Copy Southbound Podcast

Kel Baxter started his career as a farmer but soon purchased a couple of trucks to deliver the farms produce. He soon recognised an opportunity to provide transport services for other businesses in the Riverina, Murray and Murrumbidgee areas of New South Wales. From his beginnings into transport in 1990, the company has grown, now dealing with local storage and handling centre’s operating the ports and feed mills throughout the eastern States of Australia. A regular at industry body conferences, Kel has been vocal in improving conditions and regulation across our transport industry.   Secure your spot at the Road to Compliance MASTERCLASS https://prodrivecompliance.com.au/etn/road-to-compliance/ 

Another installment from our trip to the Mid-America Trucking Show MATS 2025 and we caught up with a couple of great guys, Charles Justice (CJ & John McIntyre from Revolution Energy Services. Two down to earth guys who love the trucking industry and are great advocates for all things trucking.  We were also able to sit down with some great people from Radio Nemo. Dave Nemo has been the voice of trucking radio through more changes than you’d believe – through AM radio, satellite ratio, and now digital streaming. And through all the changes, he’s managed to keep professional drivers of the US awake, alert and hopefully, alive. Jimmy Mac is a native New Orleanian who has visited 49 states and called 4 of them home. Having worked in law enforcement, education, contracting, and the entertainment industry, he is now proud to be a member of the Radio Nemo family. Lindsay Lawler is a singer, songwriter, radio host, and Nashville-based entrepreneur. She spent many years as the national spokesperson of the Highway Angel program in the trucking industry, and her song "Highway Angel'' has become an anthem for truck drivers everywhere. She founded the Highway Angel Truckstop Tour and performed free concerts for truckers at truck stops across the country. Last year she released the song "I'm Okay" which People Magazine highlighted in a personal interview with Lindsay, and in addition to countless singles including a duet with 80's star Tiffany. 

From humble beginnings as a landscaper on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Pat used his business sense to begin supplying products around the area and eventually became a household name around the country. His passion for all things mechanical has been absorbed into his business and his green and gold colour scheme and logo has been one of the best marketing themes ever. He is an incredibly busy man and we thank him for taking the time out of his schedule for a brief talk on how he became the self-made success story that he is today.

In this next installment from the Mid-America Trucking Show, we sit down with Raiko Graveran who has one of the most amazing stories you will ever hear. We also sit down with Twins, Carl & Peter Caporal who kept us entertained with their passion for the industry, their banter and amazingly positive attitudes.

We met Garth through our mate Mike Minogue and they’ve been mates for many years. Garth has been around, driven all types of vehicles and is still doing it with an undeniable love for the old days, fast trucks, hot rods and horses, hence the nickname Cowboy. It was great to hear his story and we are sure you’ll enjoy it as well.

We met Mick through our great mate Mike 'HOSS' Minogue and he was more than happy to come on and tell his story. He believes that if people don't tell these stories there will be no history left. He has a great story to tell including his days at CJ Dean and we know you'll enjoy it as much as we did. Check out the Road to Compliance MASTERCLASS  https://prodrivecompliance.com.au/etn/road-to-compliance/ 

Dwayne & Janelle Nienberg have one hell of a story and are two of the nicest people we have ever met. It was a pleasure getting to know them both.  Go check out them out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheDirtyOldTrucker 

You’d have to be driving with your eyes closed not to notice a sea of red and white up and down the east coast of Australia. Starting back in the 50’s by Tom and Peter Lindsay, Lindsay Brothers had a permanent presence on our highways up until they became Lindsay Australia in 2002. This interview is with Peter Lindsay’s daughter Tracey who is heavily invested in keeping the memory of her father and uncle alive by organising reunions for the old drivers and recognising them for who they are – heroes of the highways. A great chat with an enthusiastic advocate for the way it used to be. The information the industry has needed is finally here with the Road to Compliance MASTERCLASS. Early Bird Tickets are on sale now so jump in before it sells out! Road to Compliance MASTERCLASS - ProDrive Compliance Group

We did many recordings at the Mid America Truck Show and amongst them was the delightful Miss Flatbed Red and her ‘Lost in the 70’s’ husband Chris Budke. These two live and breath historic trucking and a lot of you will already know Red from her YouTube interviews, that she has been conducting with ATHS Members for quite a few years – they are an incredible couple and we are indebted to the help that they gave us while over there. You’ll love their story and undeniable passion.

Peter Baldwin was mentioned many times in Rob Woolley’s podcast and Rob was instrumental in ensuring that Bruce captured Peter at his home in Renmark to hear this amazing mans story. Working for some legendary companies in outback Australia, Peter made a name for himself as both a driver and a Manager for companies enduring our harshest travel conditions. Pete’s now retired but his recollection of those days were fantastic and a steep learning curve in each one resulted in knowledge and resilience that only experience can create.

The Cleveland Mack Munchers have been iconic amongst the trucking community for many years with Frank Lenzi at the helm for over 45 years. His recent passing led to the closing of the company which was met with tributes flowing for the well respected icon. A number of enthusiasts purchased examples of the old Cleveland fleet including Jarred Sacca, a heavy haulage operator from Mackay in Queensland. Jarred pulled as many strings as he could to get this podcast together with two ex-Cleveland employees, Lance and Arthur, to share some extremely funny memories of their times peddling the Mack Munchers across the Nullarbor. Looking for One platform for total fleet management? Look no further that GEOTAB Fleet Management Software | Geotab

Bruce has often mentioned his long term mate David Kent who we lost to cancer at the end of 2023. Dave and Deidre Kent were the proprietors of Spencer Gulf Coaches in Port Pirie and a recent catch up with their son, Jared and Dave’s best mate, David Walsh, allowed Bruce to sit with them both and reminisce about the awfully talented Dave and the impact he made on not only the bus and coach community but also the historic truck restoration community. Often described as a mechanical genius, Dave was known for his no bullshit approach and hard work ethic that infected all around him, his teaching skills and his never ending help to his mates along with his contributions to both the National Road Transport Hall of Fame and more recently, The Stories of the Road Museum where his legacy will remain for many years to come. JOIN THE BANGERZ CLUB  Join the Club | Copy Southbound

Nuriootpa Traders was a family owned and operated business for over 40 years and over this time grew to become the largest local transport company operating exclusively between the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Adelaide areas. The company was sold to new owners in 2018 and continues to operate in the same capacity however, we managed to catch up with Kym Roocke, son of founders Jim and Denise Roocke, to get the first part of this fantastic story and it’s humble beginnings. www.copysouthbound.com.au 

The stunning Kuchel fleet has graced our roads for many years and was enough to have Bruce approach Jacob to ask him to sit down and tell the story of their long history in transport. Along with the trucking side, the company has also developed a reputation for producing some fine restorations out of their Barossa Valley workshops. The company was founded by Maxwell Kuchel over 50 years ago and is a true family business with all members working in the operation and is in its third generation of extremely talented owners. www.copysouthbound.com.au 

Sharon and Bob Middleton are extremely well known in the transport industry, not only for their striking black, white and red fleet, but also for their constant battle to improve the industry, with tireless efforts lobbying for better conditions, treatment and acceptance from the authorities, and the general public. This discussion with them goes back to their grass roots, but also visits the recent legal battle that they faced, following a terrible accident involving one of their vehicles. There is a lot to learn from this podcast, as the hell that they faced over the past few years could have happened to any one of us. Bruce and I are truly grateful to Sharon for sharing this incident with all of us, with the hope that it will help others out there.