ROG:
trophyblue:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaqIgT7ldksNice still pics but if it showed a video of the problems that it would be better IMO.
PROBLEM The problem is Nobody has a CLUE really what an ABNORMAL LOAD ■■■■■■ VEHICLE Thats the PROBLEM the video is to show other road users what they are for , And If your Profile reads correct then you should understand better , if your interests are TEACHING ADVANCED DRIVING 
TB, i realise your job is not easy & sometimes scary. I am fully aware well aware what an Abnormal Load ■■■■■■ Vehicle is thank you and whether I’m driving my car or a truck, i give them & their escorted loads as much room as i possibly can. Infact i should have got into that business myself, i would have been well suited to it. I’m qualified to teach advance driving & i even know how to use punctuation, which hopefully makes it much easier for readers to read my posts.
Your topic is interesting and the videos are great, though as has been said, better still if proper videos in preference to a collection of stills. However, i understand from what you say, you now may have that in hand. BTW, good music 
I wasn’t able to look at all the pics on Flickr, however i did notice you had photographed quite a few cars over taking where there was no reason why they should not do so. Its quite legal to over take where there are traffic separation markings including coloured tarmac, cross hatchings and broken white lines.
JoeG said:
So remember this bit, if its double white lines and the line nearest to you is solid, you cannot cross them, if the person on the bike is doing over 10mph, but if the person is doing under 10mph, you can pass.
Remember, that, i doubt many people knew that
Well i knew and i would have thought that anyone who is a vocational license holder & a professional driver should also know, but then i often see trucks parked with the nearside wheels on a verge or pavement 
Decent still pictures of difficult loads to difficult places, no less, no more.
Infact i should have got into that business myself, i would have been well suited to it. I’m qualified to teach advance driving
Yes you may be Qualified to teach advanced driving but that dont mean you are suited to ■■■■■■ abnormal loads fact being the drivers we ■■■■■■ ,dont like escorting other drivers .And its not as easy as many think . Escorts have to think for 3+ people at a time themselves the truck they are escorting and the other road users and what around them, Also the Hazzard Perception , What we see as a hazzard you might not think it is , It could be a lamp post ,low hanging cables, tree branches , traffic lights , keep left bollards, bus shelters, a bad camber on a road . then relay the back to the load so he is aware what he is coming
i even know how to use punctuation, which hopefully makes it much easier for readers to read my posts.
Hey Nobodys Perfect
trophyblue:
Escorts have to think for 3+ people at a time themselves the truck they are escorting and the other road users and what around them, Also the Hazzard Perception , What we see as a hazzard you might not think it is , It could be a lamp post ,low hanging cables, tree branches , traffic lights , keep left bollards, bus shelters, a bad camber on a road . then relay the back to the load so he is aware what he is coming
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Do you not recce the route then? Or just go out blindly with a wide or high load and hope for the best.
Having used French and Belgium pilots as a driver and a mate. I prefer their methods.
trophyblue:
Yes you may be Qualified to teach advanced driving but that dont mean you are suited to ■■■■■■ abnormal loads fact being the drivers we ■■■■■■ ,dont like escorting other drivers .And its not as easy as many think . Escorts have to think for 3+ people at a time themselves the truck they are escorting and the other road users and what around them, Also the Hazzard Perception , What we see as a hazzard you might not think it is , It could be a lamp post ,low hanging cables, tree branches , traffic lights , keep left bollards, bus shelters, a bad camber on a road . then relay the back to the load so he is aware what he is coming
Ah, so you’re talking about fixed immovable hazards, usually refered to as street furniture. Would seem to be just common sense to me to note that when moving an over size load.
The car transporter lads are very aware of this stuff. Had a very brief spell on them myself many, many years ago.
Some of the stuff them boys carry is unreal…
trophyblue:
Big Joe:
The other week One of A.L.E. trucks was traveling up the M1 near Leicester with an ■■■■■■ vehicle behind him , A truck came up from behind hit the ■■■■■■ and forced it into the centre barrier the driver was rushed to hospital and will be off work for at least 12weeks all because the truck driver wasnt paying attention
The driver is now out of hospital, but his upper torso is in a cast for the next 6 weeks after numerous injurys to his spine. The truck that hit him was doing 58mph when it hit the van, he saw the ■■■■■■ van in the distance, but didn’t slow down and paid attention to his mirrors to change lanes but left it too late. The driver was spun out around the ALE truck and hit the central reservation, and the drivers seat snapped off its mounting, sending him into the back of the van.
robv8:
trophyblue:
Big Joe:
The other week One of A.L.E. trucks was traveling up the M1 near Leicester with an ■■■■■■ vehicle behind him , A truck came up from behind hit the ■■■■■■ and forced it into the centre barrier the driver was rushed to hospital and will be off work for at least 12weeks all because the truck driver wasnt paying attentionThe driver is now out of hospital, but his upper torso is in a cast for the next 6 weeks after numerous injurys to his spine. The truck that hit him was doing 58mph when it hit the van, he saw the ■■■■■■ van in the distance, but didn’t slow down and paid attention to his mirrors to change lanes but left it too late. The driver was spun out around the ALE truck and hit the central reservation, and the drivers seat snapped off its mounting, sending him into the back of the van.
