In case anyone is wondering what sort of loads I've been escorting across the country while I'm flashing and escorting truck drivers, here are a couple of pics.
Yep, definitely oversized. What are the round things on the 2nd one.
I watched and listened to a harvester and escort going through town the other day. Now I have my UHF on channel 40 I listen to whats happening. Interesting to see how they work getting across the narrow bridge and out of intersections. I laughed as they were having a great discussion about the traffic coming out of the sideroads everytime they thought it was clear to get out on to the road.
I knew someone would ask. We've been answering the questions all week. The crates are spa baths for the blokes out at Moomba.
Nah! Only jokin'. They contain a coil of high-pressure flexible oil pipe. I did 4 trips with 2 coils per truck, and there were 2 trucks a day. I don't know how many went all together but over the 4 days there were 16, but a few had gone up before I started. Having a UHF radio in the vehicle is an absolute asset when it comes to learning road and traffic conditions and the approach of oversize loads. When I'm towing the van it gives me time to pull off the road without getting into trouble. It also helps if the pilot has a reasonable lead. My radio range is about 5-10 kms, but the other night heading south out of Pt. Wakefield I heard the radio pilot who haunts the channel in Adelaide. That's about 90kms. The weather has to be right, and that bloke has a very strong aerial set up. These radio nuisances around the cities can cause serious problems for the legitimate "workers" who depend on this frequency for safe operation. We use another channel util we get our of range. One also has to shut off their sensitive ear if they are offended by bad, and I mean disgusting, language. I'm very open-minded, but some of their crap repulses me.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
I couldn't agree more Christine. I consider a UHF a MUST in our tug.
It has saved us at least three times that I can remember. If we hadn't had it on or not had it at all, there is a good chance that I wouldn't be posting this now.
What I would like to see on wide loads attached to the escort vehicle is the width in meters of the following wide load.
The reason I say this is because on my last trip to Perth I came across a wide load that was almost the roads full width and I heard on the UHF the escort warning others of the width, so as always I found a safe place to pull off clear of the road. I should add that the escort had waved to me when he went past and I answered him on the radio whereas he told me that a car had not pulled completely off the road which caused some problems for them. When I asked why not have the width displayed and this would hopefully wizen this errant driver up.
Needless to say I was suddenly abused for my temerity.
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I was tired yesterday and I'm tired today betcha I'm retired tomorrow. he he.
I have to say, Christine, my mind boggled on reading the title of your thread. Sorry, just me.
When we passed an extra wide load on the Burnett Highway in June, there was a second escort which was actually a police car, and he drove right down the middle of the road, so we realized it was going to be an extra wide load. My UHF wasn't working, but my friends were leading.
Re the language...yes it bothers me greatly, but not much one can do about it.
Must say I was VERY disapointed when I came in here, I was expecting a couple of dirty pics, oh well guess I will just have to put up with two trucks.
Glad I'm not the only one.
OK.. I'll put my hand up too.. make that 3...
We have a few escorts flashing their wide loads, closer to town our way. And the bad language on the UHF, usually channels 1 through 9 on duplex and in any place they have the trakkies, uggies or moccies brigade.
I'm sorry to mislead you folks, but headlines are one of my skills as a result of a previous journalistic career.
The matter of size does matter in this instance Onedodger. I'm sorry you were blasted for your suggestion. It's actually a very relevant suggestion. Unfortunately the rules aren't made by us. We just have to interpret and execute them to the best of our ability. Bear in mind every state has it's own rules, guidelines and codes of conduct, each state has it's priorities. You'd be shocked at some of them, and you can read them on the web sites. Just google "oversize pilots". No, that doesn't mean "fat flyers". If you have UHF on board you will hear the size mentioned often. If you're not sure please call the oversize pilot and ask "how big". The only way this could be displayed would be by digital electronic signs on the roof with the beacons and sign. This highlights my focus of all motorists, especially caravanners, carrying a UHF radio, so they can pick up these details and other relevant information. Just for info, the crates were 5 metres wide. The header was 4.8 metres wide. In these instances length and height weren't a concern, but there are times when height determines the route we have to take, according to the permits of each state. Each oversize load you see on the highway has to have a specific permit which dictates the specific route to be taken for the entire journey. It usually means taking the long way, which is not always the sweetest way. And then we have to get home again. I love it. Currently standing by for the word on a job to somewhere out of Alice Springs. The fact they've ordered a 4WD gives me a clue.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
I'm sorry to mislead you folks, but headlines are one of my skills as a result of a previous journalistic career.
