Is it really nearly 15 years since this idiot had the idea to start a drivers forum?
Is it really 365 days since my last new year non rant?
I wasn’t going to do anything this year- but a few people have informed me its obligatory, and have supplied me with the much needed alcohol as is also traditional before I write this so here goes…
the short version
TruckNet aint dead yet - in fact doing rather well- giving the trolls a hardtime seems to have helped- apologies to some who have been caught in the crossfire, as ever the thanks need to go to the volunteer mods team who do most of the day to day work keeping the forums on track- next year- there are plans afoot for most of the usual events- details in time…
Long Version
AS above but with a few more details
Every year our doom is portended by the naysayers on here, we are so terrible that TruckNet will fade away and die, and to be honest maybe one day it will, but 2013 wasn’t that year- already the forums alone are well over 28 million page views for the year and we have an hour to go yet 
more encouraging is the number of unique users still continues to rise- as does the number of returning visitors- so sorry - but we are not dead yet
Some folks also said you could never make forums work as a business model, well yet again this year the forums made a profit over expenditure, bringing in a record income that we can use to improve/provide extras- (after we take out the business expenses for my yacht in Monaco and the company Aston Martin) 
The content has improved, we know some didn’t like the crack down on trolling and silly supposedly funny one liners/put downs of other members - and sometimes some innocents have been caught up in it, However the bitchiness and bullying while not stopped is far less than it was, enabling new members to join in and become a part of the community- but we are aware that we haven’t solved the issue fully, and doubt we ever will, but we are resolved that the forums will not go back to the wild west we had for a long while in 2012… so be warned, play nice folks or to use my now infamous catch phrase - sod off else where 
Next year we have a few plans- Truckfest will be happening, the charity do is still under discussion but hopefully is on the time table- and there may be a few more surprises …IF I had more details I would let you know- but I don’t (I really should go into the office more often- but the social clubs much closer and more inviting) but some things are happening. 
As for the parent company its been a couple years now since the management bought all the titles of RBI and we became a small independent company- some folks here said that was the end, that Trucknet would become a paysite… well just the opposite has happened, TruckNet will remain free to use, the adverts on here for subs for the magazines will be our cheapest offering and for now we will be continuing to give you all free access to over 100 years of the commercial motor archives.
Now some folks expect a rant on News Years Eve from me… and for the last couple of years I have failed miserably- guess what, this year you will get no rant from me either, simply because if its going well why knock it- although I have no doubt the usual few suspects will- so in order to give them some thing to moan about
NO your not coming off pre-mod- this isn’t the United Nations and theres no new year amnesty this year
I don’t care how important you think you are, if you cant read the rules then your post will get edited
It may make sense to you- but to the mod is looked ilke garbage- so they disposed of it- live with it.
What interests you ■■■■■■■■ is your affair- we don’t want or need to hear about it- post deleted
That should just about cover the usual muppets complaints- next
and finally dear 2013- the admin team have had enough, the doors~~~> thataway so long been nice knowing ya
OH I nearly forgot, while the volunteer team ensure the forum is on track, its is actually all of you who provide the discussion and content - so if you thinks the forums crap then look in the mirror, if you think its great do the same cos its you all who make it so thanks for yet another successful year- best wishes to you all
Or perhaps these repetitive threads could be moved to the relevant forums to stop filling up the general forum? (The Technology forum perhaps, and incorporate sat navs AND cb’s.) That would of course mean the mods being more on the ball to move stuff, or more mods as you current lot can’t be there all of the time.