The video i made was to imform drivers about Abnormal Loads and ■■■■■■ Vehicles same as the other Videos i make just to imform drivers etc… At the beginning of this thread a few had never heard of our problems and what was happening . And these are so called Professional Drivers , What i have seen of The professional drivers is most cant read even them from the major Blue Chip companies… In the MOTORWAY SERVICE AREAS these professional drivers seem to drive in without paying attention to the road markings and park in the abnormal load bays . This is just what im saying in my videos Please pay Attention out there
P.S. i wasnt very good at school and maybe my spelling and punctuation isnt to some peoples standard but i do try and if i didnt have a problem with other road users and professional drivers i wouldnt have to make the videos and write all this . Then nobody would any the wiser about my writing Thanks 
Do many forum members have experience of moving Abloads? The HA are looking at making changes to the Code of Practice as well as markings/lighting on the loads themselves. There’s a report out from TRL (on behalf of the Highways Agency) called “Lighting, Marking, Signage and Safety Equipment for Abnormal Loads and Self ■■■■■■ Vehicles” (catchy title eh…). It’s all in the consultation phase at the mo so we all have an opportunity to give our views. I can upload a copy to the forum (permissions permitting) if anybody is interested?
trophyblue:
In the MOTORWAY SERVICE AREAS these professional drivers seem to drive in without paying attention to the road markings and park in the abnormal load bays . This is just what im saying in my videos Please pay Attention out there
P.S. i wasnt very good at school and maybe my spelling and punctuation isnt to some peoples standard but i do try and if i didnt have a problem with other road users and professional drivers i wouldnt have to make the videos and write all this . Then nobody would any the wiser about my writing Thanks
These drivers park in abnormal load bays because they can’t reverse or are too lazy and just pull in. These same drivers take breaks on the pumps and leave rubbish everywhere they park up. Sheer laziness, ignorance and arrogance!
P.S. Spelling and punctuation is fine, probably like mine - not correct but readable…if that’s a word
yes would be intrested to see that or could you pm it me cheers
Trophyblue interesting post and good vids and pics, but I’d like to pick you up on a couple of points
a) some of your pics on Flickr show cars overtaking quite safely and legally.
b) You refer to truck driver as professionals, but really the professional tag is only due to the fact that we get paid to drive a truck not because of any standard of driving. Saying that there are many good driver out there, but you’ll not notice them as they’ll either stay behind you or overtake in such a way that it’s doesn’t attract your attention. However as we all know there are plenty of HGv drivers out there who shouldn’t really be in charge of anything bigger than a wheelbarrow and there’s not alot we can do about them. And none of them will be on this site. 
I do remember that the abnormal load sector did say that driving standards round them would drop once they got rid of Police escorts and it seems they were correct.
Do many forum members have experience of moving Abloads?
I have done a couple nothing major, think my most is 9 metre wide, heaviest i have moved personally is 150 tonnes gvw ( as part of a team over 10,000 tonnes in one peice) and high at over 20 foot, does that count as experience?
Also on these forums there are a few guys who have planned and organised moves that put those to shame, noty only in UK but world wide and who I have the pleasure of working with
so in answer to your question, Yes, we do have a little experience on these forums in AB loads
Rikki-UK:
Do many forum members have experience of moving Abloads?
I have done a couple
Also on these forums there are a few guys who have planned and organised moves that put those to shame, noty only in UK but world wide and who I have the pleasure of working with
so in answer to your question, Yes, we do have a little experience on these forums in AB loads
I’ve always had the impression that a lot of Abload moves are done outside the ‘specialist heavy hauliers’ and very conscious that there seems to be no single point of online information to support the industry; or hauliers who may move Abnornmal Loads occasionally. The specialist hauliers know their stuff but I reckon a large amount of moves happen through others. If you’ve moved an AIL occasionally Rikki-UK, I imagine you will agree that the rules and regs (C&U, Special Order etc) are pretty complex. We’ve created an on-line ‘Abnormal Loads Ready Reckoner’ to help (http://www.MyAbnormalLoad.com - simply select your measurements and press ‘Calculate’). Hopefully this will be the start of a portal that will eventually support the entire Abload community - Hauliers/drivers, Cranes, Escorters, Abnormal Loads Officers etc. I’ve started a thread on this forum so please have a look and leave any comments (or if you find any errors or omissions!) or suggestions you may have - Abnormal Loads - MyAbnormalLoad.com - USEFUL LINKS (POST AND READ ONLY) - Trucknet UK
Rikki-UK:
Do many forum members have experience of moving Abloads?
