Wally Webb reckons prison inmates are provided with better amenities than WA's long distance truckies.

"At least they get a toilet in their cell," he said with a chuckle.

Wally drives North West for Jolly's transport and says the lack of facilities at truck stops is an absolute disgrace.

"We use Great Northern Highway - they call us the Desert Rats," he said with a touch of pride.

"Previously I drove east-west for six years and found the truck stops over east to be far superior to here", he remarked.

"A lot of the truck areas in NSW and Queensland have toilets and water tanks so that you can freshen up a bit.

"Some even have barbies, solar lights and shade structures. Here we get nothing, some of the WA truck stops don't even have rubbish bins.

"People have to do their business in the bush and it can really get quite disgusting.

"I can't understand why Main Roads WA don't get off their arse and do something for our truck drivers.

"Over east you get good facilities at least every 150ks."

Wally also gave WA's road houses a bit of a serve, describing some of them as average.

"Lately we've been stopping at Kumerina which we find pretty good value and they look after us.

"We used to use the Capricorn Roadhouse but they've become a bit expensive lately."

But, like a lot of long distance drivers Wally, who is obviously in a decent stable, takes his own grub. Pauline, his wife of 40 years packs a gourmet tucker box for the big bloke.

Wally, has been a TWU member for donkeys' years and is one of our delegates at Jolly's.

We welcome his views and have already begun a campaign to improve facilities for truckies on north-west runs.

After all, they are our Kings of the Road and it's about time people stopped treating them like peasants - or prison inmates.