Alternate uses of a tipper...

Age limits aren't new. I think all the taxi's in Queensland have a 5 or 7 year lifer span. Queensland is the only state that has frame inspections and age limits on buses as well. Most of the big transport company's have age limits on subbies vehicles. Worked right it probobly would have done a lot more to improve the economy instead of blindly throwing $900 at anyone they could, and forcibly doing building works on public schools, including the ones where student numbers are in decline.

If you've got old gear, you need to find your own work in some form of other, and get away from working for a main contractor.

Hi guys,
Cam - you are spot on the money there; you have to get away from the bigguns and get to the small blokes, that is the only hope. Cam, could you also please check your PM's.

Onetrack - I knew this was happening in some areas but I didn't think it was so pronounce in NSW and especially in back-block towns like here. In Brisbane, there are still a few White's working, at least one B model mack and plenty of R models, there is two REO's owned by two brothers, and many other vintage working trucks that I haven't mentioned. As a day to day working truck, I will admit that the old White certainly looks dated; but interestingly the number of excavator drivers and site foreman that compliment me on the fact that although old she does a great job, and still looks OK. I have got many jobs in the past due to the old White being reliable, presentable, and as quick or quicker than comparable brand new trucks. This is a sign of my age I now feel, the inability to be able to recognise what is right from wrong, or better said the ability to recognise that it is time the old White was pensioned off.
But, you know what, the one's that don't like me and me old White will just have to miss out because even though I may be blind to the economics of the whole deal, the fact is for what hourly hire trucks do and for what we get paid there is no way that I am gunna sign on the dotted line for $220,000 or $8,000 a month in repayments - not that I could affford that even if I wanted to!

Atkipete - I am going to submit the tender. I will pay the $55 tender lodgement fee; and when the time comes I will also pay the $50 vehicle inspection fee so that the council blokes can crawl alll over her and eventually conclude that it is roadworthy, has alll the necessafry safety gear, and she's in very good condition. And then, at the last minute let some bean counter tell me, after accepting my money, that my vehicle is ineligible. That's where you get the local MP involved for the working bloke. Supposedly.

or just shut up, save my money, and find other work.. :-[

Cheers and thanks again guys
Bretto

It would be a shame not to tender your White has to make better economic sense than a $220,000 debt.And it does it with out a computer chip or check engine light.
Good luck.

Bretto

Dont worry about using the etender system i have had to use it for the last 4 years with my tenders and if you supply them with all the right information, insurance/rego/workcover etc.etc they are normally pretty good with it. It all seams to go through the outside agency before being presented to the council so as long as your $$ look good you will probably get a look in, just one thing dont go in to cheap or they will just throw it out but also dont go in to expensive, go in at a price that you will make good money from and be able to update the old girl sooner rather than later.
I have had to compete with company's that come in at about 1/2 my tender and they only last about 12 months and they are gone as they cannot replace equipment as they are only working for wages, it also gives the council a false cost, but its amazing how much extra work i get at my rates because the other joker's cant cope.

Keep smiling and if you have to park her up for a while do it and gain some more $$ and then try for the next tender,

Trevor

To give an idea of how far things have changed in recent decades, my 1950 Mammoth Major (and her siblings) was was on hourly rates on the Newcastle BHP reclamation for ten years 1980 to 1990. Must have made a motza for the owner as by then it owed them nothing.

Go for it Bretto, there might be someone with a bit of commonsense in there. When I worked for the Government ( many years back) there were rules about writing "restrictive tenders" but it still happened.
There is no environmental gain in scrapping a perfectly good working truck and then replacing it every five years.

To all of you valued people who have contributed - the end result for the LGA tender work is NO.

At 7.30pm there was a meeting for all plant & vehicle tenderers to attend, so as the LG could provide insight into the new tender. Everyone had to register to attend, which I did, and bring with them vehicle and/or plant registration papers so that the pre-tender register could be completed.

