Like father, like sons: Brothers behind the wheel

Patterson Logistics has two young drivers new to their ranks, something father and long time truckie Ian Patterson couldn't be happier about!

 

Ian worked his way up over 40 years in the industry, now heading up Patterson Logistics as company director, but recently he got back behind the wheel. 

Things came full circle when Ian jumped back behind the wheel to help his 22 and 20 year-old sons Callum and Devon, start operating two Stralis 6×4 ATi rigids for Mainfreight. 

The Patterson’s reckon the 360hp rigs get the job done well and stand up to the test of fast-paced metropolitan and regional transport.

“The trucks normally operate towards the top end of their weight range but the engine has plenty of power to handle the loads,” Ian says.

“Being AMTs they’re easy to drive particularly in heavy traffic and the ride and handling is extremely good – inside the cabin it’s very nice, much better than similar-sized Japanese trucks.

“Along with providing a supple ride, the rear airbags are also extremely handy when loading and unloading, we get about six inches of drop.”

Both trucks operate in the greater Brisbane area with occasional country trips and feature 14 pallet tautliner bodies with mezzanine decks to increase the versatility of the load space.

Ian insists there are good opportunities for young drivers to earn an excellent income driving trucks, especially as owner-drivers.

Before getting into driving, Callum spent three years as a forklift operator at Mainfreight where he learnt valuable skills about loading trucks, load restraint and positioning.

The younger of the two brothers, Devon, was at university and after liking the look the trucks, he made the call to pursue driving.

It was Ian turning up at home in the Stralis, that apparently did it for Devon, which is similar to how Ian decided to buy one in the first place.

“I was driving line-haul at the time and stopped to fuel-up, there was a Stralis ATi at the petrol station as well, I liked the look of it and spoke to the driver,” Ian said.

“He’d done well over 300,000 kilometres and his feedback was very positive. I later went to the dealership to take a closer look and was impressed with what the truck had to offer.

“The Stralis presents a modern and professional image for both Patterson Logistics and that’s important to us.”

Callum and Devon are both paying off their trucks through the business, so no easy ride for them, and Ian now spends his time rotating between the two trucks assisting the boys on the longer days when required.

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