Warning: Grumpy vegetables on board

Unhappy vegetables are the freight for Bundaberg Refrigerated Transport's Kenworth T409 B-double combination

Reuben Harrap hauls some of the most interesting freight in Australia – disgruntled vegetables.

However, there’s little chance of suffering indigestion after consuming these tasty morsels.

Driving a Kenworth T409 SAR pulling a 34-pallet B-double combination for Bundaberg Refrigerated Transport, Reuben’s runs can take him anywhere around Australia.

The theme behind the trailers’ livery? Cross Family Farms are one of Bundaberg Refrigerated’s top customers, the clever design featuring unhappy vegetables an extension of the Cross name.

“They’ve taken the Cross theme right through the produce and it attracts a fair bit of attention,” Reuben explains.

The Cross family are Bundaberg growers and were happy to keep the business relationship local by recruiting Bundaberg Refrigerated.

“That’s good for us and keeps us with his freight,” Reuben says. “It’s nice when country people look after the local businesses and, in turn, we give him the very best of service.

“They know that we go direct to wherever they need. Back home the local blokes compete with the bigger boys but we seem to be holding our own quite well.

“It’s all about service, that’s the main thing.”

Reuben says his first time driving a truck was in a Ford LTL with a Cummins 903, traveling out to the mines at Townsville picking up electric motors out of the Haulpaks and taking them back to Mackay to be serviced and overhauled before returning with fresh ones.

“That came after doing seven years in the military; I’ve been driving pretty much ever since.”

The mining downturn has had a big effect on many Queensland companies, so Bundaberg Refrigerated has steered clear of mine work and tippers, specialising in refrigerated goods and some general freight. Its trucks don’t even travel further up the coast than Bundaberg North.

“As soon as we get into Bundy we have our breaks, turn around and head back south,” Reuben says.

Read more of Reuben Harrap in the July 2017 edition of Owner//Driver, on sale July 10.

Photography: Peter Schlenk