Tasmanian Truck Owners and Operators’ annual truck run to Longford Showground preparation underway

The Hingston Transport trucks leave the yard at Whitemore every morning – moving from one district to another with loads of livestock, wool and hay.

It’s a logistical game that involves co-ordination of drivers, working dogs, administration and truck maintenance and keeping customers happy with the timing of arrival and condition of the precious and increasingly valuable cargo.

Brothers Nick and Marcus took over the business from their parents Kerry and Loise five years ago, just as they did from Kerry’s parents and founders in 1948, Viv and Connie Hingstson.

Marcus has worked as a diesel mechanic, but now takes care of the hay carting side of the business.

Nick was a mechanical engineer specialising in mining equipment, and handles the livestock movements.

Both were encouraged to work a trade before considering entering the family business which they decided to do after their pop passed away.

Their trucks are a familiar site at Powranna, Greenhams, Swifts, TQM, Tas Feedlot and alongside the boat at Bridport, as well as on farms all over the state.

The three generations have, and continue, to operate out of the same old pea viner shed that was moved from Hagley to Whitemore decades ago and now Nick’s son Xavier, a full-time plumber, also helps out part-time.

Aside from the 20ha that contains the transport business the family also run cattle on farmland nearby.

Hingston Transport operates six days a week with livestock transport required on Sundays to keep meat processors busy on a Monday.

So when Nick commits to giving up his precious Saturday off to clean trucks and organises a fill-in for work on a Sunday it’s for a worthy cause – and that’s what he’s going to do to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Tasmania through the Tasmanian Truck Owners and Operators’ annual Truck Run to Longford Showground on Sunday, March 1.

He admits that TTOOA president and fellow truck driver Rob Bayles has been working on him pretty hard to get involved, but he’s looking forward to the camaraderie and spectacle that the truck run creates.

“I haven’t been involved before but Marcus has and he always says what a great day it is,” Nick said.

“I did accidently end up in the convoy one year as I drove past Perth, but I was on a job so I copped flack for continuing down the highway!”

The Hingston Transport team has a healthy respect for the RFDS.

Nick said if it wasn’t for the RFDS truckie health checks at Epping Forest and at Agfest he would go a long time between doctor visits for a similar checkup.

He’s also grateful that one of his workers was flown quickly by the RFDS plane to Hobart after he suffered horrific injuries from a steer at the feedlots.

Driver Nick House also sings the service’s praise, having also been flown to Hobart when a fire exploded at a Circular Head property, engulfing him in flames.

He drove himself to the North West Regional Hospital with skin peeling off his body and was then flown out of Wynyard Airport by an RFDS plane to Royal Hobart Hospital for urgent treatment.

Tasmania’s RFDS plane makes approximately 1000 flights per year and is one of the busiest in the fleet that covers the country with urgent aeromedical services.

Just as importantly, its primary care services, covering mental health, physical health and dental services, all provided free of charge, is assisting people all over the state.

While Nick, Marcus and Xavier haven’t decided exactly which trucks will join the truck run, there are a few to choose from.

“The fleet has built up to about 10 trucks, mainly Scanias, two Western Stars, three Dafs, a Hino and dad’s old replica Scania 80, his first truck, which has been restored and sits in the shed,” Nick said.

The 2026 Annual Truck Run will leave Glebe, Launceston at 9am on March 1 and arrive at Longford Showground at approximately 10.30am.

More than 100 trucks will line up on show while driver and supporters enjoy a fun family day that includes the famous monster raffle and auction, food and drink, children’s activities, the RFDS plane simulator and health check bus plus live music by FT Scott Lewis.

Entry is by gold coin donation.