Highway 31 | A Journey Down the Old Hume | Truck TV Australia

After weeks of comparing the White and Western Star prime movers, it is time for Matt Wood and Steve Brooks to hit the Old Hume Highway to answer the age-old question; is trucking what it used to be?
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[@robi1nz]

The new detroits may be technologically advanced but there is nothing beats the sound of the old ones.

[@dwightcorbett8889]

I agree fully with you; the newer ones no doubt have more power and are much more efficient; but I still miss the sound from those old 2 strokes

[@benmurray8689]

The old 2 cycles sound pretty cool but the series 60 would be the pick. The new DD series is just a Mercedes with Detroit badging and too much technology where the series 60 was still simple in comparison.

[@thermidorlevrai65]

@@benmurray8689 no

[@benmurray8689]

@@thermidorlevrai65 why no?

[@nztrucker1542]

Yep I drive a 2013 star with a a s60 legacy. Sounds similar to the cat c15. Dd15 is nice and quiet better power delivery. Tbh I'd rather dd15. If your more of a Jake's an turbo whistle guy I'd go for s60 legacy

[@ALA-uv7jq]

Ah, the ol Hume Highway in the 70's, good time to forget. The road was a goat track, truck accidents once a week, slow old bangers trying to pass each other on the few bits of divided road. Good thing I was on a Kawaski 900.

[@blastermaster2383]

Once a week?I saw 2 last week on the Hume.One North bound B double near Marulan on it’s side in the middle all by itself and the other South bound at Coolac,a Scott’s B double again by itself in the middle on a beautiful bit of road so don’t ask me what the fuck is going on.

[@patrickbowtell]

Steve Brooks - by far and away Australia's best transport journo. Have been following this bloke's stories since the old 'Truck and Bus' days. Hope he sticks around for many more years yet.

[@TombstoneHeart]

Now that brings back some memories and not all of them good either! Like trying to get an old single drive butterbox ACCO 2050 and a loaded spread axle trailer up Pretty Sally Hill on a wet night and fighting all the way with a noisy, rattling 210 Cummins and a relentlessly unforgiving 10 speed Road Ranger box. I would never have entertained the thought that I could lose traction going uphill loaded on a wet sealed road, but I did. Or the suicidal motorists on the Hume, trying to get out of Melbourne on a Friday night and playing merry hell with all of the truckie's nerves by overtaking us in mini convoys and then trying to squeeze themselves into the space between trucks. Once I got through Seymour and onto the Goulburn Valley Highway, I used to sometimes stop and heave a huge sigh of relief and maybe crack a tinny or two* to celebrate making it up that part of the indescribable mobile madhouse that was the Hume Highway back in the early 70's. So, yes, I learned a lot from the experience, but no, I wouldn't do it again. I was a just a kid of about 22-23 years back then and since then I've carted all sorts of freight on everything up to triple road trains all over the Great Southern Land and have found myself in sorts of dodgy situations and got out of them eventually. However, none of that compared to the sense of self preservation I acquired from being on the "old" Hume, between Broadmeadows and Seymour on a Friday night before a long weekend. I earned my stripes as a truckie on those nights and I sure as shit more than earned my money! * "crack a tinny or two". You could do that sort of stuff back then and believe me, some nights like i described above, you had bloody well earned it!

[@kensanders7369]

Dont forget Bevridge hill on a Sunday morning

[@vincentmirabito4479]

That’s a great story. I couldn’t imagine it now since I do Sydney Melbourne and Brisbane on a weekly basis . I love the old stories of the truckers in the day . So different

[@yeh.80]

Love it

[@editswithdan3593]

Awesome story mate !

[@kefelonia1]

I'm a survivor of sesame street, I ran sesame, made me the professional that i am now.

[@mosesesparza6505]

LOVE THAT WHITE! Beautiful rig

[@mikegord]

When I was a kid in Liverpool NSW in the 1960-70's I watched TNT MAN trucks driving up Macquarie Street north and south.

