Growing up on a dairy farm at Jervois, South Australia, Kyle Nicholas remembers that all he wanted to do was drive trucks for a living.

“I was that kid who always wanted to go with Dad and would throw a tantrum if I didn’t get to,” he said.

The 28-year-old has not just fulfilled his dream, but his enthusiasm for his job and promoting the industry in a positive light has seen him recently named the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association’s joint Rising Star winner.

His prize was $5000 towards professional development.

Kyle, who has worked for Edmonds Transport for the past three years, says being a livestock transport operator is a really rewarding job.

While there are sacrifices, including being away from home for days on end, he enjoys being part of the livestock production chain and has made some great friendships.

Being behind the wheel of his Kenworth truck is also a great way to see Australia.

On any given day, he can be transporting a load of steers, lambs or pigs.

In springtime, there is plenty of work locally carting loads of lambs to the abattoir or yards, or cattle in and out of weaner sales in south-east SA and western Victoria, but during winter months, he can find himself further from home.

“I am someone who tends to get bored easily, so the more different stuff I get to do the better,” he said.

He estimates he clocks up about 180,000 to 200,000 kilometres a year in the truck and says he is fortunate to have a supportive wife, Brittany.

One of Kyle’s biggest accomplishments to date was recently taking a BAB quad configuration to Alice Springs in the Northern Territory and carting cattle back to Teys Naracoorte abattoir.

The week before that he was carting stock in Queensland.

“I have seen most of the country except for Tasmania, and I would like to see the top end of NT and WA, whether that opportunity arises, who knows?” he said.

Kyle was only 20 years of age when he gained his HC licence and soon after got his MC licence.

He began carting hay and grain and “four decks of lambs in and out of the feedlot” for the McGorman family, Thornby feedlot, Sanderston, SA.

In late 2017, while based in Adelaide, he began working for Crane Livestock Transport.

He also had a stint as an interstate driver with Nitschke Chaff & Freight, moving general freight mainly to Sydney and Brisbane.

In 2020, Brittany, who is a nurse, got an opportunity at the Mount Gambier Hospital so the couple moved to southeast SA and are now based at Mount McIntyre, near Kalangadoo.

Kyle took a job working on a farm, but it was not long before Edmonds Transport’s Peter Edmonds, whom he had known for years, tapped him on the shoulder to ask if he was interested in getting back in the cab.

“I missed it enough, so I thought I would come back and have another crack – three years later I am still here,” he said.

Kyle says it was a thrill to be nominated for the award, which is open to drivers under 35 years of age.

“You spend so long away from home in one of these trucks – you leave on a Sunday and you don’t know whether you are away for one week or two weeks – so for Peter and Vicki (Edmonds) to recognise the work I do for them within their company and for them to recognise that I am passionate about the job is a big thing for me,” he said.

His advice to other interested truckies is to “give it a go” and always ask plenty of questions of the more experienced drivers.

“I am 28 years old and have been driving trucks on and off for eight years, but I still ask questions every day – you can never learn too much,” he said.

“Animal welfare is the top priority, from the minute the stock go on the truck to the time they come off, it is up to you to look after them.”