Ian (Bugs) Porter

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunion 2011.

Ian Porter started driving roadtrains as an offsider in 1976 with Geoff Hanson in southwest Queensland, Quilpie, carting cattle. Ian obtained a special licence because he was underage and had a passion to drive the roadtrains. This licence was only to drive trucks.
Ian's first truck was an 84 International, with two single deck cattle crates. After loading his truck, Ian used to, "scoot off down the track" to "boil the billy and cook a feed" for the following drivers. He then progressed to a Diamond Reo with two double-deckers with single pointer trailers. Geoff Hanson sold out to the McIvor Brothers and Ian went with the business. The McIvor brothers bought new equipment. This was when Ian started pulling triple double-decker trailers. He was with the McIvor brothers for nine years.Ian headed north to cart cattle for Roads Trains of Australia (RTA), and carted throughout the  Northern Territory, North Queensland and northern Western Australia for seven years.Then he started carting fuel for AFD. This was when Ian started pulling quad road trains. He worked for AFD for seven years. He then swapped to Northfuels for a further seven years. Ian trained numerous "new starters" to drive road trains and how to cart fuel correctly during this period. During his time with Northfuels, Ian liaised with Peter Goed, trying to improve roads and suggesting locations to build new parking bays capable of handling triple and quad road trains. Ian arrived at Newman, in Western Australia and worked for G & S Transport driving triple side tippers and carting quarry products for one year. He retired from roadtrains and is employed by BHP Iron Ore in Newman as a fuel controller.