Goodaye all, a late start after an unusual Easter week-end home, the first full one for a long time that I can recall. Normally only get two days off. But then load Tuesday afternoon and was to be 8th in line by the time I got unloaded in Melbourne the next day, but the fellow at the first drop, after I backed in the b-double off the street, asked could a get a bigger truck for the next delivery, but as he was keen and into trucks, gave him a copy of Owner Driver to read.
Off to the second drop, this one undercover thankfully, chatted to the Finemores driver in front unloading after I noticed the width of the trailer tyres. When I checked them 305s and even 315s on the trailers and many mismatched, I wondered how they would go with kissing when loaded. A couple were on 9 inch rims, but it was the overhang on the 8and a halfs and the small gap that had made me look. When the driver saw me looking, he asked what was wrong and as I explained, he of course said, “We don’t touch them, it is all done by the tyre people” and I said I understood that and asked if he had met Ron.
He said yes, but I am a wee bit doubtful, slight language issue, but told him I knew him and hadn’t spoken with him for awhile, but drove tankers for him in the past. In to load, managed to mostly get done between showers, but round to get fuel and out and still into the Melbourne traffic outbound mayhem. Pretty much up on my weight, yet car drivers either want to race you, or baulk you and it was frustrating and when Mike Williams tooted the horn as he went past while I struggled to get up the hill towards the Shell, I asked could he sort the idiot in the ute who dawdled at the bottom.
We then chatted till BP Barmedman, had some tea and finished off as I turned off to Wagga and he headed north to his planned parking bay for the evening. We covered many topics and books and radio and even the topic of this blog, NHVR checkweighing.
As of Tuesday the 4th April, NHVR weighbridges, both Half Way Creek and both sides at Daroolbalgie between Parkes and Forbes will be left open and turned on for us to checkweigh. This comes from me asking the NHVR to do this in December, when I rang to ask why Broadford was now closed and gated, was told they were waiting for parts (still it seems) and why were most NSW bridges once done up, closed and gated? I was asked to send an email outlining my reasoning etc, Sal then announced a trial would commence in April at the NRFA conference in February and here we are.
Vicroads have done it for some time, TMR leave the ones at the Port of Brisbane, though the inbound was not working last time I went in and why not NSW? This is a trial, if there is any stupidity or vandalism (yes there will be cameras for this, not for watching your weights and this is absolute and guaranteed) and if successful, others could be opened up for use as well. I did stop and use the northbound Daroolbalgie that night, had one other driver say he had heard of it but the lights on may make some think they were operating etc and I rang t5he NHVR the next day to both suggest a sign where the normal Open/Closed Led signs are saying “Weigbridge available for self check when closed” and that the 80 k speed reduction be turned off and only one when NHVR operating there and they are looking at these now.
A simple thing to help us, yes some cost to them in setting up the overhead scale readout etc, but well worthwhile and I thank them for the speed and effort to get this up and running. If only other fixes were as well accepted and could be achieved as easily!!!
Went through to Brissie the next day after getting a couple of tryes done, odd wear, but maybe from the broken U bolt I had found previously and then got fixed thanks to a very helpful trucking operator in Moree. Water over the road at Mungle Back Creek south of Bogga, but all cars and truck through single file, but it was closed for the return. More water over the road north of Wyaga Creek and I heard both roads were closed Friday, so home via the New England, Inverell and Moree. See many of the green reflectors on that road have been replaced, but with much smaller (too small I reckon) ones and so another issue to follow up. Off now to unload in Wagga tomorrow morn and round we go again. Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.
PS thanks to Shane Oliver for finding the “I am a Volvo trucker” video, have a look here. Go to Youtube “Volvo trucks gear 14” will bring it up (the URL or link is too long to put in here) and let me know what you think? Have you ever (ignoring the VOLVO everything advertising) seen a better industry video? If so let me know. I have wanted to do something like this for years, but it all takes time and money.
TRUCKRIGHT 