[@DAcutech]

I don't know why but I find this job so intriguing and exciting. I was in Australia for over 4 years and every time I saw these big bad boys, I wished I was behind the wheel. Lol!

[@GreasednGassed]

Love the sound of a jimmy! Drove an Inter with a 692 and a 9 speed from Canberra to Melbourne once. I could still hear the GM ringing in my ears as I tried to got o sleep! 😄 Great video!

[@robertgrant1837]

I remember my old man driving a single axle Leyland prime mover and trailer, in the mid-1960's when he drove for a company called Hartridges out of Port Melbourne. I still have some of his old photos

[@12121149]

Drove a "Jimmy" many years ago,on the "HUME", 70's, nothing beats the sound, of one working. Thanks for the memories.

[@alexdarte2]

The old DT I just love the way they scream but only with a turbo

[@stuartbirchall184]

Just watched it again, Ive been driving for a bit now & this is exactly what is needed. Corn & all ! Good job.

[@suzanneburton5876]

Stuart Birchall I

[@bettyswollocks7683]

That old white can sure play a tune

[@TheTripleDubya]

I used to drive the White 4000, ahh the memories, aircon was roof mounted and when it was overcome by the heat (which was often) it used to rain on you in the cab, bloody marvelous, wasn't all bad but having said that I'm with Woody, especially at the end !

[@brianreynolds400]

In those days kenworth had a good problem with windscreens as well . If it didn't leak wasn't a proper kw

[@jasoncarpp7742]

Fascinating video. It's fun to see how trucks have changed in the past 40 yrs. :)

[@redbackspiderboy1328]

you guys stopped at my home town in bargo went through picton and tahmoor

[@homerjsimpson2398]

Haaaa just ended as i was really enjoying everything. Anyway i would go with the red truck,the engine sound is hilarious!

[@milohrnic2023]

We love our Western Star's here in Alberta Canada as well. Loved this video.

[@nztrucker1542]

Yeah but there nothing like the WSz in australia and new zealand. 4864fx or 4800 and 4900 models😍

[@MrNeilcster]

I used to just stare at the Whites (Road Bosses and Commanders) and the R models and the SAR’s and the K100’s and the W900’s. They were all beautiful but so are the new ones, great video, takes me way back .

[@spiderbrandt4066]

I remember all that and more, we worked day and night and had to look for loads

[@andrewking9761]

The 8V71 Detroit best sounding truck engine ever made lived near the highway when I was a kid.

[@nztrucker1542]

You mean Cat c15. I've driven western star with a detroit s60 legacy sounds nice but not as good as c15. Watch my vid "trucking up auckland motorway" and you can hear it

[@stevel1451]

Naaaaa Mack E9

[@brucemoldrich6269]

Luv the video The end left me in tears funny as Looks like the old fella who’s done this done that has to do that again. Enjoy the memories fella and sorry bout this but Hahahfnha 😂

[@michaelpapp9453]

Great video, hope to see some more like this across all makes of trucks including Japanese makes

[@Hecket]

Driving the white 4000, you'd have a daily shoulder and arms workout just handling that rig. You'd see these small framed drivers who had arms the size of anvils.

[@viccoombs2750]

brilliant video....beautiful monsters! !

[@steinwaygrande9736]

Love the ending. Caught the bait hook line and sinker

[@dismaldog]

Stunning old Banger!

[@mgtow5336]

In the mid 70's and on the main highway b/w Melbourne to Sydney was single lane. When going b/w these states, it was a hell ride for us in cars. Most truckies were great in helping us overtake by giving the indicator signal. One time a mad truckie was tailgating and did many other dangerous things to my mate and I. An hour later, when refuelling we spotted his truck parked while he was having a meal. After we left, all his tyres were flat. I don't know how :-)

[@stanleygriffiths2750]

There always had to be that one idiot, one thing I detest is a tail-gaiter !!

[@brianreynolds400]

If you were on the Hume in a car between 8pm and 6 am ya took ya.life in you own hands we owned it those days

[@TuffBurnOutTeam]

Even though Times have changed its Still a Mugs game The List still goes on

[@glennmount4907]

I drove a 2050 acco up & down the hume & the "goat track" to Melbourne hauling fuel back in the late 70s early 80s.. Would have loved that sleeper on the White back then. Definitely different trucks now days.

