In the small amount of spare time he gets, Rod is one of the leading campaigners for truck safety in Australia.

A tireless campaigner, he has spent the past 10 years lobbying governments, educating other road users and working to get problems with roads corrected.

"It's not an easy job, you spend so much time on the road and nowhere near enough time with your family," he said.

"People ask me why I do this [the safety campaign] but I always think the worst that happens is that nobody listens to me but the best thing would be someone's life is saved because of a greater awareness.

"I have no way of knowing which it is but that's what keeps me going."

One of Rod's biggest campaigns has been the fight to get blue indicators used on the side of roads leading up to rest stops suitable for trucks to use. He has also worked with caravaners to increase the level of education and understanding between caravan users and truck drivers.

Rod was also one of the driving forces behind the establishment of Truck Week, which gets under way today.

Truck Week is designed to show the public the important role the trucking industry plays in Australia but Rod also uses it as a way to get his message across to a wider audience.

As part of his commitment this year, he has visited journalists at every town and city on the Newell Highway, offering them a ride in his truck. He has also taken a number of politicians and members of industry bodies along for rides.

He said people's appreciation of truck drivers and what they did changed once they had come along for a journey.

"A lot of people don't realise just how hard it is. We are generally carrying big loads and our braking distances are a lot longer than those of a car so at traffic lights or roundabouts we try and leave gaps between ourselves. When a car pulls in front of us, it shortens that gap we have to brake."

"It's similar with turning lanes. B-doubles need to take up two lanes to turn but if we have a car come up the inside of us, it can make it difficult for us."

Rod has one of the most distinctive trucks in Australia, with the curtains on his B-double giving a comprehensive run down of the history of trucking in Australia.

He has also written reply to the Newell Highway Strategy, detailing 27 issues that could be changed.