Fantastic idea…
Jonboy, that is entirely the point. The O/D, when specifying the vehicle is actually giving feedback to the manufacturers. On the other hand the fleet driver has no say in the matter and his/her critisisms are unheard.
It’s all very well for the fleet driver to sweep all the daily debris into a neat pile in the footwell, only to find that they are unable to ‘flick’ it out over the plastic moulding holding down the floor covering. The O/D will have either an air line or a vacuum cleaner to facilitate this periodically, but the fleet driver survives with the grime.
Let’s take the Mercedes Actross. I think most people who smoke tend to have the window open 3 or 4 inches. On an Actross this has the effect of ‘sucking in’ the majority of nature bug life. Having wasps bounce off one’s head and lying dying in the vicinity of one’s ‘nether regions’ is not conducive to attentive driving. The O/D has the option of fitting some form of deflector. The fleet driver does not.
As an example, late one dark evening, at Corby Chill, Bristol, one of their drivers came up to me asking if I could tell hime where the switch was for the interior lights. “Can’t be that complicated”, methinks. Goes over to his unit, and it’s an Actross. I jumps in driving seat and…“I know where the switch is, I really do…”, then I remembers that it is alongside the Parking Brake lever, slightly to the rear of the seating position. What a dumb place to put it.
I’ll got back to my original point. When these companies employ people to evaluate new vehicles. Rather than giving them an introduction at 9.0am on a warm summer’s morning, with two hours to crawl all over it to find where everything is, they would be better served by introducing the vehicles to their testers at 0200 hours, on a rain sodden Winter’s day. Then, and only then, would they receive valuable ‘first impressions’ feed back.
then I remembers that it is alongside the Parking Brake lever, slightly to the rear of the seating position. What a dumb place to put it.
This is an excellent place to put the lights switch. Easily reached from the drivers seat and when your lying on the bunk, and you can switch on the lights without moving on having to get up and fumble in the dark. I wish more Trucks did that.
After the grief I had trying to buy a new motor I’d like to ask 'em why they have no interest in selling new motors (unless you are buying a fleet) 
Most modern truck I’ve driven are good, but it’s the little niggles that you would only find of when you use the truck, that let them down. Most desginers would even think of these things unless they have nights out or have to sit in one waiting in RDC for hours on end.
Talking to the men (or women) at the top can be useful. Even better if they could spend a few days in there trucks with a driver to find out how it’s works in service.
There was a program on TV called “back to the shop floor” or something where the bosses of big companies went to work on the shopfloor and most of them seemed to gain something of the problems faced by thier staff and a better understanding of how thier companies worked.
TruckNet UK:
IF (and its still a big IF) A UK Director of one of the Truck Manufacturers was willing to come on this site and take questions from YOU
This quote makes me think that he is under the impression that he would be doing us a favour.
I personally would not be interested in massaging the ego of this sad loser, and suggest you tell him not to bother us again.
When, in 20 years time, all trucks are produced by the Japanese, tell the [zb] that he`s welcome to come back here and ask “Where did we go wrong?”
Vince
Edited for personal attack
Very interested in taking part. There are many annoying niggles on trucks that just serve to ahem off drivers, and don’t have any reason for existing other than a lack of field testing of the designs.
Vince:
This quote makes me think that he is under the impression that he would be doing us a favour.
The person in question in actually genuinely interested in the views and opinions of drivers on the state of the industry, and their worries and concerns,
If he does take part it is at TruckNet UK’s invitation… this manufacturer does not need to spend time and effort on a niche website like this
I personally would not be interested in massaging the ego of this sad loser, and suggest you tell him not to bother us again.
This person neeeds no “Ego massaging” 
at one time he was a truck driver, and by hard work and effort has risen to director level in a multinational company
When, in 20 years time, all trucks are produced by the Japanese, tell the [zb] that he`s welcome to come back here and ask “Where did we go wrong?”
Vince
See above :
Rikki, is this going to happen then ?
If there are people who don’t like the idea, then fair enough, don’t participate.
I’m hoping a certain manufacturer does get on here. I had to drive quite a few of their latest Trucks lately, and can’t believe the poor quality and poor design.
Then again I could praise a couple of manufacturers who do seem to improve overall as they bring out newer models.
But I still don’t think it should be in the chatroom, that could be complete chaos. Not only that, but, everyone works different shifts, so some of us would miss it anyhow.
It’s an interesting idea, but I’m concerned it will turn into nit-picking. To be honest I think the guy would get a better idea of the annoyances of wagons and the probles design faults cause by spending a week scanning these forums on a daily basis.
But if this guy has enough balls to be bombarded by questions from the truck-driving population in a live web-chat: good on him. Will be interested to see the results.
yes DEFINATELY I think that would be a fantastic thing to do 
hi guys with all due respect the manufacturers DO need to take notice of a “niche” website like this. We are after all the end users of their products and if they want to go places then maybe they should take notice of the guys who can give them first hand feed back to improve their designs!!!
I think it is a brilliant idea and as someone has suggested maybe more industry players should get involved and try to improve the industry for all of us.
cheers
gearjammer
I like the idea & would take part, but why not invite companies / individuals important to the industry etc to take part in a thread, this gives everyone the chance to take part & means topics can develop over a few days.