The 51-year-old was bid farewell during a service in Bendigo on Friday after he passed away from illness.  

In a fitting tribute, Ian's coffin was placed on the back of a truck.

Ian was born in Echuca and grew up in Moama, where he attended Moama Primary School and later on the Echuca Technical College. He was a younger brother to Peter and Wendy.

Peter said his father owned Cust Transport and the boys had grown up around trucks, sparking Ian's love of the prime movers. 

Peter said Ian relocated to Colbinabbin when he was 19.

"He worked in the quarries on and off and also carted grain around," Peter said. 

"He like to go to new places so he would do some of the interstate work. He travelled around South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland.

"It's just what he did. He loved trucks. He'd always be home by the weekend though."

Peter and Ian took over the running of Cust Transport from their father.

Peter said Ian was a worked hard and was very professional. 

"He was like any other little brother, a pain but we always looked out for each other," he said. 

Peter said Ian had a lot of friends and would spend time with them at the pub.