Comments on: “His four year old son has forgotten more about trucks then you could ever know.”

By: David Niven

David Niven — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 05:59:03 +0000

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

By: J Woodward

J Woodward — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:28:40 +0000

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.

By: David Niven

David Niven — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 11:37:48 +0000

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.

By: J Woodward

J Woodward — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 02:15:11 +0000

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).

By: Dave Whyte

Dave Whyte — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:53:27 +0000

“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!

By: Dave Whyte

Dave Whyte — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:41:24 +0000

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.

By: David Niven

David Niven — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:55:39 +0000

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

By: Chris(National Finalist YATD 2007)

Chris(National Finalist YATD 2007) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 10:13:59 +0000

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.

By: David Niven

David Niven — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 10:47:49 +0000

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

By: David Niven

David Niven — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 07:25:42 +0000

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