There are few opportunities for the trucking industry to get some real good news out there about the trucking industry, or more importantly, about the people in the industry. The International Truck, Trailer and Equipment Show, in Melbourne this week, is a chance for the industry to get together and show the world what it is really made of.
The award for the Highway Guardian, given to Brad Morrison is a case in point. The kind of heroism show by Brad is an inspiration to us all. A constant nightmare for truckies on the road is coming around a bend and finding the kind of scene Brad describes. Spending our lives on the road we have to be prepared, mentally, to handle situations like these and do the right thing when needed.
Brad clearly acted without thinking too hard about it, his reactions are those of someone who cares and has the kind of humble courage we admire. He is something special, but it is not unusual for people involved in the industry to go out of their way to do the right thing.
Just a few metres from the presentation to Brad at the show were two more examples of the kind of spirit the trucking industry should be publicising to the general community about.
The Trans-help vans are regulars at any event where the industry gets together. Trans-help and its founder Dianne Carroll have come a long way from their beginnings, helping truck drivers deal with their health and well-being issues. This week they announced the start of working relationship with GP2U Telehealth who are specialists in providing online video consultations for those in need of flexible access to healthcare.
Just around the corner from Dianne and her volunteers at the ITTES is Craig Membrey and the latest addition to his fleet, Membrey’s Transport and Crane Hire. It’s a special edition Kenworth T909 Director Series truck painted up in memory of Craig’s son Rowan, who was lost to suicide just three years ago. Rowan had suffered from a series of bouts of depression before his death, at 17.
“Two years ago I started this journey of helping this great organisation, Beyond Blue, to get the message out to the public,” said Craig. “Clinical depression can happen to the best of us. That’s why it’s important to let these people know that there is help out there.”
Here are just three people, just like you and me, who have stepped up to the plate when needed, or when they felt strongly enough about something. It should be our job, as an industry to get a positive message out about trucking and the people involved. Starting with these three as examples, and there are many more, road transport needs to show its human face a lot more to counteract the ongoing negativity the tabloid media love so much.
