“His four year old son has forgotten more about trucks then you could ever know.”
Lyndal, have you ever been in a truck and had a car slam its breaks on? I tell you know it’s not a nice thing. It’s even worse in the rain and fog especially when you can only see a few meters in front of you.
My other half is a truck driver and he has taught me so much about trucks. I used to go with him everywhere between Adelaide and Brisbane. He drives B doubles and road trains. He is only in his thirties; he has taken one of the most wonderful gifts of all in the truck with him. His four year old son who is truck mad. His son has forgotten more about trucks then you could ever know.
You talk about how truck drivers sit right on the back boot of car drivers but what you don’t talk about is the games car drivers play. I have been in the truck when car drivers do about 70-90kms in 110kms zones. Until it comes to double lanes then they speed up, you hit the single lanes, and what do you know they slow right down again. So yes when it comes to the hill’s some truck drivers will take advantage of the hills and let the trucks go a little quick going down. Even my partner has done it in the past.
Why do car drivers do this?
Is it their way of trying to get back at truck drivers for going a little quick at times or is it that car drivers are just as bad as some truck drivers called cow boys. There are some, even I know that. But you go to your local supermarket and watch the car drivers act like the car park is a speed way. I get very nervous walking through a car park with my partners two small boys because I’m worried one day a car driver will be going that quick and hit one of them. Yet this issue you don’t hear about all over the news and shows like today tonight. If the police sat in a car park they would get 98% of drivers speeding, yet no one is screaming about it like you are over truck drivers and the speed they do.
99% of trucks are speed limited on 100kms. So in case you don’t understand it means that they can not go over 100kms. Roadmasters trucks are speed limited, my partner has driven for them, so that car must have been going slow for him to sit so close. Now he’s out of a job, which affects his whole family. Give truck drivers a little slack.
Remember with out trucks Australia stops. Thank you for your time. I do hope that you will let my opinion be heard, it would not be very fair if you didn’t
Tanya
July 24th, 2008 at 6:21 am
No Tanya, I can’t say I have been in a truck and had a car slam it’s brakes on but I can say that I know that it would happen to most truck drivers on a regular basis. Surprisingly, this type of dangerous driving behavior is not my fault. All I am guilty of is is bringing the issue of dangerous driving behavior to the attention of the general public in an effort to find solutions to our shocking road toll.
Thank you for explaining the concept of speed limiters. Can’t say I agree with your assertions that 99% of heavy vehicles are speed limited. A much lower % would be far more realistic I believe.
I find your comment “that car must have been going slow for him to sit so close” disturbing in the extreme. Please let your partner know (and take note yourself Tanya)that whilst there are maximum speed limits set by law, no minimum speed limit exists. Whilst it’s frustrating I agree to sit behind a slow driver when you’re on a tight schedule, all drivers must sit back and wait until an opportunity presents itself to overtake. Blaming others for your partners unprofessional driving is a cop out.
Reading between the lines in your second last paragraph, it sounds to me like he has lost his job for tailgaing/aggressive driving. I am not aware of ANY trucking company who has sacked a driver on the basis of a single incident which beggers the question Tanya …. what else did your partner do out there on the roads to have lost his job with Roadmaster?
July 24th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Hi Tanya,
You’ll never find police checking speeds in a car park. Have you ever had someone hit your car in a car park, I have and trying to get insurance is a real nightmare as most car parks are privately owned { in the big shopping centres } and therefore there is very little any one but the shopping centre management can do anything about the bad behaviour of drivers.
As to cars driving below the posted speed limits, I have my own belief that “They do it for fun” if not it raises two other questions about the driving or road worthyness of the car. A) are they not confident enough to drive at the posted limit and therefore should not be driving or B) is the vehicle they’re travelling in not fit to be on the road, I think all vehicle should be checked every time you get in them to drive. I know our truck drivers have an extensive pre trip check that they have to do before starting the truck why is it not so for cars.
