For those of you that don't know about CB radios and the like, just about every truck on the road is using one. Gone are the days of the "ten four good buddy" lingo of the 70's and 80's and the sets are now just about all UHF which gives a much clearer sound than the old AM sets.
Generally we all sit on channel 40 except when running the Pacific Highway (channel 29). It's not all idle chit chat and any one having a long conversation will normally change down a couple of channels to leave the air clear for others or get told to do so.
Apart from the standard 'road reports' where announcments about police activities are relayed, the two-way radio is a great tool for passing slower moving vehicles with trucks further up the road calling back to say when the road is clear. So if you get overtaken when you think visibility is not good enough we are probably using someone else's eyes to see a lot further than you think.
If you're listening in on the 2-way, ignore the usual idiots around town who generate some perverse form of entertainment antagonising the passing truckers, and take time to figure out the terms used to advise of upcoming 'hazards'. Phrases like 'Candy Car', and 'double one' refer to the Highway Patrol vehicles, whilst 'Company Car' is a general duties vehicle. 'Barbie is cold' means the weigh bridge is shut and the are various location references like 'Sleepy Hill' (Tuggerah exit on F3) and 'Money Tree' (there are a few of these) which can take a while to figure out. Other than that it can be quite interesting to listen to.
Whilst I'm on the subject of visibility; it surprises me how many vehicles hang around a truck in the blind spots either back near the trailer wheels or next to the passenger door. Both these places are potential death zones if the truck driver has lost track of the vehicles moving around him (or her). I often find myself wondering where a particular car has gone only to find them checking out the wheel nuts on the left hand side.
The other stupid thing drivers often do is go slow (below the posted speed) forcing me out into lane 2 or 3 and just as they see the bull-bar come along side their window they shoot off into the distance. I can only assume that until I drew along side them they were oblivious to my presence. Use your mirrors and your common sense and you may be around for a lot longer.
This was very interesting to read.I started driving (van) to Canberra from Sydney a couple of months ago and quickly learnt some road rules I haven’t used while driving just in Sydney.People that do 90km in 110 zones are bloody annoying and make the drive even harder,I’m sick of have to overtake every 100 meters.I don’t know how on earth you guys in trucks do it,some of the stupid things people (especially girl cars) do around trucks infuriates me! I witnessed a lady over take a truck only to pull in infront of it and slow down to 90kmph,it then had to over take her?? I drive on the Hume to Canberra and have a little handheld CB radio I take with me,should I leave it on channel 15 to hear other trucks?
Yep, can get very frustrating at times. UHF channel 40 (477.400 MHz) will get the trucks on all routes except the Pacific Hwy (including the F3) where we use channel 29 (477.125 MHz).
I just read that again and deleted the channel 15 reference, don’t know where I got that from, must have been tired that day, lol.
Hello Mat, my name is Nicolas and I’m a member of Solar Team Antakari. My team and I are participating in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge next october and I would like to know if you could give me some tips on how to engage a specific truck on the road. Do I call it on the radio by its plates? I enjoy driving long distances here in Chile, that’s where the team is from, and I surely enjoy road etiquette. So if you could please help me make our trip from Darwin to Adelaide safer, and everyone else’s too, I’d appreciate it very much.
Cheers
Hey Nicolas. “Copy in the north bound Scotts” would be fairly normal. Genrally on the east coast everything is either heading north or south (even is they’re actually facing eastof west) although if you were heading to Adelaide from Sydney or to Perth you’d be west bound. “Scotts” would refer to the company name on the trailer but that’s no always evident and vehicle configuration (single, double or train) is often substituted or trailer type, like “crate” for sheep and cattle haulers, “float” for the heavy haulage guys or “flat top” for the less seen table top trailers often loaded and coverered with a tarp. You’ll find a lot of the two driver teams heading between Perth and the East Coast are reluctant to answer as their co-driver is asleep and they’ll acknowledge you with a double key press but not much else. You’ll want channel 40 UHF where you’re going and a lot of the caravans will be on channel 18 although out there they mostly listen in on 40 also. Good luck with your trip, would be great to see some photos.
Hey Matt, thanks for the website. My old man drove interstate back in the 50s 60s and early 70s. Bloody hard slog then mate, still is tough. Good luck with it all.
Great read mate, several good points about driver awareness, or there lack of! I’m a recreational fourby driver, and have been inside a truck (fourby), or semi most of my adult life, and either put it down to OCD that I’m constantly checking my mirrors to see what’s going on around me, or just my desire to want to know where all vehicles are at all times, my eyes are on a constant cycle throughout all my mirrors at all times! Only if other drivers did the same, there would be a lot less casualties on the roads, and a lot less close calls!
Great point about cars who are completely oblivious to their speed, sitting below the designated limit is just as dangerous as speeding as it pits other drivers in a position where they are forced to act accordingly, until more often then not, the knuckleheads decide to speed off meanwhile the chain reaction to other motorists, especially truck drivers is not only frustrating, it’s also bloody dangerous!
Thanks for a great read, and sharing a few years worth of tips for those who otherwise wouldn’t be any wiser to some of the facts that you stated.
Safe travels buddy, may see you in passing one day?…
Joel and fam