24th April 2024 A day in Adelaide and now a week-end in Melbourne.

Goodaye all, after last week-ends exciting stay at Pheasants Nest, I unloaded at Lovalls Transport in Sydney Monday morning. Got in the gate, parked, told I had to swing round and back in, so reversed a bit from where I was to get the swing and this older gent in nearly a suit had been walking up the driveway behind me, was waving at me and guiding me back. Then I started to move forward and he was still waving, so I stopped and he came up to the door and said “Mr Pilon, a nice looking rig there” and I said, “No, not Rod Pilon, the other Rod” and then as I moved up and backed in, he again was guiding me back and after I parked he came up again and said” Well done, you should come and show some of these young blokes how to do it, many of then swing too hard”. He said he would take my paperwork and I could start to open up.

Then another fellow turned up and asked for my paperwork and I said, “The older fellow took it, is he the owner” and the bloke shook his head and went to walk away, but said, “Yes he is and we call him Hurricane” and I hope that is taken well and affectionately, please. So again, ready to leave and the old fellow comes back and says, “Do you want a coffee or need the loo?” and I said yes to both and followed him. When I had made my coffee, I told him I was going to write about him and he said, “No don’t write about me” but I explained it was the nicest welcome I had ever received from another transport company owner in 20 years.

Yes, some others know of me and or the truck and will comment, but he didn’t know of me personally, but was just an affable gentleman who obviously enjoys working in road transport. His green mostly Volvos I think, always look good running containers around Sydney and geez, if I was looking for a job there, simply meeting him and how he treated me, would be enough to have a look at working there, but I am happy here, just not quite as happy this week-end.

So back to the yard, told maybe a load tomorrow, then no, off to Ingleburn now to load with another driver going as well in front of me. Double split and then screw the wheels off the trailers to turn and back in and load, but did it empty and we took turns loading the two b-doubles together helping each other and then headed off. Quick stop at Marulan, (how can they call that broken concrete a highway) and on to Gumley Gumley where I stopped at the Ampol, only to find no kitchen anymore. Come on AMPOL, when you were Caltex you closed every kitchen in your truckstops and it seems you are going to stay that way now you are the “Australian” fuel company. Who delivers all your fuel for you, all the goods you sell in your truckstops, not the bloody car drivers, so why will you not cook us decent meals?????????????????

A wee bit of fun unloading the next day, we had rang and confirmed there at 7, only to get there and no one home. I had waited at Gumly Gumly BP (and as I said on the Nightshift earlier that morning, “Yes I know costs have gone up, but $30 for rissoles is too dear for me”) in case there was not enough room to park and or even get it. Seems another truckie from another place, ignoring our two trucks parked outside, parked straight in the closed gateway and thought he was first. Not so said our fellows who then rang me once the right bloke turned up. Funny how the bloke I spoke with on the phone on the way down and said yes, there at 7, was either not the correct fellow or did not tell the correct fellow who when he did turn up, had asked about going to the unload point to be told, no, you have to do this delivery first and he was halfway to Albury when we had rang again when no one arrived by 7.30.

Anyway, I ended up fourth behind the other fellow, got in unloaded and headed to Melbourne to get loaded. In and out and off to Condo, but went to bed at Gidginbung near Temora, then out to unload and back to load, booked in at 3 and rang an hour out saying I was a bit early, but come on down, gee thanks. Load and off to Adelaide stopping at Underbool. I must say having been across this way a few times now, the spacing and number of truck bays is welcome. Either a little town or village, most it seems with toilets left open for travellers and us I hope, few truckstops with them, but one or the other nearly every 15 to 20 minutes. Yes a few spots that could use some green reflectors, but the first couple of times pushed for time to make a timeslot and by the time you see them, not knowing them that well, too late to try and stop.

I did park there in the silo area, but out of the way and no complaints, grabbed a coffee at the van in the main street and off to Adelaide. I had rang a mate there and we had planned tea and a softdrink at his place, but he rang and was loading to go to Melbourne, bugger. getting in 3Pm Anzac Day. Had planned some shopping, but the shopping center I had seen and thought I could park near, did not have a supermarket, bugger, again. So to the BP. Unloaded in the morning, nothing yet, go and have breakfast I was told, but went walking looking for some grommets for the taillight bar. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a large grommet? I walked the streets, tried about 8 businesses and in the last, yes where I should have started you clever lot, UES had the last 45mm grommet in Australia, or so he reckons, so bought a couple of others, then another mate rang having seen the truck at the BP and I got a lift back with another customer after I asked was he going past the BP, thanks mate.

