Okey-Didley-Dokely:
By drivers for drivers
By bean counters for people that have interests in the loading space of Astravans. 
Rob K:
Okey-Didley-Dokely:
By drivers for driversBy bean counters for people that have interests in the loading space of Astravans.
Yes, there have been complaints about our āattitudeā but there has been much customer feedback which would be of great help to T & D if only they were prepared to listen.
The thing about van reviews is a case in point. To be fair, I donāt know if they do them any more but they were one of the reasons I stopped buying it.
In any given month, how many truck drivers are in the market to buy a van? One, two? And if a truck driver does wish to buy a van I am sure he/she can find this sort of information anywhere on the internet. Just like the reviews of āyee-harā Country & Western music albums these van reviews are a transparent cut and paste space filler.
FOTO:
One thing we all need to get straight: Thereās only a handful of people in charge of what goes on at T&D: Principally weāre talking about Will Shiers (editor) and Chris Turner (deputy editor), followed by designer Steve Gale. Together with publisher Andy Salter, it is they who have the final say on what does or doesnāt go in the magazine, the format, the style, etc., not anyone from this website.Anyway, to answer a few of your questions:-
The ideas above are all good ones. Iāve toiled with them myself. Trouble is, itās not as simple as it soundsā¦
Re Afghanistan:
Over a year ago now, I had the offer to accompany Ghurka troops out in Afghanistan. Please remember this isnāt a trip to the seaside. My life would have been in danger from the second I flew into Afghan airspace, to the second I left. An RSM in Salisbury (whoād just returned) told me mortar rounds regularly land in the camp fired by insurgents from surrounding hillsides. I would go out with the convoys, where the risk (according to the British Army) was even greater. Despite all of this, I was determined to go. I thought it would be a photographic chance of a lifetime, and so put that before everything else. Three months down the line we (I say we, I really mean others) were embroiled in a series of endless meetings conducted at a level well beyond my pay grade. Personally, I didnāt understand why I couldnāt just get on a C130 and go. In the end I pulled the plug myself.
Re Volvo:
I had the same idea two years ago. I thought Iād start at the foundry where they cast the block and work my way through to the bit where they drive the truck off the line and along a short section of test track. I contacted Volvoās PR people both here and in Sweden but the whole thing sort of fizzled out. Sometimes itās just the way it goes. Spreading the article over several issues would be, in my opinion, a bit of a non-starter. It would switch people off in a āhere we go againā sort of way.
Re US Truck Shows:
The problem with this one is not the cost of the flight or the hotels, itās the time spent away from my office and studio (which is the reason I donāt do LDDs anymore). If I sent someone from this forum away in a truck for four days and told them Iād only be paying them for a day, would they go? I doubt it.
Re 3D issue (to answer some of the other questions above):
I canāt speak for Rikki, but I certainly donāt āsit in the pub all dayā as someone on here suggested above. If you read my blog (tomcunninghamphoto.blogspot.com) youāll probably get a clearer idea of why we embarked on a 3D issue. We genuinely thought it would be fun. In three and a half short weeks from now weāll know the answer.
Re T&D (on the whole):
At present, I am the guy wholly responsible for the magazineās Editorās Choice, plus a few of the other features on a random basis. I have worked on T&D for over three years now, but before that spent 10 happy years on Trucking. Having supplied large amounts of material to both, they (admittedly) do have a huge crossover in terms of reader demographics, but thereās also a large separation between them at the same time. What works for one, wouldnāt always work for the other. Having two magazines in the same market supplying the exact same thing is the stuff of bankruptcy courts.
Unlike Rikki, I donāt have a salary, and unlike you lot, I donāt get a wage from driving a truck. I make my living solely from manufacturersā photographic requirements and/or magazines. If a day comes when Iām not doing much, Iām running at a loss. I have full public indemnity insurance to the tune of Ā£5m, full business car insurance, fully licensed software on the latest high-end Mac, and yesterday morning I coughed up Ā£22K for three new Nikon cameras, six lenses and three flashguns. The average lifespan for my camera and computer gear is 24 months. Iāve got three telephone lines (so we can FTP files on separate lines), and a whole host of other fixed costs clients donāt know about (or want to know about). Iām not trying to be flash or clever here, Iām just trying to explain the difference between someone who does this for a living and someone who doesnāt.
Years ago I used to take the view that the readers came first, and would suffer long periods away from home for very little money. That was over ten years ago when the photography business was still relatively small and the overheads low. You only have to read some of the comments on this forum to see my stance on putting the readers first was, letās be honest, a little stupid. Most of them donāt really give a monkeyās what I do, how I do it or how I make money.
