Stephen Atkins

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame in 2023.

Stephen Elroy Atkins was born in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales in 1944. Stephen, growing up in the pioneer logging town of Dorrigo, started out working in Briggsville with his father, who was a truck driver within the Briggsvale sawmill Cascade. Stephen first stepped into an ex-army Ford Blitz at 15 years of age. He then worked his way into cranes, getting his tickets to become a dogman, rigger, and eventually a crane operator.

After working for G.L Briggs and Sons for many years, Stephen moved into interstate general freight driving for White and Andrews of Nambucca Heads, New South Wales, in an International for three years. This marked the beginning of his interstate truck driving career.

In the next chapter of his transport career, a job offer was made by Highway Haulage Pty Ltd, Pymble, Sydney. Stephen started on the 13th of April 1969, driving primarily Sydney to Brisbane carting general freight and driving tankers for Arthur H Gillott. During this period, Stephen drove ERF, Atkinson, Peterbilt cab overs but spent most of his time in the beloved Kenworth K series.

The time at Highway Haulage was the highlight of Stephen's career. He had a close bond and friendship with his boss, Arthur H Gillott of Highway Haulage. Stephen became Arthur’s most valued driver. Stephen even got to pose in a Kenworth advertisement with Arthur Gillott. While working for Highway Haulage on the old Pacific Highway the drivers of Highway Haulage were bound to curfews of driving daytime hours only, but Stephen always had an exemption from Arthur.

On the 19th of April 1984, Stephen decided to end the interstate work and stay closer to home, working for Monro Earthmoving of Nambucca Heads. He drove everything from truck and dogs to oversize floats and was also tasked with operating front-end loaders and excavators.

Now in retirement, Stephen still has a large interest in road transport and trucks, along with his youngest son Daniel, who also worked in the transport industry previously. Stephen tends to read up on the modern-day era of trucks, keeps an eye out for any Kenworth cab overs, and loves to read and reminisce on his trucking career. Stephen has been an inspiration to his children and family.