Hagen Bethell - Stuck On The Mainland

In-depth

17 July

Hagen recently became a part of the truckinwithkermie.com family. In talking to him on Messenger, he mentioned that his truck was his home for the foreseeable, which led to a phone hook-up to see what he was on about.

At the time he was at the depot in Altona polishing his truck. Hagen’s proper home is in Tasmania – Beaconsfield to be precise; a town well known to all Australians.

Thanks to COVID 19 and the subsequent quarantine issues, Hagen’s week on the mainland had turned into two. “The clothes on my back are gettin’ a bit rife,” he commented. “I only packed for a week away.”

Luckily his wife cares enough about him to not only send fresh clobber with the next company shipment to the big island, but has also put together a decent hamper of food to keep him eating healthily.

Hagen works for Highland Haulage, carting general freight. “Anything and everything to anywhere and everywhere.”

He has been behind the wheel for seven years. At 35, he spent 10 years on the tools before trading that in to drive. “You make the same money each fortnight. You might do a few more hours for that money but it’s a damn sight easier work,” he says.

“The hands don’t get as cold and my knees don’t hurt as much. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the work (heavy diesel mechanic-ing). I just lost the passion for it a little bit and you get to the point where your body can’t do it.

With a wife and young daughter at home in Beaconsfield, Hagen comments that he used to work in the famous – or infamous – mine. “I actually know one of the blokes who was trapped in there fairly well.”

In what, once again makes it a small world, he was born and bred in this writer’s birth town of Hooterville, Vic., leaving at age 8 to move to Tassie with his mum.

Hagen is more than happy working for Highland Haulage and its owner, Nick Linger.

“You could never complain about Nick. He runs a very tight ship and has some very good gear.”

The business has about 20 trucks and 40 trailers. Those 20 trucks include the toys hiding away in Nick’s shed – including a mint, fully restored LTL. There’s also a 30th anniversary Heritage with 1500 km on the clock and an SAR from the late 70’s that Nick spent 10 years building. He also has a 900 Legend which is in the throes of being built. “He sets a very high standard for his gear.”

Hagen’s personal drive is a 1998 Western Star. “I’m very happy with that. If they offered me a Legend I’d honestly knock it back. I’ll stick to the Star any day of the week.

“I like the Stars. I’ve had a couple of them to date. If you’re happy behind the wheel of your drive it makes a big difference. She’s got the big bunk, she’s pretty roomy and she’s got a nice healthy Detroit under the bonnet.”

**Hagen’s proud of his timber floor which he fitted himself. Tassie timber no doubt**

Hagen normally tries to get back home every week. “Most weekends we get there but at the moment it’s a bit harder with COVID-19. But there’s work over here so that’s okay. Our main depot is in Deloraine in Tasmania.

“Some of the freight goes to Melbourne to Sydney to Brisbane from Tasmania. I’ll load up on Monday and jump on the boat on Monday night. On Tuesday, when on the mainland we head off to wherever. We also have stuff in Sydney and other places we pick up and bring back home. We do a general run in Sydney every week - sometimes twice. We only run single trailers.

“During COVID I’ll pop into a supermarket, grab some stuff and do a bit of a cook up. Whatever’s left over I can freeze for later. Fact is, there are some good Truck Stops, but there’s some rubbish as well.

“I’m looking forward to getting fresh clothes from my wife, but more importantly, her food. She’s a way better cook than I am.

Hagen asked us to give a shout out to the Jugiong Motor Inn, run by Mark and Jen Milner. “We stay over there a fair bit. They really look after the truck drivers. Best little town and best Motel on the highway by a country mile I reckon. Only a few truck drivers pull up there, but now I’ve let the secret out, I probably won’t be able to get a room next time.”