Executive Members

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NRFA Executive

National President Darryl Pedersen

National Vice President Rick Finning

Hi, I am Rick Finning. I am supported by my wife Natalie and two children Zeb and Emmie. We own and operate RW and NJ Finning Transport Bendigo.

I am a third generation professional owner driver along with 26 years of experience driving and transporting machinery and over dimensional freight on Australian roads. My outfit is one of many that stand out. A Kenworth 2000 model T950 with a Barker 45ft extendible drop deck, out riggers and ramps.

After attending a meeting on 6th June 2008 for the introduction on the new fatigue laws and the way VIC ROADS and the VICTORIAN TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION failed to answer questions we as an organisation asked I knew that something was wrong with this scheme.

So l made the call to Mick Pattel on Sunday the 15th of June. I arranged a forum with Mick attending. Approx 150- 200 men with wives attended. Then on July 28^th, I with others shut down for two weeks.

During the shutdown Russel and I arranged a meeting along with 20 other owner drivers with MP Steve Gibbons. We put our concerns forward but he did not give a rat’s ass about us or the industry.

He actually said he voted and supports the change and the ten thousand dollar fines.

Then we arranged a meeting with local MP Jacinta Allan along with one retired Vic roads officer and 4 transport operators. Ms Allan listened to us but showed no support also. I will say that approximately one week after the shut down one of the people who attended this meeting approached one of my customers for all of their freight. Local MP Bob Cameron did not have the common courtesy to reply.

But thankfully Damien Drum MLC helped with the interviews on WIN TV it was just a shame we weren’t allowed more time on air.

Member for Northern Victoria Region Wendy Lovell MP talked to Russel and me for two hours on a Friday night. This lady gave us her time, showed us respect and gave us good advice. We still talk on occasions to this day.

On 2^nd Nov 2008 at Toowoomba NRFA State delegates were elected and I was endorsed to represent Victoria.

I joined the NRFA because I wanted to be part of an association that wants commonsense back in the industry, who cares about owner drivers & small business drivers and drivers from grass roots level.

And most of all, we’re keeping the dream alive.

The big plus about this association is that we are on the road talking, listening, working and seeing things that are taking place first hand in the industry. Unlike the shiny bums in the ATA and other so called industry associations.

We have delegates in all states and Territory’s all bar Tasmania plus we have years of experience as professional transport operators keeping the freight for our country on the move 24/7/ 365 days a year.

To be successful you must mix with successful people the NRFA are these people, so if you are reading this you must have concerns about the industry, so as a professional owner driver I am happy to take the time to talk about things in general, please feel free to contact me anytime on 0428-510-101 or email the Secretariat

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