For the fifth consecutive year, regional fuel distributor and transporter Lowes Petroleum has recognised the professionalism of their drivers from Far North Queensland to Tasmania with their annual awards.
The company delivers millions of litres of fuel every year to country Australia, through its network of over 250 drivers.
General Manager of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Bernie Morris said while every driver made a commitment to best-practice standards: it was important to recognise those going above and beyond in their day-to-day deliveries.
Mr Morris said including measures such as drive-cam reviews and fatigue-management compliance into the judging criteria, showed the company reinforced safety was a core value rather than a box to tick.
“Our Professional Driver Awards also shine a light on the commitment of the drivers working to the betterment of the trucking industry as a profession,” Mr Morris said. “They put in long hours and face the realities of rural roads, along with interacting with our customers, so they are very much ambassadors for our company.”
Cairns Region 1 Driver Lincoln Moloney with Bernie Morris – GM HSSE
Drivers are nominated by their peers across the 500 plus staff with nominations more than tripling since their inception in 2021: recognising drivers from the five business regions.
Hillston driver Chris Rhodes received an honourable mention in 2022, but this year was named Professional Driver for region four.
Chris Rhodes as quoted in the story – with Victoria Area Manager – Toby Higgins
“I was very happy to win the award. I do like to go above and beyond – doing things outside just my truck driving,” Mr Rhodes said. “I love driving. I enjoy meeting the customers and if there’s time have a chat, but I really love that the land is always changing. There’s always something new to see, so it’s never boring. This crop might be ready for harvest, or another might paddock might have planting underway – it’s great to see.”
In going above and beyond in his job, Mr Rhodes has even been helicoptered across flood waters, to take over from another driver to continue to deliver fuel: ensuring local farmers could continue to operate when roads were cut for a month.
Mr Morris said the awards continued to have a positive impact on Lowes.
“The transport sector is working hard to create pride in this industry as a profession,” he said. “Collectively the winning drivers chalk up over 100 years of truck driving experience. We see them as role models for younger drivers who can see they have made a good career out of driving.
“We have noticed over the last four to five years not only has the professionalism of our drivers increased but the average age of our driver’s has decreased, which is incredibly important to our business.
“The transport industry faces an ageing workforce nationally. Bringing in younger drivers helps secure long-term capability and reduces the risk of future driver shortages as older drivers retire.
“Lowering the average age of our driver workforce is a significant step in securing the future of our transport operations.
“By bringing more young drivers into the industry, we’re building a sustainable pipeline of talent, strengthening our safety and compliance performance, and encouraging faster adoption of new technologies.
“It also reflects positively on our reputation as an employer that offers strong training pathways and long-term career opportunities. Ultimately, a younger, more diverse driver cohort positions us for greater stability and capability in the years ahead.”
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