There’s a reason our truck looks like this

A truck you might’ve spotted

If you’ve been around Brisbane lately, you may have seen one of our trucks looking a fair bit louder than the rest of the fleet. It’s wrapped in a pattern with four words on each side: This Is A Conversation Starter.

That’s not just a paint job. It’s the most visible thing we’ve ever done about something we’ve been quietly serious about for a long time: the mental health of the people who make this industry tick.

Why we did it

We’re a blue-collar business. Our team, our drivers, our trade customers, they are practical, hardworking people who tend to get on with the job and not make a fuss. And over the years it’s become impossible to ignore how many of them are carrying things they never talk about.

It’s why we put an Employee Assistance Program in place. But support that nobody knows about, or nobody feels they’re allowed to use, doesn’t do much. Wrapping a truck is our way of saying it out loud, where everyone can see it: it’s OK to not be OK, and reaching out is a strength, not a weakness.

Who are TradeMutt and TIACS?

TradeMutt is a social-impact workwear brand started by two former tradies, Dan and Ed, after Dan lost a close mate to suicide. Their idea was simple and a bit cheeky: make work gear so loud people can’t help but ask about it and use that as a way to get blokes talking about mental health. Every shirt carries the same line on the back: This Is A Conversation Starter.

Starting the conversation is one thing. Continuing it is another and that’s where TIACS comes in. TIACS (This Is A Conversation Starter) is a free, confidential counselling service for tradies, truckies, farmers, blue-collar workers and the people who love them. It’s funded by TradeMutt, which donates half its profits to keep the service free. There’s no cost, and no referral required, you just reach out.

How to reach TIACS

Call or text 0488 846 988, Monday to Friday, 8am–10pm AEST. You can talk on the phone or just text, whatever’s easier. You’ll get a real, professional counsellor, and you can have up to eight free sessions with the same person, so you’re not starting over every time.

Save that number in your phone now, even if you never need it. One day a mate might.

How you can get involved

• Save the TIACS number and pass it to someone who might need it.
• Check in on your crew. “You good?” is a small question that does a lot of work.
• Spot the truck out on the road? Snap it, tag us, and help spread the word.
• Run your own business? You don’t need a truck but you can back TIACS and make sure your team knows where to turn.

Next time you see the truck, you’ll know exactly what it stands for. And if you’re the one doing it tough right now, that number’s for you. Call or text TIACS on 0488 846 988.