NatRoad has announced its major award winners at its annual conference, with a well-known operator taking home the top prize
At the National Road Transport Association’s (NatRoad) annual conference last week, award winners were recognised for their work for the road transport industry.
Passionate safety advocate Carol Single is the recipient of this year’s Ted Pickering Award for an Outstanding Contribution to the Australian road transport industry.
The co-owner of Single Transport from Mackay in Queensland received her award at the RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast on Saturday night.
Single works tirelessly with the Mackay Road Accident Action group, a volunteer non-profit association committed to tackling road safety issues in Mackay and the Bowen Basin.
She is a previous recipient of the National Trucking Industry Women of the Year award.
“Carol represents the best that our industry has to offer – someone who is deeply involved in their own business but who finds time to be a champion for safer roads,” NatRoad chair Paul Fellows says.
“Road freight arteries like the Peak Downs Highway are the lifeblood to the Mackay Region and the Bowen Basin, with thousands of vehicles using it daily.
“Fuel trucks alone are using it to move approximately six million litres of bulk fuel each day.
“Much of Carol’s work is behind the scenes but she has made a life-saving difference for her peers – and indeed all road-users – on those long stretches of North Queensland highway.”
Single and husband Ian operate a business with five specialised crane trucks and servicing most of Central Queensland. Their company, Single Transport Services Limited, has been a fixture in Mackay since 1980.
In 1997, Single Transport Services was accredited with Trucksafe, the national business and risk management system that improves the safety and professionalism of trucking operators nationwide. Single is a life member of the Mackay Road Accident Action group.
Dennis Harding of JSC Concrete Canberra was named NatRoad’s Professional Driver of the Year.
“Dennis is a company man who puts in long hours despite juggling commitments with a young family,” Fellows says.
Stephanie Arpasi of Dubbo firm Fardell’s Heavy Haulage was named the National Road Transport Association Youth Employee of the Year.
A 22-year-old driver-operator, Arpasi has made a huge impact on colleagues in a short period of time.
Established in 2014, Fardell’s Heavy Haulage provides heavy haulage, general and bulk freight services, wet and dry plant hire and earthmoving solutions for the New South Wales Central West.
Colleagues say that Arpasi’s skills in safely securing heavy equipment for long haulage is meticulous and she applies the same approach to driving.
Fellows says Arpasi is an outstanding example to other young women in a profession dominated by men.
Shane Pendergast of Air Brake Systems in Hornsby, New South Wales was named winner of the National Road Transport Association Excellence in Operational Support Award for his years of making trucking a safer industry.
Hundreds of truck drivers and many more mechanics have attended workshops conducted over the past seven years by Pendergast, who is a specialist in electronic braking systems.
As NSW Service Manager for Air Brake Systems, he has an industry-wide reputation for professionalism and a passion for making sure customers have fully functioning and fault-free braking systems.