Got there, had another driver I had spoken to years ago turn up as well, then rang, still nothing, so thought I would have a kip and be ready to load and run home I had hoped. Not so and well here I sit in Melbourne after sitting in Adelaide for a day, I got here before lunch and went and bought a few shiny nut covers and then started on the truck. Worked till dark, then started on emails and stuff, then read and bed.

Up this morning and into the cab, cleaned inside the headlight covers, no wonder so many blokes take them off, I must try to the rubbers on the top edge again unless any of you have a better suggestion? Now into this, audiobooks and what the heck, I have done the first in the TRUCKIE TUESDAY COURTESY CAMPAIGN video series and put it up on Tik Tok. Search safetravelling and let me know what you think. Till next week at TRUCKFEST, Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.

7th April 2024 NHVR Checkweighing.

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 8^th 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 4^th 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.

11th February 2024

Goodaye all, sorry for last week, had a fairly busy Saturday and left after 8 AM Sunday morning so my normal blog window was lost. Got over to load after a two hour trip, but then the truck in front had loaded and the forkie later apologized saying he had not scanned the load and it all had to come off a van and then be scanned and reloaded. Funny how the first day of the week can have such an impact. So out later, into Melbourne to find roadworks, different stories on the UHF about the Burnley tunnel, got there, yes was open, but had a detour at the far end sending trucks off to try and avoid low bridges.

We all pulled up, traffic qued for miles, I directed traffic and got most of the cars around, trucks off to the side and the fellow at the front had spoken with the traffic controller after the first one had no clue and we were told in 15 minutes, we would all be escorted through the one open lane in the roadworks, excellent. That lasted 5 minutes till someone else said no, so all of us had to do a sharp right and go back through tunnel and go off at King Parade and then find our way from there.

A sign at the start of the tunnel saying “Find Alternate Route” when you are already there is not good enough. I simply went out Dandenong Road to Oakleigh and we will come back to that. All the way out I could hear drivers asking how to get here or there and I hope no one got badly lost or stuck. I had looked at my delivery address and it looked like an industrial type area, but when I got there with another loop to avoid a wild b-double unfriendly bit, I found the street had houses down the other side, so no parking there. Ah, a roundabout ahead, MMM this looks a bit tight, made it round with at least 6 inches to spare using the road, the gutter and the footpath a bit, then lucky it was cool enough not to need the Icepack, and to bed to be rocked by speeding cars all night.

Up, walk in, no you could have come in earlier, thanks a lot, wait and unload and back to Altona. On the way, rang Vicroads, the roadworks, insufficient signage and detours not suitable for large trucks was a problem, “Not us, that is the “Big Dig” roadworks, I will pass you on, thanks. No, not us, that is Vicroads, no they said it is you, no then it is Citylink and I’ll pass you on and they would not even answer the phone. I did ask the first two to follow up either way and of course, have not heard back. I then rang the VTA to see if they were aware and they too were to follow up.

Weights and roads there were another issue I will ignore here for now, but did detail to Vicroads too. Loaded and out, made it back to Tomingley for radio and had Sal Petrocitto, the CEO of the NHVR on the radio taking calls for an hour and a half, did a little longer myself, then to bed and later back to Dubbo where I was due to load later that night for Sydney.

Another driver went AWOL and they ended up loading me back to Melbourne, but now on a mission, thankfully roadworks done at tunnel and nearly made it to Dandy only three minutes overtime and found only one spot left in a road filled with trucks and trailers, all local it seems as they were gone in the morn. Again, paperwork had said delivery after 9 and that suited my arrival time, drove in then and they said, no open at 6, so maybe next time.

