Trucks

My father a truck driver for over 46 years was only this morning after his usual Perth-Bris run saying some are bloody mad. He cant wait to retire.

Two women were killed in a car/ truck accident today on the M5, south west Sydney.. I agree, on the German Autobahn, the trucks have to stay in the slow lane, speed is very slow.. 100 i think.. Michael

Mikehzz,

I don't think there are more cowboys these days but it only takes one to end and wreck lives.

While towing, I drive at 95 km unless there are trucks on the road, then I up it to 100 kph to avoid getting hassled, conditions permitted. It works most of the time but not always. Some times it's by trucks. Sometimes it's by commodores with multi coloured panels.

Happy fishing.

Skull

Giday

Maybe they don't know how to fiddle speed limiters in UK News reports today say the inquiry sparked by the recent fatal in NSW has spread to SA after a B-double from a company there was clocked at 142km/h.

Cheers

Have to agree. We drove a motor home for 28 days around the UK, Ireland, Scotland etc in 2009. The drivers over there are some of the best and patient we have seen. And they all know how to drive on multi lane motor ways! Yep, the trucks always kept to the left lane, unless passing and then they would quickly get back into lane. Kevin

I have always found they are far more idiots behind the wheel of sedans and 4wds then trucks. If towing I will speed up to 100 so not to hold up trucks, but then when I get to an overtaking lane I will slow down so they can gather speed and get arround me. BUT for some reason a high percentage of drivers do the opposite when they spot a bus or truck behind them. Its like its and insult to their manhood to let a large vehicle pass.
I am not a truck driver but do hold a MC licence and in my job get asked to move our heavy vehicles from one location to another.
The amount of people who do 80 in single lanes, then speed up to 100 or even 110 the moment they see and overtaking lane coming up is crazy and should be a bookable offence. This same driver will be the one complaining about be tail gated.
Cheers Pete

Isn't this thread off topic?

G'day,
Interesting thread topic.
As someone with a road train licence, and knowing all the assessment required to get this and what it takes to move 90Tonne and two trailers - what amazes me are many caravan drivers.
Please explain to me why you can legally drive a little buzz box to and from work in a city for 40 years, and on the eve of your retirement you can buy a massive great LandCruiser and 24foot caravan and without any further assessment or testing you can burn off around Australia at 100Km/Hr!
Further observation - distances in Europe are less so trucks can get from loading point to delivery point at slower speeds?
I feel truck drivers often get blamed too easily, but we all forget that we want our choc chip biscuits in Woolworths and garden fittings in Bunnings every time we go there, so who do we expect to keep these stores stocked?
Just my two cents worth...
Cheers
Corrugate

I have always argued that a defensive driving course should be mandatory for all drivers. If you have ever completed one, they are worth it. Part of this course could include towing issues. I know some will argue that it is not a viable option to make a defensive course a 'must have' to obtain a driver’s license, due to the extra cost and limited courses being available, but what is the cost of a life! Obtaining a driver’s license is a license to legally participate in one of the most dangerous activities most of us will do. Dangerous to ourselves and others.
Also about towing, I know most caravaners drive around the 95 or 90 k’s per hour, but when on a highway, please think about other drivers. There are quite a few that will not allow traffic to pass. It does not take much, for example, slow down on overtaking lanes and let everyone get past you.
Having only towed a caravan a short distance, and currently just towing a camper trailer, why do caravaners travel so slow on highways? I know the fuel economy issue, but is that the only reason? Kevin

Speed limit? Is that the upper limit or the lower limit? I suspect that a lot of drivers consider a speed limit to be a lower limit.
AS for caravans driving slow. Perhaps these people are on holiday and not in a rush. I gave up rushing 15 years ago.

