Allan Whiting

Australia

Editor at Outback Travel Australia

Offroad driving and touring specialist with 40 years experience in Outback Australia

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Articles

Rail crossing and bridge collision avoidance technology previewed

Jun 2, 2024 | trucksales.com.au | Allan Whiting

LSM’s latest patented technologies are aimed at eliminating truck collisions with overhead bridges and trains at level crossings. The company is seeking government grant assistance to produce these products locally, but so far, this grant effort has been unsuccessful. We reported on the current situation with rail level crossings, following sharp focus on this issue, at the recent ATA Trucking Australia 24 conference.
Mack’s turbo-compound fuel saver

Jun 2, 2024 | trucksales.com.au | Allan Whiting

The prospect of ‘free’ power, using waste exhaust-gas heat and pressure has long proved irresistible, and the Volvo Group seemingly overcame issues that forced most other diesel engine makers away from turbo compound engines. The fact that the Group has made its 13-litre TC engines standard across most of its Mack and Volvo USA highway truck models says a great deal about confidence in this fuel-efficiency route.
TA 24: Building the road transport workforce through inclusion

May 1, 2024 | trucksales.com.au | Allan Whiting

Currently, only around five per cent of Australian road transport industry drivers are women. Also, many young people who have no association with road transport don’t even consider it as a possible career. The ATA has been running a diversity program since 2020, with the assistance of Teletrac Navman, aimed at attracting employees from non-traditional backgrounds.
The future for truck driver licensing: What you need to know

Apr 28, 2024 | trucksales.com.au | Allan Whiting

At the Australian Trucking Association’s recent Trucking Australia 24 conference, held in Canberra, two officers from Austroads and road transport industry identity, Ron Finemore, brought ATA delegates up to date with licence uniformity progress. The panel was introduced by the ATA’s Steve Shearer. “Austroads is the association of governments with transport responsibilities: the states and territories in Australia, as well as the New Zealand Transport Agency,” said Austroads’ Paul Davies.
TA 24: Saving lives at level crossings

Apr 22, 2024 | trucksales.com.au | Allan Whiting

The session was chaired by Rachel Smith, the national executive director of the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association. She is a person representing truck operators who are only too aware of level crossing hazards. The two experts who commented from the lectern were Christopher Wren and Sal Petroccitto. Dr Wren is a smartly-kitted lawyer, who joined the ATA in 2023 as Senior Policy Advisor and leads the ATA’s work on the level crossing issues.
Trucking Australia 24: It's on!

Apr 16, 2024 | trucksales.com.au | Allan Whiting

The Trucking Australia 24 program includes 28 information presentations, Q&A sessions and social events that allow delegates to learn, exchange ideas and liaise with politicians and government officials. With some 400 delegates registered to attend, the event was sold out well in advance of opening day. Unfortunately, some of the sessions will run concurrently, so we’ll do our best to cover what we reckon are the most significant road transport topics.
More women heading to the transport industry

Mar 20, 2024 | trucksales.com.au | Allan Whiting

Diesel motor mechanics have been on the Skills Priority List for the past three years, with a June 2023 report finding the estimated vacancy fill rate was particularly low for occupations in Automotive Trades. Labour Market data show that the Western Sydney region’s transport, postal and warehousing industry grew by 10,000 workers in the past year, with an 80-percent male workforce.
Tested: Flexima RV mattress

Feb 12, 2024 | caravancampingsales.com.au | Allan Whiting

Originally designed for boats but now finding their way into campers and RVs, the Australian-made Flexima mattresses are designed to offer the durable ‘springiness’ of an innerspring mattress, without the complexity and weight of metal framework and springs. The Flexima Nautic mattress is primarily designed to meet the requirements of marine bedding: comfort, customised size, ‘breathability’ and, significantly, no metal parts that can corrode.
Buying the perfect caravan mattress

Feb 12, 2024 | caravancampingsales.com.au | Allan Whiting

It’s vital to have quality sleep when you’re camping or caravanning and the key to that is selecting the right mattress. We’ve checked out all types over the years to help with your purchase decision... Sleeping away from home is often demanding enough, but most people have found that motel beds or even guest beds at friend's or relative's houses don’t match what they’re used to at home. Experiences I’ve had with different camping mattresses are the same: some good, some not so good.
Trucksales Innovation Award 2024: The Winner!

Jan 25, 2024 | trucksales.com.au | Allan Whiting

The latest-generation Fuso eCanter is already in series production and trucks are on their way to Australian customers. We reckon this second generation eCanter makes sufficient technology gains over its predecessors to merit a second Innovation Award. Daimler Truck and its subsidiary, Fuso, have been at the forefront of electric truck development since most developed countries expressed a need for low- and zero-emissions trucks.