Larry Charles
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame in 2022.
Larry William Charles, often known as “Larry Late Freight”, was born in Leeton, New South Wales, in August 1953. Larry’s first introduction to the transport industry was through his dad being in the transport division of the army and his work as a grader operator.
Larry, as a young man, decided to get a truck licence with his first job in the transport industry being a delivery driver for TNT in Melbourne, Victoria. Larry then pursued a career as an interstate as well as a local truck driver. Throughout his working life, he has driven many different trucks from an old 6-cylinder cab-over Merecedes Benz to a Freightliner, Ford LTL, Mack and Kenworth prime movers. Larry has carted many different loads during his time, from produce, general freight and grain to milk tankers.
Larry’s biggest trip was to the Plenty River Mine, near Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, to pick up some equipment for Milbrae Quarries in Leeton. Larry took his wife, Julie, on this very long 5,000-kilometre round trip in a Mack Valueliner that did not have a sleeper bunk. Unable to sleep during the trip, traveling through what she described as “the middle of nowhere” in 40-degree heat, Julie complained of her swollen ankles and sweaty armpits. In the end, Julie made Larry stop and book in at a hotel for a night which meant the trip took an extra day to complete. That was the last big trip Larry ever took Julie on, describing it as being his worst trip!
A highlight of Larry’s career was as one of 32 hand selected drivers from Victoria and South Australia involved in a semi-truck convoy, transporting the first shipment of uranium from Roxby Downs to Port Adelaide in South Australia in the mid 1990’s. The convoy had front and rear police escort the whole way and the Adelaide metro traffic lights were programmed to turn green so the convoy did not have to stop at any intersections. The four-day exercise attracted many protestors and much media attention.
Larry earned his nickname, “Larry Late Freight” because he was generally the last to leave the depot for a job while the other drivers would leave hours earlier. Despite the nickname though, Larry was never late for a job! He would pass the other drivers who would have pulled up for a camp along the road and he would reach their destination on schedule and ahead of them all!
Larry was always happy to lend a helping hand to other drivers and would not hesitate to pull over while out on the road to help anyone in need. This gained him a lot of friends and earned him a lot of respect within the industry.
His career, unfortunately, ended after 38 years due to a sudden mini-stroke which forced him to retire early. Now living in Shepparton, Victoria, Larry is currently battling cancer and enjoys spending his time with Julie, their children and their nine grandchildren.
