After driving trucks for more than four decades before retiring to become a full-time grey nomad, Steele Lambert, knows a thing or two about how the two road-using groups can happily co-exist. Here, he shares his insight with his fellow travellers.
I’ve been driving trucks for over 40 years and driven pretty much all of Australia in heavy haulage, road trains and B-doubles.
My wife Rikki and I sold our house a few years ago and, like a lot of you guys, are full-time caravan travellers. I’d like to share a little information with you on how trucks and caravans can happily coexist together.
A couple of quick points. Nearly every truck is speed limited to 100km/h. Just going from 90km/h (average caravan towing speed) to 100km/h takes time and distance.
Secondly, a truck driver is highly regulated so, if we’re held up for too long, we can’t get to our unloading place or rest area we like (favourite roadhouse or our sleeping area etc). We have to have designated breaks at certain times. Now I’ll explain how to deal with that truck right up behind you. It’s very close for one reason … every metre matters.
A B-double is about 35 metres long and, if it sits back a few car lengths behind you, it will need more time and distance to overtake you. It’s important you maintain your speed and road position. Do not try to force the truck to overtake as it will lose momentum. When the truck decides to overtake, ease up on your accelerator and it will be past you quickly and safely.
If you want to be extra helpful then flash your headlights when it’s clear to return to the lane. The driver will love you for it and give you the ‘truckie thank you’ (a flash from both indicators). In double lanes, be aware of your speed.
Many caravans and motorhomes speed up causing frustration to trucks and cars behind. It’s better and safer to slow down and allow several vehicles to pass (I’ve seen many cars take extreme risks when getting frustrated).
The next point would be that if you notice quite a few vehicles behind you, then please find a place to pull over (again, I’ve had to brake hard and manoeuvre dangerously when impatient drivers make silly overtaking decisions).
In terms of dealing with road trains out west. If one is coming towards you on single-lane bitumen, pull off the road and let him have it! You’ll avoid a smashed windscreen etc.
Lastly, if you can buy a UHF radio, turn to the truckies’ channel, leave it turned down if you like, but put it on when a truck’s behind you (copy southbound truck behind the Jayco caravan). You’ll not only help him safely pass you but, believe me, you will make a friend! Even other trucks in range will call you and say ‘good on ya for helping us out’.
As a retired interstate truckie I agree with all of the above and would just add that logistics have changed so much over the years that there is more freight moving than is stationary in warehouses and deadlines so tight that you may be coming from Perth to Sydney and have an allotted time slot at a loading dock on a certain day which if you miss you go to the back of the queue. Most drivers have a pay component per km so it personally bites into their wages. They are under serious time pressures. You used to be able to have an elastic log book but with tachographs and now ELD’s its a tough gig.
Agree with all the comments by the truckers but there is still that element (as in all professions) that abuse Caravanners just for being on THEIR Highway.
Good advice from both of the above comments. As an ex truck driver, albeit in the 60’s and 70’s, my husband does his best (and has taught me to do the same) to follow these guidelines as much as possible. We are by no means perfect but it does make life on the road easier for all of us. Another thing some drivers should be aware of is how much further slowing or stopping distance longer heavier units need.
I’m sorry but my view on trucks is very different. Roads are for everyone to use and there is no other group of road users that expects favouritism from all other users. This is an industry problem that needs to understand that the requirements inflicted on their staff are unreasonable and work out how they are going to manage a system that is realistic to achieve, without expecting other road user to fit in with their unrealistic demands.. Other businesses don’t expect society to work around or be inconvenience by their unreasonable and unrealistic expectations. There are many drivers who get frightened by the tactics used by trickies and the intimidating behaviour. I have reported truckload to employers and police and drivers have been sacked and/or received big fines and loss.of licences. I’ve had them tailgate in day time where l could see the patterns on their headlight covers as have many people l know. On 2 occasions the same driver in same truck, on same day a week apart was so close my adult child who had been involved in 2 serious accidents was hysterical. We called freight company and face boss km by km rundown of activities. He got fired.
The sooner the pollution generators are taken off the roads the better.
What a poor comment
No idea
You would be the first to complain when there is no food or toilet paper.
As a matter of fact trucks are far more efficient and greener than the most economical fuel sipping car. When you compare mass moved and fuel consumed the truck is far far more fuel efficient and better for the environment. And the more you load them the more trailers you have the more efficient it is and actually far safer. Why have 3 trucks on the road pulling a single trailer when one truck can do it.
I realise truckies carry this country.
There are some very good and welcome suggestions from the ex truckies.
But the pressures and burden companies place on the truckies is a bit over the top.
They are only human and should not be expected to perform like machines or robots.
It makes it very dangerous for human error to occur.
