We’ve all been on group trips. Someone is a little slower (read as: more cautious) than others, a big gap has opened up, and the car in front has turned off the track they’re on. All of a sudden, half the group has disappeared and a search ensues.
Normally these things resolve themselves in a few minutes to an hour, especially now that 90% of four wheel drives have UHF radios in them, but it’s annoying and time spent away from enjoying the tracks.
Many years ago, a gentleman named Ivan came to my father, Neil, and proposed a series of procedures – adapted from Ivan’s days in the Army – for convoy management. Ivan and Dad then took them to their respective clubs, and Ivan championed them to the then Queensland Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs (QAFWDC), now known as Four Wheel Drive Queensland (FWD Qld or FWDQ), and the Australian National Four Wheel Drive Council (ANFWDC), operating under the trademark Four Wheel Drive Australia.
Here is my adaption of those procedures.
Convoy Procedure
- All drivers must observe the Road Rules at all times. This includes speed limits.
- The Trip Leader should appoint a Sweeper, also known as Tail End Charlie, for each trip of more than a few vehicles. The Sweeper should assist the Trip leader in their duties and the Trip Leader may authorise others to assist in this in larger groups of vehicles.
- The Trip Leader is in charge of and responsible for the convoy at all times
- The Trip Leader is to call a meeting of all possible drivers prior to the start of the trip to remind participants of these rules and their obligations to fellow attendees.
- No vehicle should pass the trip leader unless an emergency exists.
- All vehicles in the convoy must be roadworthy and comply with all legislation in area of operation at the beginning of and throughout the trip. It is up to the Driver to ewnsure their vehicle maintains roadworthy status.
- All Drivers must be licensed for the vehicle type they are to drive, even off road. It is up to the driver and/or vehicle owner to ensure this is the case at all times.
- ALL vehicles in the convoy must have RATED recovery points fitted to the vehicles, front and rear. Tie down points and tow balls ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE and you may be asked not to participate in the activity. It is also highly discouraged to consider the hitch pin only in the hitch receiver of your tow bar a recovery point.
- During a recovery, or at the start of a trip, a Recovery Boss may be assigned for that recovery or for all recoveries throughout the trip. These nominated people are in charge for ALL recovery operations during the authorised period.
- The Trip Leader may assign vehicles a position in the convoy, or pair a vehicle with another for the duration of the trip. This means that a Trip Leader may secure a person in second and allow them to remain in that position, regardless of gates. This may be that the person driving the vehicle may be paired with a more experienced driver to assist them with obstacles and to assure and assist them during recoveries.
- The Driver of all vehicles are responsible for maintaining their position (number) in the convoy. Especially after breaks. This allows the Trip Leader to know the relative positions of all vehicles during the trip.
- Drivers of all vehicles are responsible for the vehicle behind them. When turning at an intersection, the Driver in front is to stop, show their indicator as to the direction of the turn, and wait for the vehicle behind to use their indicator, signifying that they are aware of the change in direction. UHF radios must not be used in lieu of this procedure, as they will invariably lead to confusion and the convoy separating.
- If a participant is to leave the convoy part way through the trip, it is their responsibility to inform the Trip Leader, Sweeper, or any other authorised person, that they are doing so.
- Keep a safe behind the vehicle in front at all times, especially in hilly country, dusty or dirt tracks, or when brakes are wet.
- In difficult terrain, allow the vehicle in front to complete the obstacle before attempting it. This applies to steep, difficult ascents and descents, creek crossings, or any other obstacle that may present a challenge to them. Allow them to complete the challenge and only proceed when notified.
- Notify the vehicle behind you once you have completed an obstacle.
- Notify the vehicle behind you (and the convoy) if you have failed to complete an obstacle. You may then either re-attempt the obstacle or request recovery. Ensure the vehicle is stable prior to doing this.
- If a vehicle has failed an obstacle and requires recovery, the driver should notify the Trip Leader (and convoy) by either sounding the vehicle’s horn, by using the UHF radio, or both.
- ALL gates must be left as found. Leave the gate open that is open, close it after the convoy has passed through.
- If a closed gate is to be passed through, the following must be adhered to:
- The Second vehicle of the convoy is responsible for both opening and securing the gate and allowing the convoy through, except where a vehicle has been paired with the Trip Leader. It is then the responsibility of the third vehicle to operate the gate in the manner of these principles.
- At this point, the next vehicle assumes second (or third) place in the convoy and is then responsible for the next gate.
- The driver is to pull out of the convoy in a spot where it is safe to do so.
- The driver or passengers of this vehicle is open the gate and allow the convoy through.
- The Trip Leader, Sweeper, and all other participants are required to provide the gate openers with “Gate Lollies*” (/candies).
- The vehicle in charge of the gate is required to pull their vehicle back into the convoy in front of the sweeper, allow the sweeper to pass through the gate, then secure the gate in the manner in which they opened it.
- The vehicle that secured the gate then secures their passengers in the vehicle and remains in that position, unless another vehicle is required to open another gate .
- The UHF radio must not be substituted for the above procedures. This may lead to confusion and the wrong gate being closed, not allowing stock access to water, feed or milking.
- Any driver not complying with these procedures may be asked to leave the convoy and the trip.