Happy Travelling
Rhonda
July 24th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Back again
Neil has just come in for morning tea and after showing him the current letters, he has brought something to my attention. Over here in the west I’m not sure about the east but a vehicle travelling 20 kms or below the posted speed limit on the freeway is actually braking the law, as it interupts the smooth flow of traffic. This information came from a regular weekly segment on a local radio station with the inspector for traffic enforcement.
As for the 100 kms speed limiting all manufactures by law must speed limit all trucks sold, and older trucks must have them fitted. Admittedly there are dodgy backyard mechanics who will over ride the computer and set a higher limit for you however if caught with a computer program over ride on your vehicle the penalties are very severe, enough to lose all permits and substantial fines. Making it an unviable option.
Cheers
Neil and Rhonda
July 26th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Well, looks like I’m out of a job!!! I can’t add anything to this….am I possibly rubbing off onto a few people maybe?? hahahaha
July 29th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
A totally misinformed letter!
August 1st, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Your job is safe Chris! if only Neil was six months younger you may have meet at YATD. He never felt so old as when he couldn’t enter the one competition that really interested him.
Keep up the good work
Rhonda
August 3rd, 2008 at 7:10 pm
to my letter he son has forgotten more then yo would ever know my parter neer lost hes job at roadmasterhe got a better job with better and qicker trucks i was talking about the other roadmaster driver thank you
August 6th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
my boy freind never lost hes job at roadmaster i was talking about the letter from a motorist that reported it and the manegment seid he was delt with and he lost he job well done to the motorist i hope you are happy and ivan get a life you know hit all about trucks and as for linfox pushing for new driving laws wot a joke wot about hes two male drivers getting court haveing sex at aeroplane on a change over think thay could have did it somewere more privet thatis why it is ot back mountain go linfox my bofreind s neer been sacked if he met ou he would tel yu that you are asowba full f shit thank you tanya
August 12th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Sorry Rhonda, you have been misled.
The majority of trucks in this part of the country, SE QLD and northern NSW, have either disconnected their speed limiters or altered them to allow higher speeds. I regularly travel the highways between here and Sydney and followed many trucks with 100 speed limited signs, doing well above 100kM/h. Its a joke.
Another issue I have is the trucks that operate on the M1 Gateway around Brisbane. There is approx 3-4 major accident a week on this notorious piece of road. WHY? Because these cowboys regularly travel at 100kM/h in the 80 K section in the roadworks section. Dodging and weaving in and out of cars that are doing the required 80k. How safe is that? They may say they are doing it safely because they are using that piece of road many times a day and know the road, but what of the car driver who doesn’t use that road very often and doesn’t know where all the bumps and holes are and then also have to deal with these mega monsters squeezing them in the narrow corridor between the concrete barriers. A very dangerous situation. Worst offenders are the truck and dogs where tail-gating and speeding is rife on this section of road. I sympathize with all the good drivers who are taking the heat for these cowboys, but until these cowboys are bought to heal, these accidents will continue to happen, just take a look at the statistics of truck accidents this year alone in QLD, I believe this to be a disgraceful situation on their part.
Another issue is that every truck driver calls himself a professional, yet that constantly have to tell each other where the police and transport inspectors are located so that they don’t break the law within sight of them. I believe if they are fair dinkum, and professional, then they wouldn’t break the law.
As far as drivers speeding up in the overtaking lanes is concerned, I believe the reason is that the drivers dont want the trucks in front of them because they think that the trucks will hold them up on the next hill, usually true.
Apologies to the more sensible truckers out there who are trying to do the right thing.
I have vented enough, lets all be sensible and do the right thing on the roads, it is a privilege to use them, not a right, and no one has more right than anyone else.
August 12th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Well said Tanya totally true but non truck drivers (meaning all those car and caravaners)will never understand nd they will always play there games with us. Nd you forgot to mention we doing 100klm hr nd all the P Platers that pass us in a trip just from syd to bris you could have a deposit for a house in the fines you could of issued. i know few divers now that are starting to crry video cams in there trucks for the harrasment that people cause us nd the authorities..
But well said..
