Back on the road again after health scare
A fit and well Dusty Roads, and a photo of his last truck. Main image: Jonathan WallisStopping over in Victor Harbour we were delighted to catch up with our old friend and trucking legend, Dusty Roads,. . .
A fit and well Dusty Roads, and a photo of his last truck. Main image: Jonathan WallisStopping over in Victor Harbour we were delighted to catch up with our old friend and trucking legend, Dusty Roads, looking fit and well after a run of rough health, and standing proud with his 2024 Ford Ranger Sports Dual Cab ute. With 35 years on the road, including seven years driving tippers in the Adelaide hills, he spent a good 34 years as an owner-driver, and his white 1988 LTL with its distinctive Southern Cross 45-foot Tautliner, was often seen running interstate. The LTL had a reliable 460hp Caterpillar motor which had two rebuilds. He told us he had had the truck for 22. 5 years with 3. 5 million kilometres on the clock. Sadly, his career came to an abrupt end in 2023 with a cancer diagnosis. But happily, his treatment was successful, and he has decided to make real the urge to get back on the road again, though this time in his Ford Ranger and towing 15-foot Austrack “Talawana” caravan. The ever-sociable Dusty has amassed a group of like-minded friends, including another retired truck driver, Greg, and Jilly Mitchell, from Mildura, doing the same, in fact, and his cousin Jeff Roads. After a quick successful trip away to the Grampians for Jill’s birthday, they are now planning a trip up to the winter warmth of Queensland, and enjoying their retirement together. He finished by telling us: “Well, I got my licence at 18 and was on the road until I was 65, not a bad run all up, and despite the usual ups and downs, I would do it all again. ”This profile is part of Jonathan Wallis’s latest road trip series. For more profiles from the road, make sure you pick up your free copy of the July 31 issue ofBig Rigsfrom the usual outlet.