”I’ve had plenty of jobs, I’ll be the first to admit that, and I’m sure plenty you talk to when you say you’re doing this will tell you also,” Phil pauses and chuckles as we trundle along. “But I’ll also say I’ve enjoyed pretty much all of them, and I’ve gained a lot of experience in a lot of things. I’ve had a lot of fun and met a lot of people. I guess I’ve just managed my life with my happiness and wellbeing as the first priority.”
Looking from the outside observer’s position, you’d have to say there’s merit in the man’s philosophy – never feeling like life has him trapped. He’s not rushed in his approach, nor it appears prone to ‘fizzing’ up. Think back to Jodie on the forkhoist at Finegand, “We love Phil, he’s great.” Surely part of the reason for her saying that is consistency of character when he arrives each day. Nothing is more settling for all parties than knowing ‘who’ is getting out of the cab.
“I’ve never done stock or fuel,” he says, which is ironic considering both his dad Stewart and grandfather Gordon drove Europa fuel tankers between Dunedin and Haast. The grey-haired set north of 50 years old will remember the Europa fuel brand back in the 1970s and early 1980s.
“I don’t know what my grandfather drove but Dad drove a Leyland Mastiff. It took all day to get there, and then all day to get back.” In the warm, spacious, and comfortable confines of our present ride, we both shook our heads at the grit and tenacity of those hardy old buggers. “Dad eventually went onto buses before a complete change to greenkeeping. Something he loved and did really well. He ended up president of the national federation.”
Mosgiel was home for Phil growing up and his early life was spent in and around all of the above and local truck action in general. Key was inspirational time spent with cousin and mentor Peter Alexander, who worked at Thomas Transport. Peter moved on to drive at Mainfreight in Dunedin before heading to the North Island and working at Candy Transport in the Bay of Plenty, and then Toll. Not only was he a great mentor to Phil, he also drove, and eventually ran, some cool gear – trucks like the FR Mack he had while at Mainfreight, and the ex-Keith Howells Ghetti Express Kenworth K100G he owned while at Toll. “The FR Mack really kick-started my love of trucking.”
Phil’s own career began courtesy of Mt Cook Line freight division contractor Mike Knopp and the loan of a truck in which to secure his heavy traffic licence. Success led to around- town delivery relief work and of course a trailer licence. From there, the usual pattern of progressive escalation followed, just as it did for anyone in that era who had what it took – the thing older heads observe in a young one that tells them ‘this one’s a keeper’. Phil was off and rolling.
Logs, freight, and general for various employers took place in the succeeding years. Like so many in the industry he headed for Australia with the intention of ticking that box in the list of things he wanted do to, while poking a hole in the mortgage.
“The work was good, I was running Brisbane/Sydney for Armesto’s Transport, initially in a Western Star and then a K104 Aerodyne. What I couldn’t handle was the weather, the heat and humidity, and I wasn’t getting the rest I needed in my breaks. It ended in a fatigue moment – nothing happened, there was no crash or anything, but I found myself following close behind another unit. When I asked my mates travelling with me where he’d come from, they said he had overtaken me. I had no recollection of that happening. That scared the shit out of me and I pretty much binned it and came home. It was a shame because I really loved doing it, but I just couldn’t see how I would get on top of it. The climate wasn’t about to change.”
Outside of the Australian experience, Phil’s driving has been South Island-based, and drilling down one step further again, dominated by south of Christchurch. “I’ve never really wanted to get into the interisland thing full time. The thought doesn’t really excite me.”
In his 37 years behind the wheel, 55-year-old Phil has worked for some of the industry’s iconic names and driven some cool trucks … Christchurch- based AZTEC Haulage in a 440 V8 Mack Ultra-Liner with a 12-speed Maxitorque, carting produce and general between Christchurch and Dunedin. “That was a highlight! What a machine, you couldn’t get enough of it.”
An 8V92 Detroit-powered W-Model Kenworth towing a curtainside B-train between Dunedin and Invercargill for John and Morgan Rob at Regan Carriers: “Drove the doors off it! It was a symphony,” he says with a laugh.
A Tranzlink CH Mack for Mike Nevin, and The Patriot Western Star for Brenics … It’s been the truck-buff’s dream in many ways.
The recent passing of Alex ‘Mac’ McLellan prompted memories from Phil also. “I worked for Mac for a time, driving an Isuzu on a regular freight run to Dunedin. What a top man, salt of the earth. I was only 18 then, green as grass, and Mac took me under his wing, jacked me up with accommodation initially also. He always had time to have a yarn with you, just catch up. He will be a huge loss to the industry.
“I came into the industry at an amazing time, when it was at its peak in terms of mentors and role models for a young bIoke. Learning the industry when you’re surrounded by people like my cousin Peter, the Mac McLellans and Steve Martins of the world … how can you go wrong?“
Today, Phil lives just over from Mosgiel in Dunedin proper. He has an immaculate V8 Holden Ute and a Harley-Davidson, and enjoys cruising with soulmate Hollie, and spending spare time with his two grown-up children Karla and Deanna. “Life’s great, eh?”
They say the ultimate truck driver is the 55-year-old head on the 25-year-old body. Like the rest of us, Phil would be the first to admit the second half of that equation has long left the stable. However, he’s the living embodiment of the first. He knows trucking, that there’s something new to learn every day, and the moment you drop your guard or think you know it all, it’ll ‘run over your toes’, metaphorically speaking. Yet his years in the industry also bring a comfort from the skillsets he has amassed, the watchful eye that checks it all as he walks around the rig, the calm unpanicked approach. There’s nothing left to prove, no reason to rush in order to impress. He’s immensely comfortable in who he is, which makes him always open to new things.
He’s at that career sweet spot of enjoying the job, enjoying the truck, enjoying the people, enjoying the industry, enjoying the scenery, which equals … enjoying your life.
