Craig Parrey
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame 2023.
Craig Parrey, known as ‘Look’ to his closest personal friends was born in Redfern, New South Wales in 1961. He married young, in 1982, to the love of his life Joanne.
Craig had no family in the transport industry, but in 1975, when he was 14 years old, his best friend, Alan Ross’ family started the transport business, Ross Transport. This is when Craig’s passion for the industry started to shine through. Craig showed an immediate interest in the trucks. Always going to work with Alan and his dad to wash trucks, reline brakes, help load or unload and driving trucks around the yard.
Wanting to spread his wings Craig gained a job driving a heavy rigid Kenworth meat van and worked for Gary Leighton and Don Hollis Timber, before getting his first permanent position with Ross Transport from 1980 until 1986. Craig then returned to them in 1993 where he remains today.
If ever there was an odd job, something the company needed trialled or was unsure about, Craig was there to assist, learn and complete the job safely and efficiently. Craig started off as a local driver then found himself doing permanent interstate running mostly New South Wales to Victoria and anywhere in between. In his later driving years, he joined their tipper division driving a Kenworth T909. Craig was the first driver to drive a B-double for Ross Transport in 1997 and the first to drive a signature engine in a Western Star in Wollongong in 1999.
Craig has experienced every type of job you can think of while working with Ross Transport and always with ease; from washing trucks to accident recovery jobs, oversize loads, special loads, dangerous goods, logging, steel and general freight. Craig now finds himself working as their Workshop Manager but he is still the first to go and do an out of the ordinary load or assist with an accident or incident recovery.
Craig is a quiet achiever but is an absolute asset to the company and the industry as the working knowledge he has is incredible. Craig is always the first one to give advice and share knowledge and there is never a question he can’t answer. He has a love for all trucks but has a special space in his heart for Kenworth’s; his favourite trucks were the T900 he jumped in, in 1995 and the 1979 K125 (FOJ454).
Each year in the i98fm Illawarra Convoy, a local charity event, Craig drives the last Ross Transport Truck, rego number FOJ454 until it was retired. He takes pride in being the last Ross Truck in the parade so he can ensure all their vehicles are in line, in order, bunched together and looking immaculate for the community fundraiser.
Craig has made lifelong friends, including with his mate, Alan Ross from just 9 years of age. He also has close business relationships through his trucking career and doesn’t plan on going anywhere soon!
