Ben Johns from Matthews Petroleum in Warrnambool takes out the $10,000 Scania Truck Driver 2014 Competition prize.
A young Victorian fuel tanker driver has won the Scania Truck Driver 2014 Competition at the Gold Coast.
Ben Johns, 28, drives for Matthews Petroleum in Warrnambool.
Johns was one of 12 finalists who were put through their paces on driving skills and knowledge at the Gold Coast Race Course.
The four main testing sections covered tight forward and reverse manoeuvring, an on-road test also in a Scania prime mover with single trailer, road rules knowledge test and a mock media interview.
“It’s a big shock actually, to be honest,” a modest Johns says.
“I really didn’t think I was up to the standard of the competition.
“Thanks to all the sponsors, thanks to all the other competitors”.
After starting out in logistics, Johns has been driving for seven years, beginning with interstate. He now enjoys being home every night and clearly enjoys driving.
“Hop in the truck in the morning and off you go and no-one bothers you, you just do your own thing,” he says.
Johns’ wife Leisa was on hand to see her husband collect a prize package to the value of $10,000.
This includes an all expenses paid trip to the V8 Supercars in Adelaide next year, $2,500 worth of fuel from Coles Shell and a 50 litre Waeco fridge freezer.
Runner-up was Cameron Henry from Heytesbury Stockfeed in Victoria, with third place going to David Richards from T & M Heavy Mechanical and Site Services in Western Australia.
For full coverage of the Scania driver competition, read the November edition of Owner//Driver. Click here to secure your copy now.