UHF

Dolly · Veteran Member

UHF

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Hi Dolly, from your comments you are or have been a trucky so good to get info like that from the horses mouth, so to speak. I am an ex Coach and Bus driver so understand what you are saying. This subject has been debated on here a few times in the past and many people will say DO NOT slow down but the way you explain to keep your speed the same until the truck is fully out and going past is great. I do what you suggest anyway and always get a thanks or flash of indicators in appreciation.

Thanks again.

Legendts · Senior Member

Yes, I do that all the time. It just makes the passing manoeuvre stress free and keeps the working truck driver safe too.

Glenelg · Guru

Very good information for all to see

jrg · Senior Member

I am a channel 40 user and I know how to call a truck through .We have just returned from a north trip 2 things come to mind 1. There are quite a few trucks who turn the radio,s down and therfore dont hear you and then dont acknowledge you 2. Wide load pilots who wont for some reason call caravans both annoy me.

suziq · Member

Thanks Dolly,
I have just started to take over the driving from my husband who no longer drives & although I have watched him when a Truck etc is passing it is different when you are in the drivers seat so having it explained the way you have done give you more confidence in helping someone to pass.

scooner · Veteran Member

good post dolly thoroughly agree with all above

Baz421 · Guru

Dolly wrote:
Hi all I have been chatting with quite a few truckies of late and one of their major concerns with us Caravaners Is the amount of people that are not contactable via UHF and as a result have a great deal of concern about passing safely. What truckies need to know is that you can help them pass with safety for all parties and that means us, the truck driver and the oncoming traffic.
If you have a UHF make sure it is turned on and on ch40 the truck channel in most areas. If you do not have UHF you are putting yourself at risk and giving the rest of us a bad reputation with the truckies. I also asked the truck drivers about the best procedure for them to pass. They said that if you contact them when you see them approaching from behind and let them know that you can assist them to pass when safe, they will will be pleased to wait for your next call which should be ....OK your safe to pass and I will slow up for you... Do not start slowing down until you see the entire truck in the right lane otherwise he may have to break with you. So, have a go at being as safe as possible and enjoy life.
Cheers

-- Edited by Dolly on Sunday 10th of August 2014 01:12:51 PM

Hi Dolly I read your post with interest.

I agree with many comments on this thread, however I DON'T AGREE WITH - your comment Quote "OK your safe to pass", unquote. This is NOT YOUR CALL Dolly as you don't know if they are fully loaded or empty, able to pass in 500m or 1 km or 3km.

I had a road train once out of the NT into QLD and she was a bit faster than me, but only by about 5KPH to 10 kph max faster . We had a good old chat on 40 and I offered to slow down for her when she was in the passing 1/2 of the road. She said she was happy to wait and could see for miles (her words).

Well she was bloody fully loaded, and edged past us soooooo slowly, so I slowed down more. It must have been 3-4 km before the whole passing was completed.

This is an extreme example I know, and if I had known she had no power left to keep her speed up I would have offered to pull off the road, but she was slipstreaming me anyway, so this wouldn't have been a wise move.

Anyway not trying to be critical Dolly but it really is not your call.

Cheers Baz

-- Edited by Baz421 on Sunday 10th of August 2014 08:50:31 PM

johnq · Guru

www.caravanwa.com.au/travel-tips/safe-driving/driving/

D and D · Guru

Baz421 wrote:
Dolly wrote:
Hi all I have been chatting with quite a few truckies of late and one of their major concerns with us Caravaners Is the amount of people that are not contactable via UHF and as a result have a great deal of concern about passing safely. What truckies need to know is that you can help them pass with safety for all parties and that means us, the truck driver and the oncoming traffic.
If you have a UHF make sure it is turned on and on ch40 the truck channel in most areas. If you do not have UHF you are putting yourself at risk and giving the rest of us a bad reputation with the truckies. I also asked the truck drivers about the best procedure for them to pass. They said that if you contact them when you see them approaching from behind and let them know that you can assist them to pass when safe, they will will be pleased to wait for your next call which should be ....OK your safe to pass and I will slow up for you... Do not start slowing down until you see the entire truck in the right lane otherwise he may have to break with you. So, have a go at being as safe as possible and enjoy life.
Cheers

-- Edited by Dolly on Sunday 10th of August 2014 01:12:51 PM
Hi Dolly I read your post with interest.
I agree with many comments on this thread, however I DON'T AGREE WITH - your comment Quote "OK your safe to pass", unquote. This is NOT YOUR CALL Dolly as you don't know if they are fully loaded or empty, able to pass in 500m or 1 km or 3km.
I had a road train once out of the NT into QLD and she was a bit faster than me, but only by about 5KPH to 10 kph max faster . We had a good old chat on 40 and I offered to slow down for her when she was in the passing 1/2 of the road. She said she was happy to wait and could see for miles (her words).
Well she was bloody fully loaded, and edged past us soooooo slowly, so I slowed down more. It must have been 3-4 km before the whole passing was completed.
This is an extreme example I know, and if I had known she had no power left to keep her speed up I would have offered to pull off the road, but she was slipstreaming me anyway, so this wouldn't have been a wise move.
Anyway not trying to be critical Dolly but it really is not your call.
Cheers Baz

-- Edited by Baz421 on Sunday 10th of August 2014 08:50:31 PM

I agree with you Baz and I'd also apply it to all vehicles wanting to overtake. I don't know anything about people behind me or the vehicles they are traveling in and what I consider safe when overtaking is not necessarily shared by others. I don't want to be in the situation of having some one follow my advice only for them to have an accident so I just advise them that we'll slow down once they have moved into the adjacent lane.

