When it comes to liveries that make a striking visual impact, South West Express of Bunbury, Western Australia really has it sorted. The uncommon pairing of white and yellow with some grey thrown in for good measure may not sound so spectacular on paper, but when you encounter one of its trucks out on the road it certainly stands out. While the cab and trailer sides are left in factory white, a bright yellow is used for the chassis, grille, wheel hubs, and sunflower logo. Round this off with some polished alloys or Alcoa Dura-Bright rims and you are sure to identify a South West truck from a long-distance away.
As his surname indicates, Mark Mazza descends, through his father, from Italian immigrants and, via his mother, Irish incomers. One side fled the impoverished Calabrian countryside torn by civil war and Mussolini’s legacy while the other side originally fled Ireland after that country was ravaged by The Great Hunger, a food shortage attributed to the export of much-needed produce by the ruling forces after the potato crop failed for two successive years.
Mark has traced his family history, particularly on his father’s side, and makes the humble observation that his ancestors “came from nothing”. Rather than having a sense of entitlement, it is this recognition of the past that has instilled a hunger to succeed in many immigrants to “The Lucky Country”. With a hard work ethic, Australia has been the beneficiary of many of these descendants, typified by Mark Mazza’s work philosophy.
Well forked Daf
Remember, we like to cover all sorts of different trucks here at T&D – like this impressive new CF rigid complete with Moffett Mounty forklift
King of the hill
Moving heavy equipment off road calls for a truck with plenty of power and traction, which is why M&J Plant chose a mighty 6x4 FH16 750
Time Machine 2015-2019
It’s the final part of our series on the history of UK haulage. Let’s look back at those innocent times before that pesky virus turned up
Original and best
There are few trucks which have been customised to the level of the Scania 143, but let’s not forget that the standard product was pretty awesome just as it left the factory, like this rare 420
GOING ALL THE WAY
Simon Rogers got behind the wheel as soon as he was able to, and nearly 30 years later, his company is going from strength to strength, with a striking all-black, top-spec Iveco S-Way 570 the latest addition to the fleet
Abnormal loads
In the distant past, when dinosaurs roamed the planet, truck drivers were a very different breed, made from sterner stuff than us mere mortals
Range change
After a gap of 13 years, Renault trucks have reappeared in the unique colours of MacRitchie Highland Distribution. T&D takes the high road to Inverness to meet owners, Donald and Catriona MacRitchie
Cutting a dash
Freshly showered and munching a healthy egg and cress sarnie in Gloucester North services, Chris has a Foden update
Air we go!
On Saturday 29 May at 6pm, 240 drivers gathered with their trucks at South Mimms Services for a parade to raise vital money for Essex & Hertfordshire Air Ambulance
A Cutt Above
From coal to turf to fencing and loads more, there’s not much the Calcutt fleet hasn’t transported over the years
