kscarbel2 Posted May 25, 2016 Share Posted May 25, 2016 The Chronicle / May 25, 2016 Life can be a long and hard road when you are driving Australia's biggest trucks in some of the country's hottest conditions. Toowoomba grandma Ruth Richardson is a long way from home and while she misses her grandchildren, she has embraced this new chapter of her life. While many her age fancy tea and a scone, Ms Richardson drives a Kenworth 909 with McAleese Group in Western Australia. Earlier this year the 65-year-old completed an intensive two week training course to drive four trailer road trains in Port Hedland. Now she drives one of 160 side tipper road trains known as quads. They carry up to 60,000 tonnes a day of iron ore from Atlas Iron owned mines into Port Hedland. The big rigs are 53.5 metres long, have 82 tyres and a gross weight of 175 tons. They have a top speed of 90kmh. Ms Richardson usually clocks 650km a day or more. "Being an older woman, you can cop a lot of flak. But every single person I have met has been very helpful and pleasant; I appreciate it," she said. "You have to be able to do everything a bloke can do, as much as your physical strength will allow. It's very much a man's world here. I've seen probably about four or five women of the 400 drivers." Ms Richardson grew up on a dairy farm at Westbrook with her parents, three brothers and two sisters. She has three children of her own and eight grandchildren. Ms Richardson, who previously worked in offices, said she would continue the career change until she was physically unable. "I'm over computers. When you're driving a truck, you get paid to see the country," she said. "With computers, they suck your brain out of her head. Well, that's how I was feeling. I worked with computers since they were practically invented." . 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/45351-the-toowoomba-granny-whos-now-an-outback-trucker/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlotpilot Posted May 25, 2016 Share Posted May 25, 2016 right on granny 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/45351-the-toowoomba-granny-whos-now-an-outback-trucker/#findComment-334439 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmackpaul Posted May 25, 2016 Share Posted May 25, 2016 good on her as I say to people you only live once try to fill that life up doing the stuff you wanna do no matter how crazy it may seem Sad part is we cant seem to get young people working these days yet older ones are more than happy to keep on working funny world Paul 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/45351-the-toowoomba-granny-whos-now-an-outback-trucker/#findComment-334452 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 good on her as I say to people you only live once try to fill that life up doing the stuff you wanna do no matter how crazy it may seem Sad part is we cant seem to get young people working these days yet older ones are more than happy to keep on working funny world Paul Young people don't know a life before computers and electronics... like Granny said in the article, " computer sucks the brain out of your head" 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/45351-the-toowoomba-granny-whos-now-an-outback-trucker/#findComment-334509 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmyb Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 Good on her. Giving it a go! I'll have to show my mate this article cause he couldn't get a job with them! She sounds like my mum. She is up and down the road most weeks, then does book keeping in her time off. I can only imagine what others are thinking when I'm traveling with her and call her up on the CB... "You there mum?" Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/45351-the-toowoomba-granny-whos-now-an-outback-trucker/#findComment-334526 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmackpaul Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 Tim I wouldnt worry about what others think Mums are pretty special I reckon and they are much better at paper work than blokes, never known a bloke yet that likes paper work lol Paul Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/45351-the-toowoomba-granny-whos-now-an-outback-trucker/#findComment-334594 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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