26th November 2023 Castlemaine Truckshow visit.

Goodaye all, I write this starting Friday night at the Castlemaine truck show, first time here, got truck washed in Melbourne Thursday (and had already spent an hour or two replacing the mudflap I tore off in a mine site last week where they cut the unloading yard in half), long traffic delays to out near Dandy then spent hours cleaning it and getting rid of streaks and tidying. Got loaded early Friday morning and then got my trailer curtain fixed and of course, thinking I might be lucky getting out early, then it rained from just out of Melbourne and is again now, when the fellow on the gate said they haven’t had rain here for months.

Had a trio of Sydney drivers who have driven down for the week-end chatting, one telling me he is over the industry and then of course, asking why I and we have not fixed all the industries problems. I am sure many of you are just as frustrated and cynical and with good reason. Had a lady ring me from Transport for NSW wanting to discuss using truck rest areas. Now she had asked about seeking input from listeners to Truckie Tuesdays and I started to detail how many drivers are over answering the same questions time and again, to see nothing change. She has come very green into this and yes all intentions we hope are good, but will they listen? I of course then proceeded to try and explain the cynicism of many and why, offered her a trip in the truck to see it from our perspective, which of course she will need to gain approval for etc, and an hour later, left her with homework to read.

I plan to finish my response to the NTC HVNL Review RIS (and would respectfully ask how many of you have made the effort?) this week-end and again, many of you may well say, “What is the point, they never listen.” Yes it looks daunting, yes it is not easy and will take some of your time, yes they have not fixed it all yet, but how often do we have a chance to change how we are treated? There are some good things put forward in this RIS and they are asking what you want and why and what impact it could have. But if only ten drivers respond (and yes, I doubt it will be even that many) will you be surprised when the NTC say, “Well it seems few could be bothered, so we will do what we think is best” and so how much of the change we need, do you think will get through?

Submissions were due to close Friday 24^th, but they will accept a late one if you call or email and ask, as I and it seems some other government and industry bodies have done. Will it fix everything, no. Could it fix some things, yes. Will all the drivers who did nothing and then I truly hope, actually see some real and valuable changes next year, thank those who put hours and hours of effort, time and phone calls in to see this happen? What do you think?

There was a young bloke here, washing the chassis rails of his work truck. A family outfit with nice gear and it was refreshing to see a keen young bloke making the effort. I wished him well in the show and on the road. We certainly need some new young blood in the industry and just maybe with the HVNL changes, if we have some sort of win there and then the “Closing the loopholes Bill” fixes some more long standing industry issues, then we might be able to attract young people in. What is the one reason your kids have not followed you into transport (unless they have and still love it) or what is the one reason you think young people shy away and what can or will you do to see that changed?

Thanks and well done to any and all who took part in the Closing the Loopholes Convoys around the country. We have to be seen and we have to agree on what we want and why. Another driver at the truckshow said, “We can’t blockade and few listen, how do we get heard?” My answer was unless we all agree on what we want and have someone nominated to speak for us all and then back them, the government will not listen. Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.

19th November 2023

Goodaye all, an even slower start to the week, Monday visit work and unload b-trailer, do a burn, back to yard for services for all three bits of gear, found the airleak on the b, an air bag, so booked for replacement Tuesday morning with some tyres, but now truck wanted a burn, mmmm. Checked and did burn, all good, off home.

Back in morn, wants a burn, go and load, airbag and tyres all done, back, check codes, do a preburn check, rev the ring out of it, harsh but that is what it does. Looks like a sensor, get it done in Brissie, OK, Brissie called, have you left, no, can you bring a dolly and that made it late out, bugger from such a good start.

Got to Southbrook, stand up as couple of green reflector posts and to bed, then Wednesday morn into Brissie and unload at depot so I could load in time at Narangba, only to get there and have liquid leaking out. Thought it a hose, so worried about hot water, move up to strap and put cab up, only to find it had gone white, so adblue leak. Off to Cummins, found adblue problem, maybe a design thing, to follow up, then check, replace sensor, do a real burn and roadtest. Whilst waiting, I did my paperwork, checked emails etc, thinking just a sensor replacement might be a couple of hours, silly me. After some time, I had decided to try and kip, though my tea and shower gear in raised cab, so no can’t get it, but head down and then of course, done now, so kip outside to finish off break and up early and off to the Castle.

