Goodaye all. It has been a cool day here in Melbourne. Every time I planned to get the truck washed it rained, so it will not be its’ best for tomorrow unfortunately. I have spent the day catching up, submitting number 6 submission to the NTC HVNL Review, working on number 7, Effective Enforcement and that is up to page 5 so far with more to do. It is due at the end of the month. I had started my submission to the senate enquiry which was due Thursday just gone, but there has been an extension to 8th November, so I will have a bit more time to extend and detail it better.
Any of you who want things improved, do not miss the chance to have a say. I have just spent a couple of hours going through the current submissions, 15 so far I think and whilst there are some saying virtually only that nothing will change, there are a couple of very detailed and valuable submissions and with the extension, I urge any with trucking knowledge and passion to contribute.
Importance of a viable, safe, sustainable and efficient road transport industry
On 11 September 2019, the Senate moved that the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by April 2020.
Some audio book reviews, replies to emails and a bit of surfing and chasing industry news and stories, tuna and rice crackers for lunch, rice cream and fruit for tea. Had plenty of food with me, so lived out of the truck, but had use of the depot, good for out of the rain.
Will be off in the morning to Elmore for the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA) National Rally doing a workshop in front of the TRUCKRIGHT Industry Vehicle and then a seminar inside. One of the members saw me at the “Stone the Crows” festival in Wagga and invited me to attend. CMCA is the largest group of RVers with I believe over 30,000 members and their own magazine “The Wanderer” which I have had articles in over the years.
I have attended a couple of previous rallies, but many years ago and the last, only by car as the engine in the Kenworth needed some warranty overhaul work. Always better with the TIV there.
Thanks as always to Rod Pilon Transport for arranging the work to get me here.
It has been a bugger of a week, with a flat steer tyre, luckily I had enough time and space to stop safely on a turn off lane, but needed some help and a tyre as by the time I stopped, it was down on the rim, but no further damage.
Must have been something on the road, there was a mark on the inside, but saw nothing prior to the deflation and found nothing on the road or in the tyre?
That held me up a bit, but a rubbed through radiator hose did much more damage to my time. It was of course hot and as my parts procurer and mechanical assistant is a bigger fellow than me, I was the one to get under the truck and there is not much room. Covered in coolant etc, but due to the delay was not able to load that night as planned and that made the next day a long one. The joys of trucking.
Those in the depots helped, loading me again in Dubbo so I could have a feed etc and then a bit of fun in Melbourne at a drop where it was a bit tight, but again, all good, just fun getting out. Loading completed and back to the depot for a top up, but all gone home, no problem.
A good night’s sleep last night caught me up and keen to chat and disseminate tomorrow, then unload Parkes Monday and see what the world of transport will deliver for next week. Till then, Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.
TRUCKRIGHT 