Goodaye all. The http://www.truckingnation.com.au website is the place for all our efforts now. To those who had tried to join the drivers club, our apologies for not being computer geeks and having it perfect from the start. And Stephen and his wife deserved the holiday that happened to nearly coincide. It should now be fixed and simple, yet as with all things, there is always room for improvement and we welcome any constructive feedback.
The reason we ask for where you run etc, is to set up a database for each road so we can message or ring you if needed, to comment and then respond to a problem or issue. We will not send or ring just for fun, we will aim to keep such things to a minimum and to those who know what we are talking about and can respond with knowledge and awareness. We also ask for what weight and freight you cart and how far, so in the future we can say our members carry a thousand tonnes a week and travel a million k’s a month and this will only help with our credibility and in being recognised as a group that does do the job.
Now we want you to get your mates involved, to spread the word about and the videos themselves to get more involved. Like any group, union or organisation, it will only ever achieve what it can with the support and participation of its members. So in some ways it is up to you.
I have responded on the website to the forum on etiquette started by Stephen. Simply put, doing the right thing. I had a driver ask me about flashing others in (and had a different discussion with Yogi about the same issue during the week). What do you do? Why do you do it? Do you have a problem with what others do and why? Yes the driver who called me on the UHF and then rang (my number is in Owner Driver) complained about those with terrific spotties not just flashing you back in, but holding them on till you pull over and if you complain, the usual happens. Surely in the dark a simple touch will do unless you have lousy lights and it is surely up to the driver when he or she will pull back in.
If you are the overtaking party, do you have to show me how good you are by nearly taking the shine off the corner of the bulbar as you pull in. With the new technology, if you pull back in too early, you will affect the Active Cruise or Automatic Emergency Braking and if there is no one behind you for kilometres, why do you have to pull in so close?
Yes, if there is a que of traffic behind you, then the overtaker should move over as soon and safe and reasonable and or the overtakee, should consider helping his mate to do the right thing. I will not slow going uphill fully loaded, but will make the effort to help another driver most of the time. However, if you sit a foot off the back of the truck and cannot call etc, you may be there awhile.
RPT trucks are now limited to mostly 97 and we did do a stint at 95 and on the top end of the Newell, that was an issue with caravans and roadtrains. One night I got six trucks round me in one hit because it was safe to do so, I made it all happen on the radio and I generally do not want either someone sitting up my backside when there is nowhere to pass safely for kilometres, or then passing when it is not safe. Do you call if you catch up and wait, or do you sit there too close till you can pass? Don’t take offence, we are all human, and surely we can talk together. If not, we are lost.
We are all out here together and there is no one else who cares a damn about us, so if we cannot work together, it will be a more lonely and less enjoyable job. We have all been taught differently and act and behave differently, but we can improve things if we try. Let’s make up something we can all agree to (yes my rose coloured glasses getting a run here) and then we can start with one thing sorted and then educate the rest, then move onto the next thing. Little steps? What do you say?
Now for those of you car drivers out there, you are not meant to be excluded. Do you understand what I am talking about and do you have a view? Trucks run at different speeds and must be allowed to overtake, but two trucks running side by side for kilometres does not help anyone. Your views are welcome as well.
Have any of you seen the new campaign by the NHVR about talking it (safety etc) over with a mate featuring Shane AKA Kenny from TV? Any comments or thoughts please. Safe Traveling, Rod Hannifey.
TRUCKRIGHT 