Jingle all the way: driving during the holiday season

Jingle all the way: driving during the holiday season

Whether you're planning freight transport routes or mapping out a road trip in your 4x4 truck this holiday season, it's always a smart idea to check if there are major roadworks or closures along the way.

Preparing before the rush to see where the hold-ups and closures will be and plan alternate routes can save you (or your employer) time, money, and the unexpected headache of navigating on the fly.

We've put together some resources to help you have a jolly good time on the road or at least a relatively stress-free trip!

Plan ahead

Mapping ahead with your truck's GPS system or apps such as Google Maps, Waze, or Apple Maps is a great starting point, but you may find it helpful to go a step further by checking an Australia-wide map, such as the one provided by the National Freight Data Hub here.

For more specific route planning, you can check out these state-by-state resources for live traffic and up-to-date road closures and road works:

• Queensland - Queensland Traffic website
• New South Wales - Service New South Wales website
• Victoria - VicTraffic website
• Tasmania - Service Tasmania website
• South Australia - Traffic South Australia website
• Western Australia - Main Roads Western Australia website

Northern Territory - Road Report NT website

Cut lunch and a compass

If the Wi-Fi connection to your GPS or phone app comes to a sudden and miserable demise when you're on an unfamiliar road... what's the plan?

Some will surely remember what a street directory is—and how to use one.

While they're not typically tucked away behind the passenger seat these days, once upon a time, they were one of the only ways to find your way around if you weren't a local.

UBDs, Refidexes, Melways, and other street directories can still be purchased from newsagents, magazine stores, some bookstores, and chain shops.

If you are unfamiliar with where you are travelling and the GPS is caput, sharpening your map reading skills with an up-to-date street directory could be your best bet at finding your way around.

Emergency survival kit

Putting together a kit to keep in the cab can make a world of difference when road closures, breakdowns, or other issues, such as weather events, impact your journey.

If you're on a holiday trip, you might even have some kids on board who could benefit from some extra preparation.

Bottled water, healthy snacks, and something containing electrolytes, such as workout drinks or effervescent tablets, can be lifesavers if you're stuck for any extended period of time.

As we all know, truck stops and servos can be few and far between along some of Australia's major highways, so snacks and drinks for long trips are a must to help manage hunger and fatigue.

Even though you'll hopefully spend most of the trip inside your vehicle, window tinting does not provide complete sun protection, so sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat are also recommended. Having these on hand will be even more important if you happen to find yourself waiting for the tow truck and there's no air conditioning in the cab.

If Wi-Fi is down or your phone battery dies, there are still ways to stay informed about traffic reports and weather updates. Although it might seem quaint, having a wind-up or battery-operated radio is relatively small and easy to pack in your kit or your glovebox.

Wind-up or battery-operated torches are also handy if you find yourself on the road at night without streetlights.

Other emergency survival must-haves include raincoats or ponchos, a spare blanket or towel, and a first aid kit.

Summer lovin’

From putting in a hard day's work to packing your family and friends in the cab, maintaining your truck during the rising summer temperatures is always essential.

Here are a few of our top summer truck maintenance tips:

• Make sure that high-quality oils and lubricants are used at the next service to prevent the engine from being affected by heat and humidity.
• Check your radiator fluid before heading out to ensure that the radiator is cooling effectively and remember to monitor the temperature gauge during long drives.
• Pay attention to your brakes during the summer; the heat can wear brake pads out faster.

Always check your tyre pressure and give your tyres a once over before longer trips; heat also affects tyre wear and pressure.

For those long days of summer driving, we also recommend making good use of your truck’s multimedia system—download your favourite audiobooks, podcasts and music playlists before heading out.

Want a place to put your feet up but can't see anywhere to stop? You can have your say in improving Australia's rest areas here.