Alice Springs is home of the iconic Tanami Transport and New Zealand Trucking‘s Paul O‘Callaghan recently met one of the company‘s Kenworths on the Murranji Track, an old stock route linking Top Springs with the Stuart Highway at Dunmarra in the Northern Territory.

Climbing down from the cab of his CAT powered 2005 Kenworth C501 Brute, Dave Bradshaw‘s feet were bare, but his crown was still
topped with the customary Akubra.

Now 20 years on the road hauling cattle, the Manjimup Western Australian native began his career the old-fashioned way.

“I started with McIver‘s in the Northern Territory as an offsider in 1997 and would take over the night driving when the drivers got tired. I could be driving three or four trucks in one day.”

Strategically located in the red centre of Australia, Tanami Transport trucks radiate outwards in all directions.

Today Dave was travelling empty from Birdsville in Queensland to Halls Creek in Western Australia, a distance of 2300km with no less than 1,300km on gruelling unsealed roads.

The wide open spaces and nights alone are the main attractions for Dave, while the increasing amount of red tape is the bit he does not like.

Favourite singer? “Meatloaf, AC/DC or any old rock and roll!”