Terry & Celeste Warn

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunion 2013.

Terry and Celeste Warn are well known and respected in the industry. Terry started in the transport industry just two days after finishing his apprenticeship as a diesel mechanic in January 1975. He did his training with SA Cheney in Dandenong working on Bedford trucks and always longed for the day he himself could get behind the wheel.

In 1974 Terry purchased a damaged 1970 International Transtar fitted with a 250hp Cummins. He named it 'Tranny' and was the beginning of a life long learning curve. It was an insurance write off and cost him around 420 to get back on the road. Terry used it to transport produce and general freight mainly Melbourne to Sydney and Melbourne to Adelaide. Its first load was for Australian Glass Manufacturing in Dandenong hauling to Newcastle for Baulch Transport Soon after Terry was lucky enough to gain subcontract work with LS Booth Wine Transport that lasted for the next five years.

In 1980 Terry sold the Transtar and trailer and married Celeste. He met Celeste on a blind date arranged by a mutual friend who was also a truckie and thought they would be a good match. Terry gave up the road and they started an onsite truck and trailer repair business called Warns Transport Repairs.  During this time Celeste could often be found  dressed in overalls helping Terry repair a motor or fit a new diff to a truck. When times were quite Terry went driving trucks.

Over the next two years Terry rebuilt another couple of trucks which he soon put to work. This was also the time their first son Aaron was born. This business continued to grow along with a daughter Bianca and a son Shannon. Celeste often took the children to work with her  while she managed the accounts for the business and looked after the administration side of the business.

The business, originally known as Warns Transport Industries is today called ABS Transport Industries named after the the first letters of each of their children's names - Aaron, Bianca and Shannon. The company now operates with 44 trucks and 80 trailers and specialises in prescribed waste and dangerous goods although the Warns still haul general freight Australia wide with depots in every state.

ABS Transport has nearly 100 employees and many subcontractors.  After 40 years in the industry terry and Celeste are excited about having a second generation to carry on their business.