Doug Ronaldson

DOUG RONALDSON

Doug has been in the transport industry for the past 48 years. He started driving in mid 1966. His first job was working for Harry Bullock driving a 1016 Dodge with a silver Perkins motor, pulling the 1st adjustable wide spread trailer carting sawn timber from Cabbage Tree in Gippsland back to Melbourne.

He then went on to work for Iona Farm and Equipment Services driving their 1016 Dodge carting hay, 760 Dodge and C1600 Acco International carting fertilizer. He also drove 1016 Dodge V8 tray carting potatoes to Sydney and bringing back coils of steel.

Doug bought his 1st truck, an International Transtar and began loading out of Manson's in Bunyip carting pine board to Sydney and returning with coke from Wollongong, shoveling the coke off by hand. The Transtar is now here in the Hall Of Fame.

Working for Pakenham Blue Metal Quarry Doug bought a Scania 112 T-Cab and the guys at the quarry called it the Gumboot but Doug preferred the Swedish Bitch which was written on the side. His nickname then was Reggie as they said he flew like Reg Ansett. Further down the track he upgraded to a 143 Scania HR Cab which he named Swedish Bitch 2.

During the recession Doug was away from home sleeping up to 3 months at a time in the truck, getting work wherever he could. Doug bought a cab over Kenworth and did local and interstate work carting paper from Morwell, then a Scania 113 MR Cab and drove for Linfox out of Coles.

Doug eventually left truck driving to drive coaches. Over the years he has driven for Greyhound buses, Berwick Bus Lines, Cardinia Transit and Ventura, on these jobs he drove coaches doing extended trips to Ayres Rock and school excursions etc. He is presently driving coaches for Ventura out of Pakenham.

Married for 42 years to wife Julie, they have a daughter Dianne, Son Scott and 3 grandchildren. Although away from the family for long periods of time

Doug thoroughly enjoys the driving life and has made many great mates along the way.