From wash boy to B-double driver, Raymond Barrie named the Queensland Trucking Association's Professional Driver of the Year
By Brad Gardner | October 24, 2011
A wash boy who would go on to rack up 2.4 million incident-free kilometres behind the wheel of a B-double has been named Queensland’s top truck driver.
Raymond Barrie from Emerald Carrying Company took home the Professional Driver of the Year Award at the Queensland Trucking Association’s (QTA) annual dinner on October 22.
Barrie was part of a group of high achievers recognised for its efforts, with Hawkins CEO Roz Shaw receiving the Woman of the Year Award.
The QTA says Barrie has had a long association with Emerald Carrying Company since his childhood.
“He commenced employment with Emerald Carrying Company as a wash boy and a yard boy in 1996,” the association says.
“By the time Raymond had reached 21 years of age he obtained his B-double licence and with that began his dream of driving and operating a B-double fuel tanker. Since that time, Raymond has travelled approximately 2.4 million kilometres without incident or accident to himself or others.”
In handing Barrie the award, the QTA cited his recent win in the BP Australian and New Zealand National Driver Competition. Barrie and his team competed against top operators in a test of their understanding of road rules, first aid, fire fighting, fuel economy, vehicle inspection and truck manoeuvring.
Shaw, who took over as Hawkins CEO in 1997, was recognised for her leadership of the business and her work in encouraging women to enter the trucking industry.
“Roz leads by example, pioneering workforce initiatives in her own business as well as promoting these throughout the industry including her role in the award-winning Women Take the Wheel initiative,” the QTA says.
Industry veteran Bill Manton, who is the training manager at Simon National Carriers, received the Industry Safety Award for his dedication to training standards, promoting safety and helping young people get a start in trucking.
Manton was also cited for his audit of rest areas throughout Queensland, with a lot of the work done in his own time.
During the state’s flood disaster earlier this year, Manton took on an industry consultant role on behalf of the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
“Bill made a valuable contribution to the many decisions which were taken at the time by the department to assist in the resupply and recovery program,” the QTA says.
“Attend a meeting with government, the National transport Commission or industry in general and more often than not there is some reference to assistance given willingly by Bill Manton from Simon National Carriers. Bill is a true and respected ambassador for our industry.”
The operations supervisor at Russell Transport, Shane Warmus, was presented with the Young Achiever Award.
Warmus has been in the supervisor’s chair for the past two years, and QTA recognised him for his skill in ensuring Russell Transport remains safe and compliant. Warmus is due to begin a leadership development program next year.
Meanwhile, Lowes Petroleum Service scored the People Leadership Excellence Award for providing career opportunities and vocational training to its employees and the broader industry.
The company runs the Lowes Career Plus Program and its own registered training organisation, and the QTA says Lowes has fostered a culture of learning and development to help staff reach their potential.
“The company’s philosophy is based on safety and wellbeing incorporating a balance between work, family and relationship commitments,” the QTA says.
Barry Ferguson from Transport and Main Roads won the Industry Excellence Award. It is only the third time in the 21-year history of the awards a person who is not directly employed in or by the trucking industry has been given the prize.
The QTA recognised Ferguson for developing an open and honest relationship with the industry, raising the profile of road freight and managing the state’s multi-million dollar rest area program.
The QTA says Ferguson has demonstrated a willingness to listen to industry’s concerns and deliver on-the-ground results.
“Barry has always maintained strong links to industry not only through forums such as the Road Freight Industry Council and the Queensland Transport and Logistics Council, but also by visiting operators on site and on road ,” the QTA says.
“He undertakes his work with industry in a quiet and unassuming manner but always displaying a level of competence and a ‘can do’ attitude second to none.”