Takas closed/partially blocked (21 January)

**RT527** · 25th January 2007, 19:50

Originally Posted by Jim2

There's a bloke with his brain turned on.

Yeah only problem with that is a curtainsider would go in and come out a flat deck lol.

**RT527** · 25th January 2007, 19:53

Sure - but trains handle them fine, right? Isn't the whole point of shipping containers that they're easy to move from one vehicle to another?

ok there is no rail tracks to Whitianga or the coromandels, so trains wont work. Also there isnt rail tracks to every factory/timber yard/distribution yard so you still need the trucks to get them to the rail head.

or increasing RUC or whatever, would result in enough investment to fix that.

We already contribute more than our fair share at the moment, actually way too much because the govt sees fit to only use half of it for roads, the rest goes into general coffers.

**RT527** · 25th January 2007, 19:56

Originally Posted by Jim2

The accident on the weekend was caused by the truck running out of brakes and tipping over negotiating a corner and crushing a car. Hardly ma and pa's fault.

I can't remember the last time I saw containers on the Rimutakas. It's mostly bulk goods for Supermarkets and seasonal stock truck runs and apparently logs again.

Yup I never said that one was anyone elses but the drivers fault, and have said time and again that All people need to drive to the conditions that driver was obviously going too fast , if you are in the correct gear/road speed you will not use your brakes up coming over the takas.

**RT527** · 25th January 2007, 20:00

So, where's the problem with using two small trucks instead of one huge one?

ok the problem would be and I`ve been told this by the shipper that any less than 1800 boxs of mussels per container cuts into the profit margins and you can only just get 1800 or a little bit over that into a 40 footer.

They do use 20 footers for speacial orders tho.

Ohh btw you cant use 2 20 foot containers to put 1800 boxs of mussels in because they wont fit....if you think about it theres only 1 refrigerater unit on a 40 so if you used 2 20`s then that would be 2 units and this cuts down the cubic space within the 40 foot length.

**Fatjim** · 25th January 2007, 20:01

Fuck the trucks.

They cross the centre line.
They leave cow shit everywhere.
They spill diesel.

**RT527** · 25th January 2007, 20:03

Originally Posted by Jim2

Think about that comment for a second and then come back with something a little less emo, OK? Just calm down and think for a second. Remember my insurance claim went through and I didn't lose my no claims, or have my premium jacked, so I might not be talking rubbish.

ok my bad i wasnt refering to this accident rather the one at Manakau which incidently was caused by the car losing control.

What i`m trying to say is more often than not it is the car that lose`s control and the poor truckie is just along for the ride.

**RT527** · 25th January 2007, 20:06

I dont see anyone calling for the banning of trains after someone was killed on a crossing yesterday after being hit by a train, which if you all have your way and use more trains for freight , then we will see more instances of rail crossing accidents as the more freight moved by means more trains on the tracks.

**Ixion** · 25th January 2007, 20:08

Originally Posted by RT527

ok the problem would be and I`ve been told this by the shipper that any less than 1800 boxs of mussels per container cuts into the profit margins and you can only just get 1800 or a little bit over that into a 40 footer.

They do use 20 footers for speacial orders tho.

Ohh btw you cant use 2 20 foot containers to put 1800 boxs of mussels in because they wont fit....if you think about it theres only 1 refrigerater unit on a 40 so if you used 2 20`s then that would be 2 units and this cuts down the cubic space within the 40 foot length.

So, what that comes down to, is peoples' lives are being put at risk rather than cut into the shipper's profit margin. The unacceptable face of capitalism if ever I saw it.

If 1800 boxes won't fit into 2 x 20 footers then put 1500 or what does fit and stuff the bloody shipper's profit margins.

**Fatjim** · 25th January 2007, 20:09

Originally Posted by RT527

I dont see anyone calling for the banning of trains after someone was killed on a crossing yesterday after being hit by a train, which if you all have your way and use more trains for freight , then we will see more instances of rail crossing accidents as the more freight moved by means more trains on the tracks.

Did the train cross the centre line? drop diesel, or cow shit?

**RT527** · 25th January 2007, 20:17

Originally Posted by Jim2

Exactly elle, and none of us are blaming the driver. However if the road isn't suitable for heavy transport, and look at how many brake failures the Rimutakas generates and it is only 13km of windy hill road, then it should rated as unsuitable and heavy transport should find an alternate route or medium.

It all comes down to driver skill or lack there of, my truck is only a year old has disc bracks on 4 axles of the trailer and stops on a dime , however i never trust my brakes to stop me fully loaded, or i should say I dont rely on my brakes to stop me , i just drive to the conditions and if that means 20 kmph down a hill in the correct gear then thats how I`ll do it.

Most old time drivers will say down the hill at the same speed you came up them.

But with technology today most trucks have an engine brake or retarder that has as much horsepower available to them as the engine horsepower to slow them down.

So why are the still going over, I know the reason and so do Cviu and Acc.
I wont say on here tho.

**Ixion** · 25th January 2007, 20:18

I don't see anyone calling for the BANNING of trucks. Just not using trucks which are too big for the road in question. One point worth considering (well, I think it is anyway), using appropriate sized vehicles, means more demand for drivers, and thus higher wages (and reduced unemployment). A win all round it seems to me, except for the poor old supplier with his "cut into " profits. Bugger him.

**James Deuce** · 25th January 2007, 21:03

Originally Posted by RT527

So why are the still going over, I know the reason and so do Cviu and Acc.
I wont say on here tho.

Why? because it comes down to people's lives being worth less than the contents of a 20ft or 40ft container?

I think we've established that the average truckie cares little for the havoc he leaves behind him, and that trucking firms value revenue and profit margin more than the life of a driver or other road users.

As Ixion said, and as I said before, use trucks that are suitable for the road. If it has to cross the centre line, it isn't suitable.

The major problem we face in NZ is that we sold our railways to an Aussie trucking firm. The railways will never be a freight alternative until they are removed.

**RT527** · 25th January 2007, 22:14

and that trucking firms value revenue and profit margin more than the life of a driver or other road users.

Leave the truckies out of it ...they are just trying to pay there wages in an understaffed under paid industry

What you said in the quote comes down to it in one word Money....for fucks sake people if this is your attitude to someone trying to put his point across while at the same time
listening and understanding what it is you are on about then why do i bother, you guys have already made your mind up , i dont know why i bother...if you guys have all the answers fucking do something about it , but i can see a much bigger picture.

Smaller trucks actually have a higher point loading on the roads , are usually lower horsepower resulting in more diesel consumption and higher emmisions smaller trucks hurt just as much as big ones you drongos, seems like if it isnt a bike then its not important.
A two axle truck will tip over a lot faster than my Quad axle trailer even with a large/high load on.
your average driver does give a fuck about all the things you mention its the below average truckie that we need to re train or tell to piss off.

Our company has a policy of if your going to go over your hours for the day we will book you into a motel, this has only come about since they started giving tickets to dispatches. This is happining more often with most companys now because the dispatcher and owner of the co can be held accountable for his drivers actions.

Oh yeah and profit margins is where it is all at , if they dont make a profit they start sacking people until theres no one to work for them , then they go overseas to china and pay someone a dollar a day to do the same job, then where will our economy be?, as for the trains , they do drop oil on the roads they do create hazards of derailments on tracks that run parallel to roads.

you people are the consumers that need /want your stuff delivered straight away, you want to go to the warehouse and buy what ever right there off the shelf, so like i said before start putting some consideration into your driving riding and you will find that these things dont happen as much (accidents)you guys dont care about my view so why should i give a flying about what you think....except that i do because I dont want a closed mind about it, ........