I have heard of immigrant truck drivers who double up full time in the truck cab virtually living full time with eating and toilet facilities on board cris crossing the continent only stopping to fuel up and swap over drivers.
Enhancers are another problem as well…!
Hi, thanks for the tips, I too have driven trucks, your comment “very close for 1 reason. Every metre matters” I have a camera on my van, the trucks are dangerously close, it makes my van sway, and a lot of times it’s a area where there is no overtaking permitted or no room to overtake anyway, when they get the chance to overtake its with horn blasting and then cut you off as they pull in front of you, very dangerous for caravans, We are all road users, I would like to get to my camping spot at a certain time, but I will not tailgate or overtake if not safe, I understand truckies have times and penalties, but safety comes first, this is just my story and opinion, hope this creates a dialogue between all of us road users, and we can travel this country together safely happily and respecting each other, Gary
I’m retired and it doesn’t really matter if I’m on time, an hour late, or a day late. Truckies are trying to make a living and the work they do helps the Aussie economy making this place a better place for my grandkids. I get out of their way as soon as it is safe as quickly as I can.
I will only make one comment. Tailgating is rife amongst the transport industry and should be stamped out.
Not just tailgating and intimidation but the foul mouthed abuse by these truckies to other road users is disgusting. The sooner we move more freight by rail and reduce the trucks on the road the safer we will be. I suspect my comment will be howled down, but don’t care. Too many drugged up truckies on the road.
Rail???
Rail is so slow and inefficient and expensive. It is triple handling. In years gone by rail was used but quickly hit it’s limitations.
Rail is pointless. You need a truck to collect and load it onto rail then another truck to unload rail and deliver. What is the point of using rail when one truck can do the whole job and far quicker.
Trains don’t go to your supermarket.
We drive a motorhome towing a car and usually cruise at 80-85 kmh. We are very mindful of trucks and do our best not to hold them up. We have had very little trouble with many giving us the thankyou for headlight flash when their last trailer is clear or pulling over to let them pass. However we did have one foul mouthed truckie near Port Agusta abusing us over the radio, accusing us of travelling at only 65kmh when we had the cruise control set to 85kmh. Rather disheartening when we put effort into doing the right thing. Truckies we have spoken to have said that 85 kmh is fine, giving them some margin to get past and we have been advised to just maintain speed and let them judge overtake.
I should add to my previous comment that on several occasions we have had trucks and even a road train cross double solid white lines to overtake us, in one instance with a blind corner ahead. Pretty frightening!
I am proud to say that I already heed all of the advice Steele suggested. I think I must be pretty well known now out there on the open road for being “truck friendly” (and my recognizably brightly coloured vintage caravan!) as I frequently get the double blinker thank you’s (always makes me smile) and cheerful toots if I’ve pulled over and they pass me down the road.
The way I see it, they are getting paid to provide an essential setvice, whereas I’m on no real time schedule, so when it comes to right of way, they win! I always pull as far left as possible as soon as it is safe for them to pass, and flick my indicator to let them know all is clear up ahead, it also helps to reduce the “pull” they exert on your van as they overtake too if you move as far over to the left of the road.
Utmost respect to our truckies and doing my small part to hopefully improve their perception of us annoying caravanners (aka: cockroaches)
I’ve never had a bad experience with any professional truck drivers and all this advice and much more on caravan and truck road etiquette has been gratefully received from a variety of helpful truckies during my many long-haul outings with my vintage caravans and classic cars and the many ensuing mishaps that often saw me held up at remote truck stops awaiting essential repairs.
Most major roads were actually built for THEM, not us! That’s why most highways now bypass smaller towns. The fact that we get to use these roads too is just a bonus!
I have only mostly had good experiences. I go the extra mile to call the truckie behind me, tell him/her my speed, length, etc and get them to give me a shout when they’re going to overtake. As well, we slow greys need to be situationally aware of the line-up behind us and actively look for those places to pull over and let people pass. It’s common courtesy…and yes, the truck drivers need to exercise the same courtesy. When we all do this, the traffic flows more smoothly and we all have a good day.
Very well said and actioned.
It’s a two way street why hold others up when your schedule is not
Time limited
I find that there are some terrible truckies and some terrible caravan/motorhome drivers. The ignorant, impatient and aggressive drivers cause most of the trouble, regardless of what they are driving. I always look out for truckies and do everything possible to help them and I also understand the pressure on them to get miles up. But the introduction of the big turbo truck engines has encouraged some truckies to act like turkies and caused some folk on holidays to try to race them. Who hasn’t had a (speed limited?) truck flog past them in a dangerous situation or some idiot in a LandCruiser tear past at 120km/hr while towing a big van? Patience is one of the greatest safety features you can hàve on the road.