John Edmonds

John Edmonds was 41 years in the transport industry which began when he started working with his father at Coniston Trading Company in Wollongong delivering local building supplies. His father Harry, taught him to drive in an old Dodge prime mover and was subsequently a big influence on John's involvement in the industry.

John's first truck driving job began in 1973 delivering alcohol for Sydney-Wollongong Transport in a four tonne International van. Sydney-Wollongong Transport was eventually bought out by Heggies and he continued to drive for them, carting beer and later coal. John has also carted steel interstate for Robinsons Transport and DMKT Transport driving his Ford Louisville with a black 400 Cummins with a big cam three and a White Road Commander with a VT903.

At 21 years of age, John purchased his first truck in 1976, a Ford D600 rigid with a 351 V8 petrol motor and began carting timber for Timhar at Warrawong. He pulled a fuel tanker for Teraco Transport in a Volvo for eight years and then drove interstate for five years in a White Road Commander pulling a flat top carting general freight.

Over the years, John has driven local for different companies such as McCabe Transport, Pendred Transport, Ross Transport, Renton Refrigeration Transport and spent seven years driving for Fife Transport carting general freight, gravel and fertiliser in a Kenworth 601. John has been driving on and off for 20 years for Renton Refrigeration when things were quiet and would like to thank Dennis and Liz Renton for their support during these times.

With his wife Maxine, between them they have nine children, three of which are involved in the transport industry. John is currently working for Bulk Trans driving a Western Star with a 620 Cummins, pulling roadtrains and B-doubles carting coal from West Cliff mines to Blue Scope in Port Kembla. John still enjoys getting up for work every day and can't imagine doing anything else. Road transport has literally been his life's work.