I still remember back to when I was 3-4 with my mother as we drove between mining towns and sheep farms following my Dad and encountering these massive road trains. Mom used to pull off the roads when we saw them in the distance and we would watch them roar past. That's about 47 years ago now but I still remember the excitement of seeing them.
yeah. as a kid drove the stuart highway adelaide to coober pedy about a dozen times in 1976-7. overtaking trucks you an't even see how long they were cos of dust... you just floored it and kept on the road by looking left at the truck. You trusted the truckie to both give a safe signal to pass (one blink of the right indicator) and to steer for you, knowing you are literally driving blind until you clear the power train. Oh, yeah, on corrugated roads with a healthy measure of pea gravel and puddles of bulldust hiding ruts 2 feet deep. Oh, yeah,again, with scrub bulls chasing the car (short wheel base land cruiser carrying 200litres of drinking water(just in case... and there was a case in the long creek floods in 77)) and bloody roos and dead roos with eagles on the carcass, and at night where the road hypnotises the driver and the passenger is on the deadly serious task of watching for kangaroos... What a time and what a place. We gave directions to visitors... drive north out of adelaide, turn right at port augusta, turn right at kingoonya and we're the first house on the right. It was about 1100km and noone ever got lost.
Yes it's an unwritten rule you get right off the road for them, stop if you need to. Occasionally you hear complaints about these things not moving over for their little 4 door sedan. Eyeroll - Karens are an endangered species out there.
@@flowerpower8722 I remember Three Ways to Camooweal had a one lane road. Nearly a 500k stretch, back in the day. Three Ways is called that because at that point, one road heads to SA, opposite NT & the other road to QLD.
I am very proudly a road train driver in Australia 🇦🇺 ...we Australians we do take a lot pride in what we do and most do it because we love what we do ! I drive Road trains , I ride a Arlen Ness/Screamin Eagle 🦅 Harley-Davidson and play Rock’n’Roll that’s I love to do that’s what I do best , all the best from Australia 🇦🇺
Leandro Machado and we are all proud of you guys for doing such a great job, it also makes people feel safe, knowing that one of you would eventually turn up should a driver round in to trouble.
@Bubba's Broadside I’ve got 550 HP in my Mack but comparing that they’ve been running those road trains for many decades I reckon even much less than 500 since the 70’s it wasn’t that powerful just much strengthening on rear end , transmission and chassis I reckon but yes motor is important too but I reckon they did well with much less , all the best my friend
Man, l get goosebumps every time l see a ROADTRAIN, these guys are the lifeblood of Australia. Thank you to the drivers of these big riggs and the staff at these road houses that keep the drivers rested and refreshed.
What memories! I'm 70 now. When I was 17, my brother and two friends and I hitchhiked from the Three Ways Roadhouse (seen in the video) in the back of a refrigerated truck trailor. The refrigerator wasn't on but it was pitch dark. A total of 18 hitch hikers got on there but one of them went nuts as the truck was starting to pull away. He was banging on the walls with claustraphobia. Luckily for all of us, the driver heard him and stopped and let him out. The rest of us went on. My little group got out at Mt. Isa, Queensland. That was the first leg in our journey from the Northern Territory to back to our home in Sydney. Lots of adventure along the way. BTW, I'm American. My family moved to Oz when I was 16. Moved back to USA when I was 29. Lots of fond memories of Australia.
You got to live out a dream that many people in the US will sadly never experience, Love to hear it and hope you still have a few adventures left mate. Much love from the red land down under!
To see that the work of many generations paying off like this is great. So many towns are now being taken care of much better. Kinda like Alaska. But on a much grander scale. Real truckers doing a great job. Thank for the video.
I like seeing the Road Trains on those Red dirt roads, it brings back memories of when I was a Kid in N.Z looking at a picture in a truck book of a Aussie Road Train in the Outback.
Sleep Ezy Tonight - Sleep Music The roads and highways that these guys drive are long and lonely. You can go quite awhile with out seeing another vehilce.
That's true, they run on some lonely highways. But they don't muck around out there and you don't want to be beside them in something that lacks grunt.. (If for no other reason than avoiding windscreen damage lol)
GO to Europe instead, once you've seen one dead roo, you've seen a thousand, same with gumtrees, the outback is not for most, i get way into the bush far from even dirt roads in my land rover, i like it , most would not
When we were driving back to base from Carnarvon and getting close to Exmouth, WA, the pavement was one vehicle wide. It belonged to the road train. Americans stationed at NavComSta Harold E. Holt loved Australia and the people. US Navy 1984 - 1986.
I was USN stationed at Harold E. Holt, 78-79, HFT site. Met my now Australian bride there in Exmouth. We went back in 2019, drove up from Perth. Watching these rigs pass us on the roads was just amazing. And FYI, the base is still there but very inactive. Can't go on the pier, the Pot Shot is still there and the local markets are well stocked. It was a very relaxing trip, nine days worth.
to all the people saying 'what about rail?' you need to understand how vast Australia is. to service every small town by rail is not financially viable.
from what i heard road trains are actually fairly fuel and cost efficient for the load they carry. (you only have to pay 1 driver and 1 huge diesel engine is more efficient than 2 small ones) - however, the roads in usa/europe would not allow for such long vehicles so they have to use multiple lorrys. Railway might still be common in the states but in europe most loads are afaik carried by ships and lorrys.
Depends were in europe, Germany runs alot of freighttrains for shipping containers, from rotterdam ,Bremen or Hamburg the Rhiene river near the mozel on bothbanks have dubble tracks en every 2 minuts there is a train en 2 out of 3 is freight and all the riverbarges with containers.
