Yesterday the trucking legend was in Albury to explain how he came to head Ron Finemore Transport, an operation with 460 staff, 160 trucks, a headquarters in Wodonga and depots in Wagga, Orange and Wacol, Queensland.

In short, he’s had a roller-coaster of a ride in more than 46 years in the industry.

He built up his original company, Finemore Holdings, from scratch in 1966 after pulling out of Melbourne University to help run the family farm at Mangoplah, near Wagga, when his father injured his leg.

“My parents did not want me to get into trucks,” he said.

Mr Finemore said he didn’t have much money at that time and worked as a roustabout and other jobs until he finally bought a truck to cart grain.

When Finemore Holdings sold to Toll Holdings for $120 million in 2001, it employed 2000 and had a fleet of 650 prime movers, 1080 trailers and more than 30 rigid vehicles.

The deal restrained Mr Finemore from working in the industry for two years, but when Ron Finemore Transport bought the failed Lewington truck business for $6.25 million in 2004, he became executive chairman, a job he still holds.

Today, the company’s ownership is split equally by the Finemore family and the CVC Group.

Addressing an Albury-Wodonga Business, Manufacturing and Innovation Festival breakfast at Rydges, Albury, Mr Finemore said one of the keys to success was building up trusting relationships and “trying to learn from others”.

Asked if the carbon tax would impact on the industry, he said it clearly would force companies to raise freight charges.

“But trucking isn’t going to disappear,’’ he said.

As an industry leader, he hopes governments and councils, especially in NSW, will act to reduce restrictions on B-doubles, and foresees wider use of B-triples and road trains.

Mr Finemore said some bridges on the Murray River and one near Wagga were impediments to efficient truck movements, although the NSW Roads Minister, Duncan Gay, was taking action in this area.