Goodaye all, hope you had a Merry Christmas and wish you all a TRUCKING Good New Year. Got home Friday had a soft drink and burger with the RPT crew, upset the tyre fitter a bit as found four tyres for him to change and had to move the adblue tank back a bit now I have the 385 Michelin Multis on the front, but put new mudflaps on when I got home and had a family day yesterday. Soon off in a roadtrain to Port Augusta then north. Take care all and watch out for the Xmas road warriors. Cheers Rod.
Month: December 2022
Goodaye all, well home since Friday, but out tomorrow to Newcastle, double split to deliver Monday morning and then load for Mackay for Wednesday delivery, so might be home for Friday or Saturday. Did one radio interview for Christmas with my mate Mark from Yass FM Friday afternoon, a good half hour chat and have ABC Central West Monday and 2DU Dubbo Tuesday and will try for a couple more.
I have seen some Xmas messages from others in the media and hope people do listen and take heed. We like so many others, have work coming out of our ears and it is likely I will be back on the road Boxing Day, but will know next week. The one thing this means to all those who will have a good Christmas, is, “IT ALL CAME ON TRUCKS” and all we ask is for a bit of empathy and that you all drive as though those in the vehicles around you, are others in your family.
You would not cut off, abuse or risk your parents, your children or other family would you? So if you drive that way all the time, as though every vehicle around you has a member of your own family in it, then more people will make it home safe each day. Too often it seems we are all in a hurry, yes I too do at times want to be somewhere, but often the difference is I have not just the boss and the customer to please, the authorities will not simply give me a break and let me off if I need an extra ten minutes time to get to a decent place for a feed, a shower or a decent sleep. They will say tough, you are a professional driver and should have expected all the delays and idiots and roadworks and caravans and everything else and fine me merrily.
There is no doubt at times you cannot argue against road safety and I don’t mean when there is a real and perceived risk on the road, but some roadworks speed limits, distances and signage need to be both more realistic and truly reflect the risk. Two kilometres of 40 k zone when there is a culvert off the roadway being improved, but without anyone even on site, is not the same risk as 10 blokes working on the road fixing potholes. We must find the happy medium, yes protect roadworkers, but don’t simply put up signs (or simply never take the things down even when there is no one working there and the work is off the actual roadway) and slow traffic seemingly for the fun of it because you can.
That is when people ignore the signs. In the last week, I have seen both ends of the spectrum, signs and speedlimits way over the top and then come round a corner to find traffic stopped with very little warning and really, insufficient notice for fully loaded trucks at highway speeds. Even the rough surface signs are either used when the road they sign is not as bad as the bit before or after, or it is bloody dangerous. Maybe we need “REALLY this one is rough” signs too?
So to all on the road, have a terrific and Merry Christmas, a TRUCKING Good New Year and whilst I may well “speak” to you before then, it will depend on how much time at home over the short break. Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.
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12th December 2022
Goodaye all, so Orange on Monday morning was fun, “a” trailer in after dropping the “b” and back and forth on the phone, mostly on mute but able to listen and comment where needed, during most of the 90 minute meeting re rest areas with Transport for NSW. Two other NRFA members, plus some other industry people involved and I will say it is good to have them invite us, to have listened to the input and comments from two previous meetings I have taken part in and that there is much work planned and with this input, I do hope it will be worth the effort and wait.
Over to Forbes to load and through the village of Eugowra, what a terrible impact the floods had there, according to the radio, 80% of homes affected and as you travel towards there, you can see debris well over 2 metres up in trees in places. So many have been affected in so many places. Load and then into Melbourne and the detour for the Newell south of Forbes through Grenfell is as bad as the road from Eugowra and you wonder how long it will last?
Into Melbourne, unload and have a night off so could get the truck and trailers wheel aligned Wednesday morning, did an interview with Simon from Australian Truck Radio and another with Caravanning Qld towards some possible things in the future, then pick up truck and trailers and load and except for the more than normal traffic delays outbound, nothing else special, got the truck washed at King of the Road truckwash in Lavington, the first time they have seen the new truck and RPT 50 year trailers and they did a terrific job. Pushed through to Dubbo, only to have it shower when nearly there, damn, though it is cleaner still than it was.
Had plans for a few jobs on the trailers, before I left for Moura and Biloela but then new plans, leave my trailers and take another set to Brissie, did a delivery to a major DC and only waited an hour and a half, but had brekkie etc, back to the yard, hook up to another b trailer, out to Gatton, drop that b and pick up a b double, so a b triple home. Back into Dubbo Saturday morning, cleaned the turntable, trying to get a greasless for the b trailer, and home for another shot at the yard and watering etc.
But just sent an email to a number of people at Transport for NSW with some concerns, will see how that goes next week. Thought I would finish this Sunday morning and then send it, along with me off to work. But the power went out, (I believe it came back on after 3PM) I had to get on the road to Moura and then was going to finish it last night, but didn’t pull up till 1AM at Isla Gorge, so today it is, with me now back at Charlton. So that will do for another week, Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.
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4th December A visit to Dubbo
Goodaye all, short and sweet, loaded Townsville Thursday, down through the centre and home Saturday morning, couple of tyres and a quick truck service, then home and into work there to recover the yard etc. Finished late Saturday night, more today and off to Orange tonight to unload in the morning and take part in a phone hook up with Tpt for NSW on rest areas. Will be applying to be part of the Federal Funding for truck Rest Areas Steering Committee later this week.
Been awhile since I have been down from Charters Towers to Clermont, the first bit, red road is good, then it becomes narrow and in places, even narrower than many, but whilst the surface is rough in places, there weren’t anywhere near the number of holes and failures as nearly everywhere else I have been.
So done my column, blog now, then audiobooks page, one on the convoy, some friend requests, a video etc and still much to do, maybe next week-end will get to visit again.
Have had tea, now a shower, pack truck, out to yard and fuel and hook up and of to Orange to play, split the trailers to unload. The joys of trucking. Till next week, safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.
TRUCKRIGHT 