David has been a part of the transport industry for eight years. He has worked for freight companies and driven bulk tankers and cement carriers. He has also driven education trailers for the Australian Trucking Association. David has a rich trucking heritage, as his father is also involved in the industry.

“I wanted to be a truck driver ever since I was 5 years of age,” said Whyte, 27. This is going to change my life. People’s perceptions of truck drivers needs to change. We are professional people who enjoy what we do and love driving.  However, there is a need for greater understanding and tolerance on the roads by all drivers.” David won the crown of Young Australian Truck Driver 2007 from 16 other Australian State and Territory finalists and ‘drives’ away with a Scania truck and 1000 litres of Shell diesel fuel.

Whyte, from Melbourne, competed against the 16 other finalists in a rigorous six-hour competition designed to test their precision driving skills, road behaviour and general knowledge of the industry. They had to prove they could stop a 20 tonne, 19 meter semi-trailer on a 40cm square plate; drive all 11 wheels over a 20cm wide metre long plank without one wheel coming off; knock over only one of three small cylinders on a plate with their front tyre; and overcome a wide range of other manoeuvering tests and obstacles to highlight their driving skills.

The Australian Trucking Association Chief Executive, Stuart St. Clair, said truck drivers were the ‘backbone of the nation’.

“They carry the wealth of the nation and do not deserve much of the negative criticism being levelled at them,” he said. “Australia’s truck drivers share the road with over 11 million motor cars and the vast majority does their job in a safe and highly professional way. Most accidents involving trucks are not the fault of the truck driver and all motorists need to take responsibility for sharing the road safely.”

Scania Australia Managing Director, Kaj Faerm, said the competition demonstrated the industry’s commitment to safe driving and the professionalism of Australia’s truck drivers. “They are among the best in the world,” he said.