A B-double was navigating the tight bends of Eastern Dorrigo Way in northern New South Wales, when it ran into trouble.
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) confirmed, “This steep, windy mountain pass is not an approved B-double route.”
And despite warning signs along the way stating: “Warning: Narrow Road Unsuitable for Long Vehicles,” the truck attempted to travel through.
The NHVR says this caused one trailer to roll off the mountainside and the other trailer almost being pulled with it, blocking both directions of the road.
“As a result of the accident, Heavy Haulage recovery was onsite with a crane to recover the combination before it was directed to be towed away,” NHVR added.
The driver of this vehicle needs to be fined to the full extent of the law.
It should go further as of full cancellation of MC licence with foot note”never to given back”, then NHVR need to get serious and up the fines to where they really hurt, in QLD it is poultry $1000 on the spot which transport operators laugh at, they consider it an operational cost, it should be min $10,000 for the transport operator.
more to the point, did he have a licence
why is this happening what is the experience of the drivers, are these drivers New to our roads, age, nationality, experience. What?
there is not acceptable reason for this mistake, I need feed back as a family member owns a trucking company, and is have great difficulty in employing experienced, professional drivers, his insurance claims have skyrocketed in the last 4 years, all claims drivers silly fault, No experience! and don’t understand Australian roads conditions and Rules (?)
What Driver in his right mind would take a double B on a winding country road with switch backs ?
YES that is the problem with other people coming into the country and driving trucks I’ve witnessed situations where they get someone else to drive and back the truck upto dock cause they are unable to do it
Where are these drivers getting their licenses from
you have an industry screaming for Drivers. the systems passes too many inexperienced drivers without record just for money. it’s not the drivers fault, the government needs to educate drivers better by pointing out to new drivers, especially those from other countries that Rig driving has more responsibility than other drivers. new Drivers should be on a 6 month buddy system, where the driver they’re partnered with will have they’re license scrutinised if the probationary driver becomes reckless. Also, Drivers who take unnecessary risks to be reported and required to take another driving test, not a paid one. Trouble is, everyone is pointing the finger while nothing is actually being done.
the government should be held responsible for any costs, damages etc etc for allowing new drivers without the proper experience, on the road
They’re paying peanuts, so only getting monkeys.
Yay the capitalism race to the bottom!
I am a 54 year old male have just received my heavy combination lisence after a change of career, always loved trucks , feel confident in driving, drove Australian roads for over 30 years, clearly understand laws and regulations. I have put in for numerous driving jobs with no reply. If company’s are hiring drivers without experience, well I’m certainly not one of them.
I hear you. That’s exactly where I’m at also.
Walk in and see them face to face, that’s usually best.
This is so true, I did the same. I totally blame the companies for hiring people they can get away with underpaying them.
This is one of the many results
There is an old saying, If at first you don’t succeed, Try, Try, Try again.
Anyone can say they know Transport, but once you get them out on the road you and get them to reverse, unload and then load again, you have seen everything you need to. You then tell them when to start, or tell them you will give them a call as you have other people to interview.
I’ve noticed that the actual driving instructors don’t have to have the relivent licence for what they are supposedly teaching or I’m not racist in any way but the teachers are new to Australia as well … money talks in that field
no comment different state WA.
iv been driving for 38 years, doing furniture removals , been nearly to even the most remote places with nearly 15 million klm of driving the main land and Tasmania as well as different Islands, thinking of giving up the job because of all these idiots on the road now such a shame as I have always loved the job, there are drivers out there doing the wrong thing and still continuing to do just that,let’s get real and start following and filming these so called professionals
This driver should not have been on this road, absolutely, BUT what alternatives did he have, where were the signs located, was there any possibility of him being able to turn around when he saw the signs, I bet there wasn’t, any experianced driver will tell you by the time you see the sign you are already committed, so what do you do, reverse up in heavy traffic, in a B DOUBLE really. He should have planned his route better I hear you say, try accessing information on B Double and A double routes and see how difficult it is, that is if he has a lap top in the truck with him, yea right we all carry lap tops with us, I know one guy who was fined recently for being on a road that was not A double compatible, the fining officer said to him, had you been using a tri axle dolly instead of a tandem you would hav been OK, WHAT, this was despite the company he was working for sending him that way, despite them being fined 2 weeks earlier for the exact same thing.
I hear you
the ass clowns in government
are responsible
Subsidised drivers with allotted housing for immigrants and ready transfer of licence into Aus without testing
what about real aussies
none of that for us
its the usual shit show
There are paid navigation apps for trucks, Sygic is a good example.
But they’re not free, like Google Maps. Every dollar spent is not profit!
It is all well and good having signs notifying of narrow road ahead unsuitable for long loads but was there anywhere for the truck to turn around?
Is this caused by unscrupulous companies expecting their drivers to cut times, corners & costs in their operations? And the reliance on digital maps not showing all of the info that paper maps used to show?