Stopped and had bit more of a kip before daylight at Halfway Creek, in and unload and round to Beresfield for more kip as I could not then load till Friday morn. Rang, ready to load at & as planned, yes, didn’t even get to start the truck, called back, no, 3 or 4 hours delay. Rang at 10.30, going for walk, when now, at least another 2 hours, mmm.

Finally in to load round lunchtime, do you know you have two drops? No. Yes. Thanks. The second drop is still being made and the bloke last week got the same deal, well thanks again. Are they open Saturday, yes till 6PM, well tnhat might be hard considering the time out of here and where they arew, but we will see. Do I have a phone number and will you let them know I am coming, yes and yes, thanks.

Nearly made it to Surat, time for bed up in the morn and complete hours to Injune and wait for Hubfleet to catch up. Did some little tidying jobs, and off again. Rang mine from Emerald, what time you there till and did you know I was coming? I leave at 5.30, but there will be someone else here. Thanks, I hope to be in between 6 and 6.30 your time. Barely hung up, sorry no one will be here after me tonight. That will spoil things a bit for me then, OK will keep trying and see. Rang back again, yes there will be sorry. All good, thanks for your help.

Could not quite make it, had to stop at Moranbah for 15 minutes, still in just after 6.20, finding someone took nearly as much time as unloading, short forks, wide frame and reasonable weight, but sorted, then as yard had been cut in half, had to back up and tore off a mudflap, damn, another job to do at home, but I had planned to shorten them a bit and due for a new pair, so will do both soon.

Into Paget, fueled up, had some tea and to bed on the dirt, all full again. Up this morning and pulled dash apart looking for squeak, not a rattle, but a rubbing of plastic. Found stuff in there not secured, sorted that, zip tied some more bits, jammed in a cut up stubby cooler and see how that goes tomorrow. Lunch, started my away week-end, children ring around, 2 to ring me back yet, check emails and “speak” to you all. No sure of tomorrows plans, will get the surprise in the morning after unloading. Till next week, Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.

12th November 2023

Goodaye all, left Dubbo Sunday, unloaded Newcastle Monday, then waited for a call re a load. Yes we do have a load for Mackay (I had asked if we did, to be able to attend my brother-in-laws funeral in Rocky) so over to load and out that afternoon and into Rocky Tuesday afternoon. Yes it is good to finally have the area opposite the Caltex done up and repaved, but shock horror, looks like it will end up smaller than before and of course, that’s what we need isn’t it, smaller bays with less spaces for trucks to park?

Good space, but no facilities at the roundabout coming in from the west but not from the south, even less coming in from the north and so with advice from a local mate, stopped at the Kabra pub. Good food, plenty of parking, though in the dust and dirt, but I parked out the front, did explain why I was there and offered to move the truck, but they were Ok with it and after tea had a shower in the block out the side. Had to look to find the light switch, the stockcrate driver who used it before me did it in the dark as he couldn’t find it, but it was still better that no shower or those supplied by TMR etc, funny that.

Stayed in the truck that night, picked up by family next morning, went to the funeral and after, had one softdrink and off to Mackay to get the last spot at BP Paget. Put in yet another gentle and respectful complaint about the bowsers not locking on (though the bloke who fueled up beside me was pretty pissed saying it hasn’t changed and no one gives a flying etc) and of course, it is not BP’s place to supply truck parking to all, but when the authorities won’t and yet expect us to comply with their rules, then who should.

No council should be able or allowed to approve any site, whether for a manufacturing, commercial or retail site, if it does not provide parking for employees or customers, that is how it is supposed to work no. Yet how can they put a truckstop with a signed Rest area inside and yet provide only 5 truck bays? Yes I have raised it with BP, TMR, NHVR etc etc and they are all sick of hearing it from me, but like anything else, if only one person complains they are simply a whinger and will and can be safely ignored.