The matter of size does matter in this instance Onedodger. I'm sorry you were blasted for your suggestion. It's actually a very relevant suggestion. Unfortunately the rules aren't made by us. We just have to interpret and execute them to the best of our ability. Bear in mind every state has it's own rules, guidelines and codes of conduct, each state has it's priorities. You'd be shocked at some of them, and you can read them on the web sites. Just google "oversize pilots". No, that doesn't mean "fat flyers". If you have UHF on board you will hear the size mentioned often. If you're not sure please call the oversize pilot and ask "how big". The only way this could be displayed would be by digital electronic signs on the roof with the beacons and sign. This highlights my focus of all motorists, especially caravanners, carrying a UHF radio, so they can pick up these details and other relevant information. Just for info, the crates were 5 metres wide. The header was 4.8 metres wide. In these instances length and height weren't a concern, but there are times when height determines the route we have to take, according to the permits of each state. Each oversize load you see on the highway has to have a specific permit which dictates the specific route to be taken for the entire journey. It usually means taking the long way, which is not always the sweetest way. And then we have to get home again. I love it. Currently standing by for the word on a job to somewhere out of Alice Springs. The fact they've ordered a 4WD gives me a clue.
Sorry we got a little out of hand there Christine.
I know not every pilot or truckie is the same, and we have had some nice friendly exchanges. How can you be on the road these days without a UHF?
I find it a bit confusing however when we can see a pilot vehicle ahead with lights flashing, but he/she assumes we dont have a radio and doesnt say anything. I asked what was coming one day, and the bloke thought I was funny. Another time we got right off the road and the oversize-truck driver said "Oh come on, we arent that scary are we?" which was followed by some banter about grey nomads being "everywhere". And we thought we were being helpful!
You probably receive a mixture of reactions Granny, hope they are all nice to you! What an interesting job, love reading about your escorts.
Sounds like a great job and only a car licence required. Is there an "escort" rostered team "on call"? As far as Regs.variations between States, here is yet another good reason for "national" rules & regs! When I first read the heading I thought it might be about "flashing headlights" for safety but the "escorting" didn't seem to fit. How naieve am I then!
The heading was purposely open to interpretation. A little good-hearted smut between friends is entirely acceptable. I sometimes call the trade "escort pilots", but that could be interpreted as flying hookers to mining camps or somewhere. No, it's not that either. Unfortunately Gert we don't know if vehicles have UHF unless they speak to us. We sometimes call up small trucks, only to learn we have been speaking to ourselves. As a nomad I call up the pilots or truck to ask, "How wide?. They always respond with the dimensions. I then ask if getting off the black top, or behind the fog line is adequate, and they respond accordingly. The widest I've ever confronted was 8.5m bulldozer with blade attached in far western Qld. I wasn't going to argue the point. When I see a big rig or oversize approaching me from the rear, in my mirrors, I advise that I've seen them, my average speed (85-90kph) and that I'll call them around when it's safe to do so. I always receive a very pleasant acknowledgement from the driver/s. I think the fact that I've actually seen them in my mirrors is a relief to them. Some pilots can be a bit authoritive and short with their responses. Some are a bit slack and only advise the size if they're asked. So far I've been credited with my cheerful, friendly radio manner. (You wouldn't expect anything else from Cruising Granny).
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
