Bega Photographer replied:

G'day Southpaw,

I have a son working as an electrician at Olympic Dam mine in South Australia. There's always work of some kind going there and I understand it's the same in most of those out of the way, big mines.

Big money to be made but it's a hard climate.

He sais I'd get a job driving a dump truck at the quarry. Although I have an HR licence, I'm no truck driver.

There's an employment agency, handles jobs for the mine (BHP). There are also many contractors there who subbie to BHP and would recruit by different means.

If you're interested, I'll find the details for the agency. I think it's Chandler McLeod or something like that. They have a website but only seem to advertise the professional jobs on-line.

If you'd like to e-mail me go to my website at the address below and e-mail from there.

Regards,
Laurie.
Wilderness Landscape Photography

Member - Blue (VIC) replied:

Hi Southpaw...

Shouldn't be hard finding work in the interstate game... Most companies are screaming for drivers at the moment. I do a bit of casual work for Jets transport Express. They are not bad to work for, although I only do Melb-Sydney... They have a depot in Qld, might be a place to start otherwise start ringing around...

SteveL replied:

I would be steering away from interstate driving myself, with long hours,poor pay and the cost of living on the road, there is better money to be made elsewhere.
-Steve

Vivid Adventures replied:

I think it would be a matter of calling a mine-site where you wanted to work.

They all have different practices and modes of operating - including open cut vs. underground!

They pretty much all, however, are constantly looking for truck drivers.

There are mines all over Central Qld and Central NSW, NT, WA and some in SA.

You may even find this on SEEK or other job sites on line.

Ciao for now
Andrew.

Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) replied:

Companys over here are screaming for experienced road train side tippers drivers for ore haulage to the mills or any truck drivers for that matter agi drivers etc etc etc starting pay would be al least 1,000 pw +

rickwagupatrol replied:

Gday Mr and Mrs Southpaw. If yu really want to get into interstate driving, then zip on down to the Shell roadhouse in Roclea, or even the B.P. one around the corner.
They are a good place to get some company names of interstate transport companies, then get on the phone and start asking.
However, think long and hard before you do anything. Interstate is a job for those who don't mind being away from the family for a long time,,,up to several weeks if you get a capital city run. Being over east, alot of the companies also run 2-up, so you have to get on with someone you don't know.
It is not a job i recomend to a married bloke, especially if you have kids. What you miss when you are away, can never be gotten back.The wife quite often ends up being independant from you, as she is left to do everything for the family, and all you do is provide a pay cheque.
If you don't like your current job, then start looking for another one, but remember that a person who flits from one place to another soon gets a name for being unable to commit to a company, and everyone simply stops hiring you.

rick.

theshadows replied:

Hi there SouthPaw getting in is easily turn up at any depot in Rocklea and say I've got a licence and log books. That's all you got to do. A forklift ticket will help as well.
If you are starting out It will be hard getting to know Sydney and Melbourne well. If you think you going to do depot to depot .... forget it your dreaming. You wont even get paid for pick ups. This is very annoying after spending 14 hrs on the road to be told by the depot that have the load is direct to drop in botany when your at blacktown.{That will only add anther 4 hrs on to your day that you wont get to sleep it}.

IF your starting out and want to see if your like it Try.... ID transport. {you must know Fridge for them.} , K.S Easter {Kenny will train you up in Fridge}. K&S transport.{2 weeks away and 2 at home is the norm there}. Ascot Freigters are always wanting drivers {bad news is you will have to go to SA to pick up the truck and you wont be back home again to you quit.} . Troncs are the scum of the earth { $25 flat rate casual. it below the award but some how they find drivers..... just not very good ones.} GR geroge are a good firm as are Mc colls. Booth's are always looking out for drivers { crap pay and they will always be looking for them}.

The better firms that pull singles are are UPSIDE down transport....Lindsay brothers, Simon's, Scott's Fridge at Yatala, Peter Gooding's, Rodger's, Hoepner's, Road master's

If you want just to to local country and be home every morning to bed try Richer's and Charter.

Linfox and Toll subbie 90 percent of the line haul out now so its a waste of time going to them.

Atm I pull linfox trailers for a subbie. I get just over a grand for a 12 hour day monday to friday and I dont have to work week ends. Once a 6 week period I do a 5 day trip to SA and back for $1500 in the hand. So I have a pretty good life and I dont work that hard.

Shadow

micknjoan replied:

After spending nearly 15 years away from transport I recently started back as a casual for a Brisbane based refrigerated carrier. Compared to the pay & conditions of years ago, I reckon I've died & gone to Heaven. I really don't want or need to put in super long hours but without really trying over a grand a week is the norm for no more than 12 hour days, no weekends and home every night. Younger blokes with MC licences (B Double) and prepared to do more hours and the odd trip away do much better. All this for driving modern, airconditioned 400hp + trucks where the heaviest work is occasionally pushing a pallet jack. I personally wouldn't go back to interstate, but it seems that there is a shortage of drivers. I recently read that the average age of Australia's long distance drivers is 47. If that's true it's a bit of a worry . Mick