Joe Manson, 65, never expected to become a truck driver. In the 1990s he worked in menswear, travelled to Sydney where he met his wife, and moved from Western Australia. They've now been married for 36 years.
Joe started his trucking career in 1996 as a local delivery driver in a rigid truck, before moving up to interstate driving right across Australia. He joined Truck Moves Australia more than 10 years ago — his longest period with any employer.
"This job represents the greatest position I have ever held."
Joe says the workplace has excellent people who are backed by their supervisors, and that drivers enjoy real autonomy in their work.
Today he delivers trucks between auction sites, dealerships and customers. Every day is different: some days it's a brand-new truck, other days second-hand, so he gets to experience modern vehicle technology that drives much like a car.
He especially enjoys the longer routes because they let him explore different parts of Australia. He says the work sometimes feels like a holiday — no stress, just doing the job well, looking after the truck and delivering on time.
