Goodaye all, had a lovely experience at a truckstop, the little one just out of Young on the road to Wallendbeen, during the week. It is a small place and whilst they do have a lit “OPEN” sign in the window, it is hard to see. Before I left, I did suggest a sandwich board out the front. It seems they had asked Young Council for permission to put up billboards but were knocked back. The lady was very friendly, filled my coffee cup herself for and they had potatoe scallops of a good size for one dollar each.
Now that is not all that much of a remarkable experience, but in these days of lousy and filthy showers in many places, corporate changes and those who control some sites not seeming to give a fig about us, it was a welcome change. The lady even comes in early in the morning on her own time particularly for truckies, so give them a go if you are through there.
Been a busy and somewhat traumatic week, still trying to sort the new truck, but I think there is light at the end of the tunnel and believe you me, I have been concerned it may be a bloody train. Had some vehicle issues, lousy facility issues and trying to sort it all amongst everything else and then yesterday after asking for plans for a rest area upgrade for maybe 12 months, finally got them to be truthfully stupefied to find RMS plans to tear down trees and destroy a good rest area by “improving” it. I replied saying I would start a revolt and the fellow rang in response to my fairly blunt email, saying even he was surprised, but it is not yet funded and so I have time to influence the plan.
I will make some calls this week and will also be taking part in a meeting as a member of the Newell Highway Taskforce Tuesday and have already raised my concerns and will follow up there as well. If I do not get some sense out of them, I will start a campaign and seek your support. Seems we are likely to lose another rest area in the “Back Creek” overtaking lanes north of West Wyalong, so another issue to raise and follow up.
It seems to have been a bad week for trucking crashes, I personally have not seen or been close to any and had not heard other than from other drivers, so what is the problem? Have you had more pressure placed on you, is it simply a combination of stress on top of stress on top of the usual shit? I did an interview with the local paper and don’t believe I layed it on too thick, but the lady I spoke with said she had no idea what it was like. So do you have a specific problem or even better, a solution. Off to Brissie now, have helped daughter shift house, so more time off this week-end than usual and certainly more time than in the last three weeks, only 18 hours home in that time, but still not enough hours to catch up.
Next week, new truck photos, I hope!!!!! Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.
TRUCKRIGHT 