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www.TruckNetUK.com
Page 13
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TruckNet UK's Rikki Chequer discovers how the site's forums can help small operators make big decisions.
An internet forum isn't just a talking shop. It enables a real and important flow of information between the users that would be next-to-impossible to recreate outside of the internet.
Using the private messaging system to exchange information is becoming essential (alongside other tools such as credit checks) for truck owners who are thinking about sourcing work from companies and individuals offering loads.
Comparing the weekly rates offered by fuel card companies enables the small operator to apply some pressure or switch cards to reduce costs.
Many more conversations on a huge variety of subjects are happening, either publicly on the forums or privately between users who are making use of the messaging system.
A free flow of information from their peers enables a vehicle operator to formulate decisions and take action with far more facts to hand than they would have done by more traditional methods.
But it is not all serious business on the forums. One of the more enjoyable and entertaining aspects of the forums is dispelling the myths that regularly show up there.
In the nine years that the forums have been going, one of the more persistent rumours to have emerged goes along the lines of a post saying: "My mate told me that it is new EU law that by 1 January next year, if you do more than two nights out a week, you must have a high-roofed cab."
Now, since this first appeared on the forums, quite a few Januaries have come and gone and there still seems to be a large number of drivers regularly night-outing in standard sleepers. Many forum users have spent hours searchIng online EU archives for this mythical piece of legislation.., and with no success. If anyone out there knows of its whereabouts, then please let me know.
One other topic that has raised its head in the Euro forum is that of sharing a cabin with an unknown person. It is understandable when the ship is full, but many drivers report that they are forced to share even when there are empty cabins.
Even worse, on some routes during the busy summer season, freight dryers are denied cabins completely in favour of tourists.