By Brad GardnerMelbourne-based carrier Noske Group has been honoured by NatRoad, with two of its staff winning awards for excellence.
Driver Michael Jeansch and operations manager Jayden Tonkin took out the Global Transport-sponsored awards, announced at the annual NatRoad conference in Coffs Harbour today.
Tonkin first started working in the industry at 10, and by 12 was running his own truck washing business. He is now the General Manager of Operations at Noske.
“It is truly an honour and I’m grateful for it,” he said in collecting the award for youth achievement.
Finalists in the category were also honoured: Adam Cornish from Harris Refrigerated and Jason Tunsted from Shoobridge Transport.
Jeansch was named the professional driver of the year, with an estimated 5 million accident-free kilometres on the clock.
The veteran truckie drives B-doubles for Noske, with more than 30 years of interstate experience. Judges also praised his charity work, which has raised a quarter of a million dollars for the Make a Wish Foundation.
“It is a very, very big honour for me to accept this award. It is an industry I am honoured to be a part of as a driver,” he said.
“It’s knocked the wind out of my sails.”
William Russell from Milthorpe Transport and John Ryan from ABC Freighters were finalists in the award.