No. Often the truck runs what we call a 2 up crew; one drives while the other sleeps, running 5 hour shifts. Some runs do go solo, but usually it's two up, especially if it's time critical.
I drove a 2008 Isuzu Giga 550hp 18 speed hauling a road train from Canberra to Darwin non stop back n forth, she wasnt the most powerful truck but man she was reliable doing 9000kms a week she double shifted with two drivers in the cab at a time she worked hard, from new she worked that run for 4 and a 1/2 years. It wasnt until 250,000kms were the engine broke in and really started to lug from 1200rpm thru to 1650rpm. At around 1450rpm was were she liked to work and hold. We put 2.2 million kms on her at 85 tonnes. Yes the American and European trucks would overtake us but shed get them back when they would break down ahead and wed come lugging past. In the time I drove that truck she never failed, 2.2 millions kms at 85 tonnes without an engine, gearbox or diff was amazing. We had a core of good drivers who looked after it. That was back in 2008 to 2013, to my surprise in 2019 I was driving thru waggawagga and there she was hauling towards me still working!! She must've clocked over 4 millions kms that truck now, after 2.2 million the engine was still healthy she would burn only about 2 litres of oil between her 20,000km B services at that point, of all the trucks I've driven to this day she was my favourite not because of the look or power but because on Friday nights she always got me home on time for dinner and to see my family and spend Saturday with them.
I think the Giga and Hino bigger prime movers are well built and given a good driver and servicing can be quite good economical choices, there are a lot of ill educated knockers around but like you I have an Isuzu heavy rigid with a 15 speed R/Ranger with 1.2 million on the clock on the farm and its still going strong, There was a time when Australians laughed at Toyota's and drove thirsty underpowered axle breaking Landrovers !
What I'd give to be out there and driving, some of my best times have been spent on the highway, seeing new sights, taking the same routes here in the USA, I always see something new, something I missed on the last trip through. I've subbed, left a thumbs up, and a tap on the bell. Thanks for sharing. Cheers
3:50 i'm guessing the opposite indicators was to tell the cattle train leaving behind him that he's going to pull over and let him thru once on the road. Thats some heavy hole casing, drill pipe and all sorts. Maybe already had a word with him. True leviathans of the road. Nice vid of some incredible and very cool rigs.
I'm a Canadian driver and the closest thing I've pulled to an Aussie road train was Stretched flat floor Tycrops. 27 metre long combo so nothing on Aussie trucks. Absolutely beautiful seeing these things, makes you wonder what the chicken lights look like at night.
There is a lot less rail carrying freight now. Reason is the rail was run by governments at state level, supplying good service, but politicians too close to a handful of trucking companies. Trucks got the business Rail used to drop the freight and a truck would take them to wherever after that. Good system ruined.
Trains still do it better they can move much more freight a load and Trains are more sufficient than trucks remember the railway has been the backbone of transport since the early 1800s
Overtaking the mining road trains on the Strzelecki Track is far from fun, sitting in the dust trail. A call to the truckie on channel 40 and wait for his ok. Navigate by watching the trailers until you clear him. Never forget to thank them and wish them a safe trip.
when those rigs pass you doing 120km and you are doing 130km the wind shock nearly blows you off the road. i learnt pretty quick to pull off the road and near stop to let them pass .
Was in the World Solar Challenge a few times and to qualify solar cars were stability tested on Hidden Valley Raceway's drag strip against an A triple coming from the opposite direction.
In all my 73 years I have never seen a setup like this. From Toronto Canada we do not have these types of trucks. Fascinating to see. I’m sure it would scare any driver on our roads if they saw one.
The B train or B double as we call it here in Australia was a Canadian invention, we just kept adding more trailers, A tri drive quad double can have as many as 110 wheels.
Greetings to you buddy, Respect to your truckies who also drive these absolute beasts of metal! Saludos a usted amigo, Respeto a sus camioneros que también conducen estas bestias absolutas.
Seeing these just makes me want to get out there in my small car and share the outback highways with them. Done that a couple of times before and never once had an issue with them.
@@dougtilley5977 Thanks for all the long hours and years putting food on our shelves. Congrats on hitting 79, Wishing you a healthy many more years to come mate. My Grandad Noel Williams was a road train driver till he passed a few years back at 60, Huge respect for you guys thanks to him and his love of the road, Really opened my eyes to the work you do for us and the huge trips you take.
@@dougtilley5977, I'll be 75 on June 19th and I'm thinking about getting back behind the wheel if nothing else but part time, no family to be tethered to and tired of watching the television and monitoring my PC.
@@BobbyTucker Go for it mate, but don't cop any fines these days, not like back in the 80's and 90's $$$$$$$$$$$$$ now, mate I turned 80 last year and resumed pilot/escort work, had to get out there on the highways.
The articulation and trailer steering principles go right back to the luggage carts used in Victorian railway stations. It's a brilliantly simple mechanical linkage.
Notice a few of the spare tyre trays are empty under the trailers. Already had some blowouts and dropped them off in various places to be fixed then pick up on the way back. 62+ tyres to deal with! You Americans should check out the 5 & 6 cattle trailers in the interior. Bloody amazing! 😳
@@nztrucker1542 They cannot negotiate NZ roads....so probably good they are straight and long. They are not allowed anywhere near the cities here....only b doubles are and even then they are restricted to b double routes.
Greetings from America. Those road trains look awesome. I'd love to see the look on a DOT Man's face over here. With a rig like at pulling up in the chicken house He'd plum shit his self. LOL keep them things rolling they sure look good.
There is nothing quite like passing a three trailer road train on the way to or from Darwin when he/she is moving at 90+ kms / hour and you are on the speed limit of 130Km/hr or a bit above it on the wrong side of the road and hoping there are no dips in the road which could hide a car coming towards you at 120-140 kmd/hr. Really makes your day. Scariest thing on the road is watching a 120 tonne road train doing their normal 90 kms/hr and passing a car and caravan doing 75/80 kms hour in a130km/hr speed zone. Great time to sit back a watch for everything to go pair shaped
There is. It involves a lot of uncoupling, moving one trailer, moving another trailer, coupling up, moving another trailer, coupling it up etc etc. A lot of time and work, usually in the baking sun. Very much to be avoided. Can you imagine the response a car driver gets when they ask "can you just back up a few feet?".
Going around a roundabout in one of these, and you notice the trailer in front of you is doing exactly the same speed as you! Then you realize it's you're third trailer!
Some real pro drivers unlike many steering wheel holders driving for big companies here in the US. A lot of the drivers here (I’m not saying all) can barely handle 1 trailer. Look how careful these drivers are!
Wide wide road,able to accomodate wide and oversize trailers,so with the road weight capacity to the extreme,amazing.hope this serves a better info in our country
I know they'd be in a/c, but a lot of these drivers are driving in primarily, two weather patterns, the dry season & the wet season - heat that is beyond comprehension (OZ had to add new colors to their heat depth chart re temperatures approx 5yrs ago). I went to the Outback for a few months & I have never ever experienced such hot weather as I experienced there
Hey Cobbers they have this great thing overseas now, they call them Railways or Railroads! The Yank ones have trains over 1.5 km long! Even the Poms have them though shorter. An many use the electric!
G'day. Yes Australia (not Austria) has heard of such things. Down on the bottom of the planet we call such things train - trains (not road trains they are different). Australia also has the longest train - trains on the planet. Look up the longest bulk trains on wikipedia. In case you are too lazy I've copied and pasted for you. Australia BHP iron ore train has typically 268 cars and a train weight of 43,000 tonnes carrying 24,200 tonnes of iron ore, 2.8 km long, two SD70ACe locomotives at the head of the train and two remote controlled SD70ACe locomotives as mid-train helpers[3]
I started counting ore carriers just outside of Dampier and gave up after one hundred. Here's a little quote for you: 'The train was 4.53 miles (7.29 km) long and carried 82,000 metric tons or about 181 million pounds of iron ore. This is about the same weight as 402 Statues of Liberty (the Statue of Liberty weighs approximately 450,000 pounds).'
Awesome, as I know all those roads well. It was a little confusing why you mixed it up. Eg rather than show WA road trains, then NT, then SA or visa versa. I have rellies everywhere in Australia in several states. Plus I have lived in 4 different states myself. & always travelled via car. I can't imagine what road train drivers & roadhouses are currently going through at present with all our border closures! One opens another shuts. It's just been continuous. Re: covid crap
Holy shit. These Australian truckers are blowing my mind. Such skill. Maneuvering one 53 foot trailer is a pain, and these road warriors have 3!!! Have the engines been modified to handle the weight?
On one of my rides across Australia. I was coming from the top end to Sydney via the great ocean road. When one of these road passes you with MM to spare is very accelerating.
Backing those things up must be an exercise in anger management. Are these only common away from the bigger cities? The wife and I spent a couple weeks in Australia in 2005 around the Blue Mountains and in Tasmania and I don't recall seeing any while driving? We spent most the time driving around with the longest stay in one place being three nights and that was by the Blue Mountains. Absolutely beautiful country and awesome people. Really want to go back someday.
You are right. They can take over a kilometre to stop. This is why when you are driving on these roads you have to be extra careful. There are stories and actual evidence of small cars broken down that did not get off the highway and road trains just can't stop in time. Nothing is ever left only the skid marks.
@@ilovefabricandflowers8543 damn I would say road flares but crap a Kilo is a long way to walk to set a flare but I guess it's flat enough if you had a bright enough emergency light you could warn them. It's not always possible to get your car some place safe. Carry lots of really bright beacon flashers when you drive through the outback I guess
The fun starts when one road train overtakes another, it takes so long you could eat you lunch while passing, yes i'm exaggerating but the length of road you use to do it is amazing.
Torque is the same as the motor in a truck pulling 1 trailer. A truck pulling 1 trailer with a 620hp Cummins has the same torque as a truck pulling 3 trailers with a 620hp Cummins.
I'm going to take a guess that what you call a roadhouse is what we in the US/Canada would call a Truck Stop. Just probably smaller due to less trucks.
But our Roadhouses cater for everyone. They are the only thing out there for sometimes up to 300km. They are the lifeblood of our outback highways keeping traffic of all sizes fueled up and fed.
Good to see US truck brands like Western Star and Kenworth on Australia. This trucks in Australia is available with the steering wheel on both sides or on the right side?
Ten years ago this April I cycled from Port Augusta to Darwin. The Stuart Highway. (Most of it) The 1690 miles took me 38 days, 32 cycling days. The road train drivers were great. Whenever they passed me they would use the other side of the road. I got to know most of them by sight after a while, they probably thought I was crazy! They were probably right.😬 The worst section was South Australia, Port Augusta to Coober Pedy, 400 miles of nothing! The car drivers pulling boats or caravans weren't as considerate(to put it mildly).
Would love to do that one day. Hats off to you guys, it'd be a hell of a trip. Love the country from Port Augusta to Coober pedy, it's how I'd imagine the moon would look!
numbersix100 the sad part about it is that these people can drive these massive trucks better than most can drive a car let alone if they are towing a caravan. It's sad and scary. They're usually more considerate as well. Glad you made it safe. And yeah no offence but you're crazy. Hahaha
I have these beauties roll through my town everyday. You have to look right at a set of traffic lights once they go green as if one of these bad boys is close to it when it changes to yellow and then red for him he cannot stop and will just go straight through the red light. Its a learning curve but all the locals know to do this and noone is hit.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
That confidence you get when they courtesy signal for you to overtake them is pure Aussie GOLD..
I still remember back to when I was 3-4 with my mother as we drove between mining towns and sheep farms following my Dad and encountering these massive road trains. Mom used to pull off the roads when we saw them in the distance and we would watch them roar past. That's about 47 years ago now but I still remember the excitement of seeing them.
Yep I can relate John! I still love seeing them and I'm 40!!
yeah. as a kid drove the stuart highway adelaide to coober pedy about a dozen times in 1976-7. overtaking trucks you an't even see how long they were cos of dust... you just floored it and kept on the road by looking left at the truck. You trusted the truckie to both give a safe signal to pass (one blink of the right indicator) and to steer for you, knowing you are literally driving blind until you clear the power train. Oh, yeah, on corrugated roads with a healthy measure of pea gravel and puddles of bulldust hiding ruts 2 feet deep. Oh, yeah,again, with scrub bulls chasing the car (short wheel base land cruiser carrying 200litres of drinking water(just in case... and there was a case in the long creek floods in 77)) and bloody roos and dead roos with eagles on the carcass, and at night where the road hypnotises the driver and the passenger is on the deadly serious task of watching for kangaroos... What a time and what a place. We gave directions to visitors... drive north out of adelaide, turn right at port augusta, turn right at kingoonya and we're the first house on the right. It was about 1100km and noone ever got lost.
Yes it's an unwritten rule you get right off the road for them, stop if you need to. Occasionally you hear complaints about these things not moving over for their little 4 door sedan. Eyeroll - Karens are an endangered species out there.
@@flowerpower8722 I remember Three Ways to Camooweal had a one lane road. Nearly a 500k stretch, back in the day. Three Ways is called that because at that point, one road heads to SA, opposite NT & the other road to QLD.
What’s the maximum number of trailers allowed ?
Nothing like seeing a traffic jam of trucks - and then realize it is just one truck.
Haha Steve H very true!
America: we have big trucks
Australia: *_*HOLD MY VEGEMITE*_*
You don’t use your big trucks in America to there full potential .
Kenworth is an American company, therefore these are American trucks being driven in Australia
@Mark Newman if Gordon Ramsay cooks a steak in my kitchen, that doesn’t make it my steak
@@addamr2052 we have actual roads
@@ytempruawtb3071 They are made here and to Australia's requirements and environment.
I am very proudly a road train driver in Australia 🇦🇺 ...we Australians we do take a lot pride in what we do and most do it because we love what we do ! I drive Road trains , I ride a Arlen Ness/Screamin Eagle 🦅 Harley-Davidson and play Rock’n’Roll that’s I love to do that’s what I do best , all the best from Australia 🇦🇺
Leandro Machado and we are all proud of you guys for doing such a great job, it also makes people feel safe, knowing that one of you would eventually turn up should a driver round in to trouble.
Bente Jobsz thank you mate 🙏🏼
SeppuKun absolutely mate 🙏🏼❤️
@Bubba's Broadside I’ve got 550 HP in my Mack but comparing that they’ve been running those road trains for many decades I reckon even much less than 500 since the 70’s it wasn’t that powerful just much strengthening on rear end , transmission and chassis I reckon but yes motor is important too but I reckon they did well with much less , all the best my friend
@Bubba's Broadside my friend you’re much welcome 🙏🏼 have an awesome week
Man, l get goosebumps every time l see a ROADTRAIN, these guys are the lifeblood of Australia.
Thank you to the drivers of these big riggs and the staff at these road houses that keep the drivers rested and refreshed.
It would be a great job wouldn't it!
Too much respect for them, I'd fuck it up with road rage for idiot drivers..lol
What memories! I'm 70 now. When I was 17, my brother and two friends and I hitchhiked from the Three Ways Roadhouse (seen in the video) in the back of a refrigerated truck trailor. The refrigerator wasn't on but it was pitch dark. A total of 18 hitch hikers got on there but one of them went nuts as the truck was starting to pull away. He was banging on the walls with claustraphobia. Luckily for all of us, the driver heard him and stopped and let him out.
The rest of us went on. My little group got out at Mt. Isa, Queensland. That was the first leg in our journey from the Northern Territory to back to our home in Sydney. Lots of adventure along the way.
BTW, I'm American. My family moved to Oz when I was 16. Moved back to USA when I was 29. Lots of fond memories of Australia.
You got to live out a dream that many people in the US will sadly never experience, Love to hear it and hope you still have a few adventures left mate.
Much love from the red land down under!
When you've got a long way to go,
and a short time to get there,
Aussie truckers do us proud...''on ya mate'' !!!
Here in Australia we call them "truckies". "Truckers" is what Americans call thiers.
Smokey and the Bandit - best movie ever
They got beautiful rigs in Australia.
Eddi Kimball we do have amazing trucks is Australia
Trucks that are used for these jobs are actually American made, like Kenworth and Western star 550+ Horsepower.
@@ryanmoseley2227 yeah and there American brands
@@moraadahmad9926
The "American" trucks in Australia are actually built in Australia....they are much more heavy duty than the American version.
Kenworths are built in Melbourne.
Retired truck driver here and thanks for the video. Most respect for those drivers and nothing hauls like a “ Kenworth”
Reminds me of the jokes about driving Mack trucks, you've probably heard them all before. lol.
@@BobbyTucker Seems I haven’t. Freightliner = freight shaker
To see that the work of many generations paying off like this is great. So many towns are now being taken care of much better. Kinda like Alaska. But on a much grander scale. Real truckers doing a great job. Thank for the video.
Thanks for uploading this video! I spend most of my time on the road and I honestly trust these drivers more than any other the roads.
I like seeing the Road Trains on those Red dirt roads, it brings back memories of when I was a Kid in N.Z looking at a picture in a truck book of a Aussie Road Train in the Outback.
There's no easy overtaking of these massive rigs on the road. Great vid !
Sleep Ezy Tonight - Sleep Music The roads and highways that these guys drive are long and lonely. You can go quite awhile with out seeing another vehilce.
That's true, they run on some lonely highways. But they don't muck around out there and you don't want to be beside them in something that lacks grunt.. (If for no other reason than avoiding windscreen damage lol)
How fast they goin anyway
@@bradywestall5144 road trains are speed limited to 90kmh
@@dudeybagz I thought it was 100ks. I always have to go 130 clicks to pass them. Most 55metres long.
Wow wow what fantastic Truckers these are. They are definitely a different breed. Wonderful!!
Yes they are! They do a great job!
Nice! along with several other reasons, these beauties make me want to visit your beautiful country. superb!
GO to Europe instead, once you've seen one dead roo, you've seen a thousand, same with gumtrees, the outback is not for most, i get way into the bush far from even dirt roads in my land rover, i like it , most would not
@@stuarth43 I am from Europe originally. Came to America and drove trucks for a bit. I would still love to come see down under, dead roos or not!
Their spiders over there are too damn BIG...& mean
When we were driving back to base from Carnarvon and getting close to Exmouth, WA, the pavement was one vehicle wide. It belonged to the road train. Americans stationed at NavComSta Harold E. Holt loved Australia and the people. US Navy 1984 - 1986.
I was USN stationed at Harold E. Holt, 78-79, HFT site. Met my now Australian bride there in Exmouth. We went back in 2019, drove up from Perth. Watching these rigs pass us on the roads was just amazing. And FYI, the base is still there but very inactive. Can't go on the pier, the Pot Shot is still there and the local markets are well stocked. It was a very relaxing trip, nine days worth.
to all the people saying 'what about rail?' you need to understand how vast Australia is. to service every small town by rail is not financially viable.
from what i heard road trains are actually fairly fuel and cost efficient for the load they carry. (you only have to pay 1 driver and 1 huge diesel engine is more efficient than 2 small ones) - however, the roads in usa/europe would not allow for such long vehicles so they have to use multiple lorrys.
Railway might still be common in the states but in europe most loads are afaik carried by ships and lorrys.
308wce 05 I don't think they know how big Australia is.
Depends were in europe, Germany runs alot of freighttrains for shipping containers, from rotterdam ,Bremen or Hamburg the Rhiene river near the mozel on bothbanks have dubble tracks en every 2 minuts there is a train en 2 out of 3 is freight and all the riverbarges with containers.
No. Often the truck runs what we call a 2 up crew; one drives while the other sleeps, running 5 hour shifts. Some runs do go solo, but usually it's two up, especially if it's time critical.
@@Mechknight73 they're 12-14 hour shifts, not 5
I drove a 2008 Isuzu Giga 550hp 18 speed hauling a road train from Canberra to Darwin non stop back n forth, she wasnt the most powerful truck but man she was reliable doing 9000kms a week she double shifted with two drivers in the cab at a time she worked hard, from new she worked that run for 4 and a 1/2 years. It wasnt until 250,000kms were the engine broke in and really started to lug from 1200rpm thru to 1650rpm. At around 1450rpm was were she liked to work and hold. We put 2.2 million kms on her at 85 tonnes. Yes the American and European trucks would overtake us but shed get them back when they would break down ahead and wed come lugging past. In the time I drove that truck she never failed, 2.2 millions kms at 85 tonnes without an engine, gearbox or diff was amazing. We had a core of good drivers who looked after it. That was back in 2008 to 2013, to my surprise in 2019 I was driving thru waggawagga and there she was hauling towards me still working!! She must've clocked over 4 millions kms that truck now, after 2.2 million the engine was still healthy she would burn only about 2 litres of oil between her 20,000km B services at that point, of all the trucks I've driven to this day she was my favourite not because of the look or power but because on Friday nights she always got me home on time for dinner and to see my family and spend Saturday with them.
I think the Giga and Hino bigger prime movers are well built and given a good driver and servicing can be quite good economical choices, there are a lot of ill educated knockers around but like you I have an Isuzu heavy rigid with a 15 speed R/Ranger with 1.2 million on the clock on the farm and its still going strong,
There was a time when Australians laughed at Toyota's and drove thirsty underpowered axle breaking Landrovers !
What I'd give to be out there and driving, some of my best times have been spent on the highway, seeing new sights, taking the same routes here in the USA, I always see something new, something I missed on the last trip through. I've subbed, left a thumbs up, and a tap on the bell. Thanks for sharing. Cheers
Yes absolutely always something new to see on the road! You can be out in the middle of the desert and see something new, cheers for watching mate!
What I like about pulling doubles or triples Is that they follow suit with one another, less off tracking unlike a single 48' or 53' trailer.
Great video! As an American who loves trucks, trains, and other big machines these things are a wet dream come true 🤤🤤
Be cautious! I heard of a guy that got a bit carried away and burnt the hell out of his Wang on the tailpipe.
Wow!!! Only in Australia...
3:50 i'm guessing the opposite indicators was to tell the cattle train leaving behind him that he's going to pull over and let him thru once on the road. Thats some heavy hole casing, drill pipe and all sorts. Maybe already had a word with him.
True leviathans of the road. Nice vid of some incredible and very cool rigs.
I'm a Canadian driver and the closest thing I've pulled to an Aussie road train was Stretched flat floor Tycrops. 27 metre long combo so nothing on Aussie trucks. Absolutely beautiful seeing these things, makes you wonder what the chicken lights look like at night.
To those who don't know... at 6:28 the triple are side tippers. An Aussie invention.
They're cool aren't they, very clever invention!
Screw the rail keep those KW's running straight and true. Wish I could drive there, Just retired from 35 yrs here in the States. great video.
Cheers Greg, thanks for watching form the states, would love to visit one day.
There is a lot less rail carrying freight now. Reason is the rail was run by governments at state level, supplying good service, but politicians too close to a handful of trucking companies. Trucks got the business
Rail used to drop the freight and a truck would take them to wherever after that. Good system ruined.
Trains still do it better they can move much more freight a load and Trains are more sufficient than trucks remember the railway has been the backbone of transport since the early 1800s
A 2 mile long freight train cuts out 800 semi trucks.
50 years ago, I drove for UPS and hated pulling pups, I can't even imagine pulling three or even four full length trailers.
Overtaking the mining road trains on the Strzelecki Track is far from fun, sitting in the dust trail. A call to the truckie on channel 40 and wait for his ok. Navigate by watching the trailers until you clear him. Never forget to thank them and wish them a safe trip.
when those rigs pass you doing 120km and you are doing 130km the wind shock nearly blows you off the road. i learnt pretty quick to pull
off the road and near stop to let them pass .
Was in the World Solar Challenge a few times and to qualify solar cars were stability tested on Hidden Valley Raceway's drag strip against an A triple coming from the opposite direction.
In all my 73 years I have never seen a setup like this. From Toronto Canada we do not have these types of trucks. Fascinating to see. I’m sure it would scare any driver on our roads if they saw one.
well actually, if you see one coming at you.. HEAD FOR THE BUSH>... cheers mate... Canada is our best cousin...
The B train or B double as we call it here in Australia was a Canadian invention, we just kept adding more trailers, A tri drive quad double can have as many as 110 wheels.
Sure is the real Outback of Australia where Men are Men and Sheep are nervous! Wouldnt see too many of those Rigs in the Cities. Great video!
we have a few roads in some citeis that allow b tribles
Melbourne has b-triples
True hahaha. lucky im from the country
Perth allows 36m down the Gt Northern hwy and into Welshpool, and through to Bunbury.
the only reason the sheep are nervous is because of all the bloody Kiwis that have moved here. Wish they would go back to where they came from.
Los traileros de México también pueden conducir esas verdaderas bestias de la carretera,saludos desde Oaxaca México hasta la gran nación australiana.
Merry Christmas Mexico 🇲🇽
Greetings to you buddy, Respect to your truckies who also drive these absolute beasts of metal!
Saludos a usted amigo, Respeto a sus camioneros que también conducen estas bestias absolutas.
Love havin a yarn out west with the truckers on cb radio. Good people
just to clarify for the foreigners that this is only done in the outback. In most parts of Australia we use normal trucks.
Not only in the outback. Some come in to the suburbs to break down to single trailers.
Thanks Matt, we have a lot of fun making them!
This work is priceless. One day laws and regulations will ban this stuff. Thousands of thanks for allowing the world to see what REAL Haulage is!!
Seeing these just makes me want to get out there in my small car and share the outback highways with them. Done that a couple of times before and never once had an issue with them.
Seeing them makes me want feel like getting back into trucks but I'll be 80 years next year , retired from Trucks in 2002
@@dougtilley5977 Thanks for all the long hours and years putting food on our shelves.
Congrats on hitting 79, Wishing you a healthy many more years to come mate.
My Grandad Noel Williams was a road train driver till he passed a few years back at 60, Huge respect for you guys thanks to him and his love of the road, Really opened my eyes to the work you do for us and the huge trips you take.
@@dougtilley5977,
I'll be 75 on June 19th and I'm thinking about getting back behind the wheel if nothing else but part time, no family to be tethered to and tired of watching the television and monitoring my PC.
@@BobbyTucker Go for it mate, but don't cop any fines these days, not like back in the 80's and 90's $$$$$$$$$$$$$ now, mate I turned 80 last year and resumed pilot/escort work, had to get out there on the highways.
Still impressed with these massive roadtrains.
Must be quite a challenge learning how the train articulates when turning ...
Straight roads, wide bends and huge truckstop trailer parks. These guys don't do tight turns.
The articulation and trailer steering principles go right back to the luggage carts used in Victorian railway stations. It's a brilliantly simple mechanical linkage.
Notice a few of the spare tyre trays are empty under the trailers. Already had some blowouts and dropped them off in various places to be fixed then pick up on the way back. 62+ tyres to deal with! You Americans should check out the 5 & 6 cattle trailers in the interior. Bloody amazing! 😳
The most I've encountered here in Michigan is 42 tires.
Thank you for nice showreel. 👊 Respect from RU.
Good evening to all.
Cheers for watching mate!
Haven't given up on the dream of driving one of those things.
Australia truck simulator needs to happen
It be boring tho. Straight long roads
Yeah but just driving though the outback would be awesome. Even some coast to coast. Maybe even drive in NZ North to South
@@creamcheese7845 now nz will be cool. Hills . Sharp corners .tunnels .ferries etc
@@nztrucker1542
They cannot negotiate NZ roads....so probably good they are straight and long. They are not allowed anywhere near the cities here....only b doubles are and even then they are restricted to b double routes.
LOL i can see it now "Australia Truck Simulator realistic kangaroos mod"
Greetings from America. Those road trains look awesome. I'd love to see the look on a DOT Man's face over here. With a rig like at pulling up in the chicken house He'd plum shit his self. LOL keep them things rolling they sure look good.
There is nothing quite like passing a three trailer road train on the way to or from Darwin when he/she is moving at 90+ kms / hour and you are on the speed limit of 130Km/hr or a bit above it on the wrong side of the road and hoping there are no dips in the road which could hide a car coming towards you at 120-140 kmd/hr. Really makes your day.
Scariest thing on the road is watching a 120 tonne road train doing their normal 90 kms/hr and passing a car and caravan doing 75/80 kms hour in a130km/hr speed zone. Great time to sit back a watch for everything to go pair shaped
At night when they're coming toward you they look like a spaceship.
keeping the country going, good on ya blokes, and ladies.
They are absolutely awesome!! I'd love to drive 1 of them. But surely there is no reversing one of them beasts.
There is. It involves a lot of uncoupling, moving one trailer, moving another trailer, coupling up, moving another trailer, coupling it up etc etc. A lot of time and work, usually in the baking sun. Very much to be avoided.
Can you imagine the response a car driver gets when they ask "can you just back up a few feet?".
Out here in western Canada , we can only go 2 trailers long. We call it a SUPER B. Good on ya for pulling 3
@J Y what part of the world are u in?
We pull up to 5, our 2 trailer rigs are called "B Doubles"...
I have never seen anything like this, pretty cool!
UsTexans love y’all Aussies!
Good video mate. The Shell at Halls Creek was where I appreciated the benefits of PayWave when I saw where the locals kept their cash haha
Yep there's some interesting spots to keep it!
Halls creek is a dump.
Hey guys you do an amazing job.stay safe and keep up the good work. Thanks for keeping our country together.👏👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍👍👍🥰🥰🥰🥰
Excelente vídeo , saludos desde Ensenada Baja California México.
On ya....
Going around a roundabout in one of these, and you notice the trailer in front of you is doing exactly the same speed as you! Then you realize it's you're third trailer!
Yes, but these don't go in roundabouts.
Some real pro drivers unlike many steering wheel holders driving for big companies here in the US. A lot of the drivers here (I’m not saying all) can barely handle 1 trailer. Look how careful these drivers are!
Wide wide road,able to accomodate wide and oversize trailers,so with the road weight capacity to the extreme,amazing.hope this serves a better info in our country
I know they'd be in a/c, but a lot of these drivers are driving in primarily, two weather patterns, the dry season & the wet season - heat that is beyond comprehension (OZ had to add new colors to their heat depth chart re temperatures approx 5yrs ago). I went to the Outback for a few months & I have never ever experienced such hot weather as I experienced there
carren ward we get that heat down south too! AND not the rain they getup north, we get the droughts!
47 celsius here today mate....
若い頃オーストラリアをバイクで旅行をしました。そのときよくロードトレインに遭遇し、かっこいいなと思い、ながめていました。いつか運転してみたいですね。男のロマン満載ですよね。
Woww! I never saw such a large vehicle before. Maybe because I live in tiny Trinidad and Tobago 😂
I LIVE IN THE U.S.A! BUT WOULD LOVE TO TRY DRIVING ONE OF THESE COMMERCIAL VEHICLES!
I find this very Zen, thanks for upload.
Really enjoyed the video thanks.
Thanks for watching mate
Hey Cobbers they have this great thing overseas now, they call them Railways or Railroads! The Yank ones have trains over 1.5 km long!
Even the Poms have them though shorter. An many use the electric!
G'day. Yes Australia (not Austria) has heard of such things. Down on the bottom of the planet we call such things train - trains (not road trains they are different). Australia also has the longest train - trains on the planet. Look up the longest bulk trains on wikipedia. In case you are too lazy I've copied and pasted for you.
Australia
BHP iron ore train has typically 268 cars and a train weight of 43,000 tonnes carrying 24,200 tonnes of iron ore, 2.8 km long, two SD70ACe locomotives at the head of the train and two remote controlled SD70ACe locomotives as mid-train helpers[3]
I started counting ore carriers just outside of Dampier and gave up after one hundred.
Here's a little quote for you: 'The train was 4.53 miles (7.29 km) long and carried 82,000 metric tons or about 181 million pounds of iron ore. This is about the same weight as 402 Statues of Liberty (the Statue of Liberty weighs approximately 450,000 pounds).'
nice lookin rigs you got dar down under
Awesome, as I know all those roads well. It was a little confusing why you mixed it up. Eg rather than show WA road trains, then NT, then SA or visa versa.
I have rellies everywhere in Australia in several states. Plus I have lived in 4 different states myself. & always travelled via car. I can't imagine what road train drivers & roadhouses are currently going through at present with all our border closures! One opens another shuts. It's just been continuous. Re: covid crap
Impressive, now let me see one back up.
