Inland Rail helps drive NLA Trucking’s First Nations mission
Nicole Appleton’s NLA Trucking is an inspiring local First Nations business benefitting from the Inland Rail project in Victoria.
November 5, 2025
Starting off with a single truck in 2016, NLA Trucking has grown into an organisation large enough to help Inland Rail deliver the 262 kilometres of the Beveridge to Albury project.
“We have worked with Inland Rail at Broadford, Tallarook, Wandong, Euroa and Benalla, a combination of our own trucks and subcontractors,” Nicole said.
“We have used regional owner-operators in Benalla, Broadford, Euroa and Kilmore, as well as Mansfield, Shepparton, Docker, which is east of Glenrowan, and East Albury.”
With latest figures showing Beveridge to Albury Tranche 2 has invested $1.25 million with First Nations businesses between June 2024 and August 2025, Nicole says this has enabled her to push NLA’s growth even further.
“We have been able to hire another First Nations person in the office, a female to support the Inland Rail project,” Nicole said.
“Working with Inland Rail has been good for us as we are only 40 minutes from the Broadford site, and it’s allowed us to get our own trucks out.
“It’s also allowed us to support other First Nations peoples through our scheme where we mentor drivers to learn everything I had to learn as an owner-driver,” she said.
“It was confusing when I first started, it’s hard – you can be a good truck driver and run your own show, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re good with accounting systems and payroll.”
With numerous industry awards emphasising Nicole’s drive to succeed, she is honest about her life choices.
“I never studied after school, I wanted to become a lawyer, but I was sick of studying and become a truck driver instead, she said.
“To be honest, I wouldn’t change a thing.”
