A new service centre at Barnawartha aims to combat fatigue on the Murray Valley Highway and Hume Freeway.
A fatigue management centre opened at Barnawartha North last month and the 24-hour BP service centre is looking for feedback from truck drivers.
Located at the Logic Centre in North Barnawartha, the truck stop is 15km south of Wodonga on the Murray Valley Highway – just off the Hume Freeway. It is near Woolworths’ distribution centre.
The facility has parking for 45 trucks and an 18-bay trailer exchange. Truck drivers can fuel up at the BP fuel station, shop at the convenience store, shower, use laundry facilities, watch television in the truckies’ lounge, grab some fast-food or enjoy a home-style meal.
Owner//Driver visited the truck stop recently and spoke to Glenn Sullivan and Tammy Millican from the Spargo Group. They are fine-tuning services to ensure truckies’ needs are met.
A problem with the truckies’ showers was being fixed, Wi-Fi was about to be installed and preparations were being made for the construction of a weighbridge.
Sullivan says some roadhouses hide truck driver facilities out the back, but at Barnawartha they are “front and centre”.
A servery in the truckies’ lounge ensures truck drivers don’t have to queue with the general public for their Café One meals.
Many truckies will appreciate the home-style meals on the Café One menu. Options are as varied as sandwiches, fruit salad, steak and roasts.
Fast food is also an option. Hungry Jack’s opened last week and a Subway is expected to open in September.
Millican says early feedback has been positive and drivers are leaving happy, rested and full.
See the October issue of Owner//Driver for a full review.
Photography: Tamara Whitsed