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10th September 2023

Goodaye all, here in sunny but windy Mackay, I can’t use my new butane torch to do my strap ends. That was one of my jobs for this week-end. I even managed a park opposite Supercheap in Roma yesterday morning to buy it and some batteries. At first I was due to be here Friday night and that would have given me way too much time, but the engine fan put that back more than a day and then another minor delay with a hose with a hole in it, though in a very strange place and still can’t work out why it failed there, but glad it happened where and when it did and happy the bloke coming the other way let me know about the smoke, which he could see but I could not and the brake smell.

It did happen to be in a spot where the Stopping bay signs were missing, the two half posts still in place, but the big and frequent skid marks show others have struggled to see it in the dark, so now there are some green reflectors there too. Later that night between Capella and Middlemount, a car did stop and ask was I OK as I was doing the thing I don’t, again marking another site as there are few along there. A truck also slowed but I gave him the thumbs up and waved him on. He was stopped at the Fitzroy Road intersection rest are and I called him up asking if he knew about the green reflectors and he did not, but said they sounded like a good idea and I agreed.

But then had to ring the Policelink number about a black cow on the side of the road and the lady said it was a Triple 0 call next time, but she would pass it on. I did mention there were plenty of mine employees out that way, but I had just passed some tiny little car that would not have done well with the size of the animal involved.  

The NHVR did have some posters made when the Newell was completed, but they were too big and I have asked them to redo and make them a bit smaller, so I can put them up on noticeboards in roadhouses where there are now new or more sites done.

More for you to do, there is a survey out re truck parking in Sydney, you may even recall it as an election promise, so go to www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/western-sydney-heavy-vehicle-rest-area and do your bit. Have you got your submission ready for the NSW inquiry. I am up to nine pages and while it is certainly critical in places and does cover some rest area issues in detail, we may not get another chance to list such things to the NSW government.

I have certainly tried over the years and many of those I first spoke to have long gone. Some listen and do recognise I am genuine and what I raise could be a problem, but obviously there are those above or in the decision making roles that don’t, or we would have perfect roads and plenty of rest areas. But we can dream can’t we?

So audiobooks done, Owner Driver column in, most of family chatted with, truck clean inside, just some books to sort, caught up on some industry news and had a few other calls to solve the industries problems, I wish. The wind is still blowing and the rain is coming and another of our trucks has turned up, lets hope he is going somewhere else or my plans for doing some green reflectors on the Dingo road and loading tomorrow afternoon may suffer. Till next week, Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.

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15th August 2018. Listening to the same story in a different place.

TIV-Logo jpegTRUCK That Australia Drivers Club logo

I am in Columbus Ohio and have just had dinner, walked to a local supermarket for supplies for meals tomorrow and on the way back spoke with a local Police Officer, parked in a servo. I asked him did he have much to do with trucks and he said no. I said there are quite a few round here, using the motels etc and he agreed, but again, said they did not have any trouble with the trucks.

I then asked about the rust I see in a percentage of cars and do they do inspections? “No, they used to many years ago, but not now” he said. It seems you can drive it till it dies and many do. In a rest area last week, I am nearly sure the thin cargo strap around the ute body, could have been all that was holding the thing together and would have taken a photo, but the fellow inside may have taken offence.

I hear broken exhausts, brakes rubbing as cars drive past and see the rust, through mudguards and over wheels and under doors, often all together on one vehicle, at least a number of times a day and even in the big cities. When I told the officer we would not be even allowed out the gate like that, he said ”Oh really, MMMM”.

I then walked up to a trucker and his wife and another driver. I said I had two questions, the first is that I don’t see many Western Stars? He said they are around and Western Star is owned by Freightliner and it is like the difference between a Chev and a Cadillac (basic and luxury) and he had this truck built for him in 2017. He was too long to legally pull his 3 pup (28 foot trailers each with dolly at front and single axle at rear) in his 379 Pete on the Ohio and other turnpikes (read freeways) and so he bought this and went from 4 and a half MPG to over 7, but he also now does 1500 revs at 73 MPH with a 12 speed auto against the 18 speed manual, the gear fast run slow ethic gaining more and more momentum.

The second was my basic question, “What is your biggest safety concern on the highway” and this is where the title comes in. For all intents and purposes, he could have been as Aussie truckie with all of his comments, bar one. “Car drivers are the biggest problem, you leave a space and they fill it. I had a friend have a car pull in front not leaving enough room and he hit the car, the car driver told the Police “I was just sitting here at the lights waiting to turn and the truck hit me”, the trucker gave the police his dash cam and all was sorted quickly.” I said I too have heard that story and do you know that the idea of recording cars to protect us, because no one would believe a car driver would be so stupid (don’t we wish) was first done by an Australian Truckdriver.