Regards

Dave

Dolly · Veteran Member

Thanks for your comments I appreciate that it is not my call But since I am the obstacle in the truck drivers way and If I have no contact with him what is he going to do? Is he going to just sit behind me at 80kmh wondering when he has a chance to pass not knowing if I will slow for him when he does. You can use your own protocol when talking but what ever you do say to help a trucky do his job is better than being an ignorant ass I don't know about you but I study what is behind me before I talk and if I saw a long slow rig bearing down I would do the same only be prepared to slow even more to let him pass Your story about that big pass must go well over a few drinks but not on the Forum.....sorry

Baz421 · Guru

Dolly wrote:
Thanks for your comments I appreciate that it is not my call But since I am the obstacle in the truck drivers way and If I have no contact with him what is he going to do? Is he going to just sit behind me at 80kmh wondering when he has a chance to pass not knowing if I will slow for him when he does. You can use your own protocol when talking but what ever you do say to help a trucky do his job is better than being an ignorant ass I don't know about you but I study what is behind me before I talk and if I saw a long slow rig bearing down I would do the same only be prepared to slow even more to let him pass Your story about that big pass must go well over a few drinks but not on the Forum.....sorry

Well I agree with what you do,, just pointing out you don't know what the truck or driver can do in what length of road etc.

Real life stories often help other relate to what is going on in the real world.

Plendo · Guru

While this is a good post, there is a really good post on the same subject "sharing the road Caravans Verses Tucks/road trains (as requested) " posted by Hats, it gives a really good explanation, and explores a number of different scenarios.

Radar · Guru

Hi All

I have said it before and will say it again and again cheap UHF radio are not reliable for communiction after 45 years of transport driving and most of it I don't remember, CB radio is as good as the last call.

My point is its not reliable, so please do no reli on it, eg if you think you are talking to the drive behind it may be the one a 2 kilometres away. Ralph

Dolly · Veteran Member

Thanks Plendo for the link
I would like to see a National road safety course set up for all new caravaners.
This way we could all be working together on keeping safe.
Radar, yes agree!! don't buy a cheep UHF ....just like a bed , make it a good one.

Cheers

Radar · Guru

Hi All

We have just spent the last 3 weeks returning from up north Daintree back to Brisbane after a 6 weeks trip.

About 60 % time I had my radio off, it was so pleasant not needing to listen to quacking of the radio followed by the annoying verbal rubbish that our truck drivers use.

One was rubbishing a caravan owner near Sarina while a oversize pilot was repeatedly calling oversize south bound every 30 second like a needle caught in the record groove. No fun for all.

Once again UHF radio is not the answer and should be used carefully, not relied on by both sides. Ralph

Gerty Dancer · Guru

We have found the radio extremely helpful over the last few weeks travelling on remote developmental roads in Northwest Qld.

Mostly, while Mr D is driving, I just call up the truck "Southbound truck behind Jayco, do you copy?" He'll answer yes, then I ask if he wants to pass and usually they say "Don't worry I'll let you know when I'm ready" And when he can see the right place he'll call that he's "coming round". We don't slow till they are in the right lane, and usually there'll be a "thank you, safe travels" afterward.

Radar · Guru

Hi Gerty

Yes it is simple and nice work. Ralph

Jetta7 · Veteran Member

I found on a recent 7 week trip up the east coast brisbane to cairns , across the savannah way to Kununurra then back to brisbane via Winton and Longreach that the truckies on the inland roads were more polite than those on the coastal strip.

i put this down to the road conditions, that is on the coast there is limited overtaking opportunities and the truckies are pushed for deadlines and we are an inconvenience to their schedule. On the inland road , the road sections generally flat and long open straights that they have time to get past and if you call up they have already worked out when they will give a go and you work together. In most cases I found them to be polite and wish you safe travels.

like most things in life that involves the human species there is always the percentage of people representing both sides that make it uncomfortable for others. The ratio behind a truck combination and a caravan combination means the truck has an intimidating advantage, I err on the side of ensuring I do everything I can to not annoy them, but assist them, as I assume most on this forum probably do as well.

And I agree I only use a radio at audible volume when communicating, cause some of the language only goes to prove the mentality and maturity of the driver hasn't caught up with the responsibility of being an adult citizen of the community

Santa · Guru

Baz421 wrote:
It must have been 3-4 km before the whole passing was completed.

-- Edited by Baz421 on Sunday 10th of August 2014 08:50:31 PM

Under the circumstances you describe the smart thing would have been to pull over and let him pass unimpeded.

Yep I know the type of road well.

Baz421 · Guru

Santa wrote:
Baz421 wrote:
It must have been 3-4 km before the whole passing was completed.

-- Edited by Baz421 on Sunday 10th of August 2014 08:50:31 PM
Under the circumstances you describe the smart thing would have been to pull over and let him pass unimpeded.
Yep I know the type of road well.

I said I would have pulled over,, but she said it was OK,,, PLUS she was slipstreaming me,, so NOT a smart move,,,