I know it all sounds very simple, this magazine lark, but in reality many of the ideas the people on here come up with weāve already thought of - many times over. Weāre far from stupid guys. We look at a whole host of things; some work, some donāt. There is always a reason why they do or donāt see the light of day.
The main problem with T&D is the audience. We know who they are, we know what age they are, and itās a bit worrying. For someone like me itās a bit of a tightrope act of attracting new, younger readers without alienating the old guard: I realise the vast majority of T&Dās readers are 40 to retirement age males, but they are (to a large extent) the converted. They were brought up in the industry and probably sat in the passenger seat of their fatherās lorry as children. That doesnāt happen in 2010 - for a multitude of reasons. We know twenty year olds are not even in the slightest bit interested in hearing stories about driving up Shap smoking a Woodbine and stopping at the top for lashings of jam roly poly; most of them wouldnāt know a suet-based pudding if it hit them on the head. This is where the conflict starts. Trust me, Iāve thought about it until my head hurts.
Last but not least, Iād like to end by saying that the day T&Dās editorial policy is dictated to by a handful of people on an internet forum, will be the day I leave. Weāve got tens of thousands of readers on the magazine, but trawling back through comments on here it always seems to be the same half a dozen empty vessels who think theyāve got the right to tell us how the magazine should be produced. āThose things simply do not work for meā¦ā is one thing. That sort of stuff, the editorial team could act on and change course. Howeverā¦ āT&D should be scrapped. Awful magazine.ā and āi dont buy it these days due to this fact, if i ever see a copy lying around i will take it with me just in case i dont have any toilet paper as this is all it is fit for these days wiping your [zb] withā¦ā is quite another matter.
As I said to Lucy last night, "the noisy cog always get the grease - and youāve got a lot of very noisy cogsā¦ " I work bloody hard to produce the content I do, and I find it grossly insulting when faced with the comments above. I know the rough financial mechanics of this website; I think you are all very lucky people - I canāt think of many companies who would prop up a website which so openly, and so personally attacks the business, its products and the people who either directly or indirectly work for them.
But hey, if weāre all open to speaking our mindās here, let me give you my little pearl of wisdom: If I were the person in charge of the ā ā ā ā ā strings at rt.com, I would server the lifeline to this forum tomorrow. Instead, the money RBI spends could easily be invested in a proper T&D website with interactive areas, downloadable Editorās Choice screensavers, up to date news, health topics, weather forecasts, minute-by-minute live traffic info, etc., etc. I wouldnāt care less if thousands of people were wiped off the companyās page impression data figures. At the very least I could go to work on Monday morning safe in the knowledge I wasnāt funding a misinformed, ill thought out personal attack on myself, my staff or my publicationās contributors.
Well put Tom but then again why should you have to come on here to defend yourself ?
Most of them here have no idea what the real world is like anymore having all been been brought up in this plastic super safe world in which we now unfortunately live
There must be top doller in the editors office though doesnt that sad fella Shiers who has his daughter/son christened in a Stobart truck own a shiny Bently/Roller certainly looked like that on that Stobart publicity campaign that was recently on TV.
The mag itself is err if you want honest opinions rubbish, theres very little in it of interest so little infact it is possable to read the 2 paragraphs that are worth reading whist standing in whsmiths no need to pay for it. The rest of the news section is generally to be found on the Net.
Same goes for this site too at times look at the CPC thing you find most driver on web sites or out on the road dont want it but TN campaigns for it abliet with minor changes why? Well it money isnt it theres brass to be made by TN for it staying.
I aint bought the mag for over 3 years and wont start anytime soon in its current format.
As for FOTO are you for real, why would you spend sooo much money on camera equipment mearly for taking pics of trucks? I used to be a freelance snapper covering rallying. Had about 2/3k of gear at anyone time thats got put through wind rain snow the lot lasted for 3/4 years before changing so how you get your figure for sunny pics of trucks doesnt add up unless your gibing the editor a doggy reciept and making a profit!! LOL 
Imp:
As for FOTO are you for real, why would you spend sooo much money on camera equipment mearly for taking pics of trucks? I used to be a freelance snapper covering rallying. Had about 2/3k of gear at anyone time thats got put through wind rain snow the lot lasted for 3/4 years before changing so how you get your figure for sunny pics of trucks doesnt add up unless your gibing the editor a doggy reciept and making a profit!! LOL
maybe he does not just take fotoĆĀ“s of trucks doubt very much if you would make enough for bread and jam with just truck fotoĆĀ“s as a portfolio
Vascoingles:
Imp:
As for FOTO are you for real, why would you spend sooo much money on camera equipment mearly for taking pics of trucks? I used to be a freelance snapper covering rallying. Had about 2/3k of gear at anyone time thats got put through wind rain snow the lot lasted for 3/4 years before changing so how you get your figure for sunny pics of trucks doesnt add up unless your gibing the editor a doggy reciept and making a profit!! LOLmaybe he does not just take fotoĆĀ“s of trucks doubt very much if you would make enough for bread and jam with just truck fotoĆĀ“s as a portfolio
Very true and if so his rant that he spent 20 odd k on equipment doesnt sway!