August 13th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Hello Carl,where have ya been?
Remember Carl and Tanya,don’t fall in to the same old trap that S_O_M_E
car drivers put on truckies … that is D_O_ N_O_T bundle all drivers[motoring public & truckies]as doing wrong.
I could place complaints about ratbag drivers everyday but where would it get me and to what satisfaction. Sooner or later they will be caught or worse!
For me I’ll keep on listening to Westy,Chris,Indy and other truck drivers who wish to educate the public on sharing the roads with trucks.
Education … Tolerance …. Common Sense .. and of course “Safety on our roads for everyone”.
Dave
August 15th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
OMG! I’ve been miss led? I’ve taken my time to reply to this as I wanted to make sure I had all the facts regarding speed limiting, and I’ve been searching the Governments sites to find information to back up what I’ve been saying about speed limiting.
Australian Design Rule 65/00 - Maximum Road Speed Limiting for Heavy Goods Vehicles and Heavy Omnibuses - for your information. This is the national standard. The rule was first issued in July 1990. It was published in the Commonwealth Government Gazette No. 28 of 18th July 1990 (copy attached).” The copy of this can be viewed at the following web site. http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/motor/design/adr_online.aspx
If this is not happening in your state, then perhaps some serious questions need to be asked.
As for your comments regarding our truck drivers calling themselves PROFESSIONAL if you look in the dictionary you’ll see the word professional = relating or belonging to or engaged in a profession / characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession.
Now I hope I can cover the next issue clearly I may need Chris, Westy’s or someone else’s help here but I want to cover the issue of Truck drivers reporting the presence of Police and Transport inspectors.This comment that I’ve taken the liberty of copying from Brain’s letter really gets my back up.
“Another issue is that every truck driver calls himself a professional, yet that constantly have to tell each other where the police and transport inspectors are located so that they don’t break the law within sight of them. I believe if they are fair dinkum, and professional, then they wouldn’t break the law.”
Transport inspectors don’t just pick up trucks for breaking the law! They are there to appease the general motoring traffic by pulling trucks over to check that they are in fact doing the right thing, and that they are maintaining legal weights and maintenance of these “MEGA MONSTERS”. I could vent for hours on this one but I’ll leave it to your local drivers.
As for the Police I really can see no difference between Truckies reporting their position over the radio or car drivers flashing their lights to warn other drivers of the same thing.
Again copied from Brian’s letter!
” As far as drivers speeding up in the overtaking lanes is concerned, I believe the reason is that the drivers dont want the trucks in front of them because they think that the trucks will hold them up on the next hill, usually true.”
This action demonstrates where the bad drivers really are as it show how impatient and dangerous some motorists can be.
In closing I’d just like to say you Eastern State truck drivers must really behave when you come to Western Australia as I’ve sat behind many of you on the Great Eastern Hwy and I can honestly say, I’ve not seen any of the bad behaviour often talked about on this site.
Happy Travelling
Rhonda
August 17th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Rhonda,
I have no issue with the ADR as you have gone to great lengths to describe, regarding speed limiters. The ADR is another law that is not adhered to, and is regularly stretched.
Regarding your comments about the word professional, I guess I can now call myself a professional, car/4WD/bus driver, and everyone else on the roads is also now a professional driver.
Transport inspectors also check log books as well, I have heard many times truckers asking where they are and when told, often say on the radio, “bugger, I guess I’ll have to go a different (read longer) way today”. By the way, it is illegal to flash lights to warn other road users of the presence of the police ahead, and there is a stiff fine for miscreants if caught. It doesn’t happen often here anymore, but there is always the few who will flaunt the rules.
Its not being a bad driver to want to travel at the safest speed and not wanting to then be held up severely at the next hill by trucks, and I must say, held up more than the truck that maybe held to 90K in 100K zones. Who is the impatient one now?