I see some are talking about the speed limits in Europe, how many Europe's fit in Australia. In many US States the speed limit is 70mph (112.6kph) , that's everything, Calif' is lower.
My opinion about the Lennons accident on the Hume would have nothing to with speed, being close to Sydney my guess would be drugs involved or inexperience.
The Hume Hwy is as good as any 4 lanes in USA and therefore a higher speed for all vehicles should apply. Most of us truckies did 120/130 on the old Hume back in the 70's .
In such a large country as ours the longer it takes to get from A to B the more fatigued a driver will get, if you can knock 2 hours of a 1000 klm trip that would have to be an advantage but we have to many Ning Nong politicians in State Govt's that know stuff all about truck's, Caravans, traffic etc because they fly everywhere.
Now ...Dave says is this subject off topic, Dave, come out of your little shell and look around when the Sun's up mate, every EO member that travels our great country has to experience city traffic, trucks, roadtrains, mix in with it and try and use some common sense out on the roads and highways. You know sometimes it helps to try and imagine your self in the other vehicle , put yourself in his/her seat and try and get a perspective and work out what that driver is doing/thinking about your silly driving habits.
Now I'm going to have brekky...see ya'll .....bite, snap,


.

Should we start commenting on all catogorys of road users out there ( car,caravan,motor home,motorcycle,bikes,even motorized scooters,)because there ar hoons in each segment, or should we adjust our driving expertise to accommode to their failings.

Caravans in many parts of Europe are also limited to 80kph. Makes towing caravans a lot safer!
May not suit Australia with our vast network of single lane (each way) highways where the risks of overtaking are considerable compared with freeways.

Being almost 50 and recently having taken up driving heavy vehices for a living, I can definitely see both sides of the picture.

Firstly I think it is plainly rediculous that it is legal in all states of Australia to drive a 9 tonne combination on a pasenger car licence, with no fruther endorsements or training.

Secondly, passenger car drivers need to understand it is necessary to be selfish to a certain extent when you are driving a heavy vehicle.

A heavy vehicle drivers primary responsibility its to keep the vehicle traveling on the road and under controll.....if a heavy vehicle gets out of controll the consequences are always dire......simply putting one wheel off the butumen can put you in a world of trouble...a sudden swerve that a pasenger car could easily recover, will almost certainly find a heavy vehicle hurtling out of controll.

Heavy vehicles do not accelerate, brake or turn anywhere near as well as a lighter vehicle.....I know this is said often but untill you have 20 pluss tonnes of heavy vehicle strapped to your arse ( and that is what it feels like) you realy wont get it.

To maintain controll it is often necessary to take more road and place your vehicle differently than others may like.

It is also necessary to maintan a certain amount of agression, to make your intent well and truly clear, particularly when there are plenty arround that are prepared to push their luck.

Yeh yeh we hear about europe......generally there are very much shorter distances between towns, the roads are generally better and mostly it is a denser and higher priced economy.

In Australia...lots of times truckies would travel in the left hand lane IF there was one and IF it was not busted up and poorly maintained.
I will travel in the left hand lane when I can, but it it means having to fight to keep the truck straight and being belted arround on every bump......I'll take the right hand lane thankyou very much.

In Australia in all states ( to my knoweledge) all heavy vehicles must be speed limited at 100Kph, In QLD if you are booked for speeding at 110Kph or over, you WILL recieve a notice to present the vehicle for inspection.

Until recently, there was an 80Kph speed restriction on passenger car hauled trailers....untill it was ruled as unworkable.

Caravan and boat haulers, need to understand that ( at least in QLD) the same restrictions on following distances apply to you as do to heavy vehicles.
The avearge family car towing a box trailer is long enough to be clasified as a "long vehicle" and required to keep 60 meters clear of any " long vehicle" ahead on open roads....in declared road train areas 120m.

Yes there are some cowboys out there, and it is not just passenger car drivers that get pushed arround.

Last Monday I watched as my convoy partner was run into road side signage by a 'B" double.....fortunately the only casualty was some temporay barriers.........Actually I can see that the "B" double driver may have been caught by the curcumstances.

Sorry but ya realy don't know how the other half lives till ya walk in their shoes.

With heavy vehicles....give em plenty of room and don't push ya luck.

cheers