Dear Owner//Driver

FATIGUE AT THE COAL FACE

Truck drivers today I feel have more training nowadays relating to fatigue than actually about the vehicle they drive. High-tech gadgets being introduced daily, vibrating seats, eye testers … the list goes on.

Strangely, maybe yes or maybe no, nothing is said about improvements to the size of the actual bed, the place we are told is the only way to go when it comes to reviving.

I started long-distance driving in 1962 and rode sidesaddle with my dad previously.

I won’t bore you about our methods, legal and illegal, how we managed to rest or stay alert.

They must have worked for me, 73, and still a full-time employed DG tanker driver.

I will get to my point. In my opinion, industry and long-distance vehicle manufacturers forgot about the bed.

Kenworth brought out the big cab around the ’80s, a 900cm bed. Incidentally, a single bed is 1m (would you buy anything smaller for your child?) and that was a long time ago. No improvements since. Industry representatives, bow your head in shame. The continental vehicles our so-called industry leaders are now purchasing have a 750cm bed (big whoop).

If you can do it, I can do it. I would like to put a public challenge to Lindsay Fox, Ron Finemore, the boss of Toll and any other CEOs to take the mattress out of a 750cm bed, place it hard against a wall and sleep in it for 14 days.

Ladies and gentlemen, we need to attract young blood to our great industry, but when we expect them to sleep on something that is likened to a park bench, no wonder they shy away from our wonderful industry.

So the challenge is on. I’ll arrange the publicity. Barry Grimson Two times runner-up ATA Driver of the Year Shellharbour, NSW