[@stuartbirchall184]

Good job guys.

[@jonesywagga]

Top video, love this

[@salfordladcraigedeane2356]

Gorgeous truck n a good year too the year I was born, ,,,,

[@donkinzett3961]

Very good guys

[@rodgeorge7244]

Every night 6 nights a week on and of for over 20 years when I wasn't doing Sydney I was running to Brisbane or Perth or doing triangles and loved every mile and that White would have been a lot flasher than what we drove most of the time

[@andrewgoldthorpe8902]

top video let's see more

[@konangordon6295]

Onya woody luv ur drive off work brother ,,,😄

[@barryphillips7327]

Like the sound of the Detroit diesel!! Correction; it is NOT a supercharger, it is a blower, two stroke diesels will NOT RUN without air being pumped in!!

[@pauljohansson7697]

I love that old iron

[@repentuklondonwatchman1373]

LOVELY JOB Fellas

[@raywilson800]

The two most important parts of that 8V-71 are the emergency engine stop and the oil filer cap.

[@stefankassbohrer2765]

6:56 ... the so called "world engine", like the Mercedes OM 471-473, by DDC. Great Trucks ! Like this old sreamin´ 2-strokers ! Greetings from south Germany

[@Randhawa260]

Very nice

[@TheBoxingBee1]

I miss those good old days. Youngens these days have no idea what hard work is.

[@simentalg]

The guy in the red truck resembles Bryan "boss man" Martin from chrome shop mafia here in the states

[@tritty84]

Nice old truck.

[@Mick_4591]

Razorback blockade with Ted " Green Dog" Stevens and others. Should have mentioned the names on the " plaque" while you were there

[@rdavila26]

I’ll take that old 1975 white , got to love the sound of a old screaming Detroit engine ,.

[@pltking]

Your right they sound awesome Detroit’s are best sounding

[@bogan6264]

yeah nice old truck. new one ,well i must say old school, looks and sounds sooo, much better yeah. on ya keep truckin ay

[@glenmunro3]

White Road Boss Gemmy's lol love em.

[@krank8385]

People ask, how did you do it back then, but we didn't know any different, that's what driving trucks was, we never dreamed there could be trucks like they have today, or roads for that matter.

[@countrytruckie6744]

Note to self, never leave the keys in the truck when woody is around 😂😂😂😂

[@reinaldodesouzareinaldo6322]

Lindas e passantes máquinas!👍

[@raydeal5777]

Hi all the logs in a great Northwest the Cascade Mountains around Mount Saint Helen, ran a 10 wide log truck off road with a 335 Cummins 5 + 4 and the lightweight was 55000 lb. And I ran a 1965 Pete or the 318 and a five and a four, best way to drive it when you got in it in the morning I slammed your hand in the door I knew you were mad all day I need to bang the hell out of the gears. Didn't know any difference. What I did for diapers and baby food.

[@joshkenny3566]

What’s the name of the soundtrack that plays between 7:39 to 8:44? I use to watch a show called Pick a Winner from Crownbet for tipping every week in the AFL and this soundtrack was the intro

[@blastermaster2383]

Quick tip for ya fellas,if you feel like paying 20 to 30 cents more per litre for your BP Ultimate diesel then definitely pull in to BP Marulan or if you only have a Shell card,the Sally’s Corner Shell at Penrose ain’t much better.How these joints get away with it is just criminal.If you can boys & girls,try not to fuel up there & stop them taking us for idiots.

[@bobtalbot2401]

I was looking forward to the fuel figures ?

[@quintinmarsters1609]

Classic ending

[@SS-yd3yu]

Love you ppl

[@scotty11782]

That was good

[@andreychuprin7365]

Trucks might have gotten better but I think it was better in the ole days due to less oversight from the big brother at least here in USA.