So lets all calm down and drive safely with respect for other road users, no matter car or truck. We all have to SHARE!!!! You cant expect to have clear roads so that you can travel at your set pace on these roads that cannot handle the volume of traffic that they are expected to. If there is a large volume of traffic when you want to be on the roads, then you have to expect that your trip is going to take longer, accept that, and keep your stress levels in check, and many of the silly impatient moments and actions may be reduced and more people will make it home safely tonight.
Cheers
Brian.
August 17th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
when the coppers need cash wot do thay go out and fne u the reson truck talk on the uhf is becose thay no the next dogbox to pull them over will be out for the drivers money lets bring the trucks up to 110 i used to run of skeline at adooler85 in a fully loaded bouble and i am not a cowboy
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Smokey,
I’m a little bit at a loss as to what to say, (yeh, I know, What the..? Westy at a loss for words!), anyway, I can only summise by your writing that you didn’t do a lot of schooling, (no shame there, mate, neither did I), but I did try to learn a lot more when I realised that the work force wasn’t quite like school.
One of the things that I have learned in transport is when it’s all good, it’s great, BUT, things happen without warning, and it can get real ugly real qiuck and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near you if that happened at ‘a dollar eighty five’ in a B Double. Just a side note there, too, Smokey I’m not an engineer or anything, but common sense tells me that, as well constructed as they may be these days, no revolving parts on a truck are machined to the quality that would be required to rotate at that speed under that load anywhere near safely.
Even balancing cannot be done to that degree of perfection, and so you have put that truck under extremely dangerous loading.
Mate, I have driven at speed too, no where near that, but pretty quick, but let me just ask you, a wheel bearing grabs on the steer, a uni lets go because of the revolutions, even a tyre, which I can promise you are not rated to anywhere near that speed, not to mention diff centres, I could go on but, what do you do in any of the above circumstances?
You may not be a cowboy, Smokey, but mate I could think of a few other things I could compare you with.
Just as a matter of interest, how did you work out the speed. Unless it was an older model truck, the speedometer works of your alternator which is not linked to your road speed unless you are in gear and if you were floating it…., anyway, I don’t really think it’s worth anymore discussion.
Do us a favour, will you, and just keep those stories for the roadhouse, I don’t think we need the public to hear them.
Cheers
Westy
August 26th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Exactly Westy.
Not a nice fella that Smokey!
August 27th, 2008 at 11:48 am
westy wot can i say i did more schooling then you would know you are a suck amd how i know how fast i was going was my bosss satalite tracker u dick head and i would challinge you to eny truck driveing test eny time u drive 4 too wot more can i say you dont know 2 much why dont you marry lyndell you would live happely together to dogs that you both are
a real truvk driver would not piss on you thanks and iam 29 and would have done more with trucks then you would have done with your dic soget your hand of it mate .
August 30th, 2008 at 10:36 am
westy is suck that drives for toll lokk at him he reminds me of that bullbar on the uhf westy go across the padic to perth u have roadtrain doing 165 so dont tell me that i am full o lies becose iant and if i sore u i would so u .u suck so dont sit there and tell me i could not do 185 i f u proberly just got your tcket frow toll u work for the magot that have fucked transport and i bet you drive for shit pay to so dont wright shit like you dolike you intruduce your copper mate marty wot a dog you are i bet you tell coppers who are going to fast thanks
August 30th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Geez I’m glad that you’re only 29 Smokey.Hip hip hooray.
Aren’t I happy also Smokey,that I’m not in my previous employ.
If you’re too damn stupid or of very limited intellect to understand why … here it is!
1. I don’t think you have many enjoyable years left in this realm.
2. Pity help the other motorists on the road with you.
3. There wouldn’t be much left to scrap up so I hope you have plenty of identification.
4. You are a dead set IDIOT and an insult to all who drive heavy vehicles.
I really hope that the Authorities put you off the road before something happens.
I’d rather take heed of Westy,Chris,Indy,Ian B,Rod B and others before You mate. I think you’ve been sucking on the exhaust pipe far too long.
I’d tell you to go and get a lobotomy but I’m sure you’ve had one already.
You really should have an alternative profession Smokey.
