WHEN Luke McRae left Warrnambool at 4.45am yesterday to pick up a load of groceries in Melbourne he never realised he would be Australia's most famous truck driver by the end of the day.
The 29-year-old was thrust into the national spotlight after his spectacular evasive driving avoided a collision with a car containing Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.
Images of his tri-axle rig skidding within centimetres of the MP's vehicle in a cloud of smoke and dust flashed across national television bulletins and internet sites.
He got a hero's welcome when he arrived back at the Ryan's Freighters base and his boss Graham Ryan fielded dozens of phone calls from media outlets and well-wishers.
However, to Mr McRae it was just another day on the road.
"I did what I had to do," he said.
"I just hit the brakes and aimed for the gap.
"It was all over in about three seconds."
The incident happened about 11.30am as he was heading towards Colac for supermarket drop-offs.
On a notorious section of numerous dips just west of Winchelsea he was confronted by the sight of a mini-bus which had braked hard to avoid Mr Abbott's car, which had propped by the centre line to turn right towards a waiting media contingent and local MPs.
With an oncoming semi-trailer in one lane and the mini-van swerving to avoid the car in the other, Mr McRae instinctively jumped on the brakes and headed left for the roadside.
"He put his life on the line," Mr Ryan told The Standard as he congratulated his driver.
"These are the sort of situations that confront truck drivers every day."
Mr Ryan and Mr McRae said the MP's driver should have pulled off to the side of the road until passing traffic cleared before attempting a right-hand turn across the busy highway.
"All I could see was the back of the mini-bus. The car in front of it had stopped in the middle of the road to turn right.
"When the bus braked hard and swerved to go around the side of the car I realised I couldn't stop in time.
"I braked as hard as I could then steered in a clear direction around it.
"All I could think of was missing the bus.
"It's certainly the biggest drama in my career."
Film footage shows the trailer skidding sideways with the brakes locked up as the vehicle heads off onto the grass and gravel roadside, avoiding a power pole and trees.
Witnesses said some of the rear wheels were in the air and they were amazed the rig had been kept upright.
Mr McRae then stopped to check the truck and its load before continuing on his route.
Ryan's is the region's largest family-owned trucking firm.
It employs about 150 staff and has more than 60 delivery vehicles. About 35 of its trucks do the Melbourne run each day.
Mr Ryan said he agreed the highway could be improved, but said his drivers were instructed to drive according to road conditions.
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