Just a Quickie With Leigh Campbell

G’Day From…

17 Mar

Commonly known as Buddha, Leigh Campbell is a Geelong boy. A subcontractor for Australia Post based out of the Geelong Mail Centre and servicing the Bellarine Peninsular and Surf Coast, he proudly told me that he was the only contractor who managed to keep up with the Covid Christmas rush in his Fuso FV54 Heavy Rigid.

Did that mean he was given a very expensive gold watch?

“Unfortunately not. I might have been able to trade it in and buy a new car with what they were worth.”

Leigh’s father had the majority of AP contracts out of the Geelong Mail Centre and that’s where Buddha started his career. Nine years later he broke the family ties, moving to Hamilton and subbing for DX Toll on a Sydney run. Five years ago his dad suggested he return to the family business with a view to taking it over.

These days Buddha’s happy to have just two trucks running. “Fewer trucks equals less grief.”

His day starts at 1AM, knocking off at 8AM. He has a “Long lunch”, as he puts it, before heading out again at 2PM, doing a loop of the Bellarine to collect the mail from the PO’s before wrapping the day up at around 7. “And so the wheel turns,” he says. “The split-shift is something you get used to. It pays well and Australia Post look after you.”

Buddha is a fan of the Fuso, bought through the dealership in Port Melbourne and serviced at IRS (a Daimler dealership) in Geelong. “A great truck that’s never let me down. I keep them for five years and turn them over when the AP contract is renewed (also five yearly). Their five year warranty fits in nicely and with 440hp they have plenty to carry parcels. You don’t need anything more.”

Buddha is one of those fortunate blokes whose trucks are permanently under warranty. Shame the FV54 can’t haul a B double.

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