The best of truck drivers

Have had the pleasure to share the road with countless truckies that were extremely courteous and helpful on the road and spent a lot of time in the cab as a young fella. The one experience that really stays with me was around 10years ago when my wife and I were driving the stretch from Bourke northwards reasonably late one night in our 80 series at the time.

We probably should not have been out there that late as it was a moonless night and we had encountered many a roo since last light sometime after Wilcannia, but we were pushing time to get to our destination in NQ (not in one hit though). As we pulled away from Bourke I let a stock train past as we were only sitting on about 80 due to the blackness outside that seemed to smother out the cibies' beams. A couple of minutes down the road the driver warned me out that there was a bull on the left shoulder.

I tell you what, this bull was big! More importantly he was as black as the night and was indeed standing half on the shoulder and half in my lane on a bend in the road. Honestly if the truck driver didnt alert me I reckon the bull would've cleaned us up. Dead.

After settling down the butterflies I got back on the radio and thanked the bloke and he said no worries, throw up high beam, spotties and all, and tag along behind him a ways. We started up a conversation that continued for a few hours talking about anything and everything and even my wife joined in and we all had quite a few chuckles until we reached his destination, Cunnamulla.

As we got to the servo on the edge of town we both pulled up to meet in person and say farewell but not before Gary gave us a cap each with his company logo embroidered on the front.

It really was a good moment in time and I think we helped each other keep alert on an otherwise pretty boring section. And so to this day my Gary Athorn Livestock Transport cap is my favourite when on driving holidays.

I've lost count of how many times I've travelled around and across Aus towing my van.

I have never had a single bad incident involving a Truck, of any size from 5 trailer road trains to Rigid Tray I have found them interesting to talk to, and safe and friendly on the road. My worst experience involved two Fellow Travellers who a couple of Truckies warned me about as they overtook the trucks in unsafe areas.

Anyhow if we all accept that everyone has a right to use the road and have consideration for others sharing the roads we'd all have a better and safer time on them.

99% of truckies are brilliant, certeous, and extremely professional.
How thry can keep their cool, even with idiots in cars doing all sorts of unsafe things around them.

Have look at Managers and delivery requirements, and wages, that force drivers to stay out on the roads for longer than is necessay just to make a living.
And these guy's still remail to stay professional, and well mannered.

I drove a concrete mixer for 2 years, and in that time I was treated with contempt by car drivers, and many many times.
I have nothing but respect for the boy's in those big rigs.


Cheers
Bucky

I would go past that woman behind the desk. She is in the wrong job. My best ever job was for a truck company. Sure some came in cranky after being stuffed around but that compliment would have been a great tool. Stupid woman.

RA
Good on you for starting a positive thread about truckies (or anything for that matter) Like a lot of the posts in this thread I have only ever had good experiences when on the road. I usually sit on about 90 kph when towing and if a rig comes up behind I give the driver a call on the UHF and offer to back off when he pulls out. Some say "yeah thanks mate" most say "no worries..just keep a constant speed". I guess then they know that you are not going to speed up or slow down for no reason as some do.


Cheers
Pop

Yes all to true
There are plenty of us good out there.
Its always the 1 or 2 bad eggs that spoil it for everybody else & unfortunately every body pays for the bad eggs.
A bit like All motorbike riders arnt outlaw bikies
But that's why we have laws

Transport company's need to change their ways

To all who replied and had some positives I am sure some of the members who still punt trucks up and down the road will appreciate the feedback.

I just rand Lindsay Bros head office and spoke to Barbara who assured me the feed back would go to the transport manager and in turn to the driver.

RA.

Hi Rockape!

This is a great thread!

Many years ago I caught a few rides around Australia with truckies and some of them have been exceptional operators, safe on the road, high ethics and good company. It is a whole other road culture in the cab of a truck and truckies have to deal with a lot of inconsiderate behaviour, especially in built up areas.

Of course state laws and company contracts have changed since then but it was a whole lot of fun getting my hands dirty helping load and unload trailers, unload and load cars on vehicle carriers, checking tyres, tiedowns and lights, etc, rolling out the swag out the back of a roadhouse in the middle of nowhere for a kip, bottomless roadhouse coffees, jabbering on the radio with other truckies from time to time, even learnt how to drive a truck.

It is not easy doing the right thing with so much pressure from deadlines and prescription/illegal drugs being too accessible but there are are plenty of commendable truckies on the road.

I take my hat off to truckies.

Cheers
Terra