Imp:
Same goes for this site too at times look at the CPC thing you find most driver on web sites or out on the road dont want it but TN campaigns for it abliet with minor changes why? Well it money isnt it theres brass to be made by TN for it staying.
Imp, have you got a link to these TN DCPC campaigns?!!! I think youāre making it all up and donāt know what youāre talking about, but iām willing to be proved wrong .
Vascoingles:
Imp:
As for FOTO are you for real, why would you spend sooo much money on camera equipment mearly for taking pics of trucks? I used to be a freelance snapper covering rallying. Had about 2/3k of gear at anyone time thats got put through wind rain snow the lot lasted for 3/4 years before changing so how you get your figure for sunny pics of trucks doesnt add up unless your gibing the editor a doggy reciept and making a profit!! LOLmaybe he does not just take fotoĆĀ“s of trucks doubt very much if you would make enough for bread and jam with just truck fotoĆĀ“s as a portfolio
Or perhaps he is just very good at his job, highly respected within the industry for his work and has a large number of high profile clientsā¦
Mike-C:
Imp:
Same goes for this site too at times look at the CPC thing you find most driver on web sites or out on the road dont want it but TN campaigns for it abliet with minor changes why? Well it money isnt it theres brass to be made by TN for it staying.Imp, have you got a link to these TN DCPC campaigns?!!! I think youāre making it all up and donāt know what youāre talking about, but iām willing to be proved wrong .
The driver CPC make it work it says then follow the campaign page link
There must be top doller in the editors office though doesnt that sad fella Shiers who has his daughter/son christened in a Stobart truck own a shiny Bently/Roller certainly looked like that on that Stobart publicity campaign that was recently on TV.
Erā¦No. You donāt assume other people who hire Rollers for wedding and christenings actually own them, do you? 
Imp:
Mike-C:
Imp:
Same goes for this site too at times look at the CPC thing you find most driver on web sites or out on the road dont want it but TN campaigns for it abliet with minor changes why? Well it money isnt it theres brass to be made by TN for it staying.Imp, have you got a link to these TN DCPC campaigns?!!! I think youāre making it all up and donāt know what youāre talking about, but iām willing to be proved wrong .
The driver CPC make it work it says then follow the campaign page link
Thats roadtransport.com who say
The Driver CPC Make it Work! Campaign is a petition set up by Motor Transport to put pressure on:
Its not a TN campaign is it? I know thereās a relationship between the two sites but its not really or by any stretch a TN campaign. Nearly everyone here thinks its all a waste of time.
Lucy:
There must be top doller in the editors office though doesnt that sad fella Shiers who has his daughter/son christened in a Stobart truck own a shiny Bently/Roller certainly looked like that on that Stobart publicity campaign that was recently on TV.
Erā¦No. You donāt assume other people who hire Rollers for wedding and christenings actually own them, do you?
No I still cant get over the fact someones sad enough to take a child to church in a truck for self promotion on TV, really people like that are one step away form the eddie spotters club.
Rikki-UK:
Or perhaps he is just very good at his job, highly respected within the industry for his work and has a large number of high profile clientsā¦
Iām sure he is but that doesnāt explain why he needs three Nikon cameras to take photographs when taking photographs can normally be accomplished with one camera. My girlf is a freelance photographer and has a Nikon D300 which retails at around Ā£1000, she tells me that even this is an indulgance and that she could take photographs of identical quality with a camera costing less than half the price.
There is a recession on. Perhaps T&D could do the same as we are all having to do and look to reduce its outlay.
Mike-C:
Imp:
Mike-C:
Imp:
Same goes for this site too at times look at the CPC thing you find most driver on web sites or out on the road dont want it but TN campaigns for it abliet with minor changes why? Well it money isnt it theres brass to be made by TN for it staying.Imp, have you got a link to these TN DCPC campaigns?!!! I think youāre making it all up and donāt know what youāre talking about, but iām willing to be proved wrong .
The driver CPC make it work it says then follow the campaign page link
Thats roadtransport.com who say
The Driver CPC Make it Work! Campaign is a petition set up by Motor Transport to put pressure on:
Its not a TN campaign is it? I know thereās a relationship between the two sites but its not really or by any stretch a TN campaign. Nearly everyone here thinks its all a waste of time.
