Warren's story
For Warren Adams, a line haul driver and a 30-year veteran of the road transport industry, trucking is more than a vocation.
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His family had strong ties to trucking within the forestry industry back in his native New Zealand.
For Warren, a weekend run from Mackay to Townsville in October 2021 should have been routine – he knew the load and knew the route well.
“I just thought, ‘last run of the week. I can do this’. I’ve done it before. I’ve said it a thousand times in my life, ‘last run of the week’,” Warren said. “You just need that one where you don’t.”
He doesn’t remember what happened but believes he ‘had a nod’ at the wheel around 2.15am. The truck rolled, and Warren ended up in a culvert, his arm pinned between a bridge and the truck.
He was rescued and taken to hospital in Townsville, then flown to Brisbane for specialist surgeries and treatment. Since the accident, he’s undergone at least 15 surgeries to try to repair his arm.
Amongst the trauma of a serious injury, one thing that has stuck in his mind is that his employer, Scotts Refrigerated Logistics, got in touch with him right away after the accident.
“They called while I was in hospital. I talked with them which was really cool. I had never met these people like, you know, in person and they're going out of their way to give me a call,” Warren said.
While he’s not currently back behind the wheel, Warren is back at Scotts working as a safety ambassador. He speaks to other drivers about the importance of putting their own safety first.
As far as truck drivers go, the load's more important than they are. Getting there on time, keeping the customer happy is way ahead of self-preservation. And that's all cool, until it's not.
In the meantime, through WorkCover, Warren has been able to access the support he needs for his recovery, including surgery, rehabilitation and occupational therapy.
Jason Perin, Health and Wellbeing Lead at Scotts, says that when Warren talks, other drivers listen.
“People value what he says and if he can help us spread that safety message that's genuine and not scripted and comes from his heart and that's exactly what we want,” Jason said.
It's a serious message, because it’s one Warren knows he nearly wasn’t able to tell.
“I've got four kids and 12 grandkids, mate. Trying to be Superman one weekend last year - could have gone, the lot.”
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