He said he is going to get a camera soon and then we went onto my trip and why etc. I told him I think the UK lorry drivers are worse off as they have no one working for them and asked about here. He is a member of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) and believes they are trying, but they are fighting the government, who all know better and are happy to tell us how to do our job, whether they could or not. I have emailed OOIDA with no luck, the emails bounce, but do plan to catch up with them at GATS.

What about truckers? Yes there is that too, not being trained properly and the public think this is the easiest job in the world, yet say when they get the chance to see things from our side, who would do that job?

He went on “These ELDs are forcing blokes to drive tired, they don’t allow for traffic etc, blokes are pushing from the minute they start the clock and no one else cares about us.” “I wish we could all get together and shut down for a week” and I said as I have before, I have more chance flying to the moon in your truck and he agreed. I then explained those who have advocated blockades in Australia will simply be pushed off the road by the authorities and that unless you have two important things, someone or a group the industry will stand behind and a short list of both, problems and solutions, the government will simply laugh at you.

He then spoke of a lack of rest areas, Police in some states who will write up drivers for parking on freeway ramp shoulders, no excuses accepted at all. The fact that the industry is simply there now for revenue, as the authorities are not getting it like they used to and on one occasion, when pulled up by a trooper, who could find nothing wrong with the truck, then wanted his logs and seemed to get very annoyed when he could find nothing wrong. Our trucker said, “Isn’t that how it is supposed to be?” but the officer clearly had the bothers, that he could not write him a ticket.

California not being just a different state, but a different country etc and whilst I had said to him after the first five minutes, can I go and get my video camera, you are saying all I have heard, but altogether and quite well, but he was not keen. While he works for a broker, the trailer had a name that some would know in Australia from many years ago in that section of the industry and I was holding them up as they were about to go and eat.

I apologised and then he asked me about, you guessed it, our roadtrains. They do have what we would call a roadtrain (and I mistakenly labelled the two or three short trailer combos as turnpike doubles previously, yet it seems as here as at home, where you are changes what something means), but they pull two 53 foot trailers as turnpike doubles in the USA (or as Heavy Goods Vehicles HGVs, in Canada) and with their long trucks, would well exceed our 36.5 metres. They talk in miles here and I can cope with that, but weights in pounds still has me thinking about conversions, and normally by then the driver is on the next comment.

So a wrap up to this point of the trip. Truckdrivers biggest problem on the roads are car drivers who do not, or have never been taught, to understand trucks. There is a much smaller problem with other truck drivers, but it is there and is growing. Electronic Logs (ELDs) are putting more pressure on many and not all are coping. Some have no problem with them and it seems this is largely due to the type of work and or where you run and or, who you work for.

The ELDs have exacerbated the lack of rest areas in some states and I have seen a site yesterday on a four lane highway where you can access it from both directions, yet there is a slow down lane barely big enough for a single car on the opposite side and none at all on the rest area side and traffic in a 70 MPH zone, has to nearly stop in the lane to enter the rest area and or cross the road and traffic drives back and forth across the highway with barely a car length between sides. This in a state that also has a rest area with a near mansion for a toilet block and acres of gardens around it, that you would be proud to have in a show place.

My Western Star friend did say he thought the government was being driven by certain groups baying about road safety, but the trucking industry was not being given its voice and certainly not the drivers and the government will follow the loudest noise.
In the theme of good news which must of course be a good way to end this, when sitting on the balcony with my new friend Bruce at his home in Toronto Canada and having a beer, my first for the trip, I got a call to say I had not been successful in my bid to win funding for more Green Reflector Informal Truck Bays. Now to be fair I have just got the Newell done and I will both say thanks to NHVR for their help and support in achieving that and look forward to doing some press in that regard when I return.

However, the next call was from my partner in all things trucking in Australia, Stephen from Whiteline Television and http://www.truckingnation.com.au to say he had been successful in winning funding for us to do the TRUCKIES TOP TEN TIPS (for sharing the road with trucks) on video. Our aim is to do it professionally and make it available to all road authorities as a resource, so that new drivers will see and hopefully recognise some of our issues when they get on the road as well as making it available to all others who can use it to teach or simply, to see our side of things. I have been promoting these tips for nearly 20 years now and have had some terrific comments and support, but it has been a long time coming to be able to do it in such a way and with Stephens incredible and professional talent with a camera, I know it will be top notch.

