After 32 years behind the wheel, John, a seasoned Freight and Car Carrier Driver, knows the ins and outs of the trucking world like the back of his hand. Originally from Wollongong, John now calls the scenic South Coast home.
When John first joined Nowchem 3 years ago, it wasn’t behind the wheel – it was in the warehouse. “I loved the people I worked with right from the start. It’s like a family at Nowchem,” John says with a smile. His hard work and skillset quickly caught the attention of management, and soon he was asked to take on a new challenge: moving into chemical haulage as a Dangerous Goods Short Haul Truck Driver.
The shift from long haul to short haul wasn’t just a change in job title – it was a shift in lifestyle. “The best part? No more weeks on the road. Now, I work Monday to Friday, 7 am to 3 pm, and the rest of the time, I get to enjoy everything the South Coast has to offer,” John explains. “It’s given me back my afternoons and weekends and you’re home every night.”
A big part of what’s kept John loyal to Nowchem has been the strong team environment. “I don’t have a person here in the team that I’ve had a falling out with or have a bad word to say about.” John shares. “In any business, you stay for one reason, the people, and it’s true here. They are all fantastic people.”
However, the transition to short haul driving wasn’t without its hurdles. John admits the most daunting part of his new role wasn’t handling the truck but understanding the complexities of transporting hazardous materials, which wasn’t something he knew anything about previously. “Driving the truck is the least of your worries. There’s a lot to learn about the different chemicals and what can travel with what,” John clarifies. “But luckily, I’m here now to give others that technical info and once you know it, you know it.”
Through determination and support from his Nowchem family, John mastered the job’s demands after becoming qualified to do the work safely. Now, he’s not only confident in his role but also prepared to help others take on the same challenge. “I’ve recently been through the learning curve, so I get it. But new drivers will get up to speed a lot quicker. They’ll have someone like me showing them the ropes from day one,” John says, looking forward to mentoring the next wave of drivers.
For long-haul truck drivers considering a change, John’s story with Nowchem highlights the benefits: a better work-life balance, more time at home, and the satisfaction of a new challenge. “If you’re looking for something different, something that gives you a better life off the road and potentially at home to spend time with your kids as they grow up, I’d say take the leap,” John encourages.
