David Muir has worked as a chemical tanker driver for Formula Chemicals in Sydney for the past four years and is acknowledged by the industry as a worthy recipient of the prestigious award which is sponsored by Teletrac Navman.
The award is in recognition of David’s driving abilities as well as his dedication to the safe and efficient operation of the 26-tonne bulk tanker and the service he provides to Formula Chemicals’ customers.
David came to Australia from the Scottish city of Edinburgh in 1990 and spent a decade driving State Transit buses around Sydney’s northern beaches where he says he learned to be patient in traffic.
After moving with his family to the NSW Central Coast, David drove trucks for a local chemical company before signing on with Formula Chemicals four years ago.
David is currently the main driver of the specialised rigid tanker which holds 10,000 litres of various liquid chemicals such as chlorine, hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid and sodium hydroxide.
Driving a dangerous goods vehicle comes with its own set of challenges, especially in metropolitan traffic conditions where David is bound by legislation to not use any of Sydney’s ever expanding tunnel network and instead operates on the busier surface roads.
As well as local Sydney deliveries, David transports bulk chemicals to many NSW country centres including Wagga Wagga, Cootamundra, Young and Junee as well as west of the mountains to Orange and Manildra.
Delivering large quantities of dangerous goods involves a higher level of responsibility than, say, groceries and in addition to careful driving the operator has to ensure the unloading is carried out safely without spillages and that the correct product is transferred to its appropriate storage tank.
David appreciates the chemicals carried are very important to the communities he delivers.
“They rely upon us,” he says. “A lot of little country towns have populations of only 500 people and their local swimming pools are pretty important for them, especially in the summertime.”
As a former under 10s and under 16s soccer coach, David’s interest in his own health and well-being means he doesn’t partake of the usual truck stop fast food meals when he is on an out of town trip.
“I always take my own food so I’m not buying fast food,” he says. “I think it tends to make you sleepy. It’s not that I don’t eat it, but I tend to stay away from it when I’m driving. I’ll take a packed lunch with me with a muesli bar and some fruit.”
David has a personal policy of taking longer than the minimum required rest breaks stipulated by his Basic Fatigue Management accreditation.
“If I’m on a long trip I stop for at least 15 minutes every two to three hours, and then, when I reach my destination, I’ll have at least another half hour break,” David explains.
“On the way back I’ll do the same again and have a 15- or 30-minute break after the first couple of hours driving.”
According to David he’s been doing the job for so long that he can plan his day the night before he leaves.
“If I’m going down the Hume I know that it will take around two and a quarter hours to reach Sutton Forest so I can have my 15 minutes break, then go on to my destination,” he says.
“A lot of drivers stretch it out to the maximum driving time according to the log book but I find that tiring. If you’re driving five hours solid, especially going down the Hume Highway, you’re just focusing on one strip of road. That’s why I’ll split it into four, sometimes five sections.”
David’s preference is not just to pull up on the side of the road in a truck rest area but instead take his breaks where there are plenty of facilities.
“I normally stop at my usual places because I know they’ve got restaurants and toilets, and I can pull in, freshen up, use the bathrooms and get out and stretch my legs for 15 minutes,” he explains.
In common with most truck drivers, David’s main concerns are other drivers not using indicators and cutting trucks off.
“They don’t realise they are taking away our safe stopping distance in case of an emergency,” he says. “My top tips for drivers would be drive to the speed limit, drive to the road conditions, be patient and try not to get aggressive with other drivers.”
David appreciates the modern equipment operated by Formula Chemicals.
At the previous company every vehicle was a manual.
“Here they are all automatics, and have got all the safety devices, as well as being a lot more comfortable,” he says.
“Leigh’s (Formula Chemicals Managing Director Leigh Smart) reputation is for everything to be spot on. Once you leave this depot you know if you’ve done your correct checks, you’re safe on the road.”
David is an enthusiastic supporter of his Electronic Work Diary (EWD).
“There are different challenges every day and you tend to challenge yourself to see if you can do better,” he explains. “Traffic can disrupt the schedule but I try to give myself plenty of time and I don’t rush.”
Dangerous goods vehicles in NSW are the subject of often intense scrutiny by a diverse group of authorities which includes the Highway Patrol, Transport for NSW through the Roads and Maritime Services which transitioned to the NHVR on 1 August this year, SafeWork NSW, the Environmental Protection Authority, and even the Federal Police.
Through his dedication to safe operation David has been accident-free for the past 24 years and when asked when he received his last infringement notice the smile lines around David’s eyes indicate his pride in his remarkable record.
“That was 19 years ago,” he says modestly. Since receiving the award David feels that his already admirable attitude has been boosted and he is now even more customer focused, to the point he will frequently go out of his way to assist with components such as tank fittings.
“I’m happy what I’m doing and I don’t need to go anywhere else,” he says. “I’m 56 now and I’m happy with what I do and my lifestyle.”