Brian Hicks

Brian Hicks commenced in the transport industry in 1968 in the small community of Koyuga near Echuca in northern Victoria. His passion for the industry was developed while living and working on a farm, carting his own hay and produce. An additional truck was purchased in 1981 when he employed his first full time driver and extended into providing interstate services.

In 1989, Brian and his wife Lorna took an opportunity to purchase P. Pullar Transport and moved to Cobram, selling the farm and taking his family 100 kms east along the Murray River.

Sadly in 1993, Brian's eldest son Leigh was tragically killed in a trucking accident on the Hume Highway aged 19, working in the family business. Over the coming years, Brian and Lorna grew Brian Hicks Transport significantly, purchasing three more local businesses in 2000 and 2001.

Another heart breaking event took place in 2002 when Brian lost his wife Lorna to Motor Neurone Disease. Since then Brian branched out into produce, specialising in refrigerated market services and extended into storage and cool-room facilities. He next put his footprint on the Shepparton region when he purchased WB Hunter Transport in 2008 which later became Hicks Hunter Transport. Brian Hicks Transport then took over the operation of Hicks Hunter Transport and at the same time changed the name to Hicks Transport Group.

Brian has given a significant amount of his time to the transport industry. He was a Director on the Board of NatRoad for eight years and on the Board of Directors of the Transport Industry Superannuation Fund for five years.

Today Brian owns 49 trucks and has 63 employees, with depots in Cobram, Shepparton, Yarrawonga, Melbourne and Sydney. His business continues to operate as a family business with two of his children working alongside him, Warren as CEO and Naomi has returned on a part time basis. The company continues to experience significant growth and Brian has developed into a highly respected and trusted Australian transport operator.

Brian has always been heavily involved in supporting his local community, having been President of Cobram Kiwanis and President of Fundraising for Ottery Homes for two years and he has also joined the Rotary Club. Brian has also been on local Football Club committees, the Cobram Development Inc. Committee and is involved in the Truck Drivers Memorial at Tarcutta.

Brian's giving nature doesn't end there. He regularly donates his equipment to transport goods for community and fundraising events and he repeatedly gives sponsorship to local sporting clubs, schools, groups and people in need.