Outback Truckers is an Australian reality TV show highlighting the scenario of the road transport industry in Australia. The show is filmed mostly across Australia, but also takes detours in New Zealand (seasons 3–5) and Weno, Micronesia (season 4). It originally screened on the Seven Network in 2012 and currently airs on 7mate. It has aired around the world on networks such as Quest TV (UK) and Discovery Europe. Season 8 was aired in Australia in May 2020.
What exactly happens on “Outback Truckers”?
On Outback Truckers we see men and women from all races, cultures, and different walks of the Earth come together to drive the biggest of trucks along the most difficult and isolated highways. The one behind the wheel of these monstrous trucks on marathon runs through all sorts of obstacles be it a fire, mud, or even a flood to meet their specific deadline and deliver the goods on time.
As each episode continues, it gets even more wild, adventurous, and above all TOUGH! These tough and bold drivers hit the road with the heaviest and biggest of loads and reveal the real adventure of trucking. The show is power-packed with the audience being able to resonate with the adrenaline rush, the energy, and the intensity of the trucking!
Broadcasting
The show is broadcasted globally outside Australia as well:
- Australia – 7Mate
- United Kingdom – Quest
- New Zealand – TVNZ 1, TVNZ On Demand
- Netherlands – Discovery Channel
- Norway – Discovery Channel
- Poland – Discovery Channel
- Czech – Republic Discovery Channel
- Slovakia – Discovery Channel
- Lithuania – Discovery Channel
- Germany – DMAX (TV channel)
- Italy – DMAX
- Spain – DMAX
- France – RMC Découverte
- United States – Netflix
Outback Truckers Cast losses and More
In July 2017 one of the cast members, Sonya Wise died. Sonya and her husband, Greg, featured in season 3 of Outback Truckers. Outback Truckers Noelene Turner died in 2014. She left behind her outback trucking husband Bluesy. In 2015, season 1 trucker Dougal Brett was killed when the helicopter he was piloting, crashed on his cattle station.
Season 5’s Jeff Elliot who is well-known for contributing to the foundation of the British and European Custom Truck Scene, and won many awards at major shows in the 1980s for his custom fabrication and airbrush skills, concentrated on international truck driving and did many long trips, with destinations as far and wide as Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Russia, and even did regular trips from Italy to the Chinese border at Corgos. In the late 1990s he moved to Australia and operated a very successful airbrush business, but has now returned to full-time truck driving, as well as running Tasmanian Landscape Studio.com On his debut in season 5, he was a fresh seafood freighter.
Outback Truckers Cast
- Amanda Kendall – Kendall Trucking & Co, Katanning, WA, oversize pilot (Season 2–5)
- Athol Martin- Mactrans heavy haulage, WA, oversize (season 8)
- Anthony Haigh – Murranji Water Drilling (Season 6, 7)
- Anthony ‘Hayesy’ Hayes – Murranji Water Drilling (Season 6, 7)
- Ashleigh Mackay – Mackay & Sons House Removals & Demolition, Narangba, Queensland (Season 6, 7)
- Belinda Riehl (Season 3)
- Bob Fraser (Season 3)
- Brad Duckworth – Black Cat Civil Contractors, Nambour, Queensland (Season 5)
- Brett Robin (Season 2)
- Carl Andrews (Season 3)
- Chris Ferris (Season 3)
- Chris Parnell – Non-trucking oversize steerer and rearguard guide, Rex J Andrews Pty Ltd., Windfarm transporter, Newcastle, NSW (Season 4–6)
- Christian Reynolds (Season 2)
- Clare Bolitho (Season 1–2)
- Corey Chapman (Season 2)
- Craig Oldham (Season 7)
- Damo Callan (Season 1)
- Danyelle Haigh, Murranji Water Drilling
- Darrell Wright (Season 3)
- Darren ‘Woody’ Bryant (Season 4-7)
- Dave “Macka” McCready (Season 2–3)
