• About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • List Stock
Sunday, June 22, 2025
Newsletter
SUBSCRIBE
MARKETPLACE
  • News
    • Mobile Assets
    • Corporate Affairs
    • Logistics & Supply Chain
    • Compliance/Risk Management
    • Truck drivers
    • Global Transport News
    • New Technology
  • Features
    • Fleets in Focus
    • Truck Builds
    • New Power Generation
    • Fuels & Lubricants
    • Telematics
  • Industry
    • Editor Note
    • Events
    • Product of the Month
  • Test Drive
    • Heavy Duty
    • Medium Duty
    • Light Duty
    • Vans
  • Profiles
    • Personality Q&A
    • Movers & Shakers
  • PBS
    • Roadtrains
    • A-doubles
    • B-triple
    • HPVs
  • Industry insiders
    • ARTSA Insight
    • TIC Insight
    • VTA Insight
    • NatRoad Insight
    • ATA Insight
    • NHVR Insight
  • Delivery
    • Last mile logistics
    • E-commerce
No Results
View All Results
  • News
    • Mobile Assets
    • Corporate Affairs
    • Logistics & Supply Chain
    • Compliance/Risk Management
    • Truck drivers
    • Global Transport News
    • New Technology
  • Features
    • Fleets in Focus
    • Truck Builds
    • New Power Generation
    • Fuels & Lubricants
    • Telematics
  • Industry
    • Editor Note
    • Events
    • Product of the Month
  • Test Drive
    • Heavy Duty
    • Medium Duty
    • Light Duty
    • Vans
  • Profiles
    • Personality Q&A
    • Movers & Shakers
  • PBS
    • Roadtrains
    • A-doubles
    • B-triple
    • HPVs
  • Industry insiders
    • ARTSA Insight
    • TIC Insight
    • VTA Insight
    • NatRoad Insight
    • ATA Insight
    • NHVR Insight
  • Delivery
    • Last mile logistics
    • E-commerce
No Results
View All Results
Home Blogs Ed's Letter

Angle of Repose

by William Craske
August 12, 2024
in Australian roadtrains, Ed's Letter, Industry, Livestock carriers
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
Animal warning signs along the Nullarbor Plain, Camels, Wombats and Kangaroos are often seen at the side of the highway or crossing the highway in South Australia. Image: Phil/stock.adobe.com

Animal warning signs along the Nullarbor Plain, Camels, Wombats and Kangaroos are often seen at the side of the highway or crossing the highway in South Australia. Image: Phil/stock.adobe.com

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The outback truck driver will, as a matter of course, encounter wildlife. Not all of it native.

It’s not uncommon in Central Australia to come across camels left by the side of the road after one of these encounters, usually in pairs, felled most likely by roadtrains that have little to no chance of stopping at short notice.

A chartered flight over Lake Eyre following seasonal rains will reveal many surprises.

From the broad scope of the inland sea, the majestic landscapes and mercurial topography including those parts where crustaceans have pooled in bright pigments to the vast tracks that dissolve into the horizon made by camels.

The feral camel population in Australia is up for debate. Some resources claim it is over 300,000. The Northern Territory Government reports it as being closer to one million.

Whatever the correct figure, it’s a lasting reminder that these ships of the desert were once valuable mobile assets used for long haul travel and transportation into the foreboding interiors of the continent.

First introduced into Australia from the Canary Islands in 1840, the one-humped dromedary now found across large parts of Central Australia, was used by Afghan cameleers who helped establish camel-breeding stations and rest-house outposts, known as caravanserai, throughout inland Australia.

These linked the remote cattle and sheep grazing stations to the coastal cities where the likes of the Burke and Wills exploration party set out from Melbourne with a camel train of 26.

The role of George James Landell, who was in charge of the camels, an early precursor to today’s fleet manager, was so vital he was ranked Second in Command.

With the exception of 15 tonnes to be shipped by way of Adelaide and the Murray River, the 12-month worth of stores occupied six wagons, three of which belonged to the expedition, with one of these being unfastened from its bed, as was described on 21 August, 1860 by the Argus newspaper, to “be used as a flat bottomed boat, and will therefore be useful for crossing the streams which may be met with during the progress.”

Versatility in action. Should sickness visit the party, invalids were to be accommodated by the shelter of a pannier contrivance suited to the camel’s back.

“Each beast of burden, by having provided for it a waterproof covering, lined with flannel, will be protected when stationary from the injurious effects of adverse weather, and by the supply for each camel of two sets of shoes,” the Argus continued “each made of several folds of leather and shod with iron, the difficulties attending the travelling on stony ground will be overcome.”

One day and 12 years later, nearly one hundred camels helped complete the construction of the Overland Telegraph Line between Adelaide and Darwin.

By 1907, the British had already imported some 20,000 camels into Australia, largely from India, Afghanistan and other parts of the Empire.

There’s a remarkable photo taken in 1928 of a camel train in Kalgoorlie moving a house. Not for the first time, either.

As each animal can carry up to 600 kilograms, camels were loaded with supplies, mineral ores, wool bales, construction materials and barrels of water.

