No its not a rant, just a heads up on some plans for the coming year-and some thanks
Firstly very shortly some changes are being made, while the amount of people who criticise this website is very small, that doesnt mean they dont have some valid points. We have listened, and from tomorrow some changes will be happening. so keep an eye on the stickies…
For the new year-
Firstly, there is the party, your all invited details are at the top of the forum, past years have been a riot, and this year we have some awesome stuff already donated by the truck manufacturers to auction of for the the annual charity
RBI will continue in the new year to develop the new website, this is a long term project that may take many months, , simply put it is a technical problem, we will be moving off the current open source software onto a custom built package based around a commercial content management/forum system.
Integrating the data from this open source platform, so all your usernames, passowrds and posts are kept it is a major undertaking, and a major time and financial investment for RBI.
The drivers truck of the year will be happening again in 2008, instead of journalists choosing the truck of the year we along side Truck & driver magazine will be taking a panel of drivers to usurp them. after all who knows better if a truck can really do the job? 
hopefully in 2008 we will be able to incorporate a drive of the vehicles rather than just a static judging.
The Roadtransport.com Xmas draw led to a couple of members here recieveing a nice xmas present, as part of the Road transport Group of RBI we hope that we can bring more chances to you all to get a little extra something for nothing every now and then
Our tie in now with T&D and Commercial motor means that comments made on here can also be seen in print, sometimes we as drivers feel we are not listened to or heard, I know because of e-mails and telephone conversations from directors of companies that many are totally unaware of the true way thier employees view their business, while I make no mistake that TruckNet UK and the words printed in the our colleagues magazines will hardly change the world, I do know that some CEO’s/Directors were truly shocked when they read their own employess remarks. Will that lead to changes for those companies? I dont know, but at least the message is out there.
Finally… some people come to this website and seem more interested in the ins and outs of the business side of the website than actually discussing what the website was set up for…
Now I cannot and will not divulge numbers, but I can say this to those who are so interested.
TruckNet UK had set by RBI a target of page views to achieve in the 1st 12months after the takeover, this target was above last years figures
TruckNet UK achieved over 50% above that target.
TruckNet UK also has to pay its way, financial targets were set, and while that is not any longer my area(it is dealt with by the Road transport group sales team) I can say that RBI are very happy indeed with the return on their investment, targets were again exceeded.
On a personal level I hope you will be glad to hear my original 6 month contract was extended for another 6 moths, and has now been extended for all of 2008
So where does all the above leave TruckNet UK for next year?
We are succesful, achieving targets and in -line for quite a major investment, each year before RBI took ownership we looked forward to trying to make a success, now we have the success and are looking to add to the free facilities we offer.
None of this would be possible without you the members adding your two penny worth, giving your opinion and taking part. without you TruckNet UK is nothing but software on the web, it is you the drivers that give TruckNet UK life.
And to the volunteer moderator and Admin team, - for all the flack you get I dont know why the hell you do it, but I am ■■■■ glad you all do- Thank You
