Goodaye all, short and sweet this week, had a bugger of a week with some mechanical issues. What started as a simple we will get to it soon problem, thought it was fixed during service Saturday morning, but became a bigger one affecting something else. Suffice to say, two days lost and finally the problem came from fixing the first problem. Ended up a short week, late out Monday, then after another go Wednesday, eventually going into Sydney as a single, loaded out Thursday evening, had a reasonable run in the traffic, slept just out of Mudgee, some good (not) bumps, and holes and defects on that road, back into Dubbo Friday morn, unhook to head home, then a call back from Trangie, yes we can unload you if you come out. So hook up again, out to deliver and home after lunch Friday.
Been working on the garden and the lawn inbetween in and out of the heat, watched a movie or two, tidy the garage and shed and took it easy. Back on the road tomorrow. Safe Travelling, Rod.
Goodaye all, a visit back to Dubbo where I was missed by all or not. On the road, northbound to Mackay last week, an idiot who nearly committed suicide by overtaking when he could not see the road, had I not been already moving over, there would not have been enough room to get back in, a mate called up on my way back through Rocky and said ”Have you seen the lousy job (he was more savage) they did on the rest area opposite the Ampol in Rocky,” they have spent hundreds of thousands and halved the capacity, no wonder we struggle to find places to park. I had rang and put in a complaint about that and every red light through Rocky on my way north, but when stopping there on the way south, find they have stuffed up that side as well. None out of three TMR.
Then coming home in the rain through the one roundabout on a major highway (yes looking forward to the Gympie bypass and wonder what truck parking they included, oh sorry, silly me) had some fool in the requisite dark clothing, no lights and pushing his pushbike on the roadside, scarred the crap out of me when I saw him emerge from the dark.
Home Friday afternoon after a drive tyre rotation and fill the Groeneveld autogreaser, meet the new boss at Inland Trucks Dubbo, out for a service Saturday morning, do some little jobs, then home to catch up on the yard since have been away for a bit. All done, near caught up, only ten more things to do this week, load in the morn for Brissie, add some audiobooks and Copy Southbound bits to the thumb drive and away again tomorrow. Till next time, Safe Travelling, Rod.
Goodaye all, cool now, had tea, found the rubbed wire on front lights, bit of a flicker last night, did a quick fix but needs a tidier solution later, moved the hose crossmember after I pulled the toolbox apart to get the sockets and then it rained, just after, so that was OK. Been warm and muggy here in Mackay, but the Icepack has kept me cool and comfortable, even had a kip waiting for the sun to go away and do those jobs.
Starting in Melbourne, was thinking might end up a short week, went via Dubbo for a service, only due an A, had thought B so expected some time there, but sticker marked wrong, all good. Started on the front diff weep and play, nearly done and broke a bolt and start again, then still had to do two trailer relines, so thanks Dave for being there later than you planned and I got away late and made it to Gundi pads.
Into Toowoomba to unload, into Brissie to load and back out to Gundi again. Had the wrong phone number on the paperwork, lucky had the right one on the other bit and had a plan for the morning. Had a magnificent lightning show on the way out, had been pretty good on the way up from home and that led to an early call in the morning. I had been due to deliver to a farm, they had rain and whilst they reckon I would have got in and out, it could have left a mess if I managed not to get bogged, so unload in town.
Started running then, when empty back into Warwick for a pick up, into depot in Brissie and unload and remove my mezz floors as trying to fit a big load. Off to load bulk DG headed for Sydney and try to reload Friday by 2 for Mackay. Got the weights right first go, a bloody miracle, even had enough room for adblue and a bit of fuel, only 100kg to spare on back tri and off. Told Sydney depot in by noon, please check loading time.
Made it past Taree, to bed, rang in the morning, have told load point you will be there between 3 and 4 and no kick back, so should be OK. Lets hope I thought and off again. Into the depot, delivery points not suited to doubles and no time to deliver either, two forks and three yardies ripped it off, fuel and running to Newcastle and got there 2.40, load and off again. Nice tea at Moorlands and then made it using my EWD allowed extra few minutes to Coomera and to bed.
