Ian Pearse

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

Ian Robert Pearse has a 50 year career with heavy vehicles having started driving in the bush around Melbourne carting timber for firewood and milling in a Bedford S at 15 years of age.
Ian gained a lot of experience in a short time. He progressed to a Commer Knocker, then to an R190 Inter used to carry the dozers. At smoko one day, Ian overheard someone say workers were needed at the Snowy Mountain Hydro Electric Authority so he fronted up to the employment office in Cooma and put his age up to 21.
He later drove for IPEC Parcel Express between Melbourne and Sydney but he yearned to head north to the sun and surf in Queensland. Ian got a job with Theiss driving to Mt Isa. Later, looking for a new challenge, he took a job with Seismic Supply in the Simpson Desert carrying fuel and supplies for drilling rigs. From there it was on to the Northern Territory and Broome before a stint living in Perth. On returning to Brisbane, Ian worked for Brambles driving a Mack with a low-loader and then drove road trains for Barcoo Transport hauling freight in outback QLD.

Ian finally bought his own truck, an International Transtar. He then bought a Mack Maxidyne for contract tipper work carting grain, fertilizer, gravel and sands. Next was the flyer, a White 9000 pulling a tanker for Brambles Bulk Haulage carting fuel from Brisbane to Moree, or vegetable oil to Sydney, Melbourne and back to Brisbane. However, it was a brand new SAR Kenworth with low-loader that Ian remembers as the best truck he ever owned. IR Pearse Contracting grew to three semis and a couple of employees. After several years, Ian sold off his equipment.

Ian drove a dump truck in an Ipswich coal mine for 14½ years. He officially retired after 50 years behind the wheel.

However, the shortage, of good, reliable drivers means that Ian is still in demand and still occasionally driving.