Congratulations to all others who have been successful with projects and I hope each and every one of these, helps to improve road safety for all Australians. Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.

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21st April 2024 A Pheasants Nest Stopover

Goodaye all, an interesting week in some ways, did not go to plan in others and then left me with a long visit to Pheasants Nest where I sit. Off to a good start with a plan to get my four legs in and then three services all together. Didn’t work last week, only getting home Saturday and leaving Sunday and won’t get there at all this week. Had plans to fit new drive mudflaps if I did, but that and other jobs back at least another week and will leave me scrambling to get all the little jobs planned to attend TRUCKFEST in Sydney in two weeks.

Out Sunday after lunch and into Toowoomba that night, got a text from a mate was given a new Volvo and readying for first trip. Spoke later in the week and he is enjoying the ride and the tech. Unload Monday morning and into Brissie, load out, “Oh, can you take one pallet for Gundi?” yes, but it will mean staying there for the night as won’t get unloaded till Tuesday morning. So out there and sleep before radio and was parked near directly opposite the bowsers at the BP and thought it might stand out, but no one saw me for the radio spot, doner and back to bed.

Had been given a choice from Moree, only to be told it had changed before I could choose, then had to split to unload b trailer and what a bugger of a driveway and exit. Then had to wait for them to load their own truck and back to head off, only to find I needed timbers, so stopped in Warialda thinking, AH that looks like a toilet at the livestock wash, but of course, locked out as I have no AV data key, bugger. So much for Truckies facilities, but do understand the need to protect them, maybe I should try and get one, can you help Bruce?

Got another call go and they will find some timbers, out to a quarry to load sandstone, wait for another couple of trucks, but then one of those drivers stayed and helped me load etc, thanks mate. He too wanted to know where I had been for “Where’s Rodney” on Tuesday morning. Ended up having tea at Gravesend pub, good feed and then made it back to the yard in Dubbo and bed.

Wednesday morning, paperwork in and fueled and off to a house block outside Bathurst thinking this could be fun, but whilst getting in and out was not that bad, unloading each block did take a while. Had been told possibly loading for Adelaide, but not sure when I could, if stock ready maybe today, but in the end, no, not till the morning. So an early night and a bit of reading, Jack Reacher “Make Me” before bed.

Load Thursday for Adelaide, same two drops as last trip, both went OK but have a better plan for next time, then out to grab paperwork (and two more shiny bits dropped off by my mate at TRUCKBLING) and was told to go straight to the load point as they would be going home if I was too late. Load wide pallets with bulging bags, but got them on and hope the corflute protected them as we jammed then in.

Then off and thinking will not have enough hours to get home and then even worse, with a double, going home would add a thousand k to the trip, so direct towards Sydney and a 40 hour stopover here. So emptied and cleaned the toolboxes out, cleaned up inside, spoke with a few drivers including one of our ex RPT ones doing well in his new job, cut out some more finnicky reflective tape for the bullbar, looked at fitting the shiny bits, but decided not good alone, so much still to do before TRUCKFEST. Pity Ampol are as ignorant of us as others, a “Truckers” Lounge, can’t they get it right?????????

So a shower and tea soon, finish the book and off early in the morning. Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.   

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14th April 2020 a poster and a cup for RP.

Goodaye all, short and sweet, back home yesterday morning, plans for a few jobs, but had a poster made for Rod Pilon and wanted to give that to him recognizing his 50 years and thanking him for his support. So arranged for a coffee and chat on the way home from the yard to pass it over. Also got a cup made with the three TIV trucks I have had so far and he said he would use it everyday.

Two trips to Melbourne with a Moree and then milk run home in the middle and now loaded and off to Toowoomba leaves little spare time, so jobs moved back to next week-end as the AB and C services due, also pushed back a week.

I did ring Tpt for NSW re the northern edge of the Tycannah Creek Overflow bridge and they said, “It seems we are aware if it (yes because I have already complained about it via email) and will get someone to have a look”, Thanks. Disappointed  with Vicroads as they have not fixed my last couple of complaints, but did get in contact with those doing a number of highways in the Gippsland area with green reflectors and they were both keen to listen and will consult with me further as it rolls out, to ensure it gets done well.

Rang Gwydir Shire Council, went through Warialda last week and followed the Heavy Vehicle Bypass to find it is only for North Star, which was closed for flooding and then had to turnaround and come back and go through town. Better signage would help stop others doing the same. But did have a fellow call me up going through town that night and ask if we were looking for any drivers and I told him to ring in and ask.

