Log Book
Log Entry 15/02/2009 - 18:23:32
Hello all, A great big thankyou to all for your wonderful kind wishes and offers of help. We have lost everything but we have each other and we are surrounded by the most incredible people imaginable. Thanks especially to Jo and David for passing on of information and Jo, you are surely sent from heaven. We will most definately be in Sydney for the opening and nothing will stop us from being part of such a wonderful project. Looking forward to meeting you all and having a great time. The Aussie spirit will not be crushed, I have never been so proud to be Australian. Mick and Kim
Log Entry 01/02/2009 - 23:08:35
Hi Judith, I did forget to mention the repayments on a truck and the initial cost to begin with. A Prime-mover, such as my white one in this photo, to replace would be in the vicinity of $260,000-$280,000 just for a basic package. That does not include any extras, personal bits or trailers. Repayments on a new one are around the $4000 mark per month. A good percentage of big trucks that are custom-made for a customer will top $300,000 and beyond, and a full B-Double, i.e truck and 2 trailers can reach half a million.
I was just reading back through the logbook and the "possum" bit made me think of an incident in Melbourne last week. I parked in a customers driveway at around 10pm ready to unload the following morning. There were a few small gum trees beside my cabin & around 1am I heard a hell of a noise on the roof. Looking out of the bunk curtains I noticed a small possum trying his hardest to climb my UHF aerial. For the next 2 hours he kept me awake, and when I awoke at 5am to back into the loading dock I noticed some strange marks on the mirror. On closer inspection what I found was little "grease covered footprints" absolutely all over the cabin, mirrors, intake & exhaust pipes, windows and my polished fuel tanks. Not happy, that is until I looked up at the top of the rather large opening of the left hand exhaust stack, and DEEP into the black soot that coats the inside of the pipes was evidence of a "last ditched effort" for freedom, shiny "claw marks" dissapearing down into the exhausts black abyss. One can only conjure up a vision of a possum hurtling through the air at mach1 with a smoking tail somewhere over Melbourne! Yes I did look and it wasn't in the pipes Dave.
Log Entry 28/01/2009 - 08:39:58
Hi all, Kim and I are finally catching up with our "poetic duties" after having been away relaxing from the hectic lifestyle we live. Sharing a truck is just like a marriage, nobody is ever completely happy with the way the other person does things, i.e. the way the truck is loaded, ropes are tied, HOW CLEAN THE TRUCK IS!!! But just like a marriage I find it's best to just keep my gripes to myself and say nothing, that way I know I'll have dinner when I get back home! While Kim is interstate in the truck she misses the kids badly, as there is just so much time to think about things. I miss them too but after almost 23 years of doing it you learn to block-out the things that cause you grief. I must thank David for suggesting I become involved in this project, Brendan for his guiding ways and of course Johanna & Bonny for their interest and support. Kim and I are really looking forward to meeting everyone involved and can't wait till the opening. Catch up soon, Mick & Kim
Log Entry 27/01/2009 - 14:17:16
After the trips are done, it's not a case of just getting out and going home, the truck needs to be serviced/repaired/cleaned and readied for the next week before any time can be spent with the family. Unfortunately there is not much time left after all of this has been done, but it is necessary. The truck being serviced in the workshop is as much a part of my job/life as driving. The truck takes around 900 litres of fuel every single trip, which equates to about $1100.00 every second day. Servicing, ie. oil changes, which must be carried out every four weeks (20,000klm) takes around 50 litres of oil, of which a 44 gallon drum costs another $1350.00, giving 4 services. Oil filters @ $75.00 each, fuel filters, air filters, grease etc. The cost is incredible just to keep it on the road each week. Other costs are rego for the B-Double prime-mover is $7050 per annum, and insurances to cover just the one truck, which include:
*General insurance to $2,000,000
*Public liability to $2,000,000
*Trailers-in-control times 2 (B-Double= 2 trailers)
*Prime-mover insurance
*Non-owned trailer insurance
*Dangerous Goods insurance
This comes to a total of $13,500 per annum. Tyres, of which there are 10 on a prime-mover and 34 for a full Double are between $450 and $620 each. Replacement engines can (and I assure you they do) cost up to $35,000, a gearbox $7,500-$8,000, Diff centers $4,500, plus any amount of spare parts and repairs.
There is a hierarchy within the industry where a "BIG" truck, ie a high horsepower, custom truck with all the chrome and shiny bits is regarded more highly than a grotty uncared for company truck or something smaller. Most of the big trucks run over night which is another world altogether. It is in your blood, it is a lifestyle not a job, and it becomes your life. I'm very lucky my family share it with me or I would be very lonely, as many drivers end up.
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