Kable Les

Les Kable was just 16 years of age when his passion for driving trucks was born. He became a regular designated driver for his uncle. After the pair would hand load the truck they would stop off at the local for an extended lunch and Les would drive the 760 Dodge home. 

By 1968 Les was driving for Doug James Grain Finley in an International ACCO. After a couple of years driving for Doug James, a down turn in work occurred and Les went to work for the local Water Commision. In 1972 Les moved to Shepparton and was employed at the Ampol Depot in Hayes St as a local delivery driver in an International C-Line. In 1974 he started work at the Ibis Milk factory in Shepparton as a milk tanker driver. In 1977 Les was working at Midland Milk in Shepparton with deliveries that spanned across most Northern Victorian towns.

In 1978 Les took a job with Ardmona Cannery in Mooroopna where he drove for the next 25 years. He drove a Gardner 180 powered Atkinson which he shared with another driver. In those busy early days there were two drivers, one truck with two trailers per truck. 

"It was a quick hitch, driver swap and the truck would keep moving making daily deliveries to Melbourne and later Sydney and Adelaide" 

Les did a lot of seasonal cartage from surrounding fruit growing areas such as Cobram and Kyabram to the cannery and moved Brights (unlabelled cans) to local outside storage. Les resigned in 2005 to move to Brisbane where he worked for Linfox as a forklift driver before he commenced as a driver for Linfox. He carted packaged beer and kegs from Castlemaine Perkins XXXX Brewery in Milton to the Bond store in Hendra right up until his retirement in April 2016.

Les' love of the transport industry is evident when he takes part in the Brisbane COnvoy for Kids. On weekends Les enjoys helping his son doing the occasional Brisbane - Melbourne trip. There is no doubt Les trucking in his blood.