Much concern and comment about the spate or truck crashes and they even have electronic signs up telling us so. How to fix it, many things to do, all hard from our point of view and all require government action. Biggest problem is the gate has been left wide open for too long and not just the horses have got through, but lots of inexperienced people who are now driving bigger trucks. Hard to fix it now, but know I can’t fix it either. If you can, jump in and do so and make the roads safer for us all.

But car drivers seem worse than ever as well and ken to try and kill themselves and then involve us to save them a couple of seconds on the way home, strange that many do it just before turning off. Go figure. Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.

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7th April 2024 NHVR Checkweighing.

Goodaye all, a late start after an unusual Easter week-end home, the first full one for a long time that I can recall. Normally only get two days off. But then load Tuesday afternoon and was to be 8th in line by the time I got unloaded in Melbourne the next day, but the fellow at the first drop, after I backed in the b-double off the street, asked could a get a bigger truck for the next delivery, but as he was keen and into trucks, gave him a copy of Owner Driver to read.

Off to the second drop, this one undercover thankfully, chatted to the Finemores driver in front unloading after I noticed the width of the trailer tyres. When I checked them 305s and even 315s on the trailers and many mismatched, I wondered how they would go with kissing when loaded. A couple were on 9 inch rims, but it was the overhang on the 8and a halfs and the small gap that had made me look. When the driver saw me looking, he asked what was wrong and as I explained, he of course said, “We don’t touch them, it is all done by the tyre people” and I said I understood that and asked if he had met Ron.

He said yes, but I am a wee bit doubtful, slight language issue, but told him I knew him and hadn’t spoken with him for awhile, but drove tankers for him in the past. In to load, managed to mostly get done between showers, but round to get fuel and out and still into the Melbourne traffic outbound mayhem. Pretty much up on my weight, yet car drivers either want to race you, or baulk you and it was frustrating and when Mike Williams tooted the horn as he went past while I struggled to get up the hill towards the Shell, I asked could he sort the idiot in the ute who dawdled at the bottom.

We then chatted till BP Barmedman, had some tea and finished off as I turned off to Wagga and he headed north to his planned parking bay for the evening. We covered many topics and books and radio and even the topic of this blog, NHVR checkweighing.

As of Tuesday the 4th April, NHVR weighbridges, both Half Way Creek and both sides at Daroolbalgie between Parkes and Forbes will be left open and turned on for us to checkweigh. This comes from me asking the NHVR to do this in December, when I rang to ask why Broadford was now closed and gated, was told they were waiting for parts (still it seems) and why were most NSW bridges once done up, closed and gated? I was asked to send an email outlining my reasoning etc, Sal then announced a trial would commence in April at the NRFA conference in February and here we are.

Vicroads have done it for some time, TMR leave the ones at the Port of Brisbane, though the inbound was not working last time I went in and why not NSW? This is a trial, if there is any stupidity or vandalism (yes there will be cameras for this, not for watching your weights and this is absolute and guaranteed) and if successful, others could be opened up for use as well. I did stop and use the northbound Daroolbalgie that night, had one other driver say he had heard of it but the lights on may make some think they were operating etc and I rang t5he NHVR the next day to both suggest a sign where the normal Open/Closed Led signs are saying “Weigbridge available for self check when closed” and that the 80 k speed reduction be turned off and only one when NHVR operating there and they are looking at these now.

A simple thing to help us, yes some cost to them in setting up the overhead scale readout etc, but well worthwhile and I thank them for the speed and effort to get this up and running. If only other fixes were as well accepted and could be achieved as easily!!!

Went through to Brissie the next day after getting a couple of tryes done, odd wear, but maybe from the broken U bolt I had found previously and then got fixed thanks to a very helpful trucking operator in Moree. Water over the road at Mungle Back Creek south of Bogga, but all cars and truck through single file, but it was closed for the return. More water over the road north of Wyaga Creek and I heard both roads were closed Friday, so home via the New England, Inverell and Moree. See many of the green reflectors on that road have been replaced, but with much smaller (too small I reckon) ones and so another issue to follow up. Off now to unload in Wagga tomorrow morn and round we go again. Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.

PS thanks to Shane Oliver for finding the “I am a Volvo trucker” video, have a look here.  Go to Youtube “Volvo trucks gear 14” will bring it up (the URL or link is too long to put in here) and let me know what you think? Have you ever (ignoring the VOLVO everything advertising) seen a better industry video? If so let me know. I have wanted to do something like this for years, but it all takes time and money.

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1st April 2024 Happy Easter all.

