Transtar - Across the Generations. 2010/2020

In-depth

18 Oct

In 2010 I interviewed one Charlie Morton from Healesville, Victoria. Charlie was the sole parent of two young children, Tayla and Matt and was juggling parenthood with work. The family income was derived largely from one truck – an International Transtar.

That truck served the family well. And it still does. Today it is Matty who is behind the wheel, following in Charlie’s footsteps in more ways than one….

2010

Charlie Morton

Life has a habit of putting hurdles in our way. When you get over one, another often jumps another. Charlie Morton, like many of us has had his share.

Charlie started his working life as a plumber. Along the way he gained his HR licence and drove part-time for Jody Kay, hauling cattle around in between plumbing jobs. The driving gave Charlie a taste for the road and after 10 years he gave plumbing away in exchange for a job with Readymix. During this period he went for his HC which opened up further opportunities.

Readymix closed their Ferntree Gully quarry so Charlie drove for a couple of their subbies. “This early driving introduced me to a heap of really good blokes. After 20 years I still have a lot of mates from those times.”

Wife, Mandy’s parents had been in the hardware wholesaling business for many years and bought Sherlock Wheelbarrows. They offered Charlie a job running the manufacturing side of the business while Mandy did the administration. During this seven year period an opportunity arose for truck work – hauling garden supplies. Close mate, Bob Pout had recently bought an International Transtar and raved about it.

**Bob Pout's beloved International Transtar with 650 mean ones under the bonnet**

Bob’s recommendation saw Charlie invest in a Transtar, a ’98 model with 900,000km on the clock. Powered by a 12.7litre Detroit Diesel set at 500hp and driving through an 18 speed Roadranger to 46,000lb diffs on Hendrickson suspension, he had it stretched to enable a bigger tipper to be fitted and bought a tri-axle dog at the same time.

“I saw it as a bit of protection regarding future employment. Work was plentiful at the time so we put a driver on while I continued in the family business.”

When the in-laws decided to retire and sell up, the tipper biz was still going strong so another was in order. Another Transtar mated to Detroit of course.

“The Transtar was a great truck and I saw no reason to head to another brand,” said Charlie. “There was also economy in having the same spec truck so I looked for ones with Detroit power, Hendrickson, etc. Over the years it’s saved me a wad I reckon.”

Then the drought came and, as with so many others, the gardening supplies industry was hit hard.” On top of the drought one of my clients bought his own truck so we had no choice but to sell off one of ours. We had to let our driver go (everyone down the line gets affected) and I took over the other truck.”

In adversity there can be opportunity and this came in the form of carting hay. “I bought a Prime Mover (Transtar and Detroit again) and borrowed a mate’s trailer. Later on I bought my own drop-deck trailer. It gave me the chance to pick up a variety of work. Guess I was lucky (read: worked hard) in that I owned the trucks. As long as I covered rego, servicing, etc I could keep the head above water and feed the family.”

So it would appear that life for Charlie was travelling ok. The trucks were getting enough work to pay their way and the business had, with a lot of juggling, survived the downturn caused by the drought. Then his wife, walked out.

“I woke up that next morning and thought to myself, what the hell am I going to do? All I know is how to change gears and no idea of the business side - as in keeping the books, invoicing and all that stuff. I’ve got Tayla and Matt, and the job means you’re often up before light and home well after dark. How was I going to look after the kids? I tell you mate, I was that close to giving it all away.”

Help came from a possibly unexpected quarter in those turbulent days. Charlie’s mother in law took the children Monday to Friday with Charlie joining them for tea and staying till they slept before going home. “They came home every weekend and we did all the sports things and so forth. It was just that they slept at Grandma’s during the week.”

Neighbours and friends rallied around and gave, particularly Tayla, a female perspective to her life. Clients such as Yarra Junction Garden Supplies, Healesville Building Supplies and Colin Young (all Charlie’s contracts are on a handshake basis) offered help wherever they could.

**Shane Donkin of Healesville Building Supplies was not only a good client but a great mate in times of need.**

Charlie’s eyes moisten when he talks about his children. “We’ve become incredibly close in so many ways. I went and found an accountant to help with the books but Tayla does the invoices and statements. Matt helps keep the trucks clean – changes gears better than I do too! They both jump in and help around the house and the business without any asking and they are much closer than many other siblings I know. I’m just incredibly proud of both of them.”

**Charlie, Tayla and Matt Morton in 2010**

Matt loves going off on a job with Dad. “He’s really sensible around the trucks. We dress him up in the Fluoro’s and he feels, and he is, part of the team.

