Kenneth Hoiles

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunion 2012.

Ken Hoiles got his start in the trucking industry in 1976 when he started driving trucks for Linfox on local deliveries. He later moved on to Wettenhalls and then to Stevenson Transport where he worked for 24 years hauling fuel and bitumen tankers. When Cootes Holdings Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of ION limited) acquired all shares in Stevensons in 2003 Ken went with the sale. The business became IES and in 2012 Ken is still driving there hauling Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) tankers.

Ken is known throughout the industry as a loyal, dedicated and conscientious worker but he is also a dedicated family man. Although he spends much time away from his family during the week he is always home on Saturdays to watch his offspring play sport. The job has not always been easy for Ken. He burnt his face and arms with bitumen in 1988 and a car driver suicided under his truck in 1993. Despite the traumas Ken picked himself up and was back on the road as soon as possible. He loves the open road and has made many friends. For the last five years Ken has driven the snow runs and has been caught in blizzards, broken snow chains and has been hauled to safety by a snow plough. He has been stranded on ice unable to get assistance. Although at times he found this frustrating and stressful he is grateful for the improvement in comfort and safety in today's trucks on wider roads. Ken believes that the improvement in on-board communication has made it much easier to get assistance in emergency situations.

Ken Hoiles has driven interstate for over 30 years of the 36 years he has been a truck driver. His family is very proud of him and believes he is very deserving of being inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame.