Bird’s Eye View

THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN'

The last six to eight months have seen some major changes in this big old world of ours. I know that change is inevitable but we are talking major worldwide change. Changes that have to alter the way that we think, plan and act and alter the way we live and work.

Barely had we got through the major bushfires that devastated huge areas of our country, making roads impassable thus isolating many towns and cities, and wreaking havoc on so many then we were hit with our latest tribulation - COVID 19.

Another major threat to our country, our economy and importantly - our people. Luckily we have only seen small losses so far (April) but we are being unrealistic if we don't think that something a lot worse is still coming.

But through it all, Transport Operators - Truckies if you will - have soldiered on carrying this country as we always do.

Working late nights, weekends - away from friends and family to ensure that the rest of Australia still has food to eat, cleaning products, clothes to wear, car parts and the myriad of other items that we carry each day. I guess that we are lucky that we still have jobs and there hasn't been much of a downturn for us.

But it is a hell of a pity that we as an industry as not recognised for the ‘essential’ work that we do. We hear about the doctors and nurses, healthcare workers, police, ambo's, etc - yep all essential and doing a fine job - but look at all the support the public are giving to them - discount meals and free drinks at food chains, provision of free food at work, offers of free childcare and a mass of other things and yet what about Transport Operators - we are offered a ‘big fat zero’.

During the fires, we were stranded

But food i s only one problem - with the Roadhouses being shut the showers are also shut, as well as the toilets. Local regional shops are getting shirty and will not allow out of towners to stock up on food so what are ‘we’ the transport operators supposed to do?

I guess it’s back to the old days. Run the fridge as a freezer and stock up on frozen meals before you leave home. I have a little plugin food warmer - about the size of a shoebox - and it is just big enough to put

I guess it’s back to the old days. Run the fridge as a freezer and stock up on frozen meals before you leave home

on the side of the road, forced to pay exorbitant amounts of money for basic meals and supplies all whilst trying to keep Australia on its feet. Roadhouses, fuel stops, cafes all upped their prices - drivers were going broke on the side of the roads as the roads were closed.

And now during COVID 19, we are faced with the same problems. A driver can’t even get a decent meal anymore as roadhouses are closed. After a long day at work, he/she has to sit in their cab in their enforced break time to eat a pie and chips or a burger as that is all that is being offered as a takeaway - and that's assuming that the Roadhouses are even still open. one of those foil trays in. From frozen it takes about 40 minutes and is ready. Not ideal and definitely not as nutritious as a nice steak and salad but it is still hot and fills the belly.

Showers are now a bowl wash - heat the water in a plugin coffee cup heater and transfer to a thermos whilst the second one heats. Toilets are the regular 'Truckies Tree'.

It would just be nice if we - as an industry - got a bit of recognition of the vital work that we do every day.

I guess the only upside of this current nightmare is the absence of grey nomads - see there is a silver lining in every cloud.