Robert (Bob) Smith
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunion 2014
Robert Smith (Rob) was born 1955 in Deniliquin, NSW to a family already involved in the transport industry. His father was a truck driver and had been most of his working career.
Rob first started driving interstate in 1975 for Barney McMahon of Castlemaine, Victoria in a Mack R600, appropriately named 'Giddy Up Go'. It was formally owned by Joe Bromage Tankers of Melbourne. Over the years Rob has travelled the high roads and low roads of Australia hauling many loads for many companies. He started on semi trailers progressing to B-doubles and even the odd road train. He has driven fuel tankers for Terraco Petroleum, Cootes Transport and Lumbars, concrete mix trucks for Ready Mix and as an owner driver, coaches for Deluxe, hauled general for Parsons, Triplett and Pickerings and livestock for O'Sullivans.
Additionally, Rob has driven all types of trucks over the years including Kenworth, Mack, Freightliner, Western Star, Iveco and a Ford Louisville LNT9000. His experience in the road transport industry is immeasurable and Rob has taken many under his wing and shown them the way around the roads, the trucks and the legislative requirements. Rob finished his driving with O'Sullivans Transport where he was driving a Kenworth B-double T904 with Dickenson crates in 2012. Since then he has pursued a career within the industry as NHVR Heavy Vehicle Auditor, teaching and assessing the Victorian Livestock Loading Scheme, Compliance Work Diary auditing and mentoring forklift teaching and assess- ment. He continues to help the up and coming drivers ensuring that the industry is up to date with all current laws, regulations and the ever changing log book rules.
Today Robert Smith lives in Bendigo with his wife Joan. He is a worthy candidate for his place in the prestigious Shell Rimula Wall of Fame. The transport industry is an integral part of supporting all other growth and industry in this vast land. It is the most cost effective and productive of all our transport modes because of the passion and dedication of Robert Smith and others like him.