. I knew he worked there, and knew of the job,” Peter says. “At that stage I couldn’t do anything financial-wise, being a casual job. It didn’t suit me then.”
When the time had come to stop the shift work, Peter remembered Truck Moves Australia and put in a call.
“Should’ve done it 10 years ago, it’s absolutely perfect, suits me to a ‘T’.
“You do a variety of work. Every job in a different truck – they are virtually all brand new.”
Based out of Sydney, Peter delivers trucks interstate, and locally and enjoys the casual, opt-in, nature of the work.
“There’s no pressure from the company. Blood pressure has come down. Living the life!”
Peter is one of about 200 drivers on the roster of Truck Moves Australia around Australia.
The company provides professional drivers to customers requiring trucks moved from one location to another, such as fleets repositioning for major projects, or manufacturers moving trucks from wharves to showrooms, or dealerships to customer yards.
Truck Moves Australia managing director Matt Whitnall says the drivers are key to the success of the business and the company works hard to provide the best working conditions possible.
He says key elements of the driver’s conditions include:
- Drivers are paid for every hour driving and or traveling, including overtime, not just the kilometres they drive
- All travel costs are paid for by Truck Moves Australia
- All drivers are paid per the only award that applies to the Truck Relocation Industry – the Road Transport Award MA 000038 which came into effect 1st July, 2018.
- Drivers are prohibited from sleeping in trucks and a motel night is paid for and organised by Truck Moves Australia when required
- Drivers do not drive after sunset or before sunrise
Given the nature of the work, Truck Moves Australia drivers must all have at least five years of driving experience with an unrestricted HR license or higher.
Clean driving records and the ability to pass a satisfactory medical to operate heavy vehicles are other important factors, and for those tackling interstate hauls commercial flights home are part of the mix.
On that front, the Truck Moves Australia team takes care of the travel, but the drivers’ get to keep their flying and motel points if they are collecting them.
Matt says Truck Moves Australia is always on the look out for great drivers to add to their roster and encourages anyone interested in finding out more to phone 1300 885 799 or check out the website at www.truckmoves.com.au/drive-for-us/
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