A less stressed sleep, think I have enough time from here, visited family near Rocky and into Mackay after marking a green reflector bay at an old servo site 104 k south of Sarina. Made it in with a few litres to spare, check emails shower and bed. Do paperwork this morn, more emails and stuff, lunch read and kip and the jobs above and now this and audiobooks, then bed and unload in the morning.
As per photo, you will see why mine are bent, but I want a reasonable one to cut up and when the new trailers come this year, will replace these two if I can, so if you have one laying around, please give me a call. So the week turned out Ok for k’s, not so good for home, hopefully next week-end. Need to do couple more jobs, so till next week, Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.
Goodaye all. A TRUCKING good new year to you all and I hope you had a good Christmas. Yes I mostly worked through, was back on the road Boxing Day and again New Years Day, did take a bit of a break from this and trucks for a few days each time, enjoyed the change of pace and time with family and watched the local fireworks from the top of the hill with some family and then the Sydney fireworks by myself.
I am now stuck in Melbourne for the week-end. Loaded from Dubbo Thursday with no confirmed load out, thinking positive, then had a plan, but it fell through and now should load Monday, but two trucks in front of me, one of the drivers here keeping me company and fed, (Thanks Rick). Friday afternoon with no calls for a load, we picked up some parts from Kenworth for Dubbo, chased some bits for my radar which had gone missing and they will now be in for pickup Monday I hope. Bought a broom to wash the truck, (then heard the weather forecast for rain Monday onwards, so that lost its gloss a bit, might do just the inside) checked out the parked trucks for ideas, then did some shopping for tea and the week-end.
Our local driver had already invited Rick for tea Saturday as he was likely to stay over and then added me in, Thanks Dave. Have done my column for Owner Driver, caught up on social media, caught up with my Audiobooks for the road page and had a shower ready for the evening.
Listening to the news, they were saying immigration has been one of the biggest factors for the year and RPT like so many other companies have some overseas drivers, mostly from India, but one or two from elsewhere as well. Dave picked us up and we went and visited his younger brother who has one truck working local, then the oldest brother who has 5 on local in regional Victoria, not far from Melbourne.
A bit of a barbie, a couple more Indian friends dropped over, then out to an Indian restaurant for tea. So two Aussies with five Indians and it was a completely new experience for me. I have spoken with individuals, both our drivers and others on the road and we all know that there has been some angst with how some overseas drivers get their licenses in the past. There has been serious changes to the loopholes that allowed people to “buy” a license and we now have the start of an apprenticeship scheme for new drivers, even if it is only in two states so far. I was just reading of the same issues in Canada, where they started a program which cost $10,000 to get a truck license and whilst it was a good plan, there have been failures to properly police it. There is always someone keen to find a way round things unfortunately.
I asked some questions of the group, each had a different story, all agreed they came here to have a better life for themselves, some still have family at home in India and will bring them once they complete their requirements to allow them to bring family. The one thing I have said all along, is I don’t care where people come from, as long as they are properly and correctly trained to our standards for licensing (and that is under review now as well) rather than simply given a license. I believe some still do retain and use an international license, and if not tested in any way, I see that as a problem for all.
The other part and the oldest brother says his son has told him, being born here, he is an Australian and speaks Punjab, but does not write it, is when anyone comes here to what they believe will be a better place for them and their families to live, they become a part of the country, instead of a separate group within and that can be hard for them to do at times and hard for some of us to support it seems. I hope to keep in touch and learn more from them all and have wished them well in this beautiful place in which we all live.
I have just got a call, have a load for tomorrow, but maybe in the afternoon and looking and listening to the rain, maybe then I won’t get soaked loading if I’m lucky. Till next time, Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.
TRUCKRIGHT 