CAD and B-Doubles are fairy tales that have come true.

I call B-Doubles and CAD fairy tales because; in both instances I can remember people saying to me, in various ways, that neither of these two industry advancements would happen and that in fact they were fairy tales.  Well so was flying into space when I was in short pants.

It is interesting to tie these two together, the CAD industry and the transport industry are very closely linked in many differing ways and whilst the transport industry did not need, and it could be argued still doesn’t, CAD.  CAD would not have gotten very far without the aid of the various forms of the transport industry.

Why have I linked the B-Double and CAD together? The answer is simply because I have been involved with the implementation of both.  CAD as part of what I do and the B-Double because of my input to the committee that ultimately defined what a B-Double should be in the Australian context.

My reason for raising it here has more to do with the effect introduction of these two have had on the productivity of their respective industries. Both these vehicles of change have markedly ‘improved’ the productivity of those individuals and companies who have taken advantage of them.  The change and improvement of productivity to CAD users was over a relatively long period, with the B-Double it was pretty fast by comparison. But a similarity not all will agree with is that in both these cases the gains they have bought to their industries have now reached a plateau.  For their initial productivity gains to be repeated it will mean changes few will be willing to make, for completely different reasons.

No I have not thrown in the towel for change, it’s just that for CAD to go forward greatly in productivity; FLEXIBILITY must increase, DESIGN and DRAWING data must flow absolutely seamlessly between CAD software packages of all types and platforms.  For trucking companies to see the same level of increase in productivity again, trucks will need four full length trailers instead of two or the time to load the existing B-Double, drive it to its destination and unload would need to half.

Now both situations are achievable but CAD vendors protecting the proprietary territory will hamper and slow the development of CAD and 250 kph trucks or road trains are not likely to be legislated into use very quickly to run beside you and I in our energy efficient small solutions or SUVs.

Fairy tales are in reality ideas awaiting a creator and in becoming reality like plants they need to propagate so they flower and create seeds!  In the case of B-Doubles and CAD they have flowered and their seeds look a lot like the fairy tales of the past.

Long live new ideas and the people who make and use the tools that make fairy tales come true.

R. Paul Waddington.
Proprietor – cadWest.

P.S.
If you don’t know what either or both of the items I have referred to are; drop me a line and I will happily explain.