Ian Webber says trucking is more fun when his wife Nola travels with him in his 2017 Mercedes-Benz Actros 2663
Ian and Nola Webber of Wingham, New South Wales, have made a great team during the 30 years they have been in business. “She does the books and I do the driving,” says Ian whose regular run is on the Pacific Highway between Taree and Brisbane.
Nola has had plenty to keep her busy during their 42-year marriage. In addition to her duties as a mother and grandmother, she has worked as a seamstress, secretary and in a jewellery store.
But now she prefers to spend her spare time in the passenger seat of their 2017 Mercedes-Benz Actros 2663. “I get to see the countryside and go to places I haven’t been before,” Nola says.
Ian likes the arrangement too, and suspects the comfort of the Actros makes Nola want to spend more time on the road with him. “Now she comes for a ride and I can’t get her out. It’s good to have her company.”
“We’ve just got a couple of loyal customers, and look after them,” Ian says. Taree and Wingham Produce has been loyal to the Webbers for 30 years. And Ian has serviced Machin’s Sawmill at Wingham for a decade.
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He carts hardwood timber from the saw mill to Sydney, Newcastle, Central Coast and occasionally Brisbane. And he brings stockfeed back to Taree for the produce store.
They stop at BP roadhouses along the way, and enjoy ocean views near Coffs Harbour and Woolgoolga while they travel.
Spending time in the truck helps Nola understand why Ian has loved his 40-year trucking career. “He enjoys his work. He likes what he does. He likes the people he works for. He likes the places that he goes to. While he’s happy doing what he does, I guess he’ll just continue to do it.”
Read the full story in the September issue of Owner//Driver.