James Jim Redmond

JAMES REDMOND (Jim) commenced his working life doing an apprenticeship in skin and wool classing before he had to leave in his third year due to a reaction to the chemicals used. At the age of 17 Jim went forklift driving for Santori's Transport. At 20 Jim upgraded the forklift for a Leyland beaver and started hauling Nanda Spaghetti from Brisbane to Melbourne and Adelaide. Jim moved on to drive for Harry Powell carting general freight. Jim then moved to Miller's Transport in Wangaratta. He carted paper from Myrtleford to Melbourne.

Jim later took a job with Whitty's Produce in Wangaratta where he carted potatoes to the Sydney markets. Most of his work was from Berrigan in New South Wales to the Markets. He would do a round trip every day six days a week. Jim drove for Marsden's Transport in Clayton, carting general freight to Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane. Jim then moved to Gippsland in Victoria and drove for Durkin's produce. Back carting potatoes to the Sydney and Brisbane markets. Jim moved back into Melbourne and back onto general freight for Ash Freight. He graduated to road trains between Melbourne and Perth. Jim drove single trailers, B-Doubles, road trains and specialised in oversized loads.

He worked for Doolan's for 10 years then Hi-Haul for a further 10 years doing their interstate work. Jim has carted all shapes and sizes, including tanks, trains, planes, bridge beams and wind farms.

Jim went back to Wilby's where he continued to do specialised oversize work. Jim still works for Wilby's despite Steve passing some years back. Although in the last few years Jim was off in the caravan as much as he was in the truck. Jim's dubious claim to fame came when he was the first person to lose his licence for not filling in a logbook. It was normally only a fine so there was a lot of interest when it occurred and Jim made it into Trucking Life who featured an article on it.

In 50 years of driving Jim has covered many thousands of kilometres and has driven just about everything from 7 Series Dodges, Leyland, Mercedes Benz, Louisville, Atkinson, Volvo, Mack, Western Star and of course Kenworth