Dave
August 31st, 2008 at 8:47 pm
You’re right Westy,but I don’t think Smokey will take this advice.
The general public do log on and see what’s on here.
For every step forward you,Chris and others make,along comes an IDIOT like “Smokey” and it’s 9 steps back.
It is bloody damn frustrating.
It’s great about Rod Hannify,I read a news article about him and Brendon Nelson and thought “here’s another bloke trying to better the Industry”.I have his “The Truckies On Road Code” and “The Truckies Top Ten Tips For Sharing The Road” on my desk at all times.He even put out a good article “Speed versus Safety” Which side are you on? bloody damn good read.
I talk to my family and anyone else who will listen on this subject many times over.
I kid you not … I’m thinking of getting his photo and writing on it “The Messiah of the Road” …. I think that he is tops in my book.
And you blokes are trying to do the same.
Maybe some day all this will be a memory and there will be better understanding between Motorists and Heavy vehicle drivers.
We will all be true blue “Professional”.
Dave
September 1st, 2008 at 8:13 pm
ok…Rhonda, great work, smokey in my opinion you’re an idiot, and Brian, no offence mate but irrespective of vehicle driven the difference of speed at 90km/h as compared to 100km/h is 6 mins per hour. To be held up by 30 mins you’d have to be driving constantly at 90km/h for 5 hours straight. Even on the hume you’re not going to be able travel for 5 hours. Tarcutta is 5 hours and already would’ve needed to slow for Woomargama(geez I hope that’s the correct spelling). For those who don’t know about that little town Albury is about 3.5 hours drive from Sunshine in Melbourne, and Woomargama is about 15-20mins north of Albury on the Hume. This town has 70km/h speed limit. So to say that car drivers are being held up at the next hill is a fallacy. Even the larger hills between Gilgandra and Coonabarabran usually have over taking lanes. If they don’t for example on the Piliga, it definitely doesn’t take 5 hours to climb those hills even at 60km/h. So any delay would only add approximately 30 seconds to 1 minute at the most to travel time. This being said; truck drivers also fall down here, so please don’t think I’m targeting cars, because I do see on occasions whereby trucks are to the opinion they have been held up - for whatever the reason - and then they start to engage in certain behaviour that has led to the conception of this site.
For those who claim I have a biased attitude, you’re right. I’m biased. Very Biased. I’m biased towards the protection of people. Be it cars, motorcyclists, truck drivers, or clydesdale pulling a cart drivers. There is no excuse in my mind for tailgating in ANY vehicle. There is no excuse for speeding, using drugs, or drinking whilst in control of ANY vehicle. I do realise that wasn’t your topic of conversation, but needs to be said.
I do apologise if I’ve left anyone else out, but have rambled on for quite enough.
Chris Cartwright
National Finalist Young Australian Truck Driver Competition, 2007.
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:55 am
Hey,I know Sunshine …. The wife likes the shopping centre there.
and that had better be the way you spell Woomargama or you’ll be in strife with ya bloody log book.
I don’t think ya are biased ! Ya whippersnapper.
Dave
September 11th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Wow, Smokey, 29 eh? You must’ve been driving trucks for, let’s see, about 8 years. I guess you must have learnt all there is to know by now. How nice it is of you to share your boundless knowledge on all things truck related. It is a privelage to have someone as learned as you in our midst! You seem to be ignorant of the fact that half of the guys that write on here have been driving trucks for as long as you have been breathing.
I am also 29, and whilst i like to think I am good at what I do, I wouldn’t be stupid enough to come on here and try to convince everyone that I know everything about this industry. Nor would I question any other contributors ability or siutability to do the job they do.
Might I offer you a small piece of advice. The people who contribute to this site do so because they care about what they do. They do so because they believe in what they do. They do so because they believe they can make the world a better place for everyone by making the roads a safer place to be. They do so to help everyone, including people like yourself. Your writing on this site reflects none of these qualities.
