Hi all, I have just spent the day out on this fireground in our CFS truck. I tell you something, in my 35 years of firefighting I have never see a day like yesterday happen, unbelievable. Dave, it went so bloody fast mate, unreal! And it was mainly crop and stubble! My town of Roseworthy dodged a bullet by metres, other towns did not. The communities here are very supportive and I am grateful to their support to the firefighters, the farmers, the townsfolk, the business that have been involved or suffered in some way. Spent the day in Wasleys, Mallala and Pinery doing what we can, supporting those who have had losses and mopping up. Please do not give me any thanks for what we do, when you see the look on peoples faces when we turn up, thats enough, we are no heroes, just people who care! Pete.
We all own a debt to the volunteers of the CFS, who give up their own time and money, either wages or income from their own business, to help other in need.
Travelling still Always will
WARNING: Using Towballs for recoveries can and do kill people and damage property
It certainly makes a lot more sense to just use channel 40 universally around the country. I reckon it would be far too confusing and therefore less safe, to have a different channel for various roads. And it appears that most truckies think so too.
Gerry 29 is used on the Pacific because there was a lot of bleed over from the New England Hwy in a lot of areas because of the height of a lot of the NEH
Travelling still Always will
WARNING: Using Towballs for recoveries can and do kill people and damage property
Post by Mick themungrel on Aug 24, 2014 23:23:42 GMT 9.5
Sitting relaxing at home with a drink when my Oversize pilot mate calls in . In the course of the conversation this came up regarding the use of UHF between the OS pilot and caravan .
OS p : Copy in the caravan behind the OS .
Caravan : Silence
OS P : Copy in the caravan behind the OS
Caravan: Silence
OS P Copy in the caravan behind the OS
Caravan (after about 30 seconds ) You calling me mate .?
OS P Yes mate I will let you know when you can get around .
Caravan : No answer .
1 minute later
OS P You can come around now in the caravan .
Caravan Silence
1.5 minutes later
OS P Copy in the van , you can come around now .
Caravan : You mean me do you mate ? Can I go now ?
The above conversation took place between Camooweal and Mt Isa with 2, 6m wide loads under police escort .
Why the bloody hell do you have UHF in your flash 4wd if you dont use it ? Why dont you use it and get comfortable using the UHF ? This is 1 conversation of thousands that happen every day between OS Pilots or truck and caravans .
The UHF is a valuable item in your safety arsenal , it is not the be all and end all , but it gives you information of whats is going on ahead of you on the road .
PLEASE STAY ON CHANNEL 40 and reply when called promptly . It can save you life .
Travelling still Always will
WARNING: Using Towballs for recoveries can and do kill people and damage property
Post by Mick themungrel on May 10, 2014 22:16:56 GMT 9.5
Last year heading home from harvest with my van in tow and my wife behind in my work ute , we were travelling at about 90kph with about a 1k gap between the 2 vehicles .About 10k north of Snowtown my wife told me via the UHF that there was a truck behind us , knowing there was an overtaking lane about 4k up the road I said to her stay there till the overtaking lane then close up and I will slow to get him past .
Next thing I heard on the UHF was "How much road does he need ?" from my wife . When the truck overtook me he made a deliberate attempt to run me off the road and had done the same to my wife . I called him on 40 and asked what the hell he was upto and got a stream of abuse back about holding him up for all of 1 minute .
Now what to do in this situation :
First dont panic and stab the brakes . Lift the foot and slow down and move slowly to the left , if you are forced off the bitumen dont swerve back as soon as you can , instead slow more and gently steer back onto the bitumen . While this is all happening get you passenger to write down a brief description of the truck and trailer , any company name on the prime mover and the registration number of the prime mover and trailer , then report it to the Police on 000 and be prepared to make a statement and go to court . If you have a dashcam save the footage to show the Police .
While I am also a truckie I hate this sort of behaviour by braindead idiots . I tow at between 80 to 90kph and try to get trucks past as safely and quickly as I can . They are working while I am on holiday .
Travelling still Always will
WARNING: Using Towballs for recoveries can and do kill people and damage property
Post by Mick themungrel on Sept 21, 2012 17:38:08 GMT 9.5
Yesterday a mate Chris got caught in a nasty situation . He was following a van at about 75kph for a few k when he got a clear spot he pulled out to overtake , got the primemover up about the front of the van when another car appeared coming at them so he braked to pull back in and there was plenty of room to do it , the problem was that the caravan stood on his brakes so he ended up in a braking duel which turned a controlled safe situation for Chris in to a uncontrolled nasty one . The 3 vehicles ended up doing about 20kph and passing 3 wide because the van stayed on the brakes all the way down .
If this happens to you while towing and the truck is still back about the van DONT HIT THE BRAKES hit the power and move over to the left to give as much room as possible . If the truck cab is past the tug then brake but DONT move over stay were the driver can see you in his left hand mirror , if you move over to far to the left he cant see and then has to spend time looking for you so he can see it is clear to move back over , when the trailer is clear flash your hi beam so he knows he is clear of you .