I have done a couple
RIKKI you drove an 80 tonner Daf 95 6x2 tag ,with Curtis Heavy Haulage and rikki do you have any piccys of them pipes you did out of Wilson Byards Livingston to Grangemouth the ones with the mega over hang also do you have any other piccys of Curtis’s when we were there
could you add them to
flickr.com/groups/939556@N23/
Thanks Rikki i seem to have lost all of my photo apart from one
Will look and see what photo’s I have still got Ray, Yup I had the 80 tonner at Curtis’s, at Econofreight I had a 6x4 DAF with torque converter
muckles:
Trophyblue interesting post and good vids and pics, but I’d like to pick you up on a couple of points
a) some of your pics on Flickr show cars overtaking quite safely and legally.
b) You refer to truck driver as professionals, but really the professional tag is only due to the fact that we get paid to drive a truck not because of any standard of driving. Saying that there are many good driver out there, but you’ll not notice them as they’ll either stay behind you or overtake in such a way that it’s doesn’t attract your attention. However as we all know there are plenty of HGv drivers out there who shouldn’t really be in charge of anything bigger than a wheelbarrow and there’s not alot we can do about them. And none of them will be on this site.I do remember that the abnormal load sector did say that driving standards round them would drop once they got rid of Police escorts and it seems they were correct.
The photos in flickr on SOD the LAW i didnt think were legal overtaking when i am traveling at 40mph and someone overtakes me on double white lines or chevrons if there was a police car present would they do the same ■■?
The Eddie Stobart truck overtaking that was down right stupid that part of the road was on a bend with an escape lane going the opposite direction lucky enough there wasnt a truck coming the other way or god knows what would have happened, the last part of the above Quote can be read both ways but im assuming you mean other drivers and not the STGO and ■■■■■■ Drivers .
The main problem that I/WE as ■■■■■■ drivers is that, That the Highway Agency and ACPOS (the Police)said we can self ■■■■■■ ( Some of the older ones will remember this program on the TV Alias Smith and Jones a western cowboy program) it was about two train robbers that got amesty from the law but only the governer and select few Knew , Well we are in the same boat the Highway Agency And The Police Know BUT THEY NEVER TOLD ANYONE ELSE WHAT WE ARE !!! … I went to a meeting in Birmingham at the start of the year with the H.A and POLICE and R.H.A and H.T.A. and TRL and serveral private escorters , We asked for the power to stop traffic . Answer NO .We asked for Red light on rear when travelling very slow on a dual or motorway especially while sitting in lane 2 . Answer No . We sugjested that the H.A. and the DVLA got together and sent out flyers with the tax disc reminders about abnormal loads and ■■■■■■ vehicles and again it was No , So really what chance do we have if the People who allow us wont back us …
As a Result i made a short Video on you tube youtube.com/watch?v=GaqIgT7ldks about ■■■■■■ vehicles and it up till now this post has had 1250 views , I really would like for everyone who drives to watch it then they would understand what we are ,as the Police and HIGHWAYS AGENCY dont really care , I have a lot of Really Good Friends that are ■■■■■■ Drivers that have Familys ,and the last thing i want to hear is some ■■■■■■ drivers has been hit by a truck and so far there has been at least 15 ■■■■■■ vans totaled by truck drivers not paying attention , As a result many escorters have started to fit in car video systems front and rear to film the road . All we are asking is to pay attention to us and stay back give us the room we need , Because the last thing your boss and his custommers wants to see is his truck on TV or on YouTube with your face grinning as you try to get as close to us as you can .
Please watch the Video get your friends to watch the video and above all be safe on the road Thank You
Rikki-UK:
Will look and see what photo’s I have still got Ray, Yup I had the 80 tonner at Curtis’s, at Econofreight I had a 6x4 DAF with torque converter
Thanks Rikki
trophyblue:
Infact i should have got into that business myself, i would have been well suited to it. I’m qualified to teach advance driving
Yes you may be Qualified to teach advanced driving but that dont mean you are suited to ■■■■■■ abnormal loads fact being the drivers we ■■■■■■ ,dont like escorting other drivers .And its not as easy as many think . Escorts have to think for 3+ people at a time themselves the truck they are escorting and the other road users and what around them, Also the Hazzard Perception , What we see as a hazzard you might not think it is , It could be a lamp post ,low hanging cables, tree branches , traffic lights , keep left bollards, bus shelters, a bad camber on a road . then relay the back to the load so he is aware what he is coming
i even know how to use punctuation, which hopefully makes it much easier for readers to read my posts.
Hey Nobodys Perfect
would the driver of the load not see these first as escorts ive seen are usually behind? also if the driver of the load can not see for himself i would think you have problems before i start overtaking. still as you said earlier you are not trained to any approved standard etc but are good enough to point out everyone elses faults. the hazards you listed are hazards for most lgv drivers, oh but they wont see them will they as they are not trained, to your standards! ive seen ■■■■■■ cars/vans etc move over to block vehicles passing(as the load approaches some lane restriction ahead) leaving you very little braking space. so as usual there are good and bad in every job.