Malcolm Smith

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunion 2009.

Malcolm Smith began his transport career as a qualified mechanical engineer in his father's business; Lance Smith Excavations.  He was later heavily involved in the formation of Lance Smith Heavy Haulage, a company that specialised in heavy haulage projects.

Lance Smith Heavy Haulage was regarded as the most specialized heavy lift company for many years doing lifts that other companies were not able to undertake.  On many occasions the industry was invited to tender on hauls that were beyond the norm.  If the loads did not fit on existing equipment of the major haulage companies then they declined to tender thus opening doors for Malcolm.

Some of the major projects performed were the haulage of powerhouse equipment, weighing up to 210 ton lifts, for the coal to gas plant in the La Trobe Valley and all the heavy lifts for the Moomba Gas Plant upgrade at the Strezlecki Desert site.  Because of the extreme road conditions to Moomba via the Strezlecki Track, Malcolm devised air-bag protection to haul the sensitive electrical transformers that would have otherwise sustained serious internal damage.

In 1989 Malcolm formed Megalift Australia and took on many seemingly impossible tasks including, at Newcastle NSW, the loading onto barges of sections of the Collins submarine components, many weighing in excess of 1200 tonnes. 

The most challenging of Megalift's capabilities was hauling "Cracker Tower", 60 ML x 800 MD weighing 900 tonnes; all up weight 1300 tonne, from the Williamstown dock to the Mobil Refinery at Altona.  Most of the industry said this haul simply could not be achieved by road transport alone.  Malcolm proved them wrong.  He devised a ramp from the barge onto the wharf and successfully performed the haul by road to the refinery.  This haul was the heaviest transport feat on public roads in Australia.  It also achieved the prestigious title of  'HAULAGE JOB OF THE YEAR' awarded by the American Trucking Association against world-wide competition.

When Malcolm decided to retire he sold his company, Megalift, to the US Lampson Group.  Such was (and is) his expertise however, he is often called on to check the feasibility of hauls planned and undertaken by others in the heavy haulage sector.