Doin' the Business

Wickham Freight Lines
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Welcome to Doin The Business with Graham Keogh, the podcast where real business stories come straight from the driver’s seat. Hosted by Graham Keogh from Wickham Freight Lines, this show dives into the people, lessons, wins, failures, and hard-earned experience behind building successful businesses in Australia. From transport and logistics to leadership, growth, resilience, and industry insight, each episode features honest conversations with business owners, operators, and people who’ve spent years doing the work — not just talking about it. No fluff. No corporate buzzwords. Just real people, real stories, and real business.

Episodes

  1. 3d ago

    Episode 3: Inside the Grey Ghost Restoration with Chris Hall

    Episode overview In Episode 3 of Doin’ the Business, Graham Keogh sits down with longtime Wickham Freight Lines workshop specialist Chris Hall. Chris shares how an apprenticeship at a local Ford dealership led to a mechanical career spanning approximately 45 years. He discusses his work across the Wickham Freight Lines workshop, from major engine conversions and accident repairs to restoring some of the company’s most historically significant trucks. The main focus of the episode is the restoration of the Grey Ghost, a 1970 Seattle-built Kenworth originally made for Comet and used in Australia’s overnight express freight industry. Graham and Chris explain the enormous amount of work involved in returning the truck to its original body-truck configuration. The restoration included extending the chassis, manufacturing unavailable parts, rebuilding the cab, restoring an original Lucar freight body and rebuilding its 8V71 Detroit engine. They also reflect on the differences between old and modern trucks, the importance of apprenticeships and why preserving these vehicles matters for future generations. Chapter breakdown 00:00 – Welcome and introduction Graham introduces Chris Hall and discusses his role within the Wickham Freight Lines workshop. 01:15 – Chris’s mechanical beginnings Chris explains how he entered the industry through an apprenticeship at a Ford dealership. 03:15 – Comparing old and modern trucks Chris discusses the electronics, comfort and power of modern trucks while explaining how the basic mechanics remain similar. 04:45 – Major Wickham workshop projects Graham and Chris remember replacing problematic EGR engines with Mack E5 engines and completing the wiring and conversions themselves. 07:00 – Developing a passion for restoration Chris explains why restoring old trucks is some of the most rewarding work of his career. 08:20 – Finding the Grey Ghost The story of locating and purchasing the 1970 Kenworth originally built for Comet. 09:50 – Restoring the original truck configuration The team extends the chassis and returns the Grey Ghost from a prime mover to its original body-truck dimensions. 11:25 – Fabricating unavailable parts Chris discusses manufacturing crossmembers, panels and other components that could no longer be sourced. 12:35 – Paintwork and the Casino Truck Show The German Racing Silver paintwork and plans to unveil the restored truck at the Casino Truck Show. 13:50 – Unexpected cab damage Rust, cracked flooring and the hidden problems discovered after dismantling the cab. 15:20 – Connections to the original drivers Graham and Chris discover that the father of two current Wickham employees once drove the Grey Ghost. 16:50 – Restoring the Lucar freight body How the team found an original body and rebuilt its floor, panels and door frame. 18:50 – Why the original bodies rarely survived The lightweight construction of the freight bodies and why so few remain today. 19:45 – Driving old trucks versus modern trucks Chris remembers learning in an R-series Mack and compares 285-horsepower trucks with today’s 600-horsepower vehicles. 21:25 – Future restoration projects Potential future projects, including a Volvo F86 bubble cab and a Detroit-powered T650. 22:10 – Rebuilding the Detroit engine Chris discusses working with Tim Wall to rebuild the Grey Ghost’s 8V71 Detroit engine.

