The team behind the mental health charity This is a Conversation Starter (TIACS) have released their annual impact statement and nearly 20 per cent of the calls they received in the 2025 financial year were from transport people.
TIACS, which is promoted through the colourful designs of the TradeMutt clothing range for blue collar workers, and also on rolling billboards such as the Martins Stock Haulage truck, ‘Muttley’ and Mack Australia’s ‘Barkley the Truck’ offers mental health services to tradies, truckies, farmers and blue collar workers.
TIACS is not a crisis service. It provides up to eight free counselling sessions for those who get in touch seeking support.
It recorded 682 counselling sessions for the financial year FY25 to people in the transport sector, accounting for 19 per cent of all clients seen during the year, and second only to the construction sector.
Of those 682 sessions 76 per cent were male staff and 24 per cent female, and in terms of occupation titles, apprentices accounted for 9 per cent.
Relationship concerns were the leading reason for reaching out, followed by anxiety/stress, workplace challenges, communication and conflict, suicidal thoughts and emotional crisis and financial, housing stress and grief.
The majority of clients were aged 26–45, with Queensland leading uptake at 46 per cent – reflecting the concentration of drivers and mechanics in the state.
The report also showed that 63 per cent of all clients lived in regional or remote areas, proving the value of initiatives like Martins’ “Razzle Dazzle” truck in spreading awareness where it’s needed most.
In 2024, Martins took a bold step by introducing a custom TradeMutt “Razzle Dazzle” print to its fleet – designed to spark conversations about mental health and promote TIACS, a professional telehealth counselling service for blue-collar workers that is free to access.
Since rolling out, the truck has clocked up 275,000 kilometres as a moving billboard on B-Double and Road Train routes nationwide.
Its striking design has become a powerful symbol of awareness and support, particularly in smaller and remote towns where access to mental health services is often limited.
One driver at the heart of the initiative is Aaron, who pilots the brightly-wrapped truck, named ‘Muttley’, alongside his best mate – a Blue Heeler named Rocco.
“Life on the road can be incredibly lonely when you’re hundreds of miles from home, stuck with your thoughts,” Aaron says.
“Having my dog with me helps, but I know not everyone has that.
“That’s why what TIACS is doing is so important—it takes away the barriers that stop people in our industry from getting help. It gives blokes and women someone to talk to when they need it most.”
The impact is already being felt across the industry.
TradeMutt’s conversation-starting prints are making a real difference, with 17 per cent of clients hearing about TIACS through TradeMutt, 17 per cent through family and friends and 28 per cent from workplace and alliance partners.
Martins’ leadership has also inspired others and early this year Mack Trucks joined the movement with the launch of Barkley the Truck – wrapped in its own Mack and TradeMutt print and unveiled at the Brisbane Truck Show.
“It takes real courage to open up, especially in an industry where the culture often tells you to ‘just get on with it,’” says Sue Jankovic, CEO of TIACS.
“But every time someone reaches out, it chips away at the silence and barriers that have kept people from seeking support for too long. The transport industry is showing that when we start the conversation, change follows.
“We want to express our deep appreciation to Martin’s and Mack Trucks for their exemplary approach to raising awareness about the value of TIACS and the importance that one conversation can make.
“Their commitment and partnership are truly valued, and together we are making a real difference.”
Blue Collar workers and their loved ones are encouraged to call TIACS on 0488 846 988, Monday to Friday 8am to 10pm AEST, if they think counselling may help them.