Its blatently linked off the home page of this site that says it all.
The most consistant thing about this post, is the ones who complain mostly say things like" I donāt read it anymore", āi haven;t bought it in yearsā I had a quick look when I was in WH smiths"
Beofe you criticise, why not actually take the time to read it properly. The 3D pics took a few attempts to view, but once i tried, I think they were great for a one time exercise. Of course you wouldnāt get away with it every month, but itās called innovation, try new or different things.
as for the personal attacks on the T&D editors and staff, they are doing a job, you may not think they are doing a good job, but I see no reason to get personal.
I am not pro or anti Edie Stobbart, and as one of the biggest hauliers in the UK, of course they will be in a truck magazine, just like they were on TV, but i donāt look at a picture of a stobart lorry and start shouting about how everyone and everything is controlled by EST.
The music/book/model/DVD reviews take up one page, well maybe they could have utilised that page better, but then there may also be some readers who like to read the reviews
The van reviews may be out of place, so, why not write a review of YOUR truck, especially ones with high milage, give other users a chance to see how they compare, and how they āMatureā . Lets have a āsecondhand Truck reviewā.
There are articles about trucks and trucking companies, well what would you expect to find in a truck magazine, recipes? there are lots of pictures of trucks, old and new, so what would you prefer? If you want ā ā ā ā ā ā ā models, buy ā ā ā ā ā ā ā .
There are relatively few adverts compared to some magazines, and the puzzle pages give you something to do while waiting for Tosco to pull thier fingers out and unload you.
Shobba is always worth a look at.
I donāt read every article in full, but I still find enough to make it worth the money, try buying a computer magazine, full of reviews of equipment your not interested in, half of it full of adverts, you might find one article worthwhile reading, and you pay Ā£5.99 for the pleasure.
truckerjon:
The most consistant thing about this post, is the ones who complain mostly say things like" I donāt read it anymore", āi haven;t bought it in yearsā I had a quick look when I was in WH smiths"
Beofe you criticise, why not actually take the time to read it properly. The 3D pics took a few attempts to view, but once i tried, I think they were great for a one time exercise. Of course you wouldnāt get away with it every month, but itās called innovation, try new or different things.
as for the personal attacks on the T&D editors and staff, they are doing a job, you may not think they are doing a good job, but I see no reason to get personal.I am not pro or anti Edie Stobbart, and as one of the biggest hauliers in the UK, of course they will be in a truck magazine, just like they were on TV, but i donāt look at a picture of a stobart lorry and start shouting about how everyone and everything is controlled by EST.
The music/book/model/DVD reviews take up one page, well maybe they could have utilised that page better, but then there may also be some readers who like to read the reviews
The van reviews may be out of place, so, why not write a review of YOUR truck, especially ones with high milage, give other users a chance to see how they compare, and how they āMatureā . Lets have a āsecondhand Truck reviewā.
There are articles about trucks and trucking companies, well what would you expect to find in a truck magazine, recipes? there are lots of pictures of trucks, old and new, so what would you prefer? If you want ā ā ā ā ā ā ā models, buy ā ā ā ā ā ā ā .
There are relatively few adverts compared to some magazines, and the puzzle pages give you something to do while waiting for Tosco to pull thier fingers out and unload you.
Shobba is always worth a look at.
I donāt read every article in full, but I still find enough to make it worth the money, try buying a computer magazine, full of reviews of equipment your not interested in, half of it full of adverts, you might find one article worthwhile reading, and you pay Ā£5.99 for the pleasure.
Youve may be hit the nail on the head, 80% of drivers are that drivers its a job and they dont want to read more drivel about it. TN is aimed at wanna be truckers or those bling types that want spots and polish but minimum wage. It is funny though a thread about the mag always get the same few out the woodwork praising the mag trying to justify it, Rikki threatened to pull it well go ahead it wont be missed by many.
truckerjon:
Beofe you criticise, why not actually take the time to read it properly. The 3D pics took a few attempts to view, but once i tried, I think they were great for a one time exercise. Of course you wouldnāt get away with it every month, but itās called innovation,
Innovation? I was putting on these silly cardboard 3D viewing glasses to look at pictures of dinosaurs in the mid- 1960ās and they never looked like they were leaping out of the page at me then.
Good evening every one i have my tin hat on and am deep within my bunker all this spite and venom over a magazine, life is to short if you do not like what you see in a quick scan in the shop dont buy it that i think is the best way to show the magazines publishers it is not very good .
To my mind, Truck & Driver went sharply downhill when Dave Young was replaced as editor.
You can also see 3D trucks without paying for a magazine and cardboard elton john style glasses by visiting roads, truck stops, industrial estates and anywhere else trucks hang out 