At Boral, every role plays a part in building something bigger — safe, sustainable operations that keep Australia moving. For Ryan Payne, Logistics Manager for SEQ Concrete, that purpose is clear: ensuring our assets run smoothly so we can deliver for customers and communities.
“No two days look the same,” Ryan says. “But one thing remains constant — my commitment to compliance, safety and performance.”
Ryan starts each day by making sure everything is in order: pre-start checks, vehicle registrations, telematics, and urgent breakdowns. His team also reviews any safety or environmental issues from the previous day. “We make sure our lorry owner drivers (LODs) are compliant and that nothing slips through the cracks.”
Collaboration is key. Ryan works closely with production staff and plant managers to keep communication open across all levels of operations. “We look at asset reliability and availability for the day and week ahead, but also how we’re tracking to meet our 90 percent availability target in the longer term.”
Maintenance is a big part of the job. “LODs own their cab chassis and we own the mixer, so we look after mixer maintenance too. Improving how we manage these assets and continued investment in our systems and data will benefit teams across the business.”
A Career Shaped by Safety
Ryan grew up in a logistics family — his grandfather was a truck driver and his father owned and drove trucks. But it was a moment early in his career that shaped his future.
Ryan’s passion for logistics and safety grew early in his career. “I knew I wanted to be in a role where I could drive change and a sustainable safety culture.”
He went on to tertiary study and has worked in logistics ever since. “Safety is the first topic we talk about with our LODs and drivers. At every point, we need to stay focused on zero harm.”
Pride in the Boral Name
As a kid, Ryan remembers passing the plant with the pink trucks on the left and the green and gold trucks on the right. “There used to be a saying that someone had to retire before you could get into Boral. I guess there’s always been a real sense of prestige in working at Boral. It’s been a respected name in the community for generations, and I want to make sure that my team and I do everything we can to make sure that reputation continues.”
Today, Ryan sees the value in modernising asset management. “The more we can get data to people at their fingertips, the better. There’s a lot of reporting and analysis involved in my role — understanding trends, spotting opportunities to improve how we use our assets, and recognising our best performing drivers and regions so we can learn from them.”
Driving Change in a Changing Industry
Finding skilled drivers remains a challenge, but Ryan is clear about his priorities. “We have to maintain high safety expectations. That’s number one. Everyone needs to be held to the same standard.”
He’s seen the industry evolve. “Back in the day, people worked in shorts and thongs. We’ve come a long way in how we understand risk and how to protect ourselves and the community. But there’s always more for us to do.”
Reliable assets are critical to delivering for customers and protecting our reputation. That’s why the focus on SCROA — Safe, Compliant, Reliable, Optimised Assets — is a key part of the Boral Way. By improving asset availability and uptime, we can move materials downstream more efficiently, getting closer to the customer and avoiding stockouts that impact service and brand perception.
Want to be part of a team that values safety, innovation and reliability? Explore careers at Boral and help us build a better way.
