JOHN Allen, a Qube employee since 2007, has died. He was 75 years old.

The company’s managing director, Paul Digney, paid tribute to Mr Allen, affectionately known as JA, in a message.

“JA was a Qube and an industry legend, universally liked and admired by everyone he met throughout his long career. He was a dedicated family man who believed inworking hard and playing hard and he made the most of every day,” Mr Digney wrote.

“Over his long career that began back as a humble tow truck driver, JA worked across just about every aspect of freight, transport and logistics. As a truck driver on the wharf JA was one of the first to operate B-Double trucks on the Melbourne waterfront.

“JA soon became a well-known and respected face on the waterfront working with Liberty and Port Cartage before moving into management roles with his entrepreneurial and innovative thinking helping businesses such as Patrick and Qube grow.

“JA began working with Qube from the very beginning in early 2007. He was a loyal and dedicated employee – but most importantly he was a friend and mentor to many of us and we will miss him enormously,” Mr Digney wrote.

“JA loved Qube and everyone associated with it and has contributed to shaping the culture that we have now at Qube and for that we are eternally grateful.

“I know that his loss will be felt deeply by everyone he met and worked with at Qube and across the industry. JA was a mentor to many within our industry. Over the last 20 years within his management roles, an individual only had to show a good work ethic and a curiosity to learn and JA would unreservedly take them under his wing and help them build their own career.

“We looked to him for advice, for a smile and a kind word and JA always delivered – often sharing a story at the same time.

“And while we will feel his loss deeply, our thoughts and condolences also go out to his loving wife Mary, to whom he was married for many years, and to his children and grandchildren, who have lost a husband, father and grandfather.

“There’s only one Johnny Allen and he will be missed and remembered fondly at Qube each and every day.”