Holy shit. These Australian truckers are blowing my mind. Such skill. Maneuvering one 53 foot trailer is a pain, and these road warriors have 3!!! Have the engines been modified to handle the weight?
Súper maquinas,saludos desde Medellín Colombia
On one of my rides across Australia. I was coming from the top end to Sydney via the great ocean road.
When one of these road passes you with MM to spare is very accelerating.
Now thats what i call a proper truck id love to drive something that size absolute awesome bit of kit
Fantastic big rigs, thanks for posting video 👍🏻
Thanks for watching!
Beautiful roadtrains
Great video greetings from luxembourg europ
Why do I find these satisfying?
They got beautiful rigs in America!
Amazing rigs! Very cool!
Glad you like them!
Backing those things up must be an exercise in anger management. Are these only common away from the bigger cities? The wife and I spent a couple weeks in Australia in 2005 around the Blue Mountains and in Tasmania and I don't recall seeing any while driving? We spent most the time driving around with the longest stay in one place being three nights and that was by the Blue Mountains. Absolutely beautiful country and awesome people. Really want to go back someday.
I would imagine reverse gear is used only after de coupling and one trailer at a time.
I guess they need notice in writing for an emergency stop!
You are right. They can take over a kilometre to stop. This is why when you are driving on these roads you have to be extra careful. There are stories and actual evidence of small cars broken down that did not get off the highway and road trains just can't stop in time. Nothing is ever left only the skid marks.
And thats why you never break check a road train, cause youll only do it once, haha.
@@ilovefabricandflowers8543 damn I would say road flares but crap a Kilo is a long way to walk to set a flare but I guess it's flat enough if you had a bright enough emergency light you could warn them. It's not always possible to get your car some place safe. Carry lots of really bright beacon flashers when you drive through the outback I guess
@@ilovefabricandflowers8543 I've lived in the Territory all my life and have never heard such a load of crap. They brake as well as any truck.
@@gjmob would think so, the trailers have air brakes no?
The fun starts when one road train overtakes another, it takes so long you could eat you lunch while passing, yes i'm exaggerating but the length of road you use to do it is amazing.
Especially if both are doing the legal limit of 90 km/h...
9:21 I love the sound
7:47 It is cool to see a VB sign next to the petrol brand sign - a "hard earned thirst" indeed
The torque transmitted through the driveline components must be phenomenal. I'd love to drive one of these beauties!
Torque is the same as the motor in a truck pulling 1 trailer. A truck pulling 1 trailer with a 620hp Cummins has the same torque as a truck pulling 3 trailers with a 620hp Cummins.
These are real trucks they make American 18 wheelers look like toys
But they are American, lots of Kenworths and Macks.
Thanks to the Afghan people who opened up the outback of Australia
We salute you
Those are the real truckers great video of truck
That's so Mad Max
NextTooNothing Red dirt looks so cool :)
Amazing information and videography, thanks for sharing.
Cheers for watching mate appreciate it!
I'm going to take a guess that what you call a roadhouse is what we in the US/Canada would call a Truck Stop. Just probably smaller due to less trucks.
But our Roadhouses cater for everyone. They are the only thing out there for sometimes up to 300km. They are the lifeblood of our outback highways keeping traffic of all sizes fueled up and fed.
Good to see US truck brands like Western Star and Kenworth on Australia. This trucks in Australia is available with the steering wheel on both sides or on the right side?
Just right hand drive mate cheers 👍
Total respect to these guys
Yeah they're game aren't they!!
Oz Outback Family
Well They do a great job
And roebuck roadhouse is the best for great food
and I thought Oklahoma had a lot of wind, coming down the plain.
Ahhh Daly Waters ... beaut little pub!
great video, love those tractors.
I'd love to drive one of these.
Not for the faint hearted.
This trucks sure have extraordinary brakes
They're not that extraordinary. Same brakes on these trucks as there are on ones pulling only 1 trailer.
The amount of trailers they pulling who needs a fleet of drivers. Them guy pulling 4-5 trucks a piece
Does anyone else imagine these guys sitting around in the pub,drinking a few beers watching Ice Road Truckers and laughing?
🤣🤣
Ten years ago this April I cycled from Port Augusta to Darwin. The Stuart Highway. (Most of it) The 1690 miles took me 38 days, 32 cycling days.
The road train drivers were great. Whenever they passed me they would use the other side of the road. I got to know most of them by sight after a while, they probably thought I was crazy! They were probably right.😬
The worst section was South Australia, Port Augusta to Coober Pedy, 400 miles of nothing!
The car drivers pulling boats or caravans weren't as considerate(to put it mildly).
Would love to do that one day. Hats off to you guys, it'd be a hell of a trip. Love the country from Port Augusta to Coober pedy, it's how I'd imagine the moon would look!
numbersix100 the sad part about it is that these people can drive these massive trucks better than most can drive a car let alone if they are towing a caravan. It's sad and scary. They're usually more considerate as well. Glad you made it safe. And yeah no offence but you're crazy. Hahaha
They wouldnt thinkn you were silly. I bet they were yelling an calling you a f$@king idiot playing with death
You have balls of steel, glad you made it.
Thought experiment: Could a road train circle so that the driver could read the licence plate on the final trailer in the train?
I have these beauties roll through my town everyday. You have to look right at a set of traffic lights once they go green as if one of these bad boys is close to it when it changes to yellow and then red for him he cannot stop and will just go straight through the red light. Its a learning curve but all the locals know to do this and noone is hit.
You wouldn't want to find out the wrong way ....