Also on the bring list was current Workers Comp Policy displaying currency of Workers Comp Insurance.

Well, never let it be said that i didn't give it a go at least...
On the door was a white shirted 21 year old ex-college brainiak, named "Randolf" and wearing a nametag which had under his name Local Government Contracts Authority.

One by one we were escorted to a table where we produced our current rego papers. I was accompanied by a true aussie gentleman "Bert" who has been doing council work in his Ford 9000 tipper since 1977. I had the chance to explain to Bert that I was worried with the new rules in the new tender. In true aussie spirit, Bert give me a bump on the shoulder and quietly whispered "..don't worry about that crap Bretto, we'll be right son.." ("Son" ? jeezuz, I'm 51 !!! Bert would be 70+).

Bert tossed his papers on the table; brainiak picked them up, stared at them, and then whispered something to Bert. Bert's reply caused immediate silence in the room - full of more than 100 blokes. "Whaddaya mean No? I'll give ya F&$CKING No!!! Where's ya f&$cking boss ya baby".
In shock, brainiak took him to another bloke in a suit, and then returned to the table to meet me.

In a matter of seconds, Bert walked past me and said "I'll see ya outside in a minute mate, near the Falcon ute, ok?" Yeah, sure, alright..

Now I have brainiak and the bloke in the suit both looking at my paperwork being the rego and workers Comp. And then the quietly spoken news : "Your vehicle is a 1979 model according to the registration papers and we cannot accept any vehicle or plant or equipment that was made prior to 2006. Also the vehicle is registered in Queensland and we cannot accept any vehicle registered outside of NSW". And then the best one : "your workers compensation policy is issued in Queensland and not valid in this state. To apply for this tender, you will need to get a new truck, get it registered in NSW, and get workers comp in NSW too". When I asked "how can an interstate truck driver that works for Armesto's Transport on the Sunshine Coast in QLD, suddenly crosses the border into NSW, and then sprains an ankle getting out of his rig, and then you say he is not covered as the policy only extends to the border - you are wrong mate, of course he is covered mate". Mr man in the suit would not pass any comment on that situation apart from saying that my truck, my rego, and my workers comp were inadequate. Go away.

Outside in the car park was a group of more than 20 blokes and Bert with tears under his eyes. He was devastated and heartbroken. He was told almost the same as me - go away, you and yer truck are inadequate. Here is a bloke who has just been told that his working days are over, finished, finito. There was at least another 5 in the same bucket as he and I. They all got angry so I figured it was time to come home. I'm not a fighter in this situation, you just don't win.

I have never felt so sad for a bloke. :'( Imagine being told by some smart ass in a suit that old mate's days working are finished. Why the hell would he buy a new truck? Jeezus, all he wanted to do was keep doing the job that he has been doing in his trusty old Louie and retire sometime during this tender duration.

As I got in the car, brainiak tappped on the window and handed me a business card - it was from the local Mitsubishi Truck dealer. Needless to say, I advised him what he could do with his card and where he could place his penis too.
Bretto

Bretto

All i can say is "Sh#t".
God help the rest of us currently working on tenders.

Trevor

i feel for you mate .. i have to work for myself ..as my truck is old (1985)..and i just sold my "new" truck a 1990 UD . . now im possibly going to invest in a 1987 scania . . the old trucks do everything i ask of them ..like im doing a trip up to the N Qld mines in 2 weeks (furniture removals). . but if they were on "tender" i couldnt even get a job for them carting a box of cushions for some fat beaurocrat to stink on ... oops i mean sit on

Bretto,
Sounds to me like the whole tender process is a scam, I cant of any reason why a tipper needs to be under 3 years old to do local work.
The "pre" rejection of tenders from blokes like Bert who has clearly proven his ability to do it does not make logical sense. Do they have anyone better qualified.?
Handing out of business cards for a particular truck dealer suggests that arrangements have already been made between Randolf and that dealer for the supply of vehicles.
The whole thing stinks.