Goodaye all. Ready to pack up the laptop and head for the airport in Dubbo. An hour to Sydney and a delay now there, that will mean after my 22 hour flight to Heathrow, will see me late at the Convoy in the Park and straight into it. Considering I only got out of the truck yesterday after 2PM, there is not much I can do, but hook in and hope for the best.
I would like to thank my two references/trip supporters, Mr Paul Retter, NTC CEO and Mr Roger Sack, owner of Tramanco and a supporter of the TIV, since even before its inception. I would also like to thank the NRMA and the ACT Road Safety Trust jointly, for the Churchill Fellowship for Road Safety and will do my best to gain the most (and hopefully spread some Aussie knowledge as well) during this trip.
Thanks also to the Churchill Fellowship Trust, those who did the interviews (the first on the phone sitting half way up Cunningham’s Gap due to a road closure from a truck rollover) and Rod Pilon Transport for the ability to get to the second interview in Sydney and to those who recognised my passion and efforts thus far and with this trip, will help me I hope to do more, to help others be safe on our roads.
The team at Rod Pilon Transport will be looking after the TIV during my absence with a few tidy ups etc and I will be mad keen on my return to get back into it, get the next one up and running and get my protégé into a truck and ready to step into this one, when I can convince someone to give me a truck and trailers, so I can do more than what I can on top of full time driving.
The TRUCKRIGHT Industry Vehicle always had to be a working truck. Whilst it would be nice to have a real flash truck and go to shows, that will never represent what it is like on the road, nor would I get (or deserve) any respect from other drivers who do it for real.
I have had one fellow walk up to me this week whilst having tea and simply shake my hand and say thanks for my efforts for the industry and a caravanner, (whose email will appear in my next Owner driver column) say my Caravan survey had been very helpful and what they had been doing was not helpful to drivers and they did not know, but were trying and my survey had informed them and helped and made their trip safer and more pleasant.
So a big program, a plan to see what else I can fit in during it and a hope to find a truck to bring home! In my dreams. To those of you who would love to sponsor a road safety b-double, please let me know on my return and I will be more than happy to put your name on it if you wish.
I hope to be able to do the blog through wi-fi, they tell me data charges can be crippling and while I will have my phone on for international roaming, I plan not to use it more than necessary.
So to all readers, I bid you adieu for a short while, though I may be back even sooner than normal, subject to where I can find good wi-fi. Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.
TRUCKRIGHT 