Major change on the industrial scene with the “Closing the Loopholes” legislation getting up and the first of the orders now released and time will tell both the effects and effectiveness of these changes, on how many drivers are treated.
I do hope it will be all positive and think it is certainly worth the effort of so many to see this achieved.
The Heavy Vehicle National Law review, what can I say, too long, too costly, too little change, and those of you who whinge about this, please consider that if you had taken to time to respond, even if only with one major point, then maybe the few of us who did, would not have been run over, by those who obviously had more (or way too much) sway.
I am told there will be ongoing minor further reviews, but again, if only 30 truckies contribute, those who think giving us 1 per cent more flexibility will mean us all working and driving 28 hours a day, 8 days a week, will again destroy any real change.
Roads, what a mess, not only are they failing not just us and our customers badly and increasing maintenance and contributing to crashes, but the maintenance is failing as well.
No, I am not an engineer, but it is my life and yours at risk, not those who control and have responsibility for them.
Road workers must be safe and able to fix the roads, that is what we want, but the waste of money in “ROUGH SURFACE” signs left out for months, pilot vehicles to travel 200m if that, means the costs are blowing out and the repairs are not getting done.
Then there is the lack of both skilled road workers and those in charge, then those who do know what they are doing, not being listened to by someone a long way away in an air-conditioned office and again, whose lives are at risk? How can it be fixed today and fail tomorrow or a month later?
Lastly truck rest areas. We are going backwards, new roads and bypasses, some sites closed for safety reasons, but few replaced and yet more trucks and cars and yes, caravans on the road all trying to use the current lack of capacity.
And after only 25 years, I am still begging, emailing and ringing to get green reflector marking of informal bays national.
It has been a frustrating year, and I do feel it is getting both harder to get anything done and hence, I do feel and understand the cynicism of many of you.
Some have simply walked away and then we have the driver licensing, apprenticeship and still the cry for nearer to national rules, but I haven’t given up and will keep trying.
What will you do?
- Rod Hannifey is a long-haul truck driver and truckies’ advocate. This story is part of our 2025 New Year Wish Lists feature, in the January 17 issue of Big Rigs.
How you are not an advisor to government is baffling after all this time. Maybe we should have 2 weeks off prior to Xmas and after the financial year? Let the cars take the freight, and the abuse?
Seems it’s the only way to get attention to problems these days.
An apprenticeship has been asked for for how long? And we still haven’t got drivers who can go backwards or use mirrors, and speed limiters were going to save the road toll.
The general public doesn’t care who has to die, so long as they get everything they need when they want it. After growing up in trucking and 40 odd yrs pushing time, it is my sad belief that unless a driver who knows the job is put in charge, nothing will change.
Keep at it Rod. You deserve a medal.
Truck on. 🐢🚛