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  • Yelta
    replied
    Originally posted by Ol_Grumpy View Post
    This thread and it's topic is very close to my heart...

    You see on Sept 1, 1967 my father John William Nicholls paid the ultimate price to get a full Front Page Photo on Melbourne's "The Sun" newspaper.
    The Headline was "Horror Smash: Driver Burnt Alive" And the photo was the charred, burnt and tortured wreckage that was barely recognisable as a vehicle of any description.
    My father's name is one of many engraved on the Australian Truck Drivers Memorial at Tarcutta, and can be searched on the Memorial Website.

    Please let me share with you my earliest childhood memory...
    I am awoken in the middle of the night by unfamiliar deep rumbling voices and the footsteps of heavy boots walking down the hall. Awake, but unsure, I creep out of my bedroom and tip- toe down the hall to the kitchen where I can hear my mothers voice and other deep rumbling men's voices, I do not recognise.
    As quietly as a mouse I peer through the shard of light cutting between the door and the door jamb. I catch a glimpse of two large burly blue police officers...

    In that instant I am knocked to the floor by the most grotesque and inhuman screams I have ever heard in my life. I have no idea of what's happening but I am more scared than I've ever been in my life and I scurry back to the safety of my bed and bury myself under the covers- in my "safe cave"...

    To this day, there are some nights where this sound awakens me from a deep sleep and I sit bolt upright in a cold sweat....

    So, yes I believe I am uniquely qualified to comment on this thread.

    Firstly, whether it's a pushbike, motorbike, car, truck or bus- all road users have the same equal right to use and share that roadway. A little more tolerance by all road users would go a long way.

    Secondly, to those who criticise trucks on the road- let me ask you, "Have you ever driven a heavy truck on the road?" I have. In my twenties I worked for a mining company and amongst other duties I was responsible for floating (moving) around the heavy earthmoving equipment from site to site all across Victoria. I drove a purpose built Canadian Oskosh 6wd Heavy Haulage Truck and float/dolly combination. Often loaded, I was up to 80 tonnes which short of Road Trains is just about the biggest thing on the road.

    Driving a big rig gives you a completely different perspective on what road manners really means. It won't happen, but if every car driver could just drive a big rig, for just one day, well I believe the road would be a much happier more considerate place to be....
    Sobering story Grumpy, what to say! a terrible thing to have to go through at such a tender age.
    A thoughtful post on what seems to be a controversial subject.

    Leave a comment:


  • Ol_Grumpy
    replied
    Truckies who use caffeine less likely to crash:

    This thread and it's topic is very close to my heart...

    You see on Sept 1, 1967 my father John William Nicholls paid the ultimate price to get a full Front Page Photo on Melbourne's "The Sun" newspaper.
    The Headline was "Horror Smash: Driver Burnt Alive" And the photo was the charred, burnt and tortured wreckage that was barely recognisable as a vehicle of any description.
    My father's name is one of many engraved on the Australian Truck Drivers Memorial at Tarcutta, and can be searched on the Memorial Website.

    Please let me share with you my earliest childhood memory...
    I am awoken in the middle of the night by unfamiliar deep rumbling voices and the footsteps of heavy boots walking down the hall. Awake, but unsure, I creep out of my bedroom and tip- toe down the hall to the kitchen where I can hear my mothers voice and other deep rumbling men's voices, I do not recognise.
    As quietly as a mouse I peer through the shard of light cutting between the door and the door jamb. I catch a glimpse of two large burly blue police officers...

    In that instant I am knocked to the floor by the most grotesque and inhuman screams I have ever heard in my life. I have no idea of what's happening but I am more scared than I've ever been in my life and I scurry back to the safety of my bed and bury myself under the covers- in my "safe cave"...

    To this day, there are some nights where this sound awakens me from a deep sleep and I sit bolt upright in a cold sweat....

    So, yes I believe I am uniquely qualified to comment on this thread.

    Firstly, whether it's a pushbike, motorbike, car, truck or bus- all road users have the same equal right to use and share that roadway. A little more tolerance by all road users would go a long way.

    Secondly, to those who criticise trucks on the road- let me ask you, "Have you ever driven a heavy truck on the road?" I have. In my twenties I worked for a mining company and amongst other duties I was responsible for floating (moving) around the heavy earthmoving equipment from site to site all across Victoria. I drove a purpose built Canadian Oskosh 6wd Heavy Haulage Truck and float/dolly combination. Often loaded, I was up to 80 tonnes which short of Road Trains is just about the biggest thing on the road.

    Driving a big rig gives you a completely different perspective on what road manners really means. It won't happen, but if every car driver could just drive a big rig, for just one day, well I believe the road would be a much happier more considerate place to be....

    Leave a comment:


  • Rocky
    replied
    The speed limit thing is a bit of a lottery here in the country. I tend to take the attitude that 110kph is a safe speed for an alert driver in a modern car on a reasonable road in good weather. Make no mistake though, it is a risk as both mobile and static radar proliferates in the country and lots of people get booked for speeds in the 110 to 115 range. You take a chance with your cruise set to 110.
    As for people who do stupid things to truckies - sooner or later they get what they deserve.
    I would have to say though, that there are more cowboys out there in big rigs than ever before and I don't enjoy driving on the highway any more.

