John Arnold first ventured out into the world when he joined the Merchant Navy at the young age of fifteen. But, by the age of twenty, he was back on dry land, though still close to the sea, working on the Melbourne docks. He had taken a job with Fleetways, and it was there that he learned to drive trucks. His first truck was an S model Bedford, and by the time he turned twenty one, he had his semi trailer licence, and was steering a Fleetways 1956 Austin-BMC diesel for the car carrying division.

All this took place back in 1964-65 and, ever since, John has had a mixture of sea water and diesel in his veins. Today, he drives a 2000 Volvo NH 12 carting scrap metal for Calleja Transport. Over the past fifty years or so, John has driven local and interstate on general freight, car carrying, container and tipper work, interspersed by seafaring between jobs, or when money was needed for a new truck.

He has climbed behind the wheel of many memorable, and some forgettable, tr