What is the most exciting aspect of driving an 18-wheeler truck across America (or any other country)?
Last Updated: 02.07.2025 15:17
Our trucks have big horsepower (kilowatts), and big fuel tanks to cope with the long distance.
In Australia we have 22 wheel trucks as standard - three axle trailers.
We allow higher weights than US trucks - 42,500 kg (93500lb) versus 80,000 lb for a single trailer semi.
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We have unfenced roads in many locations so have to watch out for roaming kangaroos, emus, sheep, and camels.
We use both Cabover and long bonnet trucks. I drive a nice Scania Cabover with 560hp and a 12 speed auto-changing gearbox. Comfortable and easy to drive after years of old Western Stars, Kenworth and Ford L9000s with 13 and 18 speed manual gearboxes.
And personally, I love to see the changing landscape, both day to day and as the seasons change.
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We have to have enough technical knowledge to make some repairs on the road.
it takes around three days to drive Adelaide-Darwin, or around four days to drive Sydney-Perth.
We MUST have a seven hour sleep break in every 24 hours. And a normal work week is a maximum of 72 hours, followed by 24 hours not driving (working six days in seven).
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With a Fatogue Management Certificate, that 12 hour work day can extend to 14, but with very strict rest break requirements.
All heavy vehicles (over 12,000 kg max weight) are limited to 100kmh (62 mph), even where the speed limit is higher.
And we have up to three trailer road trains (53.5 metres long) on some more remote roads. I have that licence, though I am usually towing Bdoubles or two trailer road trains.
It's a good life if you like your own company and have an understanding wife.
Towns are few and far between so there are roadhouses in some remote areas to fill in the gaps.
When driving more than 100km from your base, we have a maximum of 12 hours loading/driving per 24 hours with strict rest times during that 12 hour working day, so it takes 14 hours to work/drive those 12 hours.