    Leave a comment:


  • MrJack
    replied
    Re: Truckies who use caffeine less likely to crash:

    Think about it this way, if the truck didn't accelerate down the hill, the guy stuck behind him going up the next one will be waiting even longer. Still annoying, but justifiable.

    What gets my goat is the city drivers on country roads who cant do 110km/h unless its an overtalking lane...
    And those people who overtake a truck and then cut in front of it at the lights. Crazy!

    Leave a comment:


  • robusto
    replied
    Rocky, same experience here. I try to stick to the speed limit and use cruise control.

    But very regularly I am overtaken by trucks doing in excess of 100 kph....then at the next hill, the can't keep up so either hit the brakes...or overtake.

    I'll never forget one occasion in which a truck overtook me while I was doing 100....then sat himself right in front of me at my speed.

    Apart from blocking my view of the road, what was the purpose of that exercise?

    Leave a comment:


  • Rocky
    replied
    Originally posted by Yelta View Post
    Bit of a slow coach are ya Rocky.
    A bit the opposite unfortunately.
    The trucks drive me crazy because you effectively spend all your time activating and deactivating the cruise control as even the faster trucks drop way below the limit on the hills & grades but then roar up your tailpipe on the downhill & flat.
    Because we (as a society) have put all our eggs in the one basket in terms of moving freight, the trucks (not unreasonably), feel that the roads are there for them and the rest of us are a bit of a nuisance.

    Leave a comment:


  • dan77
    replied
    Originally posted by Yelta View Post
    125 views and not a single reply, no body cares about truckies who do ya reckon delivers your milk.
    I drink double espressos!

    My old man used to drive interstate and he lived on coffee. Never had an accident.

    One of the biggest issues is around the KPI's put on drivers in setting un-realistic time frames for deliveries.

    Leave a comment:


  • Yelta
    replied
    Originally posted by Rocky View Post
    Totally agree. Governments have failed us in relation to both the dangerous and inadequate roads in Queensland and the demise of the rail-freight system. For the record, I am frequently passed at the speed limit by semis & B Doubles who also dominate the passing lanes.
    Bit of a slow coach are ya Rocky.

    Leave a comment:


  • Rocky
    replied
    Originally posted by robusto View Post
    Yes we need truckies for short-haul deliveries. But sharing highways with semi-trailers which overtake you above 100 kmh is insane.

    Long distance haulage should be covered by rail. I do not want to share the highway with trucks, with or without caffeined drivers at their wheels.
    Totally agree. Governments have failed us in relation to both the dangerous and inadequate roads in Queensland and the demise of the rail-freight system. For the record, I am frequently passed at the speed limit by semis & B Doubles who also dominate the passing lanes.

    Leave a comment:


  • MrJack
    replied
    Re: Truckies who use caffeine less likely to crash:

    Originally posted by Yelta View Post
    Fortunately trucks overtaking at over 100 kmh is a rare event, it's yet to happen to me and I've covered a lot of miles in my life.
    In WA, at least, trucks over a certain weight are limited to 100km/h. In my experience, its usually the east-west trucks from interstate that are nutters. As I recall from my days on P's (limited to 90km/h) the Gt Eastern Hwy run was like running the gaunlet!

    Leave a comment:


  • Bernsbrew
    replied
    Better caffeine than amphetamines, I s'pose.

    Leave a comment:


  • Yelta
    replied
    Originally posted by robusto View Post
    Yes we need truckies for short-haul deliveries. But sharing highways with semi-trailers which overtake you above 100 kmh is insane.

    Long distance haulage should be covered by rail. I do not want to share the highway with trucks, with or without caffeined drivers at their wheels.
    Eat some sour grapes for lunch Robusto.
    Got some bad news for you mate , they're out there on the road as we speak and nothing is going to change anytime soon.
    Fortunately trucks overtaking at over 100 kmh is a rare event, it's yet to happen to me and I've covered a lot of miles in my life.

    Leave a comment:


  • robusto
    replied
    Yes we need truckies for short-haul deliveries. But sharing highways with semi-trailers which overtake you above 100 kmh is insane.

    Long distance haulage should be covered by rail. I do not want to share the highway with trucks, with or without caffeined drivers at their wheels.

    Leave a comment:


  • Yelta
    replied
    Good on ya Steve, nice to know someone cares.

    Leave a comment:


  • Steve82
    replied
    I respect the job they do.
    Without trucks this country would come to a complete standstill, a fact that many people fail to think about in their daily lives, or when they carelessly cut in front of a large truck or try and overtake down the inside lane. Then they will be the first ones to bitch and moan about what terrible drivers they are and should act more like " professional " drivers.

    I reckon they do a pretty good job of things especially considering the state of some of the excuses for roads in this country.

    Give them the room and respect they deserve on the road and there will always be milk for your double choc / caramel soy latte.

    Leave a comment:

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