Back to Altona for another drop and load to again as had a plan to be in Shepparton for the NRFA AGM Friday night and conference Saturday, so on a mission now. Load again, for Dubbo, out and made it back to Tomingley again, but only two minutes overtime this morning. Got a shower there, sleep and into Dubbo, unload and fuel and out again to reload where I started Sunday. Happy forkie there, loves my truck as I load it different to others (not) then “That’s another of your drivers, he doesn’t have a clue”. Sorry, not one of ours, we don’t have any Volvos. Loaded, grab paperwork after an exchange with the stop go man out the front, then the dispatcher says, “That bloke, first trip, does not know what weight he can carry, then wanted to argue he had to take 34 pallets and would not listen or understand, they would not load it and let him out overweight”. Yes he was an overseas gent and how can anyone be sent out to load without a clue. I did think back to the first time I ever loaded there, told the forkie it was my first time there, but knew what weight I could load and gross etc. What a world we live in now. OK so getting tired now and much to do and tell, so will do a midweek update just to keep you all in suspense about the conference. Till then, Safe travelling, Rod Hannifey.

20th December 2023 Merry Christmas and a TRUCKING Good New Year.

Goodaye all, last week started late due to getting the front diff seal done, so I loaded Tuesday for Brissie, got held up getting away so I could take another driver up with me and then I was running all week to keep up. A few glitches and issues, mostly outside my control, brought a b-triple back southbound, and was then to take one north, but the drops planned and the time was a bit keen, so back up as a double and do some drops down the Gold Coast, get loaded and then decided to stay Friday afternoon and attend Brisbane depot Xmas dinner, thanks all for an interesting evening.

Back to the yard for a kip and off early Saturday morning, but had still not heard back from farmer I was delivering to. Rang again from Gundy, found the farm was out of town a bit, but he knew I was coming and was waiting for me. Got there at noon, unloaded and headed back to Dubbo, had tried to ring the depot for plans for that afternoon to load and go again Sunday evening, but got back to the yard, no paperwork, no freight and no answer on the phone, so went home.

Rang again Sunday morning, first no answer, then rang other partner in crime and was told, “No the freight never got unloaded, you are loading tomorrow morning” which was OK, more time to finish the yard etc, but I did wonder whether it would lead to another week like the last. It didn’t, but by Sunday evening, I was musing and thinking, bugger, the blog will have to wait, with a plan for Monday evening, but it was then near midnight when I got into Melbourne after finding and visiting a place I had never heard of to do a delivery and managing to pick up something just before they went home, only to have to back 500m back up the dead end street, but all good fun.

Did some local loads in Melbourne Tuesday morning for over the break for other drivers to pick up, then loaded for Sydney and got in this morning to split trailers and go and get wet doing the deliveries. They weren’t happy to see me either, the yard was about to be shut for their Christmas party, but got the “A” trailer unloaded and made a plan for them to ring me when ready for the B. Done and back to the yard to clean all the turntables and skidplates, doing the b-triple meant I had to grease the back skidplate which then dirtied the turntable and in pissing rain in the yard today, I had to move the B ASAP for another driver to get his load, so could only give it a scrape off.

Onto plan D or E, not sure now, but loading tomorrow morn and then home and off Boxing Day to central Qld and all ready have to reload out of Brissie, head back to Dubbo and then deliver on the 2^nd and load in Melbourne on the 3^rd, so it is all planned. We will see what happens next.

Trip up the Hume in the rain last night, heard little on the UHF except abuse of someone doing the wrong thing. From where I sit, it was mostly bravado and bullshit. None of the “Mate, that wasn’t the best choice” or such, it was abuse form the start and I can’t help but feel it only helps the abuser think they have made things better. I doubt they have and if anyone else would agree with them.

So in the spirit of the season, I have been doing my own, “Ring a mate for Christmas” campaign as I have done for many years. But we have got the NRFA involved and should have something out this afternoon. So if you have a mate you haven’t heard from or spoken to in a while, give them a call and check how they are going and wish them all the best for Chrissy and a TRUCKING Good New Year. Some I have spoken to have been very thankful for the thought and the call and of course, I have also spoken to most of the TIV supporters as well.

Certainly had some idiots in Sydney in the rain, all within a few minutes, no one can wait or will look first it seems. Yes we are all in a hurry, but it is too late after the event when you have messed up.

I will see what happens Saturday evening, may do a blog, but if not, may I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a TRUCKING Good New Year. Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.