Goodaye all, I hope you have / are having a happy Easter, got home Friday morning and here till Tuesday, a rare time off and catching up on stuff and a few truck jobs. Off midmorn early last Sunday to load and then into Melbourne, to bed, up and make a call to delivery point to confirm singles only as had not been there in a while and was fairly certain, no b-double access. Yes correct, split outside, no will do at yard, there in 25 mins.

Got there, in que undo all buckles and straps while waiting, only to go in and find, “No mate, they don’t have an account here”, so on the phone and wait for further instructions. “Sorry, delivery details out of date (You think?) take it to Searoad”, so back to yard, hook up again and off to the port. Forgot they had changed the entry point, do a half blockie and a U turn, back to choose a gate, wrong, back up, then induction out of date, please scan code. “No old phone” “Ok come round to office and do induction” and still had to do on my phone through browser.

I am nearly to the point I will start refusing to do Q code scanning and inductions on my phone. It is my data, not theirs, they won’t pay for it and I don’t see how they can not provide paper. Not everyone has a phone, let alone a smart one (and that is another debatable point) and if they want us inducted (and even the fellow I spoke with said it is just them arse covering as everywhere else), then they can provide me with paper which I will fill in and they can log it later. What do you all think?

Last week-end job was to fit my extra toolbox, just to hold all my EIP slide in codes, products and UN Numbers etc. Still looking for a slightly longer one and of course a blue one if I can find one, but that went OK. This week-end s job was to complete and finish the watertank, I had put some bolts in in a rush to fit it, then had to redrill a couple of holes and fit the round head, so less prone to getting hit etc as per photo some time ago showing the problem with dips and gutters.

Will put up a photo next week of the shiny bits and hope to have the last few soon. Last job then is the toolbox to match the watertank, will be a handmade job and could take awhile,  but such is life. Sorting a couple of things for the morning as I don’t load till the afternoon, chasing some shirts and bits for the trailers too and have to do my audiobooks page and get this done and work on some bills, so till next week, Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey. PS ignore the chassis plate, that was the result of a driverway at Corowa and will be resolved soon.

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24th March 2024 Late Note/the Sick Note.

Goodaye all, have you ever heard “The Sick Note, Why Paddy is not at work today”? Look it up for a laugh and no, my fortnight was not that bad, just too few hours in it and without my Hubfleet EWD to check, I am struggling to remember while I run around getting ready. Yes, more Swift Grow on the lawn as the growing season is near the end and I wanted to get it all covered, but it seems need more work on the rock hard soil in places, beaten down by the dogs.

So last week-end was a short week-end trying to fit too much in, then off to work Sunday to be in Melbourne with a plan to blog from there before bed. But I got away late trying to squeeze stuff in, got there and went to bed to be kept up and then woken by what I found to be the business next door, not the one I wanted, only to go back to bed to be woken again by my bloke, who had come in way much earlier than we had planned.

Eventually finished my break up the road and then rushed to get to load later in the day with two pick ups and a plan to go to Moree, then told will be unloading in Dubbo and reloading for Adelaide. Been a while since I have been there, but was pretty much on time getting there, only to find the second drop (after entering as a b-double) don’t allow b-doubles and I should have booked a day before, but the fellow there was good and we got unloaded and I even picked up some nice chrome bits from my mate at TRUCKBLING who brought them over to me there.

Adelaide back to Melbourne and reload for Dubbo plus, back in early Friday morn, A service for all the bits, bolt fixed on an air bag, mods done to my mezz floor cups, two gates welded, fit the shiny bits, fit my water tank and home to drill a couple more holes and tidy it up. Still minor mods to see it perfect, but went and got a tap this morning and getting it finally done.

Had one idiot try to possibly kill themselves and others and I would then have been involved, overtaking a yes, slightly slow truck and dog on a blind corner over double lines. A truck came the other way, but he was in the left of the two lanes in the opposite direction, but had there been a car there, old mate would have seen it about 2 seconds before hitting it at 200k closing speed and I would have worn him.

I am sure you have all seen the same, far too often and it seems, people are getting even more impatient and happy to risk not only their lives, but those of others to gain seconds. What the hell do we do? At this stage planning to be at TRUCKFEST in Sydney for the three days, 3rd to 5th May and looking forward to saying Goodaye to any who visit. More details closer to the event. Till then, Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.

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11th March 2024

Goodaye all, well after such a start last week and then being told I had some runs to do out of Melbourne, thought I would end up a short and slow week. But first drop Monday left a mark after parking in the only green reflector bay on the Midland Highway for the night, though had there been time once I got up, there were a couple more spots worthy of marking. Let’s just say the signage for receivals is not that outstanding and when I found a door open and went and sought someone to unload me, that raised more than an eyebrow then and got me a call later to explain, such is life.

