The Australian Trucking Association’s Technology and Maintenance Conference (TMC) 2025 opened with a story that captured both the romance and the reality of life on the road — the long hauls, late nights, and meticulous teamwork that move Australia’s Supercars Championship from one side of the country to the other.
Hosted by professional driver Casuarina “CJ” Smith, the panel titled “Hauling High-Performance Supercar Beasts” featured Vincent (Vinnie) Borgia, veteran motorsport transporter and long-time Walkinshaw Andretti United team driver, and Matthew Robertson, National Fleet Sales Account Manager for PACCAR Australia. Together, they shared insights into the unseen world of logistics that makes motorsport possible.
From Road Trains to Race Teams
CJ Smith’s own story set the tone. After years behind the wheel of everything from concrete agitators to AB triple road trains, she took an unexpected call last year asking if she could take over a Team 18 Supercars transporter. Within a week, she was hauling million-dollar race cars across the country.
“I love racing. I used to race motocross,” she said. “But I never imagined I’d end up driving one of the most recognisable trucks in Australian motorsport.”
Her passion for trucking — and for bringing the public closer to the people who keep Australia moving — has earned her a large online following. It also made her the perfect host for a conversation that bridged freight transport and motorsport.
The Hidden Work Behind Every Race
For Vinnie Borgia, who has spent 26 years in motorsport transport, the glamour of Supercars hides an enormous logistical effort.
“It’s not what you see on TV — that’s the end product,” he explained. “There’s a lot of hard work behind the scenes. We might work three weeks straight without a break.”
Each season spans 13 rounds, running from February to December. Teams must move their entire operation — two race cars, tools, spares, catering, tyres, and even mobile offices — in B-double trailers across thousands of kilometres.
“By the time you load, drive four days to Darwin or Perth, and set up, you’ve lost three weeks,” Borgia said. “Everything you see at a race meeting is in that truck.”
Kenworth and DAF: The Power Behind the Paddock
For Matthew Robertson of PACCAR Australia, motorsport offers a national stage to showcase Australian-built Kenworth and DAF trucks — while also testing them in real-world conditions.
“Supercars is the best way we can do that,” Robertson said. “It’s a national sport. Our customers love engines — that’s why they’ve got trucks. For us, it’s a no-brainer.”
PACCAR supplies two trucks directly to the Supercars organisation and supports multiple teams, including Team 18, which uses a Kenworth K220. Robertson described the Perth-to-Darwin convoy — a 4,000-kilometre trip through remote Australia — as both a test bed and a bonding experience.
“It’s good to get out in a truck, try new technology, and have thinking time,” he said. “But it’s also a chance to appreciate what these drivers do every week.”
Moving a Million-Dollar Payload
Behind each polished transporter is a small team of drivers and mechanics responsible for millions in equipment.
“Fully loaded, everything in there is worth about $5.5 million,” Borgia said. “A crash can cost $50,000 to repair — a bonnet alone is $7,000. We carry enough parts to rebuild each car twice.”
Packing the trailers is a science of balance and precision: cars ride high on mezzanine floors, while every square centimetre below is filled with spares, tools, and tyres. “There’s no guesswork,” CJ noted. “Everything has its place.”
Even at the track, drivers’ jobs extend far beyond transport. “Truck driving is only about 15% of your job,” Borgia said. “We refuel during races, handle tyres, set up catering tents — everyone works.”
Beyond the Road: Inspiring the Next Generation
The panel also discussed how exposure through motorsport can attract new people — especially women — into transport and mechanical trades.
CJ recounted her involvement with Girls on Track, a program introducing school-aged girls to motorsport careers. “They were amazed at the size of the trucks,” she said. “When I explained I sleep in one of them, they couldn’t believe it.”
Robertson echoed the importance of career pathways. “Once you’re in, you can really diversify,” he said. “You might start as an apprentice mechanic and end up in logistics, sales, or management. It’s a job for everyone.”
A Tribute to Trucking Excellence
The TMC 2025 opening session reminded delegates that motorsport logistics mirrors the broader trucking industry: teamwork, precision, safety, and pride in presentation.
As Borgia put it, “If you’re a female and you want to drive a truck — go for it. You shouldn’t be pushed into a pigeonhole. It’s a great industry, and it’s taken me around the world.”
For the crowd of transport operators, technicians, and fleet managers at TMC, the story of hauling high-performance Supercars across Australia wasn’t just entertaining — it was a powerful reminder that trucking excellence underpins every industry, from freight to racing.
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