Fred Gleisner

Frederick (Fred) Gleisner was born in Maryborough, Victoria, on the 5th of July 1989. As the son of Stephen Gleisner and the grandson of Kenneth Gleisner, both of whom have previously been inducted into the Transport Hall of Fame, Fred was immersed in the transport industry from a very young age. He spent his childhood around trucks, actively helping with maintenance and accompanying his father and grandfather on trips, fostering a lifelong passion for the industry.

At the age of 16, Fred began his career in transport as an apprentice mechanic with Collins Adelaide. He later worked as a mechanic for CMV Kenworth Adelaide before joining Verdons in the same capacity. Upon turning 18, Fred obtained his truck license and began driving for Verdons, transporting gas pipes and drill rigs to remote locations across Australia for two years.

Fred eventually returned to central Victoria to assist his father with the family business, Avoca Transport. In 2016, he fulfilled a long-held dream by establishing his own business, FBG Transport. He purchased his first truck—a 1992 K100E Kenworth—and began hauling freight across Australia. Over the years, Fred has transported a vast array of goods including livestock, heavy machinery, hay, submarine components and more. There are few types of freight he hasn’t handled.

Throughout his career, Fred has driven an impressive range of trucks from classic 1960s cab-over Kenworths to Ford LTLs, Macks, Western Stars, and many others. One of his most challenging experiences occurred while hauling structural steel to the Lake Argyle Diamond Mine. He was stranded for nearly a week, 50 kilometres from the northern end of the Tanami Track, due to flooding.

Despite the challenges, Fred speaks fondly of his time on the road—particularly the camaraderie with fellow drivers and the joy of meeting old friends in unexpected places across the country. His commitment to the industry and to his business has been unwavering. Over the past nine years, he has worked tirelessly to build FBG Transport, often spending long periods away from his wife and five children.

In February 2025, Fred was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, receiving a heartbreaking prognosis. Though he is no longer able to work full-time, he continues to operate his 1998 model Mack which he purchased from his dad in 2022 after his father’s diagnosis of stage 4 cancer.  When he can, Fred manages the occasional load between rounds of intensive treatment continuing three generations of commitment to the transport industry.