Frank Formosa
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at ReUnion 2010.
Frank Formosa left school at 13 and drove his first truck, an old Chev Mapleleaf table-top, to cart feed bags around his parent's poultry farm. Frank got his driver's licence in 1960 and his truck licence in 1963. He has been driving trucks for over 50 years. He was self-employed some years and working for a boss at other times. Frank has experienced the highs and lows of road transport in Australia over these past 50 years.
He started work with Donato Transport (Sammy Donato) around 1965 driving trailers with long and wide loads and jinkers, old trucks with lots of break downs. Frank started a long tradition of 'always being able to get his truck back home'. His driving history includes: driving Sydney,Canberra overnight express, then table top with dog trailer around outer western Sydney.
Frank had a banana carrying business in Coffs Harbor with a Ford F600 table top, then casual local and interstate driving for Lindsay Bros Transport including long and wide loads, low loader, fuel tanker and recovery work. He also did earthmoving with a Leyland Tipper and Acco low loader float work.
Frank became a top class Drott operator but his first love always remains truck driving. Next he was carting hanging meat from Dorrigo Abattoir with a Kenworth 8 wheeler. He returned to casual work driving log trucks then went interstate Melbourne to Brisbane.
He moved to Penrith and drove semi tippers, then went back to excavation work operating a CAT 943 and driving Mercedes, Acco, Mack and Kenworth low loaders for 10 years. He delivered cut flowers in western Sydney for 3 years, returned to excavations and drove a Kenworth low loader followed by a 3 years stint driving Volvo tipper trailers on demolition work. Frank is now working for Jeffsann Plant Hire operating a Caterpillar 953 and driving Mack trucks and dog tippers.
Frank's contribution to road transport in Australia is his versatility and strong work ethic. In 2010 Frank is 67 still working and still driving trucks!
