David Dorling

David Bruce Dorling was born in May 1973 at Foster Hospital in South Gippsland. David, known mostly as Dave but also as Dirty or DD, has lived in Fish Creek, Victoria his entire life. He is married to Rebecca (Bec) and their son, Kairon, is 22 years old.

From the age of 4, Dave always showed a keen interest in trucks. His parents, Arthur (Mick) and Eileen Dorling, owned and operated Fish Creek Motors for many years. His dad was well known as a master Diesel Mechanic. From a young age Dave would spend most of his time learning from his dad whether they were on the tools or carting cattle in their KM Bedford.

At the age of 16, Dave followed in his dad's footsteps and completed his apprenticeship as a diesel mechanic at the family business, allowing him to work alongside his dad. Dave obtained his truck licence at 18 and started driving the families KM Bedford carting hay for local farmers and carting cattle to abattoirs and sale yards. He then went on to obtain his articulated truck licence and started driving a W925 and Ecab Kenworth for Perc Matthews Pty Ltd. This involved carting fertiliser, super and grain locally as well as interstate until the business closed. Dave returned to the tools for the family business and carted cattle in the family’s Mercedes Benz 2235.

Always keen to get back out on the road again, Dave started driving a Mack for Tony McHarg transporting freight from Brisbane to Sydney. In 2004 Dave and Bec decided to purchase their first truck, a 2007 Western Star which was later followed by a new Western Star. Dave was subcontracting for McKibbons Transport carting livestock far from home, even interstate. Being so far from family made the years tough in someways but fortunately the camaraderie Dave formed with other truckies on the road got him and Bec through the tough times.

Dave and Bec decided to take a risk and go out on their own, purchasing their first set of used B-Double stock trailers to help in the family business while growing their own livestock carting business. While still carting cattle, Dave began specialising in sheep cartage, which involved him carting sheep out of Perth and surrounding areas of Gippsland. As the rules changed in WA, Dave started cross loading in Border Village.

Since taking over the family business and changing the name to Dorling Transport the business has grown to a fleet of six trucks consisting of a Scania, a Kenworth and four Volvo stock trucks. The business also employs two full time subcontractors, one being Dave’s younger brother Robert, who tows the businesses two sets of B-Double stock crates. Dave's ability and professional attitude handling sheep and cattle and conversing with his clients is the contributing factor to this growth.

Now that the business is more locally based, Dave mainly drives one of his Volvo trucks to and from the VLE Saleyards in Koonwarra and for farm to farm cartage, while the two subcontracted drivers tow their B-Double trailers to do the long distance cartage. Dave and Bec’s son Kairon, has now obtained his HR and HC truck licences and after finishing his apprenticeship last year joined the family business on a full-time basis. This truly is a family business.