This made them not only pivotal in exploration and communications, but crucial to settlement especially in those areas where the climate is too harsh for horses. Or following a Black Swan event a century later – perish the thought – for trucks.

Should our lean oil stocks run dry and our grid go down, take comfort, if you dare, that in outlawing the live export of our thriving herds there’s a vast reserve fleet out there roaming the deserts.

View livestock trucks for sale and support your transportation needs.
Premium Ad
5

$96,800

2007 NISSAN PK215

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Class: Livestock Truck
  • » Stock Number: S129
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Toowoomba, QLD

07 3177 4831
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
3
Private Advertiser

$190,000

2012 MACK METRO-LINER LIVESTOCK TRUCK

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Class: Livestock Truck
  • » Kms: 300,000
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Lithgow, NSW

**** *** 632
MORE DETAILS
5

$96,800

2007 NISSAN PK215

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Class: Livestock Truck
  • » Stock Number: S110
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Melbourne, VIC

03 9999 8593
MORE DETAILS
5

$96,800

2007 NISSAN PK215

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Class: Livestock Truck
  • » Stock Number: S112
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Sydney, NSW

Location marker The shape of a location marker

Delivery Australia Wide

02 8999 4362
MORE DETAILS
103

$187,000

2013 HINO 700 SERIES - SS

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Class: Livestock Truck
  • » With Work Available: No
  • » Drive: 6x4
  • » Kms: 442,651
  • » Stock Number: S624
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Forbes, NSW

02 9064 7644
MORE DETAILS
4

$174,000

2004 VOLVO FM9

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Class: Livestock Truck
  • » Drive: 6x4
  • » Kms: 212,337
  • » Stock Number: EMUS TS836
Location marker The shape of a location marker
Please check description for location
07 3171 1050
MORE DETAILS

Related Posts

Streetlights without power against a full moon at dusk.

Dark Ages

by William Craske
June 12, 2025

Late April. Summer in the trade winds. The planes have been grounded. Air traffic control is silent. The trains are...

Kenworth C509 roadtrain at work for MLG.

MLG secures maiden contract with Rio Tinto

by Staff Writer
May 28, 2025

Western Australian resources-aligned company, MLG, will commence execution of its first contract with Rio Tinto. MLG will be engaged to...

The driver is alerted they are at the maximum tilt limit.

Ex Machina

by Sean Gustini
May 19, 2025

Since 2003, MTData has worked to service Australia’s transport operators and logistics providers with telematics and safety services, adapting to...

Join our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.
As a prominent platform in Australian commercial road transport, Prime Mover showcases the trailblazing operators, products and personalities across an wide-reaching national industry and provides exposure to executives, fleet managers and other key decision makers on the supply chain who have the buying power to help grow your business.

Subscribe to our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.

About Prime Mover

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Latest Magazine
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Collection Notice
  • Privacy Policy

Popular Topics

  • Industry News
  • Features
  • Test Drive
  • Mindset
  • Product
  • Profile
  • Insight
  • Resources

Our TraderAds Network

  • Arbor Age
  • Australian Car Mechanic
  • Australian Mining
  • Australian Resources & Investment
  • Big Rigs
  • Bulk Handling Review
  • Bus News
  • Cranes & Lifting
  • Earthmoving Equipment Magazine
  • EcoGeneration
  • Energy Today
  • Food & Beverage
  • Fully Loaded
  • Global Trailer
  • Inside Construction
  • Inside Waste
  • Inside Water
  • Landscape Contractor Magazine
  • Manufacturers' Monthly
  • MHD Supply Chain
  • National Collision Repairer
  • OwnerDriver
  • Power Torque
  • Prime Mover Magazine
  • Quarry
  • Roads Online
  • Rail Express
  • Safe To Work
  • The Australian Pipeliner
  • Trade Earthmovers
  • Trade Farm Machinery
  • Trade Plant Equipment
  • Trade Trucks
  • Trade Unique Cars
  • Tradie Magazine
  • Trailer Magazine
  • Trenchless Australasia
  • Waste Management Review

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited

No Results
View All Results
NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE
MARKETPLACE
  • News
    • Mobile Assets
    • Corporate Affairs
    • Logistics & Supply Chain
    • Compliance/Risk Management
    • Truck drivers
    • Global Transport News
    • New Technology
  • Features
    • Fleets in Focus
    • Truck Builds
    • New Power Generation
    • Fuels & Lubricants
    • Telematics
  • Industry
    • Editor Note
    • Events
    • Product of the Month
  • Test Drive
    • Heavy Duty
    • Medium Duty
    • Light Duty
    • Vans
  • Profiles
    • Personality Q&A
    • Movers & Shakers
  • PBS
    • Roadtrains
    • A-doubles
    • B-triple
    • HPVs
  • Industry insiders
    • ARTSA Insight
    • TIC Insight
    • VTA Insight
    • NatRoad Insight
    • ATA Insight
    • NHVR Insight
  • Delivery
    • Last mile logistics
    • E-commerce
  • About Us
  • Advertise with Prime Mover
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Prime Mover
  • Sell and Hire Trucks

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited

  1. Australian Truck Radio Listen Live