Frank Amoroso
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at ReUnion 2008.
Frank 'Franger' Amoroso was born in Melbourne, the son of an Italian immigrant family of six children. Frank hated school and was granted an exemption at the age of 13. If he had been able he would have taken a truck driver's job on then, but he couldn't see over the steering wheel.
He started working for his brother, Pasquale as a diesel mechanic and then lied about his age to secure a job with Kadima Transport driving interstate at only 18 in a rigid Bedford van on the Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane run.
In 1975 he left Kadima and drove interstate in a Ford Louisville for his brother. In 1979 he purchased his first truck (a Ford Louisville) and commenced interstate operation again carrying general freight and parcels. After crashing the Ford he rebuilt it and called it 'HOG HEAVEN' because he was always accused of being a male chauvinist pig. His first trading name was Frank Amoroso Trucking Enterprises but following his marriage to Marie in 1982, it became FATE Express Pty Ltd.
His next truck was a new Ford LNT in 1982, which he converted to a unique LTL. Sadly he lost both a good friend and employee Ian (Gobby) McDonald, and his beloved truck, in a tragedy on the Hume Highway near Yass in 1987. For the next 18 years Frank worked for Mayne Nickless and Sky Roads in the express freight division and in 1988 he took up the third love of his life, truck racing. His first race truck was one of the road fleet, a Kenworth Aerodyne that he would race on the weekends and head to work with on Mondays. Frank now has two trucks in his racing fleet; a Diamond Reo and a Kenworth W-model.
Frank also has a reputation as a practical joker who loves a prank and alway has a story to tell. After a few years subcontracting out of Palmtrans, Frank and Marie decided to give away interstate and secured a work contract in the recycling business.
Poor health has forced him to reluctantly take on more of an administrative role and, alongside his wife Marie, he remains a director of the FATE Group of companies