So into Melbourne and thought would be stuck overnight but, “If you can make it back out to the loading point by 3PM, they will load you” so running to unload, hook in and got there 2.59 and one of our ex drivers now running the show said, “Goodaye Rod” and I said “Thanks for waiting back”. Loaded full load IBCs and back to the yard for paperwork and wait a bit for the traffic to disperse, out at 6 and off to Corowa.

Stopped at Avenal and I still remember when I first started going there it was $5 for a meal. Yes everything has and continues to go up and even when it got to $22 a while ago was still good value, but $32 is getting hard to justify, even though you still get your three courses, so grabbed some scallops with vinegar instead.

Pulled up off the road, walked round to check out where to unload and thought, don’t like the look of that driveway. Caught up on some stuff including a couple of calls to mates I needed to make, started the last blog, then to bed to get some split rest before “Nightshift” radio and back to bed.

They opened a bit later than some so all good, but drove in and bent chassis plate and tore mounting bracket clean out. I asked, “Do you get many complaints about your driveway?” and he said yes, so I said, now you have another. Bugger, then another drop and back into Melbourne, loaded a bit earlier, but then stuck in traffic on way out and having looked at Google for where I was going, it said there was a truckstop, so headed out with a plan for a shower and feed etc and got there to find just a bowser and I had gone through town and wasn’t going back, so went to bed after tea from the truck frig.

Unloaded OK, back for second drop and into Melbourne to find third load already gone, so load for Moree but told I would be unloaded in Dubbo Thursday morning, to load later that night. That changed, yes unloaded but hurry up, new plans and you are already late to load. Done and back into Melbourne to do a small tranship, then double split to deliver and go and reload, back out Friday afternoon for possible delivery Saturday. Rang, do you want this Saturday, yes please so through to Gilgandra in the early hours, then up and ring with a delivery time, got there and in and out in under an hour and they had come in specially to unload me, so thanks very much and ended up quite a week, 5,500 k and 18 load and unloads.

Home to catch up on gardening and stuff Saturday afternoon and went to the theatre with my youngest son for something different. Now about to Swift grow the lawn and off for a late load tonight. Till next time, Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.

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On the 10th for the 5th Canberra Bound.

Goodaye all late note included as below. Yes well got to my DC slot a few minutes to midnight, so in time for 7 hour break and they let me sleep inside after I rang and checked, but I had tried on the way and could not update my induction. Up early next morn and another driver getting somewhat frustrated getting inducted, then me too and in the end, take this form and go. Once in, all good, then off for second drop, load and away up Sesame Street to Sydney town for Tuesday morning.

Nightshift Radio from the depot and where was I going? Double split in the morning to deliver, back down to Banksmeadow to load, held up for a couple of hours, but out eventually with load of packaged DG and to Wagga Wagga. Had a lovely smiling young lady unload me Wednesday morning after breakfast at Gumly Gumly with mate Grant Luhrs from Rig Radio days, but again, 4 truck bays in a BP truckstop on the Sturt Highway, not enough so had to park outside overnight.

Off to Melbourne load and back to the truckwash in Albury, a few qued and had to get to Coona to unload so I could get home and drive to Canberra, so off with a still dirty truck. Made it to Forbes, Caltex closed so no loo or shower, to bed. But off again Thursday morning, into Coona just before noon, hooked in with the sun and the heat and back to Dubbo to arrange list and service for following day, get a lift home, jump in daughters car and head to Canberra. In 9.30 pm, a chat, a feed got for me to be there on arrival, (thanks Craig) and a shower and in bed by midnight, but as often happens, strange bed and not a good sleep.

HVRASC meeting all day from 8 till 5, then tea and a few beers, bed after midnight, up and had planned to do some filming with young Stephen if he got home, but still on the way and I was late for a special event or two at home that happened Friday, so go and be there bit a day late.

Try to make up for Friday Sunday morning, then home and call loading point. Can I load earlier than my slot of 5PM? Yes you are booked at 1.30, sorry,  not on my plan. Well that’s earlier, what more do you want? Sorry. still in Dubbo will hookin and rush. Got there at 3.05, only to have three qued in front, another truck had been two hours late and not let them know and it was well after 6  by the time I got loaded and out, not the best way to start the week, but such is life.

I had two starts on this and simply did not get time to complete or put up, a fun week, not but OK. Will catch up later today I hope. Cheers Rod.

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25th February 2024 A Sydney week.

