Former champion bull rider Brad Howe has a sleeper box in his Kenworth but prefers to stay overnight at motels when he’s away from home.
The 60-year-old owner-operator runs Zig Zag Station near Charters Towers.
Big Rigs saw Brad checking his rig at the BP Cluden just before dusk recently.
“Zig Zag Station has 1250 breeding animals and they have to be fed. I have just picked up grain from the Burdekin to take home,” he said.
When they are ready for sale, stock from Zig Zag are transported to the meat works near Townsville.
Like most country drivers, Brad is a genuine friendly person who said he loves the truck.
“I have had it for about three years and have been a driver for about 30 years,” he said.
In his heyday Brad was a “bucking champion” at bull riding events in Australia and America.
Brad says his favourite roadhouse is at Greenvale which he reckons ticks all the boxes for truckies.
It didn’t take long for Brad to answer when asked the worst roads he gets on.
“The Belyando between Charters Towers and Clermont – rough as guts in places,” he said.
Brad added that there were not enough rest areas in general. I also asked if there were any he could recommend.
“I mainly stop at pull off areas beside highways where there is some space,” he said.
I had to query Brad about his desire to stay at motels rather than camping in his sleeper box.
“One motel I like staying at is at Capella and also at Springsure. They are comfortable,” he said.
Brad barracks for the Cowboys and South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL.
Ironically soon after meeting up with Brad I dropped into a hotel which is popular with drivers.
One of the regulars there, Matty Rowan ironically told me he was a friend of Brad.
“I camp at Zig Zag Station and Brad is a great bloke,” Matty said.