Biglorryblog notes with interest while some (though by no means all) UK truck operators are keen to try out longer heavier vehicles, the Aussies have taken an imaginative approach to persuading the legislators of the benfits of bigger rigs. This picture has been sent to me by Gary Richards who, wearing his Volvo hat says: "Hi Brian, as Europe struggles with the thought of longer/heavier vehicles. In a land known for its long combinations, it's also a challenge to get these highly efficient units closer to the populated areas. However, one of the lead bodies in Oz (The Australian Trucking Association www.atatruck.net.au) has been working to demonstrate the credentials of longer units to the general population, especially to politicians in those areas most likely to benefit from such combos. The attached B triple (34m long) pic shows a recent sucessful roadtrip whereby the coach following the unit is the support vehicle with invited guests - to show them first hand how well the unit performed on the typical Aussie rural road." Now click through here for more...
Via Gary, David Coonan, national manager, policy for the Australian Trucking Association explains to BLB: "The photograph shows the MEC The Road Ahead prime mover operating in a B-triple combination at the joint Narrandera Shire ATA information and demonstration day on 28 August 2009. Feedback from attendee and operators involved has been positive. Also Bob Pearson, often referred to as the father of B-doubles in eastern Australia, was in attendance. Bob presented a session about B-doubles and the lessons learnt over the last 25 years. Bob rated the day as the best vehicles demonstration day that he is aware of for more than 12 years. He is writing a book on the first 25 years of B-doubles in Australia and in his publicity he will be referring to this event, about the ATA is working towards the next generation of safer more productive vehicles. On the day we hosted some 70 people for the presentations and demonstrated high productivity vehicles to around 60 people over a route of almost 80 km. We demonstrated 7 combinations: seven axle truck and dog, B-double, pocket road train, B-triple, AB-triple, Type one road train, and a BAB Quad."
And BLB's congratulations to ATA and Volvo for taking the discussion 'to the streets'. If only we could do the same proactive exercise over here!
The Volvo at the front is a B-Triple - and is owned by one of the biggest operators of Volvo trucks in Oz, Day's Transport Service of Narrandera!