The Road Freight NSW 2025 Conference and Awards celebrated excellence across the transport industry, with Formula Chemicals taking home the prestigious Best Safety Culture Award.
Sponsored by AEI Insurance Broking, the award was presented by Angus MacKenzie, who commended Formula Chemicals for creating a workplace where respect, appreciation and wellbeing are at the centre of daily operations.
“Formula Chemicals has built a family-oriented culture led by Leigh Smart and supported by his family and team. Employees know their voices are heard and valued. The company’s commitment to safety training and employee wellbeing ensures a supportive environment where people can thrive,” McKenzie said.
The business has established a strong culture of recognition and communication, with initiatives such as the BP Castrol Quality and Safety Day and the Learning Café, ensuring that achievements are celebrated and knowledge is shared.
Accepting the award, Leigh Smart reflected on his long career in the transport and chemical industry.
“I’ve been in the industry now for 53 years. This is a fantastic award and very much appreciated. Our family has three generations involved, and safety is at the heart of everything we do,” Smart said.
The recognition highlights Formula Chemicals as a shining example of how transport businesses can foster a workplace where people feel genuinely valued while maintaining the highest safety standards.
- Modern trucks could help the industry tackle its driver challenge
The heavy vehicle industry’s driver shortage is not only a recruitment problem. It is also forcing truck manufacturers and fleet operators to reconsider the working environment they provide drivers. Hino Australia President and CEO Richard Emery believes the industry needs to do more over the coming years to encourage people to consider truck driving as - Truck Industry Council Names New President
Richard Emery, President and CEO of Hino Motor Sales Australia, has been elected President of the Truck Industry Council (TIC), with fleet modernisation and future road user charging among the industry body’s priorities. Emery was elected at TIC’s Annual General Meeting in Canberra, succeeding Andrew Harbison, Managing Director and CEO of Isuzu Trucks Australia Limited. - UD Names Australia’s Best Driver
Anthony Cassar of Coolway Trans has been named Australia’s top UD driver after winning the 2026 UD Trucks Extra Mile Challenge Australia. Cassar, representing Volvo Commercial Vehicles Australia Sydney West, secured the title after three weeks of competition. Drivers were assessed using UD Connect telematics across four areas: anticipation and braking, driveline utilisation, speed adaptation - Daimler Truck Crowns Top Technicians
Daimler Truck Australia Pacific has named its 2026 Freightliner and Mercedes-Benz Trucks Technicians of the Year, putting a spotlight on the technical capability required to keep increasingly complex heavy vehicles operating reliably. The national finals were held at the Daimler Truck Training Academy in Mulgrave, Victoria, where leading technicians completed technical theory assessments, real-world diagnostic - Penske Crowns 2026 Master Technicians
Penske Australia & New Zealand has named Luke Andrew and Luke Reid as its 2026 Penske Guild Master Technicians, recognising technical excellence across the company’s on-highway and off-highway operations. Andrew, a leading hand at Penske’s Perth branch, claimed the on-highway title, while Darwin-based Reid took out the off-highway category. The biennial Penske Guild competition brings