No one is perfect I am sure we all have been in a similar situation , I certainly have been and it is not a nice experience
Travelling still Always will
WARNING: Using Towballs for recoveries can and do kill people and damage property
Post by Mick themungrel on Sept 21, 2012 17:36:02 GMT 9.5
I had a very nasty incident happen right in front of me this arvo . I turned onto Main north Road at Gulnare to head north and topped the hill to see 3 vehicles coming at me . The lead (LR Dico) veered to my side of the road then swung back to there side into the gravel and just went troppo straight across the road in front of me jumped the low edge of the road and head first into a stobey pole with the back wheels in the air the roof hit the pole and knocked it down , the LR ended up on the other side with pole on the ground . The driver was ok shaken and a few glass cuts will his wife was trapped , I did hear she was air lifted to Adelaide with a broken leg and possible internal injures . I was told that he had dozed off , this was about 4pm and the sun was shining on his side window . I would suspect that they were caravanners from the gear in the back and had been out for a day trip . they were certainly tourists from interstate .
Please if you feel a bit sleepy stop and have a walk around or find a nice spot and have a short sleep 10 or 15 minutes makes a big difference .
Travelling still Always will
WARNING: Using Towballs for recoveries can and do kill people and damage property
Post by Mick themungrel on Sept 20, 2012 19:12:40 GMT 9.5
Frank you are right I found this will searching for some unrelated info . This applies to caravans as they are over 7.5m
The Australian Road Rules (Continued) Keeping a safe distance Drivers must keep sufficient distance between the vehicle travelling in front in order to stop safely and avoid a collision. Vehicles must not unreasonably obstruct the path of another vehicle. Any vehicle that is longer than 7.5 metres (long vehicle) must keep the required minimum distance from other long vehicles, unless driving on a multi-lane road or any length of road in a built-up area or overtaking. The minimum distances are: • for a long vehicle travelling in an area in which Road-Trains are permitted to operate, unless driving on a multi-lane road or any length of road in a built–up area or overtaking – 200 metres; • for a long vehicle travelling on a approved B-Double route driving on a multi-lane road or any length of road in a built-up area or overtaking – 60 metres.
Travelling still Always will
WARNING: Using Towballs for recoveries can and do kill people and damage property
Post by Mick themungrel on Sept 20, 2012 18:36:40 GMT 9.5
While heading to Wallaroo I came up behind 2 vans and 1 camper trailer travelling at about 80 kph . Nothing coming so i pulled out to overtake and I noticed that they were travelling close together , there would have been enough room for a car to pull back in between them if something came the other way . As I came up beside the lead van a car came over the hill at me there was just enough room for me to do the job but if I had been a bit slower I would have had to pull back in behind the lead van which then would have been interesting because of the closeness of the other 2 . Please if travelling in a group spread out and leave room for overtaking vehicles to pull back in .
Travelling still Always will
WARNING: Using Towballs for recoveries can and do kill people and damage property
Post by Mick themungrel on Sept 20, 2012 18:34:49 GMT 9.5
In the last week I have been in town running about a 12k leg and it bloody amazes me at lights the number of cars that have to jump in front of trucks at a red light . Incident 1 Rail crossing grossing 68t: Lights start flashing so I backed off plenty of room to pull up P plater roars past jumps in front about 10' short of the line . Stand on the brakes stop with about 2' room . Ask the driver why did he jump in front of me (3 lane road) his answer "Im turning right just up the road " , 3 sets of lights later he turns right . Incident 2 Major set of lights at the bottom of a hill 45.5t : Lights changed to red Truck in lane 2 & 3 car in lane 1 plus me (Im turning right just after intersection) another car changes into my lane , then car comes from behind me then jumps in front stand on brakes again (Volvo brakes are bloody brilliant ) 6" gap , give driver a rev up . Incident 3 Same intersection : 4WD and large van nearly hit the front of the tuck to change lanes and stop at the lights .
What none of these clowns seem to realise is that the truck driver see's x amount of room before he has to stop and plans his braking to accordantly and also tries to keep rolling if the light changes to green . A truck does not stop on a dime like a car , if you cut off a tanker or stock crate which have movable load you may very well find the truck buried in the back of your van or car .
Travelling still Always will
WARNING: Using Towballs for recoveries can and do kill people and damage property
Post by Mick themungrel on Sept 20, 2012 18:32:27 GMT 9.5
When to dip headlights . I know the road rules say 200 metres which to me is flat out stupid with the lights on cars today. You are approaching a rise in the road and you can see the glow headlights coming at you .Do you wait till those lights are shining in your eyes to dip yours or do you dip yours before either you or the other vehicle crests the rise ? You are approaching a corner on a flat road, vehicle approaching, both of you on high beam again do you wait till you are both blinded or dip before ? I know that you will all say you dip before but that is not happening out on the road. Coming out from Toowoomba last night car after car and some trucks waited till they could see my headlights before they dipped, all this does it make eyes sore and tired from having them burnt out by bright lights . Having said that here are some ideas If can see lights on the other side of a hill dip yours before they top if the others don't dip flash yours a couple of times before you both get to the top If you can see clearance lights coming over the top the windscreen is not far behind dip yours . A lot of truckies me included drop there lights and if the other doesn't we flash the lights till the approaching vehicle has dipped his . On flat roads dip before the other vehicle is straight onto you if they don't give them a flash On divided road dip them please the lights on high beam shine across and the drivers cope the glare ending up with sore eyes again Coming up behind if you can see their tail lights then is the time to dip if a truck taps his brakes or flashs his blinkers dip them please.
