Kenny Rangi

Kenny has driven for Alexander Group for more than 20 years. He started out on the old Internationals, without adaptive cruise and, on the older trucks, without cruise control at all. “You got a sore leg at the end of the day for pushing the accelerator and the clutch.”

Today’s Scanias are a different world. Adaptive cruise and automatic systems help the driver, and the truck will pull up almost as quickly as a car.

Kenny moves gas cylinders on pallets and big ISO tanks of nitrogen, oxygen and CO2, including unloading and getting them to the port.

It isn’t a job just anyone can jump into. A valve can rattle open and let gas vapour out, or a strap can come loose on a pallet. When that happens, drivers pull over and respond straight away, because they’ve been trained for exactly that.

He likes the challenge, especially loading ISO tanks at the right pressure. “Once you know you’ve done everything right, it gives me a bit of hype.” The best part of a run? The long haul.

Training that never stops. Driver trainers ride along, assess his driving on the road, show where to improve and teach how to load the ISO tanks. “We’re covered in all areas for the safety factors.”

And he passes it on. Iaeli Pemberton calls him a father figure who’s always there when you need him.

“Give it a go. If it’s you, it’s you.” It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, he says, but plenty of people find it’s a good job.

What makes a good driver? “Listen and learn of others. When you’re on top of this earth, you’re still learning. When you stop learning is when you’re under it.”

Stop switching lanes. Stay in one lane, relax and enjoy the ride. “You ain’t going to get to your destination any quicker.” Look after everyone on the road, and yourself.