I had not only spoken with another driver about the roadworks signs still in place with no work happening, or the other side where it was completed south of Banana and given him the number, I even stood up one Stopping Bay sign and took photos of others still laying in the grass, are they just too lazy and will keep mowing over and round them? Yes I got slack and will have to do that tomorrow direct with TMR, but will admit to a lot of frustration. If they put the bloody signs back up, I would not have to stop and mark the site with green reflectors.

Then on the way home at a site south of Sarina, opposing truck bays both sides of the road, big black skidmarks where someone has seen them at the last second, no signs what so ever and when I remarked both with green reflectors, laying in the culvert is the old guidepost with the reflectors still on it. First I can’t get them to put them up, then I can’t get them to replace them, then they simply don’t care and I am getting sick of seeing guideposts replaced and the old ones simply left in the grass etc. WHY IS IT SO???

Getting cranky now, so will go and apply some Swiftgrow to the fruit trees and grass and take some Nature B and hope to calm down before work tomorrow. Safe Travelling, Rod.

5th November 2023

Goodaye all, four legs for the week, plus a changeover from Melbourne to Wagga and back Monday night, clean the turntable again, NRFA monthly Board meeting with NTC presentation on the RIS, asking drivers on the “Nightshift” to respond to the NTC HVNL RIS, had a couple contact me for details and have started mine.

Home Friday in time to fit new Michelin 385/65 Multi Z Energy tyres to the steer, got 185,500 from the first 385 Michys and still had plenty of tread, but worn down a bit on the edges. Had the steer wheel alignment checked a couple of weeks ago when the trailers were done after rebushing and it was out!! I am sure you are all shocked, that with the terrific roads we have, at least according to Transport for NSW in their oral Inquiry response, the Hansard record I read, when asked about the roads they said they were OK. Me thinks many of us disagree.

I am asking our workshop manager to make up a folder of damage to our trucks and just to show I am not biased against NSW, rang TMR on 131940 after 5 out of six red lights on the Cunningham Highway between Yelarbon and Gundi Thursday night. At two of them, sat and watched traffic only 200 metres away, watching me waiting. Yes we want the road fixed, yet at the first light, there were patches completed that already had repairs to them, there were failures beside those repairs and I asked for some sensor lights. I explained there were many trucks grossing 60 tonne and well over, using lots of fuel and brakes and losing time for each set and imagine the frustration doing it at night, with no other traffic at times.

I rang Thursday night and left my name and number and did get a call back Friday coming into Dubbo. It was a fellow I had dealings with about this road previously, he did eventually get the corner south of Yelarbon fixed after me chasing that for over 5 years and he has moved on and is now involved with the flood repair work. Yes the time can be up to 15 minutes lost, that was not being exceeded, yes they would love to do long stretches, but can’t under the current rules, yes they want them fixed and properly and those patches not up to standard will have to be redone. Yes they will check the timing of the lights to make sure it is not overset.

I did say I understand if you can’t see the oncoming traffic and they want a time overlap to ensure traffic does not come at you, but when you can see them at such a short distance, why should we all be sitting there, we all have much better things to do. Barmedman hole nearly done, signs still on the Gap, but going soon I hope. A couple more green reflectors north of Wagga, a couple more to do close to Dubbo.

Wrote and sent in a list for Rural Roads Minister meeting, wrote and sent in to the inquiry a piece about hitting 70 in NSW and having to do both a yearly medical, ok with that, but you either have to hand in your MC and go down to HC or do a yearly driving test, supplying a b-double as well, to keep it. No wonder we can’t keep drivers who may have millions of ks on the road and want to do the odd trip, keep their hand in or help a mate etc.

Off to Newcastle later this afternoon and hoping for a trip to central Qld Monday as brother-in-law passed away last week and funeral in Rocky Wednesday. He drove buses for many years, then trucks and his son drives now. We will see.  A day in the yard, a visit to new granddaughter with youngest son and now to get ready for work. Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.