Caught in the Headlights: HC Driver, Darren Spence
Ask Darren Spence about his HC Driver role at Morrows, and his face lights up. “I’ve been here for four years now,” he says. “This was my first transport job after I got my truck licence, and I haven’t looked back,” he said.
It’s easy to see why. Darren exudes positivity. Whether he’s driving through the rolling hills of South-West or chatting with long-time customers, his energy and warmth come through loud and clear.
Every Day, a New Destination
What Darren loves most is the variety. “I’ve done metro work before, but I love the regional runs. Getting out of the city is great,” he shares. “Even though I do Mount Gambier twice a week, the deliveries are never the same,” he said.
From dairy farms to construction sites, retail stores to private homes—Darren’s days are anything but predictable. “It’s not that same-old, get-up-and-do-it-again routine. We’ve got regulars, which makes it even better. You get to build relationships,” Darren said. “Plus, I cover a lot of ground with various runs. I travel from Hamilton to Bordertown, then down to Mount Gambier, Port Fairy, Portland, Warrnambool, Colac and everywhere in between. Every route has its charm.”
The Freedom of the Overnight Run
Darren also enjoys the autonomy of the overnight shifts. “We get to plan the run ourselves—based on what our customers need. Some customers prefer deliveries first thing in the morning, so we accommodate them accordingly. There’s trust in us to get it done right,” he said.
The job goes beyond driving because good planning also involves intelligently loading trucks to ensure seamless delivery and unloading. “Some deliveries are tailgate-loaded, others are forked off or unloaded by hand. It keeps things interesting,” he said.
The Tech Behind the Wheel
When Darren first started, he drove one of the oldest trucks in the fleet—“It had 4 million kilometres on it!” Now, he’s in one of Morrows’ newest vehicles.
“It’s got everything—a fridge, comfortable seats, climate control and airbags. There’s even a fatigue sensor. It sits on the dash like a little matchbox. If your eyes get heavy, it vibrates your seat and sends an alert to the office,” he said.
Morrows also equips its fleet with dash cams, side cameras, collision alerts, and lane drift sensors. “They’re always upgrading. The better the tech, the safer we are. That matters.”
Learning the Ropes—and Passing It On
Despite having extensive industry experience, Darren hadn’t had any truck driving experience, having just obtained his licence before starting at Morrows, but the team set him up for success. “I went out with another driver and learned everything—how to use the tablet, satellite tracking, unloading, trip planning. After a few days, I was confident,” he said.
Now and then, he helps to onboard and train new drivers, passing on his knowledge about systems, processes and tips.
“I worked in chemical transfers for 12-18 months, and it required a lot of safety training - relating to chemical spills, safety precautions and transfer of the goods,” he said.
And, whether it’s general deliveries or dangerous goods, at Morrows, keeping drivers, the team and the wider community safe, is everything.
Life Outside Morrows
Off the road, Darren is a family man. “I’ve got a seven-year-old daughter and a three-year-old son. My partner and I love doing things with the kids—swimming, the park, and sometimes kid’s birthday parties,” he said.
“In summer, you’ll find me on the cricket pitch. I love a bit of social fun, running around with mates. And, when the family is free, they often come down to watch, which is nice.”