Lazy Truck Drivers?

[Frost]

I had the opportunity to drive a Merc Actors Prime Mover 2624 with Powershift Technology. It was the most lazyiest 12speed Truck that I have ever driven. Basically think of a BA/BF/FG Auto in a truck. Put it into drive and go, it will control your engine braking etc just steer and brake. The Cab Chassis version is almost as lazy (I forget model number) But it has a lazy manual. You just clutch and hit the shifter up and down.

Heres a photo of the shifter. Same place for all models



and the seat



These wernt taken in the truck I drove I forgot to take photos.

But you think Truck drivers are getting more and more lazy thats why more are falling asleep etc? Volvo, Scannia, Merc and some trucks with Cummins diesels in them are all going for this "lazy shift". So really all these days all they do is set the cruise and go.

And I can see the benefit for city driving but yeah. And Im not havin a dig at truck drivers, but yeah do you think the laziness of these new trucks are causing more accidents?

[AaronEF8]

Do you have any proof to back up the claim that more and more truckies are falling asleep? Self-shifting truck boxes have been around since about 2000, and have absolutely nothing to do with a shitty Cummins motor. Eaton's PowerShift attaches to a normal RoadRanger box, which get fitted to virtually every semi in Oz.
You'll find that a lot of the PowerShifters are fitted to Western-Stars or Kenworths with Cat C15 motors and used to tow livestock trailers, which need a steady driver so the animals don't stress out and get fucked up. But apart from that, it simply stops a shitload of wear and tear on the gearbox. Have you ever changed gears in a RoadRanger?

[nothin suss]

Changing gears in a roadranger is fun for about an hour.
I say if something makes a truckies job easier then they should go for it! I would hate being a 'truckie'.

[slo_sprint]

Changing gears in a roadranger is fun for about an hour.
I say if something makes a truckies job easier then they should go for it! I would hate being a 'truckie'.

Farken bingo!

Next thing you know BF/FG drivers will be falling asleep because their cars are too easy to drive

[Frost]

Do you have any proof to back up the claim that more and more truckies are falling asleep? Self-shifting truck boxes have been around since about 2000, and have absolutely nothing to do with a shitty Cummins motor. Eaton's PowerShift attaches to a normal RoadRanger box, which get fitted to virtually every semi in Oz.
You'll find that a lot of the PowerShifters are fitted to Western-Stars or Kenworths with Cat C15 motors and used to tow livestock trailers, which need a steady driver so the animals don't stress out and get fucked up. But apart from that, it simply stops a shitload of wear and tear on the gearbox. Have you ever changed gears in a RoadRanger?

I got my HC License in an 18 Speed Road Ranger Kenworth.

There is proof more and more truckies are falling asleep why the hell do you think the brought in the fatigue laws? But besides the companies pushing them to work longer hours do you think these auto trucks have been a factor?

Anyway I'm all for the Auto gear boxes, it was the easiest 30mins in a truck iv ever done, but I was just wondering if anyone thought it was a contributing factor to them falling asleep.

[pantic]

imo driving a auto i get restless and bored quicker with driving.. but it depends on the usual sleep the driver gets. if he was sick. got the flu.. alot more things come into it but imo i reckon a auto truck makes life easyer but you just hit cruise and go.. manual truck. split box. uphill gear down. down hill jack brake. it keeps ya moving but it all depends. main factors is lack of sleep the night before or doing 12+ hr shift.

i drove 24 hrs gee - sydney - gee i think after 18 hours i couldnt see the road no more. after $100 of enegry drinks. i had a 1hr sleep all was well from albury back to geelong.

truckies need nicer bosses.. who will let em sleep. i reckon anything then more of 8hrs straight driving deserves atleast 30min break or 2hr nap depending how many shifts you just pulled in that day.

if your tired. pull over.. hero's die first.

imo it aint worth driving with ya eyes half shut.. i did it for years as a truck driver... i refuse to now. drugs is what kept me awake. with all these drug buses now.. its not worth it. doing a day job 6am - 6pm driving trucks from 9pm - 5am (was for a tomato farm) get to sleep until 10am back to work.... i dont know about you's... but drugs are good to keep you awake

near the end i used to just work 5 day week with 2 nights and have the wednesday/friday off after trucking and just go to bed.

[Frost]

How long since you have driven a truck?

29th of Sept 2008 - All States introduce new Fatigue laws. It is almost a Unified law with each state having few minor adjustments but here is the Jist as follows, Truckies caught flawting this get big fines + companies.

No more than 12hours of driving/work within 24hours. Specific rest requirements etc. After 7 days you require 1 day off. After 2 weeks of driving you require in that 2 weeks of driving you need to have all of above minor rest breaks + 24 hours, also 4 lots of 7hr rest breaks after 10pm with 2 of those continuous.

The orginal legistation started out as, no more than 10hrs of driving/work with 10hours of rest in between. And the use of a work diary on all trips (even within 100km). Then the RTA had an original law where they said even if within 100km from home base and entering NSW you require a work diary. But thats all changed. And Coach drivers can drive up to 12hours and are allowed an extra 2 hours for work time (loading unloading)

When they first come in you couldnt get from Melb to Syd or SA Border to Noorsman in 10hours. Perth Return now is almost a 2 week trip to Melb. Compared to 6 days and 9 days for one way perth to brisbane.

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Hea ... gement.htm

[pantic]

i stopped driving trucks mid this year. so before that was inforced. would of made my life easyer...

[LTDHO]

Drivers doing dodgy inputs into log book or not having the required rest between shift cause fatgue and smashes.

Not automatic transmisions..

[BLWNLTD]

Truck accidents are caused the same as car accidents either from stupidity or just a simple mistake. I drive trucks and I drive an auto (argosy with eaton autoshift) but I do metro work. Sometimes I hate the auto and sometimes I love it, eg the monash at 5pm friday night I love the auto. Aside from less wear and tear on the truck better clutch life auto's were mainly introduced due to people not being taught how to gear a truck properly. Driving a roadranger is fairly simple once you know how and have had practice but gets difficult really quick if your a bit tired. But it could be worse could be a 20 speed spicer and dual range diffs lol.