Travelling still Always will
WARNING: Using Towballs for recoveries can and do kill people and damage property
I had it all go pear shaped on me a few weeks ago . Driving along with our other truck about a k ahead when a garbo truck slowed and stopped with his right hand blinker on . I could see another B double behind him and didt really look to close for a start than thought shitee he's coming hard . Looked to the left of the garbo and thought no room , looked to my left yep there's room and started steering left , as I did the other truck came out from behind the garbo , ok keep going left , yep all clear get back on the road , no cars coming use it all , back trailer dragging full power now get it straightened up . This took all of about a second to happen as we both were doing 100 kph , I was on cruise control and the worst thing I could have done was hit the brakes , if I had been loaded I would have had to go bush and things would have been different . I later spoke to the other driver and he was caught out and did the only thing he could see to do and was very relived when he saw me going to the left . We were talking about it to other drivers and all the older drivers said the same thing keep the power on and steer around it and all the younger drivers said they would have hit the brakes .
I am very thankful that in the worst possible situation I have ever been in on the road in 38 years of driving that I had a older experienced driver coming at me .
Post by Mick themungrel on Sept 19, 2012 21:14:55 GMT 9.5
If you are stopped on the side of the road, in a parking bay, coming out of a truck stop on the highway etc and you see a truck coming 200, 300, 400 or even 500 metres or longer away please wait the extra few seconds to let him pass, rather than just pulling out then meandering along up the road. He is more than likely going to want to travel faster than you anyway. A truck doing 100kph travels approximately 28 metres per second (correct me if I'm wrong here guys) so you don't have to be Einstein to work out it will take him only about 10 seconds to reach you if he is 300 metres away when you pull out. You just don't pick up that much speed in 10 seconds.
I've got to say this is one of the things that used to get up my nose, you'd be wandering along minding your own business at 100kph then seemingly out of the bushes pops a car and caravan about 100 metres or so away. Try pulling up a B-Double grossing over 62 ton, then try to get past the caravanner because he wants to sit on 85kph. Even with 500+ hp it is a chore most truck drivers can do without. Another thing caravans are known as tomato cases because of the way they fly apart when hit by a truck
Travelling still Always will
WARNING: Using Towballs for recoveries can and do kill people and damage property
Post by Mick themungrel on Sept 19, 2012 21:12:43 GMT 9.5
Maybe this will help the white knuckle's When travelling on narrow or single lane bitumen roads it is a lot safer for all when you see a truck be it a single bdouble or train to head straight for the side get right off the bitumen on single and either stop or keep moving slowly , give him a call on the UHF 40and tell him to stay up he will appreciate it and not shower you with rocks ,if you dont have a UHF use your left hand blinker,if it is wet don't go too far off or you might have trouble use a bit of common sense . If and I hope this doesn't happen you get bogged, the bloke gone past might not be able to help but the next one along should carry a chain or snatchem strap as a lot of trucks now don't .
Last Edit: Sept 19, 2012 21:48:20 GMT 9.5 by Mick themungrel
Travelling still Always will
WARNING: Using Towballs for recoveries can and do kill people and damage property
Post by Mick themungrel on Sept 19, 2012 21:07:00 GMT 9.5
Gday First of all a comment on speed . If you are comfortable towing your van at 80k 90 k 95k do it , it is a lot safer for all road users to do so than to try and keep up with the rest of the traffic but stay at that speed as best you can dont sit on 80k on single lane then speed up as soon as you hit a 3 laner or divided section . I have had this happen to me many times and later have spoken to the driver and the answer was to get out of my way . OK A truck comes up behind you on the road your sitting on eg 90k If you have a UHF give him a call on 40 so that he is aware you no he is there and have a radio When he pulls out DONT hit the brakes stay a constant speed when the truck is well on the way lift you foot count to 3 then put it back down you will drop maybe 5ks it is amazing how much easier it is to overtake with a small drop in speed like that. When the back of the trailer or trailers is past you give the high beam a couple of flashes that lets the driver no its clear to come back in . If there is a stuff up and the truck has just pulled out and something comes the other way DON'T hit the brakes stick the boot in otherwise you will end up in a braking duel .Watch what the truck is up to if he is right beside you and something comes you can hear if he powers off and hits the brakes stick the boot into it and if there is room move over but keep the power on . Another point when being overtaken , please dont pull right over to the left over the fog line if there is a wide shoulder because the truckie cant see were the hell you are , so he spends time searching for you when he should be looking ahead .
Last Edit: Sept 19, 2012 21:15:34 GMT 9.5 by Mick themungrel
Travelling still Always will
WARNING: Using Towballs for recoveries can and do kill people and damage property