I bought T+D from about 96 to 05 but stopped because it was the same old thing all the time.Nothing of any real interest.I wanted to see more bulk tippers or cattle trucks.Would i buy it again probably not but i might it as a one off if the right article was in there
A certain way of putting me off buying a magazine would be to wrap it in cellophane so I’ve no idea of what’s in it. In my experience those that are so wrapped, have an (at best) half decent supplement with bugger all in the actual magazine.
Why are most of T and Ds’ “Editors’ Choice” motors pimped up in the usual way? It’s never a “Choice” because it’s ideal for the job, just because it has a few fairylights and chrome that make the driver/owner feel their ■■■■ is bigger than it actually is.
The last one i purchased had an article/cover shot of a (thinks) a father& son team (on containers?). Cover shot was his DAF 95, green/white iirc and think his name was Michael Crieighton. That may have been either Truck or Truck&Driver.
I hope that there’s still room for my nonsense in the new T&D 
I remember years ago reading about the twin splitter in T&D, first time I went out in a lorry with a twin splitter I knew what to do with it because I’d read it in the mag, it needs more stuff like that, it doesn’t have to be too technical, just an “Idiot’s guide” to stuff would be enough, oh and more Long Distance Diaries, you can see from the diary posts on here that they’re quite popular. Road tests are also a no brainer 
cant beat the old Truck magazine when pat kennet was at the helm,great roadtests and some very good long distance diaries aswell
OK Rikki you know who I am,best I take over the editors job and we’ll get the mag back to the high standards of Pat Kennet[RIP] .How much do you want me to pay?.
Rikki-UK:
So tell us what you want in a magazine for you.what would make you spend out for a magazine and buy it each month?
If you tell us we can work towards it… and give you what you wish
dont tell us and the guys producing the magazine have to guess. you have a chance here to shape the future of your magazine
I personally will take your sensible comments and ideas and put them forward
Id like to see a “Snooper/Spy” section where a reporter is undercover and visits MSA’s and Truckstops for visits. The reporter must give a warts and all review of the establishment along with photos to suppliment. This in my view would be a good way for MSA’s/Truckstops to up their game. No announced visit it MUST be a undercover visit so no chance of them to quicklet clean the shower before the visit. Give them a chance to respond after the visit but before print so it gives an even balance.
newmercman:
I hope that there’s still room for my nonsense in the new T&DI remember years ago reading about the twin splitter in T&D, first time I went out in a lorry with a twin splitter I knew what to do with it because I’d read it in the mag, it needs more stuff like that, it doesn’t have to be too technical, just an “Idiot’s guide” to stuff would be enough, oh and more Long Distance Diaries, you can see from the diary posts on here that they’re quite popular. Road tests are also a no brainer
I like the idea of an “idiots guide” too in the mid 90’s I had to drive a Merc 1733 with eps box which I picked up from BRS at 3.00am & it was the guide in T&D that I read that helped me through the day.
I also used to get every copy of T&D from 1983 up until a few years ago as I like many others on here it seems was sick of seeing blinged up motors all the time ( id rather see a standard well looked after truck.
LDD was always very good & it didnt have to be abroad either there were some very good ones done in the uk I personally i would rather the articles were a bit longer too.
How about getting down off the fence sometimes and being more controversial, name and shame MSA’s , certain agencies, certain DCPC training companies etc, who’s sole perpose seems to be to rip people off? Not just a comment in the “have your say” column, but an in depth article with secret pictures showing the conditions,
What about trying to improve facilites for drivers at RDC’s? same as above
I agree with the majority of poster that blinged up trucks, with posed pictures of sparklingly clean wagon and drivers do nothing for me, and actually puts me off reading the article.
I remember some articles from the past, I can’t remember which mag they were in, there was one where new trucks were taken to a truckstop, or MSA for passing drivers to test and give opinions of.
another was about driving in high winds, how rollovers were caused and how to avoid them, nothing technical, just simple laymans explanation, and simple tips like driving in tandom, reducing speed etc. How many drivers have driven in a real severe winter?
and of course …more humour! 
First thing I’d do would be to sack the photographer and whoever chooses the photo for publication. Stupid ‘arty’ photo angles, why ? ,there was a feature some time back featuring a MAN and there was not one clear shot of the truck, over three pages all there was were shots of suzies and fancy mudguards taken from every angle possible.What is wrong with a straight forward pic with out the ‘Hot Hatch 0-60 in 2 secconds’ magazine shots.
Mick Palmer…the photographer usually contributing to T&D is Tom Cunningham why don’t you drop in on his website and tell him to change his style,I’m sure others who have commented on his pics would support you or ‘shock,horror’ take pics yourself for the mag and if they are used you’ll get given ££££££.Must admit…do share others opinions of Tom’s work…quite brilliant but on occasions unreal.
Tom is recognised as easily one of the best photographers in the automotive field… he is also a smashing down to earth bloke
One of the issues we have to address is that an issue of T&D with a well shot cover image of a blinged up motor sells better than one without… you all say you dont want that but when we have tried not doing blinged up on the front cover it hasnt sold as well
People buy into bling and their perceived dream, T&D is not produced as a charity case for you to read, it is a business that provides a wage for those working on it, in the same way you drive a truck to make money for the company you work for and dont deliver goods out of the goodness of your heart.
Some how we have to provide the balance between what you lot want (and get you buying the mag) and what sells on the news stand
That is what this discussion is all about, finding that balance. I dont know where it is, there is a lot in this thread I can take forward (and that is why I opened up this discussion) There is some stuff that I wish too but economically just is not possible
the cost of paper and print has risen massively, far more than any cover price rises, and that has hit on what we can spend, LDD’s (Long distance Diaries) have always been among the most popular of articles but are hugely expensive when paying a journalist to go on the trip.
