Max McGrath

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunion 2007.

Max McGrath started driving for M&L Transport. He had spent 18 months there when a chap named Kevin Davies asked him to travel with him on three trips in seven days from Sydney to Dubbo driving a little Commer. After a few months Max was upgraded to an R7 Commer which was a tray-top with lazy axles.

Then Max went to a Commer Knocker, which, in its day, was a mighty nice old lorry. He used to do  three trips a week to Dubbo; loaded to the hilt going out and a 50% payload coming back.

Then Max got a job on interstate carting general to Melbourne and produce back, (about 12 tonne a load) in a Q-model Dodge with a Perkins and a 28' trailer. The boss liked produce because it was cash on the return of dockets. He then scored a job driving a long-nose Mack carting cornflakes to Melbourne and cars home.

He stayed with that company for about 12 months then he got a job driving a Knocker for Doug Hopewell carting weekly books such as Woman's Day and other publications. Max stayed 12 months with Doug. Max then started with PA Best on one of the heavy loaders with furnace coke to Adelaide, backloading with salt. He liked to put plenty on the bogie. He also had two R190 Internationals powered by Cummins engines. Max also drove a variety of Mack models including the A51 B61s. He was never let down with a Mack at that time. Narrandera to Renmark was dirt so when it rained he would travel the Murray Valley Rd. In 1966 Max decided to give interstate away. He found a job with Ready-Mix Concrete pulling a cement tanker. It was a good job and it lasted 30 years. He retired due to a heart attack.