[@deutschlander2004]

Andrey Chuprin and truckies got a decent wage in the states. Not anymore :(

[@slatibaadfast]

Used to drive a 4000 back in the 70's. Was at razorback for the blockade. And was lucky enough to get home to S.A. in time to see my daughter born. One thing about the young bloke and drivers of today. Throwing ropes or chains over a load then actually TARPING the bloody thing. All curtains and aluminium tarps now days.

[@spiderbrandt4066]

Memories the good old days with Mad nights at little harbor, the bottom of silvie's, the hole in the wall, I can't remember, and so on. I did love it and I still want to Drive but I to old Be there in the morning they say but you didn't get over night rate. and Jake brakes where for big hills not for use in my F in street . ( F in tipper drivers. )

[@williamgall4765]

were did you get that white from

[@TheMarshy-wb7wu]

My old man had a story for every K of the Hume

[@petercole3414]

Matt Wood wouldn't know what a truck was if it run over him

[@rossfletcher4362]

Thanks fellas, I enjoyed it!

[@jeanbig8301]

I know how’s like I used to do Melbourne turcatta 6 times a week 2011 to 2015 good 4years

[@Moo01100]

Great video.

[@truckeemick2486]

the old days was about more than just the trucks. sure them old bangers were a thrill coming off mountains and no speed limiting devices and all that. But if I was going back to do it over again I' take the trucks and gear and the new highways with me. i'd leave behind logistics, timeslots, logbooks, speed limiting and new age operatives, and replace uhf with am again. I'd probably reopen the black and white and Lenny as well, shut down a few maccas and reopen the crazy house. and that place without a name in holbrook. yeah I'd have it running better than it ever run.

[@pinkyman5155]

I loved the Road Ranger gearbox 12 speed with a Jacobs brake, once you were moving you never needed to use the brakes or clutch. I could get up QE2 bridge at Dartford without using the clutch. We used to sheet up using Dolly knots, sometimes double or triples. Trucking nowadays is so boring and miserable.

[@nztrucker1542]

Never new eaton had 12speed road rangers. I know they had 13,15 and 18speeds

[@kiwitrucker7876]

Ribbit

[@pinkyman5155]

@@nztrucker1542 Maybe it was a 13 you are probably correct but I am a very old trucker 🥴

[@stevel1451]

Mack made the only 12 speed gearbox

[@pinkyman5155]

@@nztrucker1542 I’m in the UK maybe it was a 13 speed, I stand corrected.

[@angusc6014]

The truck manufacturers should use this to change how they make trucks. To make trucks that are modern but also incorporate the great things from the classics like the wood grain and simple cab for example

[@Berniessen]

from the old came the new and in 30 years if we havent had a nucliar war we say 2019 trucks are soooooooo bad and old with there weak engines.........its happening since the start of mankind but i really love the shape and design of the old truck + the v8 engine sound .....

[@nedhiggins3935]

Go the old girl see is a nice white

[@jakemcquade3157]

Started with a twinstick, went to a single stick, to no stick. Progress? Keep it.

[@brad4751]

now if you ran sesame street you would have been rounded up by rocket in a k125

[@greebo7857]

Thought you might have got further than Marulen.

[@raywilson800]

I'm sorry, I apologize for that last rude remark. It's just that I either owned and driven 671, 6V53 & 8V71 or knew somebody that had one and trucked together. I never had no luck with one and neither did my friends. Great video. I love the way the old 2 strokes sound but if I was still trucking, I wouldn't buy anything but a mechanical 3406B maybe set up 15% over. That wouldn't be too bad. I'd would put it in an older truck so no E- logs. I want be buying another one. I've got COPD and Diabetic and I've already had my CDL suspended by Homeland Security for not keeping my physical current. Ain't that a laugh! Ha! Ha!

[@nungal573]

Man, the spool is earganism tho

[@truckie933]

Great vid. What’s the remote thing on the steering wheel of the Star?

[@OverTheHillsAdventures]

Phone shit

[@Frankiegish]

Two way radio controls. GME Elecrophone Australian made.

