ATN #418

eastern Australia operations for the whole
trip across to Perth. This keeps
our fleet available to service one of our
main clients in the Kempsey area of NSW,”
he explains.
SLIM DUSTY TAGS
Benseman’s current steed is a sixmonth-old
T659 Kenworth that has just
clocked up 100,000km. The Kenworth is
coupled to a set of Byrne stock crates that
are just three weeks old.
Unlike the drovers of old, who had a
mere handful of horses to move the mob,
Benseman has the pleasure of 600 X15
horses (447kW) provided by Cummins and
2,150ft-lb (2,915Nm) of torque to keep
things spinning. An 18-speed Roadranger
transmission is used to swap cogs manually.
Each of MLT’s trucks has the title of a Slim
Dusty song inscribed on the side of the bunk.
Mick, a big Slim fan, blames his dad who he
describes as being a “Slim Dusty tragic”.
Mick says he tries, wherever possible,
to give Benseman a three-day break on
his stints at home. Benseman adds that,
reasonably regularly, he manages to get a
night at home with partner Amy in the middle
of his 11-day roster, working on advanced
fatigue management (AFM).
Benseman enjoys the life on the
road and partner (soon to be wife) Amy
is very understanding of the truckie’s
life. Working in transport herself, and
having a father and brother who do
similar work, Amy has been somewhat
conditioned to the truck driver’s timetable.
“My truck is fitted out with an inverter,
fridge/freezer and microwave, so I can heat
up pre-prepared meals I take from home,”
Benseman says.
“It’s hard to find a decent feed sometimes,
so I’m pretty self-sufficient.
“We all try to keep our driving hours within
the window of 7am to midnight.
“There are some exceptions at times due
to loading and unloading constraints but
mostly it tends to work out.”
DRIVER ENCOURAGEMENT
Mick is quite involved with the LRBCA
Young Driver Award, having had a colleague
awarded the prize when he was working for
another employer.
“I like to encourage younger drivers to get
involved in the industry; the lack of young
drivers coming into this game is one of the
biggest challenges the industry is facing,”
Mick says.
Janelle Edgar, MLT’s compliance and
training manager, agrees.
“We like to create a space where drivers
feel appreciated and safe in their workplace.
“That’s why people like Matt thrive, they
have a good environment to work in which
MLT has put in place.”
I have seen this harmonious working
environment first-hand, operating from
a small office at the rear of its Tamworth
property.
After a few photos were taken down at the
main yard, I was invited into the Maloneys’
home for a coffee and chat (and an offer
of some eggs, which I had to decline after
overindulging at the motel buffet breakfast
earlier). Mick says their family dining room
doubles as the lunch room, with any staff or
visitors welcomed warmly.
“I won’t employ anyone who I won’t have
in my home,” Mick explains.
Benseman says MLT is great to work
for and he really gets looked after. He
says it feels good to be appreciated for
what he’s achieved by receiving the Young
Driver of the Year Award and he plans to
utilise the $5,000 trip prize to return to
New Zealand for two weeks and visit some
industry facilities, including an abattoir,
after which he will take the opportunity to
catch up with family.
FULLYLOADED.COM.AU July 2021 ATN 35