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While most trucks today are built to a standard of
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comfort that a few years ago was the realm of luxury cars, some models still have their problems. On TruckNet UK, the question: "How comfortable is your driving position?" brings a range of replies. Although a couple of models get more than their fair share of negative comments, many drivers blame a poorly thought-out conversion to right-hand drive or bad design for making their day not only uncomfortable but, in some cases, painful. The comments are being recorded for an article in CM's sister publication Truck & Driver, which will reveal the most uncomfortable truck to drive.
A subject that has been covered before is the Fresnel lens and it comes up again this week. Surprisingly, for a bunch of drivers, no one seems to have a bad word to say about the product and some think it should be standard on all trucks. The discussion this week is not about how good or bad the lenses are, but where they can be obtained from. It seems a few traffic officers still carry them to give out if asked.
Paying for overnight parking has become a hot issue on the forums; a surprising number of bosses still don't seem to pay for their trucks to be secure overnight. Some will pay only a percentage of the cost to park their truck at a MSA or truckstop, expecting the driver to pay the difference. One driver reports that his boss will not even reimburse tolls. The question of whether it is reasonable for drivers to cover part of the costs of parking the vehicle overnight has led to some very heated debate.
Finally, in the Owner-Drivers forum, comments to a wannabe owner driver looking for sound advice include these gems. "This is not a getrich-quick scheme. The transport industry is full of empty promises, If someone offers you something that's too good to be true, it probably is." And my favourite: "Go to your bank, draw out all your money and the deeds to your house and burn them, then spend the next few years having sleepless nights while banging your head against the wall. It will be a much less painful experience than being an owner-driver in this economic climate.'