[@tommyt329]

be awesome to hear when or if Detroit Diesel puts out a 800hp 19ltr.

[@thomaskuzyk9802]

Now I know what a WHITE truck looks like. Bob Reimer who drove these rigs mentioned White trucks in his song THE B MODEL MACK SONG by THE COUNTRY TIGERS CANADA. Nice trucks and tks for viedo. Drive safe and listen to ME AND MY RADIO JUST KEEP ON TRUCKIN HOME by Flo and Curley. Best wishes.

[@adamdanko596]

White's are the Best / classiest truck ever made , and how the White Road boss looked , gotta wonder if Western Star came from it , when it became just Western Star instead of White Western Star .

[@26TptCoy]

Night driving on the old Hume 1 lane each way, trucks geared to do 100mph, bad brakes and with tired doped drivers restrained by company deadlines behind the wheel. Sheer terror. I had a 1418 benz roll in front of me one night which sheared the cab to the bonnet. Not much left of the young driver. Snippets of the old road still exist if you take the time to look. Today get on the Hume set the cruise control and relax.Big change from a 67 Diamond T 4cyl 5X4 boxes wedge brakes to a driving a Volvo FH16 with everything.

[@wildlifemovements7843]

Old school all the way 👏

[@fro9604]

Nice acting, boys. I can't help thinking that if Steve did drive the old banger back home, he really wouldn't have minded, and probably did so with a smile, but I bet he would have stuck to the freeway instead of the old road!

[@Hitman-ds1ei]

My 871 got 2 kms litre single trailer and 1km litre with 4 decks of cattle

[@darrenguidry7115]

I like WS

[@wwof1646]

I use this road daily

[@jakegargiulo5101]

Yeahhh Bargo

[@TransportSimulatorNationTSN]

North America and Australia have one thing in common trucks. They looks the same.

[@hereintranzit]

honda 777 yea, but the Australians drive on the wrong side of the road sitting on the passenger side of the cab! 😂😂😂

[@wuorson5111]

as an ozzy i say the Americans sit on the wrong side of the road and shifting with the wrong side and sitting on the passenger side of the cab!!!

[@stephenhunter70]

Nah we drive on the correct side mate

[@AishiMTA]

and australia actually have cabover trucks LUL

[@wuorson5111]

Because we have a stupid length limit of 19m for a single and 26m for a double

[@deanhollingsworth7938]

After getting out of a new freightliner into a 8v92 for a year i would say the 8v92 is no where near as bad on fuel as people say. But they do use a tonne more oil than anything else

[@logical_volcel]

mate how much fuel old trucks use is probably the biggest misconception out, you load them up they'll be getting pretty similar mileage to modern trucks, plus you don't have to buy adblue and spend 50k to rebuild the thing, that and all these "drivers" who cant handle driving a manual

[@deanhollingsworth7938]

@@logical_volcel the best story i heard was the v8 macks one company was at 160t and got 4mpg with a 400hp ultraliners

[@logical_volcel]

@@deanhollingsworth7938 wouldn't doubt the mileage, is about the right gearing and horsepower for the weight more than anything, but 160t with as 400hp ultraliner seems a bit slow

[@deanhollingsworth7938]

@@logical_volcel think they only went to 80kmph

[@deanhollingsworth7938]

@@logical_volcel company was Bellway

[@MrJimbaloid]

Oh God I'm a truck driver from Derbyshire but Please Please please can I come to AUS and do this?

[@twitchcrook8547]

same very interested

[@markhollis362]

Come on over mate, we're sick of all the auto driving elephant scrubbers

[@mdparid5320]

What kind of trailer is that on the red truck

[@jessb4535]

45ft flat deck with gates tarped.

[@markhollis362]

Would be a 40 ft mcgrath or freighter, maybe even 38ft,definitely not 45

[@asd67lkj]

...bit disappointed...did not get far down the Hume?

[@nickreynolds1768]

Paint It Black and add the Green goblin had on the front and you got a one mean truck of the outback

[@pioneerjatt93]

Im Punjabi and im Proudly Aussie trucker..!! ❤️