"The problem with doing nothing is not knowing when you're finished" - Benjamin Franklin

milo · Guru

Outback Truckers on 7mate saturdays

KFT · Guru

just watched the last 15 min and really enjoyed it

takes me back to my driving days in the west of nsw and many other outback places

frank

vk6tnc · Guru

The show is only going to reinforce the knowledge the public have already. The industry is full of reckless cowboys (and Girls), who think they own the road.

The only professional driver I saw was the 21 year old in the outback. then again who loaded the icecream in the chiller ????

When a road train is being passed by another road train, why doesn't the passed vehicle slow down? Instead of leaving a truck on the wrong side of the road for up to two kilometres ???

-- Edited by vk6tnc on Sunday 21st of October 2012 11:49:10 PM

Haji-Baba · Senior Member

What a load of good info,

How to approach a railway crossing and ignore the orange lights, fail to slow down behind a driver who it appears is doing the right thing, cross a double white line, and then blatently go over the crossing through red lights.

Then to top all that off, abuse the car driver for stopping at a red light.

Don't forget the laden truck was said to be 80 tonnes and couldn't stop.

I would love to get a copy of that tape to watch it all again.

Any body else see this?????????? Or am I out of line or colour blind or just blind ????????

Haji-Baba

vk6tnc · Guru

Haji-Baba wrote:

I would love to get a copy of that tape to watch it all again.

Haji-Baba

http://au.tv.yahoo.com/plus7/outback-truckers/

tonyd · Guru

Have to agree with vk6tnc about why the truck being overtaken did not slow down. I watched the sequence equally fascinated and horrified. Luckily it all ended well.
The sequence of heavy rain was a worry, in that the driver, while complaining about the rain, did not seem to slow down. Makes you wonder.
Cheers, Tony

johnq · Guru

vk6tnc wrote:
Haji-Baba wrote:

I would love to get a copy of that tape to watch it all again.

Haji-Baba
http://au.tv.yahoo.com/plus7/outback-truckers/

Thank you, I was interested too.

Got to respect a site where people go out of their way to help. Any site is as good as the people on it.

Haji-Baba · Senior Member

Thanks, vk6tnc & johng, I watched it all again and shall await more comments particularly about the railway crossing sequence before I make another post.

Good show otherwise. I might add that I also hold a heavy licence.

Have Fun Haji-Baba

spice · Senior Member

I spent all my working life as a train driver and seen it happen most days, Rod

Haji-Baba · Senior Member

N & R

Just a thought in my mind is that the drivers of this truck in particular probably know the road and the time frame of that particular crossing.

Having already passed the first road side amber lights they know how much time is available to beat the train to the Crossing.

To make matters worse the lights were red as they went over the line.

To bring the car driver in as a cause for the problem is quite out of line.

One truckie tried to beat a train north of Ingham a while back and there was a terrible crash.

I don't know the details but the lights were working at that crossing. Straight road and plenty of warning.

I can only feel for the train drivers in these situations. I recognise your concern Spice.

The fact that 80 tonnes is difficult to stop is not relevant.

Also the maximum speed for any vehicle over 12 tonnes gross is 100 kph.

Have fun Haji-Baba

-- Edited by Haji-Baba on Wednesday 24th of October 2012 09:38:37 PM

NeilandRaine · Guru

I have to agree about the railway crossing bit it destroyed any good we might of felt for truckies, I can say this as I am an Ex truckie. When I got my
truck license the law was you must approach a level crossing at a safe speed to stop, that didnt happen.
As for the truck slowing when the other one was trying to pass, it takes a long time to get up to speed and even on free ways trucks seldom slow for a truck passing

milo · Guru

Did you see all the comments on the video page?
Will be interesting to see what this weeks show is like

Neil and Shazz · Member

Good show but some some must surely be for ratings.

Not impressed with the truck going through the rail crossing. The car was doing the right thing, the truck driver wasn't. If that was the rail crossing I think it was there is plently of vision to see ahead. As a driver who does this route on a regular basis they know where all the rail crossings are. I am an ex employee of GKR and they are known locally as Go Cart Racers. They definately have some cowboys working for them. They have their own trucks and a few subbies.