  2. Jun 30

    Episode 2: What Winning Bathurst Teaches You About Building a Business

    Doing the Business with Graham | Special Guest: Nick Percat In this episode of Doing the Business with Graham, Graham sits down with Supercars driver and JND Racing owner Nick Percat for a conversation about motorsport, business, pressure, resilience and building the right team culture. Nick shares the story behind JND Racing, which started as a bit of fun between mates getting back into karting and has quickly grown into a full race team supporting young drivers from karting through to cars. With 25 drivers now coming through the program, Nick talks about what he looks for in young talent, why passion matters, and why the right family environment is just as important as raw ability. Graham and Nick also dive into what it feels like to win Bathurst, the pressure that comes with elite motorsport, and the lessons Nick has learned from racing against some of the best drivers in the world. They also talk about what happens behind the scenes on race weekends, the work people don’t see on TV, and how culture, preparation and mindset can make or break both a racing team and a business. From the racetrack to the transport industry, this episode is packed with lessons on leadership, resilience, respect, opportunity and what it really means to do the business. In this episode: Nick shares how JND Racing started and how it has grown into a professional racing pathway. Graham talks about Wickham Freight Lines’ involvement in supporting the J&D team on the road. Nick explains what he looks for in young drivers coming through karting. The boys talk about Toyota 86 racing and just how competitive the category really is. Nick reflects on winning Bathurst at 23 and how that moment changed his life. Graham and Nick discuss pressure, preparation and performing when it counts. Nick shares the toughest competitors he raced against, including names like Scott McLaughlin, Shane van Gisbergen, Jamie Whincup, Craig Lowndes and Garth Tander. They discuss Nick stepping away from full-time racing to focus on J&D Racing and young driver development. Nick talks about joining Triple Eight for Bathurst and learning from one of the best teams in the country. Graham and Nick explore how culture, respect and positivity shape both motorsport and business. Nick opens up about career setbacks, resilience and the tough realities of professional racing. The episode finishes with Graham sharing advice for young drivers: take opportunities, be polite, say please and thank you, and treat people with respect. Key Themes: Motorsport and business culture Pressure and performance Young driver development Respect and leadership Resilience after setbacks The importance of preparation Taking opportunities when they come Building a team people want to be part of Featured Guest: Nick Percat Host: Graham Keogh Podcast: Doing the Business with Graham Episode Length: 42 minutes

  3. May 18

    Doin The Business with Graham Keogh | Episode 1 with Sean Haynes

    Welcome to the very first episode of Doin The Business with Graham Keogh. Filmed inside Graham’s 1989 Kenworth T600, this episode kicks off the podcast with long-time Wickham Freight Lines team member Sean Haynes, now Head of Solutions. Sean shares how he started at Wickham’s as a 16-year-old washing trucks, worked his way through local driving, interstate runs, yard operations, and eventually into a leadership role helping solve problems across the business. This episode is full of classic trucking stories, old-school lessons, laughs, loyalty, hard work, and the culture that has helped shape Wickham Freight Lines over the years. In this episode: Sean’s early days starting at Wickham Freight LinesGrowing up around trucks as a third-generation truck driverWashing trucks, local runs, and learning the ropesThe value of hard work, commitment, and turning up every dayGraham and Sean reflect on funny moments, mistakes, and lessons learnedWhy transport creates real opportunities for young peopleThe importance of culture, safety, and knowing your peopleGraham shares the drivers and mentors who shaped his careerWhat “Head of Solutions” really means at Wickham’s Key Takeaway Success in transport doesn’t come from half-doing the job. It comes from commitment, resilience, problem-solving, and showing up every day ready to do the business. Guest Sean Haynes Head of Solutions at Wickham Freight Lines Host Graham Keogh Wickham Freight Lines Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Doin The Business  00:40 Graham introduces the first episode  01:20 Meet Sean Haynes  02:00 Starting at Wickham’s at 16  03:00 Growing up around trucks  04:30 First job washing trucks  05:40 Moving into local driving  07:00 Learning the ropes in the yard  08:20 Sean’s first trucks and early memories  10:00 Getting sacked, leaving, and coming back  11:30 Opportunities for young people in transport  13:00 Running tug drivers and learning leadership  14:40 Wickham’s culture and long-term staff  16:00 Growth, challenges, and knowing your people  17:10 Graham’s early trucking idols  19:00 What Head of Solutions means  20:00 The non-negotiable for success  21:00 Final stories and wrap-up

  • 3 Episodes

About

Welcome to Doin The Business with Graham Keogh, the podcast where real business stories come straight from the driver’s seat. Hosted by Graham Keogh from Wickham Freight Lines, this show dives into the people, lessons, wins, failures, and hard-earned experience behind building successful businesses in Australia. From transport and logistics to leadership, growth, resilience, and industry insight, each episode features honest conversations with business owners, operators, and people who’ve spent years doing the work — not just talking about it. No fluff. No corporate buzzwords. Just real people, real stories, and real business.

Information

  • Creator
    Wickham Freight Lines
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    3
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Doin' the Business

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