Month: July 2022

Goodaye all. I had a couple of things planned for this week, last minute found they were having a K220 Kenworth launch night in Dubbo, would have been good to have a look and was then to be in Canberra for a convoy Saturday and then dinner, but Thursday night headed to St George to unload. That was OK, all open and ready by the time they opened up, had another plan to fix some green reflector sites with time to spare on my way home and the rest would fall into place.

But when unloaded got a call, come into Brisbane to load. Now looking at distance and time and the need for a DG registered trailer, thought MMMM, this will be tight. Made it with a few minutes to change trailers at the yard and go and load bulk DG before they went home for the week-end. It must be nice to work normal hours and be able to plan a life and stuff. Back to the yard, play trailer musicals, drop loaded one, hook up my A trailer, drop the B I had brought in and then hook up the loaded one again. Ready to leave Brisbane with already 8 hours in my book, so off to Fisher Park for tea.

The TIK Tok video “safetravelling, TRUCKSTOPS AND LIVING ON THE ROAD” has obviously hit a note with some, many remembering the times back when you looked for trucks parked and that was where you got a good feed on the road. It must be hard for truckstops, we struggled during covid when the authorities initially closed them down, then we complained and they reopened them, only to have some police threaten them with big fines. Glen Sterle had far more weight than a single truckie and got some saneness back into play, but it should not have been that hard to recognise, that truckies need good food, as well as decent rest areas for good sleep, let alone access to toilets etc to survive and stay fit on the road to deliver everything to everyone.

Truckstops struggled like many businesses which lost much of their trade and like so many now, are finding it hard to get enough good and competent staff to service their customers, us and others. The few that still look after us, like Fisher Park at the top of the Gap where I did the video, are getting rarer and those that have to reduce hours or such, can then find we look elsewhere. What is the solution?

I am off to get surgery on my left shoulder this week, then 5 weeks in a sling and start physio and hopefully back to work in 10 weeks or less. May be a bit slower, but keen to get truck and trailers sorted and get to some shows. New trailers now hopefully sorted for the new year, then four more years of trying to see change and safer roads for all in my spare time. I will be continuing most of my other activities, blog, radio, column etc and hope to see you all soon. Safe travelling, Rod Hannifey.  

Goodaye all, back to a semblance of a normal week, just two trips to Brisbane and leaving again today, for up there tomorrow. Got my medical done last Monday morning with some discussion on time and an eye report, but have that booked for next week to complete and then have handed in, in time for the due date. Got held over in Brisbane Tuesday and ended up doing a delivery to a produce store, then the second trip up, better timing but another delivery down to Beaudesert.

Will have my old trailers on later today, they are showing a bit of age but the whole unit still does its’ job of promoting the road transport industry and road safety and I now have some certainty of a new set of trailers in the new year that will match the new truck and then I will have maybe four more years to push that barrow.

But next Tuesday I will be in surgery now for my left shoulder. Had the right done last year and that went well, but have again completely torn the tendon (so no real pain and have “Popeye” syndrome on both arms now) and damaged the shoulder and was told the same, yes I may get away with it for a year or two, but there is a chance I may then not be able to lift my arm above my shoulder and if I want to keep working for another four or five years, it should be done.

So off to Sydney Monday, home on my birthday with a fixed shoulder, then 5 weeks in a sling, then physio and hopefully, with an auto, Kenworths fold out cab steps, my RPT 50 years rear trailer finally done with gate skates and new curtains, back to work even if gently, sometime soon after that. While I am off the truck will have the finishing touches that we have not had time to do, completed, a service and will be ready to go and with the smick trailers, keen to get to some events and of course, work on the design and set up of the new trailers too.

Will still be doing all the other stuff and for those of you who listen to the spot on Triple M Tuesday morning, the CEO of the NHVR, Sal Petrocitto will be on and answering questions for the first hour this week. I hope to have some others join in at times and we will see how this goes. Got to finish a small job on the truck etc, so till next week, Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.

Goodaye all. A mid-week post to catch up, simply have been flat out running to keep up. Out Sunday over a week ago to load, a couple of issues with a DC timeslot Monday in Melbourne, then nowhere to camp, typical to many. Had a kip and then out of Melbourne for Brisbane, in Wednesday, load one trailer ready to run out to Toowoomba, load another Thursday for another driver and load, then out to Toowoomba that night as truck booked in for 100,000 service there for Friday. Did a local radio interview early Friday morning, to the bank to sort an association change-over of signatories etc, lunch and back to wait for the truck. Full day, but then not told it was ready, not clean and off to our informal dinner for NRFA Board and guests before the conference.

Had to leave at 8.30 PM whilst most others having a beer or two, to take another trailer to Brisbane and pick up my other two for my b-triple to Mt Isa. Back after midnight, shower and bed by two and up at 6 for the conference. Thanks to all who made it happen, lots of work behind the scenes by a small crew and from where I sit, it went well, but I will let others decide that.

Dinner that night, awards given out to deserving industry people, had an auction and thanks to those who contributed, all will be listed on our NRFA page. Up early for our truckies breakfast, in one way our only failure. A Sunday morning at Charlton, it seems most had already left to get to their destinations, but we had 6 health checks done and I left at 11 AM and made it to my delivery point with about 5 minutes to spare the following afternoon a long way away.

Pressure off then, into Mt Isa Monday night and Tuesday some fun local deliveries, load and leave that afternoon, finally into Brisbane this morning and do a dog run, taking trailers out to then pick up my third and try and deliver a container, rang ahead, yes come, got there, we can’t unload that here now with the forks we have, so another hour or two wasted.

It has been a big few weeks in many ways, some k’s done, some green reflectors done, some small wins (yet to be seen but hopeful) with lights and other issues in Central Qld. Our conference done and of course, it alone did not fix the problems, we now have to continue all the behind the scenes work and effort to try and see some of those issues addressed, unless of course you will do it all for us? And then there is family that I have not seen much of, so no post this week-end as I hope to be home Saturday, but either out Sunday or a yearly medical to do Monday and then on the road again. Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.

Goodaye all, home Friday afternoon, out Sunday lunch. A bit of time to catch up with the family. Even planned to go to the pictures, but busy for school hols in NSW, so hopefully next time, but that will be a few weeks away. Trying to refit some shelves in the sleeper gap till I get some cupboards in the future, the KW ones pretty expensive and hope I can end up with something more workable. Icepack Services Toowoomba doing some very well thought out, designed and fitted cupboards inside and also excellent work outside and they will be helping. Sick of stuff on the floor behind the seats, so will try this for the interim.

Next week-end is the NRFA Conference in Toowoomba, so off to Melbourne tomorrow, load for Brissie from there, plan to be in Wednesday, unload, load a flat top loaded and take to Toowoomba, then truck booked in for 100,000 service in Toowoomba Friday, down and pick up two loaded “A” trailers that night after dinner and then have to be in Cloncurry by Monday afternoon with the “B” triple. So off straight after our truckies breakfast at the BP Charlton Sunday 10^th July 7AM till noon.

All are welcome to attend the conference at the Toowoomba Golf Club, no charge to attend, but we would certainly like you to let us know you will be attending. If you want to attend the dinner that night, with an auction, Yogi Kendall as guest speaker, you will need to purchase tickets and again, let us know if you want to attend so we can cover for catering and numbers. The truckies breakfast is free and we will have a special sponsored brekkie deal on the day, so come along, have a say or ask a question and sign up and join the NRFA.

I have to catch up with my audiobooks page, pack some clothes and sort some more things for next week, so will keep it short and ask you to consider attending the conference and hope you will and come and say Goodaye. Till next time, Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.