The truck passing another, I couldn't believe it was taking so long and then having to pull back in because it could not be done in time. While it does take a while to get these rigs up to speed an overtake is not taken usually unless you can pull it off. Quite often the overtakee will back down a little. If the truck is speed limited, which a lot are these days, it makes overtaking much harder.

the guys travelling on the dirt road. Couldn't believe the speeds they were doing in such conditions. I have excorted trucks into mine sites and some dirt roads are so bad we have been crawling at 10 - 15kph. It took 5 hours one time from the start of the dirt on the Marble Bar Road (Newman end) to the mine turn off and then into the mine proper. These roads shake the loads to bits. Even the general freight guys (Toll, Centurion to name a couple) don't put the hammer down. If you drive freezer trucks you know your cargo and turn the unit to the correct setting. Idiot has cost the business owner a lot of dollars.

The other things amazes me is the truckie who travels all the way out to woop woop without checking on road status. A few phonecalls can save a lot of dollars. Main roads and Local Shires post info on the state of the roads and theres always the truckie grape vine.

Just for the record folks I have a current MC licence and have driven general freight and oversize up to 4.3m. I am also an accredited oversize vehicle escort. My boyfriend Neil although having a HR lic has driven semi a few years back.

Cheers Shazz

milo · Guru

ill be watching tonight, see how this one is..

that was a scary episode!! feels like staying home after that confuse

-- Edited by milo on Saturday 27th of October 2012 07:36:56 PM

blaze · Guru

wasnt any better tonight, only one that had my respect was the guy north of broome, the rest were coyboys and girls and should be pulled off the road. there is enough documented evidence
cheers
blaze

vk6tnc · Guru

Oh dear where do I start:

The ex model, who can't drive a manual, spent more time looking at the camera than the road. Sitting sideways with one foot on the dash, while tossing an apple in the air????

The east west guy with a dust fetish....Oh come on, really ? It's not even your truck.

The woman who treats sexist remarks over the two way like "Water off a ducks back". I'd hate to see her upset !!!

I'm sure the producers have pushed them to be controversial for ratings, but some of their behaviour must be ingrained.

The Owner Driver heading to Kolumbaru north of Broome was the only true "Outback Trucker"

Delta18 · Guru

When she was 'hung out' on the wrong side of the road while overtaking a wide load had the cheek

to reckon the oncoming truck had the responsibillity to slow dow so she could complete her move.

She should be banned from driving before she kills someone.

Running a duster all over the cab while hurtling down the road...ban him too.

Also the Bimbo that thinks she is still a Model while driving. Ban her too.

Concentrate on what you are doing guys, it's not hard, you are giving the 'good' operators a bad name.

Cheers Neil.

spice · Senior Member

After watching the first one I could not be bothered watching the rubbish anymore, Rod

Neil and Shazz · Member

Thank you chris I missed it too.

Graheme is a legend, the rest don't even come close.

Since when has GKR allowed dogs in there trucks? She should have the lead pilot to task. See many pilots not out far enough calling trucks round and nearly causing accidents. Most I've come across think they are a kilometre out but they are usually only 300 - 500m. Not enough. While every company likes their trucks kept clean doing whilst driving is just plain dangerous.

As for the model can't drive a manual, give me 18 gears anytime. Only drove an auto one day round town moving sea containers. Don't like them.

There are better truckies out there to do a show about than the cowboys (and cowgirls) on this show!

cheers Shazz

-- Edited by Neil and Shazz on Monday 29th of October 2012 05:14:03 PM

Duh · Guru

vk6tnc wrote:
Haji-Baba wrote:

I would love to get a copy of that tape to watch it all again.

Haji-Baba
http://au.tv.yahoo.com/plus7/outback-truckers/

Thanks Chris, I had missed the show, watched the link and really enjoyed the Norwest bloke, can't wait until next week to see the next episode of his trip!

milo · Guru

i was wondering why that pilot for that long wide road train wasn't in front, thought thats the whole idea??
its on from 8 pm tonight cause of the v8 races