Why International?

Charlie laughs. “A bit of brain washing from Bobby Pout I guess. I didn’t have any preconceptions about one brand or the other and I had driven plenty. When I got in the Transtar I was super impressed by the comfort and space and the way she drove on the road. She is just a bloody good truck to drive. The comfort thing is really important to me. If you can hop in a truck and feel comfortable driving it, you can do your job more easily and safely.”

We all have trials in our lives. It’s how you come through them that counts. Charlie, Tayla and Matt have all become stronger, closer knit, more loving of each other and cognisant of the need for each other’s support. The kids appreciate what dad has given up for them and Charlie is equally amazed at the maturity his children have shown. A lot of families could learn something from the Morton’s ….

**A young Matty Morton dreams of the future**

2020

Matt Morton

It is a dank, overcast day in the Yarra Valley when I get on the phone to Matt Morton and ask how he is going.

“Living the dream, mate,” says Matt. “Trying to run around with a clean truck on a dirty, rainy, crappy sort of afternoon.”

Matt is now 21 and has been behind the wheel of ‘Feral 2’, the family’s International Transtar Tipper and Dog, since November of last year. He did not jump straight into the truck from school, instead following in Charlie’s footsteps – and at his urging –completing (in Matt’s case) a carpentry apprenticeship.

“Dad was pretty keen for me to have something else up my sleeve. He did an apprenticeship and that’s why he drummed it into me to do that first. If the shit ever hits the fan later on I could jump into that and keep gainfully employed until I found something else. That said, hopefully I’ll never need to use it because I’m telling you mate, where I am right now is where my heart is.”

“When I first got my HR dad was teaching me to pull the trailer because I was going to get my HC within six months with an exemption. I got the exemption, gained my HC and went out with him a couple of times. I really wanted to experience what the industry was like on my own. After a couple of trips together I was out by myself.

“I’ve done alright insofar as now Dad trusts me enough and doesn’t want to come with me anymore. He officially retired in May, or did I force him into it? Mind you, it doesn’t stop him giving me advice every now and then which I take on board.”

Matt is also continuing the family business in supplying product to garden supply businesses in the area. He is also learning that it’s not always easy.

“You go to a quarry. They tell you they’ve got the product the day before, and when you get there they don’t! Well, thanks for not telling me. I drove all the way to Donnybrook (66 km) this morning for them not to have the product that I needed. Then I went to get some mushroom compost and they say they got heaps of it. I’m halfway there and they ring and say I might not get a load because there’s two trucks just pulled in who will probably take the lot. At least they had the courtesy to ring me.

“Meantime of course, I’ve got clients on the other end that want the product. Sometimes it’s just ridiculous but I guess you just have to roll with the punches. The garden supply companies are reasonably understanding, the private jobs not so much. I’m rapidly learning to be a salesman as well as a truckie.”

**“Where would you like me to drop it?”**

The garden supply business tends to be seasonal and slows in the winter months, so Matt has also been a gun for hire of late, carting water for a family friend, Andrew Williams as well as driving a Western Star 4800 truck and dog for Greg Adams, carting out of construction sites and dirt pits. It’s obvious that Charlie has instilled a good work ethic into young Matt.

Driving other trucks has brought home to Matt just how good the International is.

“You may remember just how much dad loved that truck. It treated him very well. I’m here to tell you that nothing’s changed. Mate, it is absolutely a great truck - it’s been phenomenal. It’s never had any issues. It’s got a Series 60 Detroit putting out 530 horses, driving through an 18 speed Road Ranger and it pulls like a train, don’t you worry about that.

“I wake up in the morning and I can’t wait to get to work. I reckon that puts me well ahead of the eight ball. When I finished my apprenticeship and I jumped behind the wheel of the Transtar, I knew that trucking was what I wanted to do and what I enjoyed doing so I put 110% into it.”

Matt’s older sister, Tayla has now finished a Law Degree and kicking goals of her own according to Matt. “Dad tells anyone and everyone that we are both still a pain in the arse – but they all know he is talking through his own.”

We reckon Charlie Morton is a pretty proud dad. He has single-handedly raised two great kids who have grown into fine young adults. Adults who have grabbed the opportunities Charlie has provided and run with them.

The last word from Matt:

“I’m loving what I’m doing. I’m looking for a good woman who understands the trucking life but meantime I get out of bed happy every day. I couldn’t think of another job I’d rather be doing.”