Eddie Borchard

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at ReUnion 2010.

Edward James Borchard was born in Nyah West in Victoria's Mallee.  As managing director of EJ Borchard & Sons Pty Ltd Eddie drives full time for his family business with wife Joyce and two of his sons, Lawrence and Russell.

Eddie has always had a passion for trucking.  Leaving school at 14 he held several different jobs. He worked in a garage and in a vineyard before working with his brothers carting livestock.  Here he drove his first truck, a F600 Ford towing a 34 Ft 2 Deck sheep crate.  After driving for Beggs Transport in 1965 and for his brothers again, he took a break from trucking.  In 1974 he started driving for SwanLine Transport and then for Tom Corridan.  In January 1979 he purchased his first truck, a 1418 Benz, starting his own business.

In 1981 the Benz was traded on a brand new International S-Line which he drove for many years carting grapes, hay, grain and livestock. Two sons wanted to drive so he bought a pre-owned 1990 International Transtar known as 'Spook', and a 1995 International Transtar purchased in 1997. He then purchased a 1996 International Transtar which replaced the S-Line in 1999.

In 2005 as the business grew two brand new Kenworths, a 604 and a K104, replaced two Transtars. In 2006 Eddie traded his Transtar for a secondhand 904 Kenworth.  It's his favourite truck of all and he will be driving it until retirement.  This year another two brand new 908 Kenworths were delivered replacing the 604 & 104.

Eddie's preference in trucks was always International Transtars and still would be if they were still being manufactured. He believes this truck was ideally built for Australian conditions and long unsealed roads. 

Eddie has achieved so much in his life having run a successful business that has grown from single trailers to B-doubles and roadtrains while still proving that a trucker can have a close and devoted family.  He is one of the most caring livestock carriers any farmer could wish for.