- Deb Drew (Season 1)
- Dion Fisher (Season 2)
- Dougal Brett (Season 1)
- Emily Brett (Season 1)
- Ewan Stephens (Season 2–3)
- Glen Waters (Season 2)
- Glenn “Yogi” Kendall, Kendall Trucking, Ketanning, WA (Season 2–5)
- Gordo Evans (Season 1–2)
- Greg Wise (Season 3)
- Heather Jones (Season 2)
- Jared Baldwin (Season 3)
- Jason Ackeroyd (Season 3)
- Jeff Elliot (Season 5 )
- Jeff “Bluezy” Barrow (Season 2) (He died due to truck crash)
- Joanna Atkins – North Kimberley Transport, Kununurra, WA (Season 6, 7)
- Joey Granich (Season 2)
- John Harrison (Season 7)
- Jonathan Rayner (Season 3)
- Josh Beattie – MB Logistics, Adelaide, SA, Industrial Oil and Gas piping (Season 5)
- Justin Harrison – KAC Enterprise Pty Ltd, Bundaberg, QLD (Season 7)
- Katie Howell (Season 2)
- Kaye Ferris (Season 3)
- Larry Brewer – North West Express Mobile Butcher (Season 3, 7)
- Leanne Brewer – North West Express Mobile Butcher (Season 3, 7)
- Luke Hewitt – Narrator (Season 1-8)
- Mark Bolitho (Season 1–2)
- Mark Cromwell – RJE Global Pty Ltd, Adelaide, SA, Mega-sized trucker (Season 2–5)
- Mark King (Season 1)
- Mark Sciberras – Windfarm transporter, Rex J Andrews Pty Ltd., Newcastle, NSW (Season 4–6)
- Matt Adams (Season 3)
- Matt Riches (Season 1–2)
- Mick King (season 5–6)
- Mike Hoath – RJE Global Pty Ltd
- Nick Atkins – North Kimberley Transport, Kununurra, WA (Season 6,7)
- Noelene Turner (Season 2)
- Paul ‘Sludge’ Andrews – Paul Andrews Transport, Perth, WA, fuel-tanker (Season 3–7)
- Paul ‘Blinky’ Cunningham – Rex J Andrews Pty Ltd., Windfarm transporter, Newcastle, NSW (Season 4–6)
- Peter “Turbo” Teatoff (Season 2-4, 6)
- Ray Kennedy (Season 7)
- Robbie Mackay – Mackay & Sons House Removals & Demolition, Narangba, Queensland, Australia (Season 5–8)
- Rosco Haining (Season 3)
- Ross Carrigy (Season 7)
- Russell McDonough (Season 2, 5-6)
- Shane Burgess – Mackay & Sons House Removals & Demolition, Narangba, Queensland, Australia (Season 5–8)
- Sharon Collins (Season 2–3)
- Shui Evans (Season 1–2)
- Simon Page (Season 3)
- Sonya Wise (Season 3)
- Steve Grahame – Perth, WA (Seasons 1–8)
- Steve Hughes (Season 1)
- Wayne Haigh, Murranji Water Drilling
- Yogi Kendall – Kendall Trucking & Co, Katanning, WA
Will there be an Outback Truckers Season 10?
Currently, there has been no news on the show’s further renewal yet. The ninth season of the show released in May 2021. Given the style and algorithm of the show, it is very likely for it to return with its next season as it has been coming back with a new season every year and many fans are dying to see their favorite truckers back! Even though there has been no news yet on the new season if it continues to follow the trends of past seasons we can expect the tenth season for Outback Truckers between the span of May-August.
What the audience has to say about the outback truckers.
Critics-wise, the show has received positive feedback since many liked the different stories each participant on the show had to tell and how it showed a way or part of life not many are accustomed to or rarely have much knowledge about. It was also praised in The West Australian for its various close ties with Western Australia. News Limited’s ‘Switch On’ gave it a 4/5 rating, which was one of that week’s highest scores. Many appreciate the diversity of the show and the different personalities and energies each person on it portrays.
Some are also in the view of the show being scripted and pointed out a lack of professionalism in it. It’s a curious show. It’s of the ”other” school of reality TV, the school that actually attempts to depict reality, rather than overblown game shows or extra dramatic dating shows. Outback Truckers has an IMDb rating of 7.3/10.
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