- Redmon discusses ‘Ice Road Truckers’ 100 comment(s)
- Rule bars handheld cell phone while driving Jan. 1 54 comment(s)
- Forecast: Driver shortage looming 48 comment(s)
- FMCSA posts hours proposals 39 comment(s)
- Dave Redmon fired from one IRT show, quits other 32 comment(s)
- Rand McNally unveils Intelliroute TND 700 23 comment(s)
- Truckers News to host sleep apnea webinar 15 comment(s)
- Bank sues Arrow Trucking 13 comment(s)
- Trucks and women, then and now 10 comment(s)
- Does less equal more? 9 comment(s)
Feature Article: Trucking around the world
December 1, 2009
| by: Truckers News Staff
Australia has its heavy-haul roadtrains that rumble across the Outback.
In South America, the “death roads” of the mountain regions separate the haphazard-style trucking from the more modern regions of the continents. Nepal’s mountainous treks are no less diverse for excitement with horn-honking truckers navigating narrow streets in less-than mechanically sound rigs that often give way to human pack-mule to complete the movement of goods.
In Europe, a heavily regulated transportation industry is still embraced by those drivers who enjoy the diversity of cultures. And then there are the Middle East “jingle trucks” that boast the pride of locals haulers despite the war-torn realities of Iraq and Afghanistan, where American truckers supporting the war effort form special bonds with fellow drivers.
Our look at commercial transportation in various regions of the world proves there is no such thing as typical when it comes to trucking.
Australia
Down Under
1 Comment
Leave a Reply
- Randall-Reilly™
- ©2012 Truckers News Magazine | Trucking News |
- Privacy Policy |
- Terms and Conditions
To Whom It May Concern:
I realize that your publication is a truckers’ magazine and I’m no trucker, and this probably isn’t the forum for this, but I thought I’d present this anyway- perhaps, just maybe there is a kind soul reading this who could shed some light on an unexpected adventure I experienced more than a decade ago. I take pride in telling a story truthfully and not embellishing; hence my query:
I recently was telling a group of friends about a journey I took in July 1998 by driving a rented Toyota from Lima, Peru up the Pan American Highway to Tombes just south of the border of Ecuador. Could anyone confirm or add to a few items I mention below?
1)At night the trucks seemed to be trailors out of a Mad Max movie- strictly in the sense of the number of headlights and illumination on the front was blinding to oncoming traffic. My tiny Tercel appeared to be equipped with a standard headlight setting that was actually high-beam and the high-beam setting was overpowering; every time a truck approached they’d flash their high-beams I’d do the same and then for the time it took the truck to pass it switched back to high beams. 2) Were the tractors in Peru “souped up”? The Kenworth tractors looked like they were on steroids- was I mistaken to see them hauling as many as three trailors? 3)Any knowledge of the Peruvian Pan American Hwy about the time of July 2008 and the corrupt cops positioned at unmanned toll booths? The Pan Am Tollroad wasn’t collecting tolls- because parts of the PanAM Hghwy were not passable or dangerous- but the cops were. I was stopped at least 8 times for some rediculous reason whereas they would quickly use the expression “la Fresca” which I took as gratuity for refreshment and offered money which they gladly accepted unless they responded “mas” and I obliged them with “mas nuevos soles”. Finally parts of the PAN AM Hwy were washed away and it was quite unerving to drive. Any drivers out there who had close calls with their rigs? Perhaps nearly losing controll because of washed away shoulders or parts of roads along cliff side highways?
I’m not expecting a reply but it would be exciting if someone who was familiar with my type experience could respond.
Thanks for reading, I hope I didn’t waste your time! I also read part of the on-line December Truckers News and it was informative and great reading even for the non-trucker!