Goodaye all, spent the week running in and out of Sydney in a single as I had asked work if I could get to Sydney for Thursday for the NSW Road Safety Forum. I had been invited and whilst the recommendations only came out last week from the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry, I was in two minds about attending. Yes I could have done it online, not really the same though and attending meant I got to meet and speak with some people I had spoken with but never face to face and also to get in some peoples faces, in the nicest way.

I believe I was the only truck driver there, but Simon O’Hara from Freight NSW attended and I was told NATROAD attended by video, so a couple of other trucking voices. In the table sessions I raised many of our issues and having got home and unloaded this morning after doing a change over to Moree last night, I have spent another two hours doing the Community Attitudes Survey, post event survey and the Rail Crossing survey (which I have also forwarded to the NRFA for other board members to complete). I was invited to the Railway session in Brisbane next month, but I will leave the board to decide who goes there, but have still raised a number of issues and suggestions through the survey.

Many comments on the photo from the conference, thanks all and I was snapped coming through Bathurst by Bathurst Truck spotting during the week and he put up a shot too.

The next meeting of the HVRASC is in Canberra this Friday coming and I am trying to get to that too. Yes could do it by video, but would still have to sit and watch for hours and not have the same input, would still not be able to drive with the ridiculous mobile coverage we have now, so am on plan D so far and will see what the week brings.

The NSW Government now has three months to respond to the recommendations from the first inquiry and I raised some of them and will be pushing to see change between now and then. I came home through Mudgee twice during the week and aside from a green reflector bay just west of Mudgee, there is not one rest area or suitable spot if you get a bit tired. On the first trip there were trucks parked the wrong way in two sites and I stopped in one the next trip (a stockpile site) and it is now marked eastbound along with one at Frying Pan Creek on the Great Western.

Only a short visit home and with Canberra, may not get home next week-end and that will be another problem, but we will see how it goes during the week. With the meeting in Sydney, they had an international speaker and yes, overseas experience is worth pursuing and collating to see if it has relevance and worth here, but outside of some volunteers and those in community roles, as I have said at some meetings in the past, we as Truckies do not get heard unless we are prepared to forego a lot of time and money and even then, do we get listened to?

I have done this for a long time and the return on investment is very large in the minus column, yet if we don’t make the effort who will? In discussion with a Tpt for NSW fellow, even 25 years since the first then blue now green reflectors went up, from the perspective of worth, even if I simply prevent one fatigue event, let alone save a life, it is worth it, but geez it is hard to do so any other way and the cost to family etc, is huge over such a time.

So Vegemite on raisin bread for brekkie and off to hook up now, load at noon from a couple of hours away, then a timeslot in Melbourne tomorrow morn and hope for the best. Till next time, Safe Travelling, Rod.

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14th February 2024 17th NRFA Conference.

Goodaye all, on my third trip into Melbourne last week, there was a prang on the ringroad before the dipper and traffic qued for miles. They had the right hand lane with the red cross, yet hundreds of cars and trucks kept going up that closed lane and then pushing in at the end. I rang Vicroads and lodged a complaint that they had closed the lane way too far before the crash, making it worse, was told going under the red cross was like driving through a red light and that Police were on site and I said, good, then let then fine the 300 vehicles that went past me. Again, I was told they had to comply with certain rules and I said, all I am asking is that you consider reviewing that then.

All who did the right thing and moved over when the cross was red, then had hundreds of cars go past and then push in. Today I got a call from the Traffic and planning department. I explained the issue from where I sit, then of course went on to explain the debacle with the M1 closure with the lack of signage and a suitable b-double detour Monday night and that I had also rang to be bounced around by Vicroads, then “the Big Build” and then to Citilink, to not get one person to accept responsibility or even consider the problem as serious.

Will this solve things there, who knows but the fellow said he recognised my passion and my concerns and that yes, it did seem to be a lack of communication between agencies made things worse. We will see.

The NRFA Conference went very well, Collette and the team who organized it, did a magnificent job and I can’t even come up with one little thing that was not perfect. Many contributed, before and on the day and it went well. There were a couple of announcements I will detail later, one on rest areas and one on weighbridges and all I have spoken to say it was well run, efficient and effective and I might happily say, the best conference I have attended or been involved with. Well done everyone who helped, supported and or attended.

We did hold an AGM the Friday night before the conference and Glyn Castanelli, the past Vice President was elected as President. I had not planned to step down and Glyn has put in a lot of time in Canberra and at other functions and meetings as the VP in the last year and with his new job, will be able to continue to do that. As an employed driver, I have my employer, Rod Pilon Transport who have supported me now for over 15 years to consider and of course, there are only so many hours in a day and my family have paid for my efforts over the last 25 years and I can’t do it all and perhaps this is an issue for some.

