Robert Jnr Rayner

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunion 2010.

Bob started driving in 1962 for Express Freight in Maribyrnong, Victoria operating an International tray-body truck for approximately six months before getting his semi licence in a three cylinder Commer Knocker.
He drove locally in a Ford F600 semi and an AEC Mammoth Major unloading and loading company shuttle trucks with some weekend change-overs. In 1964 Bob worked for Caltex Oil Co doing service station refills and at Essendon Airport refilling tanks for fuelling the aircraft. Equipment at Caltex included a new R200 Inter, a White Mustang and several Leyland Beavers.
1973 saw Bob with IPEC doing Albury change-overs in an 8-Series MAN and then 2-up driving in a MAN 14-Series semi from Melbourne to Brisbane, Sydney and then to Adelaide before heading home. Bunker Freight Lines in Yarraville, Victoria was next in 1977, with Bob driving Road Commanders and Kenworths doing Melbourne to Goondiwindi and Melbourne to Sydney carting for TNT. At this time Bunkers became Gattrans Pty Ltd and Bob started driving interstate carrying out concert tour work all over Australia for TNT. In the 1980s Bob worked for S & R Bunker, a small family business belonging to Bunker Freight Lines. His driving was mainly Melbourne to Adelaide for TNT Roadfast. In 1989 Bob started with Lindsay McDermid in Dandenong, Victoria carrying Bridgestone parts for Toyota, running Melbourne to Adelaide in an N-series, bonneted Volvo, a 141 Scania and a VL400, bonneted Mack.
During 1994 Bob obtained his B-double licence and went to work for the Toll Group doing express work, steel cartage and general to Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and other places all over Australia including Perth. Vehicles he drove included Volvos and early model Kenworths with Cummins and Caterpillar motors. Later on some Kenworths were powered by Detroit Motors. From 2006 2008 trucks driven for Tolls consisted of Freightliner Argosys (Detroit and Caterpillar powered), Kenworth Aerodynes powered by Detroit, Caterpillars and Cummins Signature motors.
In July 2008, after travelling about 8 million kilometres, Bob Rayner retired saying, I enjoyed every moment on the road and meeting a fantastic bunch of fellow truckies with whom I developed long and lasting friendship.