Kelvin Baxter
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at ReUnion 2015.
Kelvin (Kel) Samual Baxter was born in Deniliquin, New South Wales in October 1951. In 1968 Kelvin began his driving career behind the wheel of his father’s 1938 Bedford five ton tipper delivering grain off farm during harvest. His first truck, an Acco 653 twin steer was followed by a Bedford 653 single drive semi. In 1984 with these two trucks Kel Baxter, George Fenton and Fred Driscoll began interstate farm freight to Melbourne; it was the start of Baxter Transport. In 1990, Kel Baxter purchased his first Kenworth; it was a K123 cabover powered by a BT903 Cummins.
Today Kel Baxter operates a fleet of 32 Kenworth trucks carrying all the various grains, fertilizer, gypsum, mineral sand, cotton seed, fruit, coal, hay and briquettes. Farm tracks, dirt roads and highways take Baxter trucks to all areas of Australia though predominantly the Eastern States. He is proud of his workforce, including good friend Tommy Antoniou, who is Kel’s longest serving driver of 21 years.
Kelvin has played an active role in industry issues including sitting on the Australian Transport Association Committee in 1994. Kel was also instrumental in opening the way for road train access at Rice Recievals. This required dealings with Wagga Wagga RTA and Southern New South Wales Shires. Kel continues to push for improved conditions in the industry as a whole. Kel and his trucks were also involved in B-Triple trials in Victoria and he has been instrumental in introducing AB-Triples and B-Triples into regional New South Wales.
Kel has been on the NATRoad Board since December 2008. He is a Committee Member of the Roadtrain and High Productivity Freight Vehicle Committee. Kel was involved in conducting the Darwin 2013 NATRoad Annual Conference, his knowledge of water issues and farming being of great benefit.
Kel has had a long and productive association in Livestock and Bulk Carriers Association, A.O.S & Trucking Association and Australian Trucking Association. It is well known that he seems to “love the battle” and is always at the ready to stand up for the rights of the trucking industry. He thoroughly enjoys what he is doing.
Where Kel played with trucks in the sand as a boy, an office complex stands today overseeing an 18,500 acre mixed farming enterprise and Baxter Transports Pty Ltd employing 60 staff.