The Australian Trucking Association has announced the winners of the National Trucking Industry Awards presented at its 2026 Technology and Maintenance Conference in Melbourne on 14 October.
The winner of the 2026 Craig Roseneder Award for Technical and Maintenance Excellence, sponsored by Castrol, is Russell Borchard of Borchtrans in Victoria.
The award recognises and celebrates the men and women who work behind the scenes to keep the industry’s workshops running.
Russell will receive a trip to attend the 2027 US Technology and Maintenance Council Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition in Orlando, Florida, in March 2027. The prize includes full conference registration, return airfares, five nights premium accommodation and AUD1,000 spending money.
The winner of the TRUCK TECH Training Excellence Award, sponsored by TRUCK TECH, is Border Crane Consultants in Victoria, accepted by Jason Barry.
The award recognises transport operators with a strong and demonstrated commitment to training and development, thereby improving safety for all.
Border Crane Consultants will receive an AUD5,000 prize package to be used toward staff training initiatives or a business services package with a training consultancy.
The winner of the National Sustainability Award, sponsored by Michelin Australia, is Ron Finemore Transport, accepted by Ron Finemore AO.
The award recognises trucking operators with a demonstrated commitment to reducing their environmental impact.
Ron Finemore Transport will receive an AUD7,200 cash prize to fund a new or ongoing sustainability initiative.
The winner of the Castrol Industry Achievement Award is Nemanja Miletic. This award recognises exceptional technical innovation and industry achievement.
Denis Robertson, a founding member of the ATA and former Chair, was made a life member of the ATA’s Industry Technical Council in recognition of his long and distinguished service to the council.
Media images of the winners are available by clicking the links in the release. Their details are below.
2026 ATA TECHNICAL, TRAINING AND SUSTAINABILITY AWARD WINNERS
Craig Roseneder Award for Technical and Maintenance Excellence, sponsored by Castrol
Russell Borchard, Borchtrans, Yelta, VIC
Russell Borchard has been around trucks since he was in nappies. A third-generation truckie, he started his heavy vehicle apprenticeship at 17 before establishing Borchtrans in 2010, where he remains hands-on as owner and mechanic.
When Russell heard the livestock industry needed to do better on trailer braking, he acted. He was one of the first to invest in EBS diagnostic equipment, putting safer braking technology into practice across his fleet.
As President of the LRTAV, Russell champions safety, training and fostering the next generation, while giving back to rural communities by supporting events such as the Wentworth Show and Pooncarie Races. He’s also an advocate for education, taking trucks to Coomealla High School and donating subscriptions of Little Trucker Magazine to local schools.
TRUCK TECH Training Excellence Award, sponsored by TRUCK TECH
Border Crane Consultants, Baranduda, VIC
Founded in 2010 with one employee, Baranduda-based Border Crane Consultants has grown into a 37-person regional business with training at the heart of its success.
The company recruits for attitude and potential, then invests in structured learning, hands-on experience and ongoing development.
Its results speak for themselves: 23 apprenticeships and 12 traineeships have been completed, with 11 apprenticeships and two traineeships underway.
BCC’s impact extends beyond its current workforce. More than 15 former employees have established businesses of their own, with many now employing and training others.
2026 National Sustainability Award, sponsored by Michelin Australia
Ron Finemore Transport, Derrimut, VIC
Ron Finemore Transport (RFT) is a family-owned and operated business, re-emerging in 2004 to continue a transport legacy that began in the 1960s. RFT has made sustainability part of everyday trucking, using technology, data and long-term investment to reduce its environmental footprint.
By combining real-time data, advanced fleet systems, operational expertise and employee engagement, RFT has reduced its diesel burn rate by more than 22 per cent over the past decade.
One of its standout initiatives is its Derrimut, Victoria tyre retreading facility, which has operated for more than 26 years. RFT runs around 75 per cent retreads across its fleet and produces about 16,000 retreads annually, extending tyre life and reducing waste. Its approach has twice been recognised with Michelin Factory of the Year awards, in 2023 and 2026.
Across its fleet, RFT uses telematics, tyre monitoring, renewable energy and water recycling to deliver measurable sustainability improvements.
2026 Castrol Industry Achievement Award
Nemanja Miletic, SAF-Holland Australia, Melbourne, VIC
Nemanja started his Australian engineering career in 2002 when he joined Hendrickson Australia where he spent four years as Design Engineer. He then joined IVECO Trucks Australia, working as Special Vehicle Application Engineer before joining SAF-Holland Australia where has worked in both the German and Australian companies.
He is a life member of ARTSA and serves on the Australian Trucking Association’s Industry Technical Council.
ITC Honorary Life Membership
Denis Robertson
Denis Robertson is a founding member and former chair of the ATA. He is also the founder of Roadmaster, with a 50-year background in the refrigerated transport industry.
Following the tragic Grafton crash in 1989, Denis, together with other industry leaders created the Road Transport Forum, now the ATA. Denis was Chair of the ATA from 1993 to 1996, overseeing the formation of TruckSafe.
Denis continues to play an active role on the ATA council, ITC and the ATA’s NHQ committee.
