PETER French reckons he’s transported everything from Mallee roots to elephants in his 40 years working for Pickering Transport Group.
Mr French started with the Sunraysia-based company in 1979 and said he had been privileged to part of its evolution over the years.
“It was hard yakka in the early days, because everything was done by hand, even bulk watermelons and pumpkins,” he recalled.
“We used to drive the trucks down to the farms, down the fallowed rows.
“It was a big change when pallets and forklifts came along. Nearly every farm you go to now has got a forklift.
“To grow with the company has been really good. Just to see how big it’s gotten now, I don’t know how Roger (Pickering) keeps up with it all.”
Pickering Transport Group is now into its fourth generation as a family business servicing Sunraysia and much of mainland Australia.
Pickering director Roger Pickering said Mr French had filled a number of roles over the years, from loading and driving trucks to organising freight and administration.
“Now Pete looks after our night shift, he starts about midnight and works all night. He processes all the incoming freight,” Mr Pickering said.
Mr Pickering said many people don’t realise how varied the transport industry can be.
“The variety in the job can be enormous. You’re not doing the same thing day in, day out,” he said.
One of Mr French’s highlights from his time as a truck driver is rather unique.
“The circus was up and their truck broke down, so we had to hook up their float with the elephants on it and cart them through to the show,” Mr French said. “It was hilarious; you’d go around a corner and you’d see the elephant and he’d lean the other way.”
Mr French believes that the transport industry far more integral to everyday life than many Australians realise.
“I don’t think people understand how important transport is. It doesn’t matter what you pick up, what you do, whether you have a cup of tea – it all came by transport,” he said.
“Even if it comes from overseas, it’s got to come from the wharf, to the warehouses, to the stores, to supermarkets. It all gets carried by truck. The country really would stop without transport.”
