Howard Shanks caught up with Ben Collier and the Mack Super-Liner he drives for Adelaide-based ABC Transport at a parking bay on the outskirts of Cooper Pedy in South Australia. He had just checked the oil and water and was closing the bonnet when Howard arrived.

Ben had a load of new cardboard cartons, bound for a melon farm at Mataranka in the Northern Territory. Ben reckons he has an easy run as he loads melons from the same farm for the Adelaide markets.

Animals roaming the Stuart Highway are common on long, dark nights, so Ben’s Mack is fitted with an extra heavy-duty bullbar.