David Franklin

David Franklin, known as Dave,  was born one of twins in  September 1954 in Adelaide, South Australia.   For a number of years his father and older brother drove medium rigid trucks for a living. Young Dave took every opportunity to accompany his dad in the truck, learning as much as possible from him.

Leaving school in 1969, Dave undertook an apprenticeship as a boilermaker/welder, manufacturing fuel tankers for road transport.  At the age of 20, he started with Pearce Transport on torklift rigids and tippers but after two years, joined John Dring, driving semi-trailers on local and interstate runs.  Dave’s early years of driving saw him doing general deliveries, bulk tanker (liquid sugar) and pneumatic cement tanker work.     

In 1986 he joined BP Australia as a fuel tanker driver on semi’s and B-doubles which he did for 13 years until BP outsourced their fuel distribution.  In 1996 and 1999 Dave was a finalist representing South Australia in the BP “Driver of the Year” Competition, a highlight of his career.  For a number of years, he also donated his time to join in the “Truck Convoy for Kids”, a fundraiser for sick kids which he found very fulfilling. From 1999 to 2006, Dave worked for contractors of BP and Liberty and for a time was the in-house driver trainer.     

In 2006 Dave undertook training to become a Heavy Vehicle Instructor which he did for the next ten years.  Mainly employed at the Transport Training Centre in Adelaide, Dave managed heavy vehicle training up to MC class, legislation and most facets of driver training. On the side, he did fuel deliveries on a casual basis. 

Dave is currently employed part-time by Hoad Water Transport delivering spring water in a semi-tanker – a great position to scale down, looking towards retirement.  His wife, Rosemary, accompanies him on the occasional country trip.  

Over the years Dave has driven a mixture of European and American vehicles which he has looked after as though they were his own. He is proud of his career and the many friends he has made in the transport industry which has spanned some 50 years and millions of kilometres.  Dave plans to spend his retirement travelling Australia with Rosemary, in one of his hot rods and caravan with no work diaries or time frames to worry about!                                                                              

Inducted in 2021