Bob Hall’s driving journey began at 8 years old when he was helping his grandfather out in the bush up the Blue Mountains driving an
ex-army, Blitz.
When Bob got his truck licence, he was working on a cattle station in Western Queensland. His boss at the time asked him to take the
fargo truck to Bourke, to which Bob responded “I don’t have a
licence”. The boss sent him to the local police station with the
instructions “tell the copper that Bill said you need a licence”. The rest is history!
In 1963, he started working for W T Coggins delivering Bedford trucks to various location from GMH Pagewood.
He then had his own business delivering caravans for Viscount to Brisbane and overnight freight return.
Bob was one of the original “Grey Ghost” legends. He received 1 of 2 plaques for the Grey Ghost Legends, presented to him and Bill Barry at the first Grey Ghost reunion in 2006, which he helped to organise. He then delivered his Kwikasair (KAA) memorabilia to the KAA
corner at The National Road Transport Hall of Fame in Alice Springs.
Bob was doing regular Sydney/ Brisbane changeovers 5 to 6 nights a week, which meant travelling the Putty Road twice a night. No two trips were the same. Bob reckons the K125 was the best truck he has ever driven, even though they were basic by today’s standard.
KAA wanted to have the drivers well presented on the road and drivers were supposed to wear a company issued tie. Bob had an aversion to ties and when told he would be stood down if he did not wear his tie the next night, he fronted to work with his tie through his belt loops. After this wearing of the tie, management never
hassled him about it again!
Later in his time with KAA Bob, with John Watt, Linehaul Manager, went to pick up the first Australian made eight- wheeler, from
Melbourne to Sydney. He also drove the 1 st Volvo G88 from
Brisbane to Sydney for KAA.
He has since worked with heavy vehicles in a couple of earthmoving companies, owner driver Concrete trucks, and delivered for Blue
Circle cement tankers and still drives coaches and buses at 80 years old in 2024. A driving career of 73 years.
He tries to keep KAA memories alive and produced some polo shirts.
His motto has always been “I might only be a truck driver, but I try to be a good one.”
Inducted in 2024
