‘We’re stuck here’: The crisis that left truckies stranded with nowhere to go
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Severe weather events can bring communities to a standstill, disrupting lives and livelihoods in unexpected ways.
When key transport routes are affected, the ripple effects can be felt far and wide.
As the situation unfolds, the response from the community has been nothing short of remarkable.
Floodwaters in North Queensland left dozens of truck drivers stranded, sparking fears that truckloads of fresh produce could go to waste if road closures persisted.
Around 60 truck drivers found themselves stuck in Cardwell, a small coastal town between Cairns and Townsville.
The Bruce Highway was cut off due to flooding from the Seymour River, leaving them stranded.
Among those stranded was Gus Sacco, a Mackay-based truckie who had been returning from deliveries in Cairns and Port Douglas.
He had been stuck in Cardwell since the night of 6 February and captured drone footage showing a long line of stationary trucks stretching along the town’s waterfront.
‘They’ve lined up the whole main street,’ he said. ‘We’re stuck here.’
Although Sacco’s truck was not carrying perishable goods, other drivers feared their refrigerated cargo would spoil before reaching its destination.
One driver was hauling bananas that needed to reach Sydney by 9 February, while another was carrying a load of mangoes.
‘A lot of the trucks are refrigerated,’ Sacco said.
‘I think their biggest problem is their fridge mate is running out of fuel. I’ve noticed a couple of guys have been siphoning some into their tanks.’
As truckies waited for floodwaters to recede, the local community rallied to support them with food, showers, and even a beer tab at the Marine Hotel.
Residents prepared a free dinner at the Cardwell Swimming Pool, which also opened its showers to the stranded drivers.
The following morning, the Lions Club of Ingham hosted a free sausage sizzle with coffee, while Brumby’s Bakery ramped up bread production to the point of running low on flour.
‘The locals have been really helpful,’ Sacco said, adding that he preferred to pay for his meals to ‘support the locals while they’re supporting us.’
Another truck driver, Billy, expressed his gratitude on social media, describing the people of Cardwell as ‘the most honest and caring people I have met in all my years.’
‘Willing to go out of their way to make sure truck drivers have food and all other essential items they need while we [are] stuck due to flooding,’ he wrote.
‘Their hospitality is truly amazing and I cannot thank them enough.’
A Marine Hotel worker said the generosity was simply part of the town’s spirit.
‘We’re a pretty good community here and we all look after each other,’ she said.
Locals also took to social media to thank the truckies for their hard work in keeping the region supplied.
‘This is so sad,’ one person commented alongside a photo of the stranded trucks. ‘The truckers are trying so hard to keep the north afloat. Thanks guys.’
The Cassowary Coast Regional Council praised the community’s generosity, stating it was ‘incredibly grateful and heartened’ by the support shown to stranded drivers.
‘Seeing locals come together to support one another during challenging times truly highlights the strength of our region,’ the council said.
With rainfall easing after record-breaking floods, truckies hoped the Bruce Highway would reopen by 9 February.
One of the hardest-hit towns was Ingham, where Queensland Premier David Crisafulli described the flooding as a ‘once in a century’ event.
The Herbert River near Ingham was the last in Queensland to remain on the Bureau of Meteorology’s major flood warning list.
Drone footage captured the scale of the crisis, showing trucks lined up as far as the eye could see, waiting for floodwaters to recede.
Watch the video below to see the full extent of the situation.
With the community stepping up and truckies holding out hope for reopened roads, this flood event has highlighted both challenges and resilience.
Have you ever experienced a situation where strangers came together to lend a hand? Share your story in the comments!
When key transport routes are affected, the ripple effects can be felt far and wide.
As the situation unfolds, the response from the community has been nothing short of remarkable.
Floodwaters in North Queensland left dozens of truck drivers stranded, sparking fears that truckloads of fresh produce could go to waste if road closures persisted.
Around 60 truck drivers found themselves stuck in Cardwell, a small coastal town between Cairns and Townsville.
The Bruce Highway was cut off due to flooding from the Seymour River, leaving them stranded.
Among those stranded was Gus Sacco, a Mackay-based truckie who had been returning from deliveries in Cairns and Port Douglas.
He had been stuck in Cardwell since the night of 6 February and captured drone footage showing a long line of stationary trucks stretching along the town’s waterfront.
‘They’ve lined up the whole main street,’ he said. ‘We’re stuck here.’
Although Sacco’s truck was not carrying perishable goods, other drivers feared their refrigerated cargo would spoil before reaching its destination.
One driver was hauling bananas that needed to reach Sydney by 9 February, while another was carrying a load of mangoes.
‘A lot of the trucks are refrigerated,’ Sacco said.
‘I think their biggest problem is their fridge mate is running out of fuel. I’ve noticed a couple of guys have been siphoning some into their tanks.’
As truckies waited for floodwaters to recede, the local community rallied to support them with food, showers, and even a beer tab at the Marine Hotel.
Residents prepared a free dinner at the Cardwell Swimming Pool, which also opened its showers to the stranded drivers.
The following morning, the Lions Club of Ingham hosted a free sausage sizzle with coffee, while Brumby’s Bakery ramped up bread production to the point of running low on flour.
‘The locals have been really helpful,’ Sacco said, adding that he preferred to pay for his meals to ‘support the locals while they’re supporting us.’
Another truck driver, Billy, expressed his gratitude on social media, describing the people of Cardwell as ‘the most honest and caring people I have met in all my years.’
‘Willing to go out of their way to make sure truck drivers have food and all other essential items they need while we [are] stuck due to flooding,’ he wrote.
‘Their hospitality is truly amazing and I cannot thank them enough.’
A Marine Hotel worker said the generosity was simply part of the town’s spirit.
‘We’re a pretty good community here and we all look after each other,’ she said.
Locals also took to social media to thank the truckies for their hard work in keeping the region supplied.
‘This is so sad,’ one person commented alongside a photo of the stranded trucks. ‘The truckers are trying so hard to keep the north afloat. Thanks guys.’
The Cassowary Coast Regional Council praised the community’s generosity, stating it was ‘incredibly grateful and heartened’ by the support shown to stranded drivers.
‘Seeing locals come together to support one another during challenging times truly highlights the strength of our region,’ the council said.
With rainfall easing after record-breaking floods, truckies hoped the Bruce Highway would reopen by 9 February.
One of the hardest-hit towns was Ingham, where Queensland Premier David Crisafulli described the flooding as a ‘once in a century’ event.
The Herbert River near Ingham was the last in Queensland to remain on the Bureau of Meteorology’s major flood warning list.
Drone footage captured the scale of the crisis, showing trucks lined up as far as the eye could see, waiting for floodwaters to recede.
Watch the video below to see the full extent of the situation.
With the community stepping up and truckies holding out hope for reopened roads, this flood event has highlighted both challenges and resilience.
Have you ever experienced a situation where strangers came together to lend a hand? Share your story in the comments!
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