Ken Tomkins - Staying Power

In-depth

12 July

Ken Tomkins has been behind the wheel for thirty-nine years. He has always worked as an employee rather than an owner/driver. “Less to worry about that way,” he comments.

Somewhat unusually, Ken has spent those thirty-nine years driving for the one mob – that mob being Linfox.

After starting his working career in the Railways, Ken moved to Warehousing as a forklift driver. It didn’t take him long to figure that there was more to life than chugging around the yard. Watching the trucks coming and going was enough to prod him into getting a truck licence. In those days you could go straight for a semi-licence and at 26 Ken decided it was time to do just that.

"I put my name down with Linfox. This was in May of 1981. Three weeks later I got the phone call to come in for an interview. They told me about the job and offered me a part-time position. I was only there one day and that changed to a permanent job."

Ken was handed a Bedford, delivering Coles Variety products around their stores. This continued for some 8 months when Linfox handed him an International BT 190 and a grocery delivery route.

A Ford D-Series came next, followed by a Mercedes. "Then I got a tap on the shoulder and was told that I had a new truck coming. That was a 1417 Benz - a wonderful truck. In those days it was one truck, one driver. You looked after her, you kept her clean, everything.

“Linfox was a hard company to get into. Everyone wanted to work for them. People put their names on a waiting list to join the company, so I was lucky to get in as quickly as I did. They were one of the biggest truck companies around but were great to work for, which isn't always the case with a big organisation. Lindsay was hands-on and was often coming around, as was Peter and the rest of the family. They'd mix with the drivers and make you feel valuable to the business - as it should be.”

With the Benz, Ken worked out of Moorabbin doing groceries. Thereafter followed a procession of trucks - Scania, another Benz, a Volvo, a Freightliner, yet another Benz and another Volvo. Moving to Altona put him into two Freightliners in procession - stability at last!

These days Ken is behind the wheel of a four year old Actros and loves the truck. “She’s my truck but I don’t have to pay for the upkeep,” he smiles. “The company prides itself on its fleet and the maintenance of the trucks. If there’s the tiniest problem they pounce on it.

“That said, this truck is the Bees Knees as far as I’m concerned. At four years old they’ll probably trade it soon. If they do I’ll be more than happy with another Actros.”

Thirty-nine years with Linfox displays great loyalty and Ken feels that has been returned by both Lindsay and Peter over the years. “They have been good to me so why would I want to move on? It’s pretty simple really.”

In all his years with Linfox Ken has only been behind the wheel of a Kenworth once.

"I drove a Kenworth when they took over the Nestle contract and asked me to drive it from one depot to another.”

What about a Mack?

“Oh yeah. We had a Mack for about three months once, but again I only took her from one depot to another.”

Has he had a favourite truck over the years?

"I don't mind the Freightliner - the FL112. We had those back in 2000 and I drove them all over Victoria. My life has been spent intrastate, other than a couple of occasions when I'd fly to Sydney to pick up a truck. Being married with three girls to look after, it suited me coming home each night.”

**Ken’s International Harvester AB 120, circa 1963**

Outside work Ken has been active in the Lions Club where he has twice been president of his local club. Twenty-two years of involvement with the community through Lions has given him immense satisfaction. He is also an active member of the Freemasons.

You can’t drive trucks for all those years and not have one of your own. In Ken’s case it is his International Harvester AB120, circa 1963. “It’s much more than just a weekend toy,” he says. “I use it all the time. One of my daughters bought some furniture recently and was going to have it delivered. ‘No need’ I replied. We’ll take the AB. The old girl gets a lot of looks. I got around to putting some decent headlight globes in her recently to replace the 2 candle-power originals. Makes a world of difference at night!”

At 65 ken has no thoughts of leaving the wheel. “Retirement for me is at 67 1/2 but I reckon I'll drive beyond that. I just love it!”