Wake up to yourself, monkey boy. People of our age are still learning what this job is all about. The guys who write on this site are probably your best source of information and learning to make you a better driver, and maybe a better person. Sure, we can all drive trucks,but to understand the physics of it is a huge factor in road safety. 185 in a B-Double? Glad I wasn’t there to see it! Do you have any idea of the consequences should something go wrong at that speed? Anyone who answers yes to that question, and then proceeds to do it anyway is suicidal and/or a danger to the broader community. You are just the sort of person this site aims to expose.
September 11th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
“i used to run of skeline at adooler85 in a fully loaded bouble and i am not a cowboy”
What would your definition of a cowboy be then, Smokey?
Next thing you’ll be telling us you have a degree in Advanced English from Oxford!
September 20th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
What a revelation!! If these cretinous truck drivers (know them by their language and attitudes to road safety) have ever successfully passed any written tests I would have to form the opinion that there’s a lot lacking in our education and transport systems. Surely it’s time to get all large trucks off our interstate highway system entirely and replace them with rail which is more efficient, safer and environmentally friendlier.
If there were no trucks on our roads those same roads would last virtually forever - cars have almost negligible effects on them.
If truckies don’t want to see that happen, they’d better take action NOW to clean up their own industry.
Congratulations to Lyndall and all the voices of sweet reason (also truckies) for what they’re trying to achieve. I fear it may be too little too late (given the quality of our political “masters” who are too concerned about their own superannuation and perks to actually do anything constructive about road carnage).
September 21st, 2008 at 9:37 pm
J Woodward, thank you for the comment of sweet reason[also truckies],Lyndal and crew try very hard to have a balanced view on this site. This is achieved through having general motoring public,truckies,truckies partners and family members getting together about their experiences and expectation of road safety.
Mate it is never too late.
The rail option has been discussed on here many times.
My preference is rail working in conjunction with heavy vehicular transport.
Keep up the posts on here.
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:28 am
Many thanks David Niven. I’m just one of the “general public” you’ve referred to. It’s obvious to anyone from Adelaide that a major reason for the carnage on Qld roads (at least) is lack of enforcement by the police who are probably constrained by their political masters. Most of the hoons (in cars) and criminally insane truckies wouldn’t last five minutes in Adelaide where the police would come down on them like a ton of bricks. That’s not to say that all is perfect in Adelaide, far from it, just that a greater police presence is needed in Qld. Plus more intelligent use of the available resources.
For instance, why do we see on the M1 at night multiple police cars chained up with flashing lights guarding road works? Surely a more effective use of these resources would be to let them loose (unmarked if possible) patrolling ALL stretches of the M1? That way, miscreants would never know when they were likely to encounter a police car.
And what’s the point of having roadworks and 80km signs if no-one is going to enforce them? Likewise for tailgating. On the M1 tailgating’s pandemic! And that raises another point. If everyone observed the “rule” of one car length for every 10 kph, the M1 would not be long enough to cater for all its traffic!! We’d have two choices: slow to a crawl or experience immediate and permanent gridlock!! In fact, the M1 is inadequate even in the current situation where MOST vehicles are tailgating. We can thank our politicians of all colours for that.
As for “100 speed limited” - I hadn’t fully realised it until I started using a GPS, but it’s becoming a rarity to find a large truck that IS obviously speed limited!!
I have had the unnerving experience on the M1 (when travelling at the speed limit)of having a speeding heavy truck come alongside and, while alongside, put on his indicators and start to move into my space. Only by dint of heavy braking was I able to escape being slaughtered! Yet another bullying cowboy (no doubt calling himself “professional”). I suppose I should have been grateful he even used his indicators - how sporting. But it’s not a game - people are losing their lives every day!
Little episodes like that, involving not only trucks but also the usual cretinous hoons in cars, make me extremely grateful to Lyndal and her supporters. I can’t wait to start lodging reports.
September 25th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
J Woodward, I’m a general public member myself.
Ex Qld Ambulance Service to be precise.
I hear what you’re saying!
Stay tuned to this site,new things ahead.
Appreciate your input as does Lyndal and other supporters on here.
Dave