In this special edition of Six Foot Behind the Bullbar, we uncover something truly remarkable — The Lost Tapes of JD Hurley.
When roadtrains.com.au Technical Editor Howard Shanks was challenged to dig deep into his old documentary archives, he struck gold: a rare, recording from more than 25 years ago featuring Jack “JD” Hurley, one of the founding fathers of Brown and Hurley — the iconic Australian truck dealership that became a national institution.
These lost tapes capture JD in his element — candid, witty, and full of life. Known for his dry humour, down-to-earth wisdom, and natural flair for salesmanship, Jack Hurley built more than a company — he built a legacy of trust, mateship, and good old Aussie ingenuity.
Join us as we revisit this classic conversation, bringing to life the laughter, the lessons, and the legendary spirit of the man behind the Brown and Hurley story. It’s a nostalgic journey through Australia’s transport history — one that celebrates the heart, humour, and honesty of a true trucking pioneer.
Join us for a special episode of Six Foot Behind the Bull Bar as we travel to Deloraine, Tasmania, to catch up with Highland Haulage owner Mick Linger. We relive the glory days of fast trucking with the restoration of Mick’s legendary 1986 Ford LTL 9000 “Krystal Dreams”, the exact truck Mick drove for Klaus and Jean Derichs on the Melbourne-to-Perth run. An emotional reunion, untold stories, and a nostalgic look back at when fast trucking ruled Australia’s roads.
Discover what AIR-CTI is, how it works, and why Tasmanian operators trust it for traction, safety, and tyre life.
Join us as we head deep into Tasmania to meet logging and transport operators who rely on AIR-CTI central tyre inflation systems to tackle some of the steepest and toughest terrain in the state. From enhancing traction on slick forestry tracks to improving tyre life and safety on the highway, we see first-hand how AIR-CTI is changing the way trucks handle the job. And it’s not just for trucks in the bush. Super spreaders working wet paddocks and soft soils are also reaping the rewards, with reduced compaction, improved efficiency, and the ability to keep moving when conditions turn muddy. These are real stories from real operators, straight from the cab.
Ride along on “The East Coaster run with Kingbars” – a road trip from Tasmania’s transport hub in Devonport to the far reaches of Mount Garnet in Queensland. Along the way, we meet the operators who face constant wildlife strikes, unpredictable weather, and the toughest road conditions Australia can throw at them. Their common safeguard? Kingbars bullbars – built to take the hits, protect the load, and keep the wheels turning. This is the story of real-world protection, proven across thousands of kilometres on Australia’s East Coast.
In this episode of Six Foot Behind the Bullbar, we fire up the time machine and roll back to 1996 with a legendary story by Howard “Shanksie” Shanks — first published in Truckin’ Life magazine (Vol. 19, No. 10).
Trucking Through the Last Frontier follows Andrew Hickey’s brand-new Kenworth T950 as it takes on the wilds of outback Queensland. Thirty years later, a phone call from Andrew sparked the revival of this iconic yarn — complete with crocodile encounters, red dirt roads, and big horsepower in the bush.
Resurrected from the archives with original slides and fresh audio, this episode is a tribute to a golden era of Australian trucking — where grit, machines, and mateship got the job done.
📸 See original photos and read the full article at roadtrains.com.au
🎯 Tags:
Kenworth T950, Australian Trucking, Road Trains, Truckin Life Magazine, Howard Shanks, Outback Trucking, Remote Haulage, Trucking Stories, Heavy Transport History, Truck Photography, Long Haul Driving, Northern Territory, Gulf Country, Crocodile Encounter, Classic Trucks, Trucking Legends
📢 Hashtags:
#KenworthT950 #RoadTrains #AustralianTrucking #TruckingPodcast #TruckinLife #OutbackTruckin #TruckStories #HeavyHaulage #HowardShanks #SixFootBehindTheBullbar #ClassicTrucks #TruckPhotos #BigRigs #TruckingLegends #RealTruckinStories #RoadtrainsAustralia #BrownandHurley
In this episode of Six Foot Behind the Bullbar, we hit the backroads to meet four logging operators running the smartest, toughest trailers in the bush — all built right here in Australia by Elphinstone Engineering.
From self-steering dog trailers to rapid-loading B-Doubles and Long Loggers that haul 19-metre timber with precision, these trailers are redefining what’s possible in modern log haulage.
We ride along with the men behind the wheel and take a close look at the technology that’s helping them haul more efficiently, more safely, and with less wear and tear.
Strap in as this week’s episode of Six‑Foot Behind the Bull Bar tears into the cutting-edge world of heavy haulage, showcasing the mighty Scania R770 V8 in action. We dive into the story behind D&P Solutions' R770 8×4 prime mover and its custom 5R8 Linkwing trailer — and why this duo is shaking up Australia’s megaproject logistics scene
From its ferocious 770hp, 16.4‑litre V8 engine churning out 3,700 Nm of torque, to the slick 16‑speed Opticruise gearbox with multiple reverse gears — every spec is a testament to engineered might and clever design. We unpack how hub‑reduction tandem drive axles, diff locks and advanced traction systems let this rig haul road‑headers up steep grades and through mud without drama
We also talk fuel economy, decoding how this monster averages between 1.2 km/L to 1.4 km/L on long hauls from Brisbane to Sydney — a big deal when you’re hauling 130‑tonne loads across remote terrain
Plus, we’ll discuss why owner Deirdre Young describes the R770 as a “hamburger with the lot” — featuring built‑in shower, Starlink, fridge and generator — and why it took more than two years to perfect every detail before delivery.
Tune in for:
Ready for horsepower, engineering brilliance, and haulage stories like no other? Jump in six‑feet behind the bull bar and let’s roll.
👉 Be sure to visit roadtrains.com.au to read the full stories and check out photos of the trucks featured in each episode.