Tractor driver

By PHILIPPA STEVENSON

Q: What do you do?

A: I drive a mid-size tractor, a 140hp John Deere with an eight-row maize planter and five different [electronic] monitors in the cab. What we do each day depends on the weather but usually I clock in and get a job card.

It gives you what job you are doing that day, the machinery you're driving, which farm it is and a map of how to get there.

Sometimes the tractor is already at the job if it wasn't finished the day before and you get dropped off there. If it's not, you check that the tractor is serviced and greased up and drive to the job.

Depending on the size of your machine and the paddocks, you might do two farms in a day. At night it's back to the depot and the paperwork. You put in your start and finish time, the start and finish times of the job, how many hectares were planted, any downtime, travelling time, diesel used. It's checked by the field supervisor.

If you are driving a truck you fill in the logbook and the docket book for the loads carried.

Q: Why did you choose the job?

A: My father did it for 14 years. I probably first went along in a kid's carseat in the tractor and I thought it looked pretty good.

I left school when I was about 16 and went dairy farming and did some tractor driving. When I was a farm manager I worked part-time driving in the maize season.

For about three weeks, I'd drive a tractor at night, get a few hours' sleep and milk in the morning. I've been in this job for two years and worked for another contractor before this.

Q: What's the best part of the job?

A: There's plenty to learn. It's good to have new things to see and do. All paddocks are different; you meet new people and get around. It's never boring. And, when you're planting, it's good to see what comes up and how well you did.

The long hours are the worst bit when I don't see my family and girlfriend but it's a good way to save money. You've got no time to spend it.

I got my tractor stuck in a paddock once. Another agricultural contractor pulled me out, which was a bit embarrassing but you had to do it.

We've got a wall of photos at work of things that have gone wrong. It was pretty cool when the company was on Country Calendar. It was great seeing the difference between then and now.

Q: What are your strengths?

A: I'm a hard worker and I'm keen to do the hours. I'm keen to learn and don't mind giving things a go, like steep hills. But you have to keep safe because it is a business and it's not your gear. I like the planting to be accurate for the customer.

Q: What are your goals?

A: I'm trying to get all my licences for driving heavy machinery and I've just started a 12-month Agricultural Industry Training Organisation course for ag contractors. It's like a Bachelor of Agricultural Contracting.

It'll be something I have for life. I'd like to travel and this is a good job to travel with. I'd like to do on-road truck driving and see more of the country and I might go dairy farming again.

Q: What would you tell others?

A: Ask around among the people you know. Drive around and go and see people face to face. You've got to have a bit of experience and be keen to learn.



My Job

Name: Jason Anderson

Age: 20

Job title: Tractor driver

Working hours: Seasonal variations - long hours between 6am and midnight during maize planting season, October to December, and harvest - March to winter. Fewer hours over summer

Employer: John Austin Ltd, other agricultural contractors, self-employment

Pay: $9 to $15/hour depending on experience

Qualifications needed: Minimum of Class 1 and 2 driving licence

Career prospects: Self-employment