When I was first asked to take the role of President, I said yes, I was happy to give it a shot and would do my best, but that all the stuff I was already doing would not stop and as long as that was understood, I would try my hardest to do my best for the NRFA and many have said they were surprised I had been voted out, including me. But I will remain on the board as past President and continue to do all the other stuff I do. Nothing stays the same and we must all accept that and also that some change is inevitable, but I will keep promoting and participating in the NRFA, as I believe it is the most owner driver/driver focused group, the most grass roots group and the best to achieve anything for those on the road. Till next time, Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.

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11th February 2024

Goodaye all, sorry for last week, had a fairly busy Saturday and left after 8 AM Sunday morning so my normal blog window was lost. Got over to load after a two hour trip, but then the truck in front had loaded and the forkie later apologized saying he had not scanned the load and it all had to come off a van and then be scanned and reloaded. Funny how the first day of the week can have such an impact. So out later, into Melbourne to find roadworks, different stories on the UHF about the Burnley tunnel, got there, yes was open, but had a detour at the far end sending trucks off to try and avoid low bridges.

We all pulled up, traffic qued for miles, I directed traffic and got most of the cars around, trucks off to the side and the fellow at the front had spoken with the traffic controller after the first one had no clue and we were told in 15 minutes, we would all be escorted through the one open lane in the roadworks, excellent. That lasted 5 minutes till someone else said no, so all of us had to do a sharp right and go back through tunnel and go off at King Parade and then find our way from there.

A sign at the start of the tunnel saying “Find Alternate Route” when you are already there is not good enough. I simply went out Dandenong Road to Oakleigh and we will come back to that. All the way out I could hear drivers asking how to get here or there and I hope no one got badly lost or stuck. I had looked at my delivery address and it looked like an industrial type area, but when I got there with another loop to avoid a wild b-double unfriendly bit, I found the street had houses down the other side, so no parking there. Ah, a roundabout ahead, MMM this looks a bit tight, made it round with at least 6 inches to spare using the road, the gutter and the footpath a bit, then lucky it was cool enough not to need the Icepack, and to bed to be rocked by speeding cars all night.

Up, walk in, no you could have come in earlier, thanks a lot, wait and unload and back to Altona. On the way, rang Vicroads, the roadworks, insufficient signage and detours not suitable for large trucks was a problem, “Not us, that is the “Big Dig” roadworks, I will pass you on, thanks. No, not us, that is Vicroads, no they said it is you, no then it is Citylink and I’ll pass you on and they would not even answer the phone. I did ask the first two to follow up either way and of course, have not heard back. I then rang the VTA to see if they were aware and they too were to follow up.

Weights and roads there were another issue I will ignore here for now, but did detail to Vicroads too. Loaded and out, made it back to Tomingley for radio and had Sal Petrocitto, the CEO of the NHVR on the radio taking calls for an hour and a half, did a little longer myself, then to bed and later back to Dubbo where I was due to load later that night for Sydney.

Another driver went AWOL and they ended up loading me back to Melbourne, but now on a mission, thankfully roadworks done at tunnel and nearly made it to Dandy only three minutes overtime and found only one spot left in a road filled with trucks and trailers, all local it seems as they were gone in the morn. Again, paperwork had said delivery after 9 and that suited my arrival time, drove in then and they said, no open at 6, so maybe next time.

Back to Altona for another drop and load to again as had a plan to be in Shepparton for the NRFA AGM Friday night and conference Saturday, so on a mission now. Load again, for Dubbo, out and made it back to Tomingley again, but only two minutes overtime this morning. Got a shower there, sleep and into Dubbo, unload and fuel and out again to reload where I started Sunday. Happy forkie there, loves my truck as I load it different to others (not) then “That’s another of your drivers, he doesn’t have a clue”. Sorry, not one of ours, we don’t have any Volvos. Loaded, grab paperwork after an exchange with the stop go man out the front, then the dispatcher says, “That bloke, first trip, does not know what weight he can carry, then wanted to argue he had to take 34 pallets and would not listen or understand, they would not load it and let him out overweight”. Yes he was an overseas gent and how can anyone be sent out to load without a clue. I did think back to the first time I ever loaded there, told the forkie it was my first time there, but knew what weight I could load and gross etc. What a world we live in now. OK so getting tired now and much to do and tell, so will do a midweek update just to keep you all in suspense about the conference. Till then, Safe travelling, Rod Hannifey.