I believe we can still do these using the community to record their trips and the journalists to sub edit- turn our jottings into a readable article- some here can right a good article, but at the end of the day we are truck drivers and ■■■■ good at it, they are good at writing and ■■■■ good at it…
I have a fairly good perception of the industry and I write a lot for RTM nearly everything I write is rewritten into English by the Journo’s I have the knowledge they have the writing skills - thats a fair division of labour.
turnip:
Human interest !
Long distance diary !
A day in the life of !
A view from behind the desk ( not the boss either ).
Real reporting, not re written press releases with photos.
And whilst the odd nice truck is welcome, not every issue.
This ^. Plus a bit from some of the posters on here who can string a sentence together and are always entertaining. Coffeeholic, Mike-C, Switchlogic, the lad from N.wales who lives in the US and some of the other entertaining diarists we get on here would be more entertaining that some muppet whose spent £15,000 on spotlights, airbrushing (what IS that all about ffs? 
) and shiny ally wheels.
So can T and D PLEASE axe the kids’ scribbles? Are comments from TNUK still published? Expanding that might be a good thing.
Speaking as someone who’s doen a “Truckers’ Test” and featured in T&D, how about making these longer? A couple of sentances is all they print from each driver; I reckon T&D could make these features better than Truckings’ Truck on Trial features.
Talking of Truck on Trial, it seems to me that if a truck loses one test, Trucking will feature the same model again and this time let it win. Is this so’s not to upset the manufacturers?
Muckaway:
So can T and D PLEASE axe the kids’ scribbles? Are comments from TNUK still published? Expanding that might be a good thing.
Speaking as someone who’s doen a “Truckers’ Test” and featured in T&D, how about making these longer? A couple of sentances is all they print from each driver; I reckon T&D could make these features better than Truckings’ Truck on Trial features.
Talking of Truck on Trial, it seems to me that if a truck loses one test, Trucking will feature the same model again and this time let it win. Is this so’s not to upset the manufacturers?
Hi Muckaway ,
I thought that youd be wanting T & D to keep the Childrens contributions .
After all , it wont be long before your little un will be drawing his Dad`s latest tipper , and BOTH of you will be wanting to see it appear in T & D !!!
Cheers , cattle wagon man.
cattle wagon man:
Muckaway:
So can T and D PLEASE axe the kids’ scribbles? Are comments from TNUK still published? Expanding that might be a good thing.
Speaking as someone who’s doen a “Truckers’ Test” and featured in T&D, how about making these longer? A couple of sentances is all they print from each driver; I reckon T&D could make these features better than Truckings’ Truck on Trial features.
Talking of Truck on Trial, it seems to me that if a truck loses one test, Trucking will feature the same model again and this time let it win. Is this so’s not to upset the manufacturers?Hi Muckaway ,
I thought that youd be wanting T & D to keep the Childrens contributions .
After all , it wont be long before your littleun will be drawing his Dad`s latest tipper , and BOTH of you will be wanting to see it appear in T & D !!!
Cheers , cattle wagon man.
He’ll be drawing them on the bloody walls first, the little bugger 
Muckaway:
cattle wagon man:
Muckaway:
So can T and D PLEASE axe the kids’ scribbles? Are comments from TNUK still published? Expanding that might be a good thing.
Speaking as someone who’s doen a “Truckers’ Test” and featured in T&D, how about making these longer? A couple of sentances is all they print from each driver; I reckon T&D could make these features better than Truckings’ Truck on Trial features.
Talking of Truck on Trial, it seems to me that if a truck loses one test, Trucking will feature the same model again and this time let it win. Is this so’s not to upset the manufacturers?Hi Muckaway ,
I thought that youd be wanting T & D to keep the Childrens contributions .
After all , it wont be long before your littleun will be drawing his Dad`s latest tipper , and BOTH of you will be wanting to see it appear in T & D !!!
Cheers , cattle wagon man.He’ll be drawing them on the bloody walls first, the little bugger
Takes after his Dad , then eh ■■?
Anon !
cattle wagon man:
Muckaway:
cattle wagon man:
Muckaway:
So can T and D PLEASE axe the kids’ scribbles? Are comments from TNUK still published? Expanding that might be a good thing.
Speaking as someone who’s doen a “Truckers’ Test” and featured in T&D, how about making these longer? A couple of sentances is all they print from each driver; I reckon T&D could make these features better than Truckings’ Truck on Trial features.
Talking of Truck on Trial, it seems to me that if a truck loses one test, Trucking will feature the same model again and this time let it win. Is this so’s not to upset the manufacturers?Hi Muckaway ,
I thought that youd be wanting T & D to keep the Childrens contributions .
After all , it wont be long before your littleun will be drawing his Dad`s latest tipper , and BOTH of you will be wanting to see it appear in T & D !!!
Cheers , cattle wagon man.He’ll be drawing them on the bloody walls first, the little bugger
Takes after his Dad , then eh ■■?
Anon !
That was 'ssing up walls in a previous life as a digger driver 
A thread moaning about magazines gets over 1700 views, the thread I put up with a supposedly ‘missed’ LDD gets 600 odd views…
So produce a magazine full of articles moaning about magazines and it will fly off the shelves
Dont worry Mark your posts are allways interesting as far as i am concerned it reminds me of when i really used to enjoy the job, the days when we ran together and the fun we had are sadly no more in Europe as far as i can see.
Also it pains me to say it but i was member of The Headlight Drivers Club and wore my badge with pride ,i know ill get my coat keep it up (no pun intended)
Take Care all 