Mental health can be a taboo topic.
Feelings of shame around seeking help and talking about your feelings, which occur more commonly amongst men, can get in the way of receiving support and assistance.
- Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to receive the latest news and classifieds from Australia’s transport industry.
- Don’t miss a second and subscribe to our monthly Deals on Wheels magazine.
- Sell your truck with Australia’s #1 truck classifieds
According to Healthy Heads, the warehousing and logistics sector are the lowest ranked industry in Australia in terms of workplace mental health and wellbeing, placing 19th out of 19 sectors.
So, if truckies can’t speak up, Martins Stock Haulage decided they will.
Making quite the statement on Aussie roads, they are showing their support up and down the highway with their new ‘Razzle Dazzle’ Mack Super-Liner.
Martins’ general manager Adam Ross says the idea originated with the CEO of the family-owned livestock company, Jason Martin.
“The concept of the truck was Jason’s baby, he’s very passionate about men’s mental health,” he says.
“So, we painted this truck these larry colours to encourage men to speak up when they’re having dark thoughts, troubles, or facing any difficulties.
“We just want men to pick up that phone and talk about their feelings.”
The cheerful design was designed by TradeMutt and made in collaboration with This is a Conversation Starter (TIACS), a professional mental health counselling service for truckies, tradies, farmers and blue-collar worker.
The Razzle Dazzle wrap was influenced by the office workers at Martins Stock Haulage.
“Everybody in the office wears one of the trademark shirts for a Friday, and Razzle Dazzle was the latest colour that we had on our work shirts,” he says.
“We put the shirts next to the trucks and it looked great, that’s when we decided to do it.”
The monster Mack is wrapped in almost every colour you can imagine, with a mix of abstract shapes and lines popping out left and right, with not a millimetre of blank space threatening to bore onlookers.
The scrollwork and signwriting are also designed in the exact same Razzle Dazzle print.
The label ‘This is a Conversation Starter’, is enfolded around the side and back of the cab, so passersby are aware of the cause Martins Stock Haulage aims to promote. Hopefully it will, as the truck says, start a conversation and be the push men need to reach out for help.
To contrast with the colourful pattern, sleek stainless steel exhaust pipes stand alongside the mirrors and bulbar — a classy touch.
Last year, a pink triple road train Mack Super-Liner joined the Martins fleet to represent women in the transport industry.
It signifies their support for women, not only working within the company, but throughout the field.
“We did the pink truck for women in industry twelve months ago – it’s only fair now to do one for the boys,” Ross says.
Read more:
- Young Gunnette goes from screaming kids to monster rigs
- Beloved Chevy Blitz back in the family
- Truckies share why they love the Kenworth 909 – an ‘Australian icon’
- Symons Clark fleet of 26 roll into Adelaide’s first Convoy for Kids
- Dad’s greatest gift: being reunited with his trusty Kenworth
Check out the Deals on Wheels Facebook here.