foreign trucks stopping on the hard shoulder - under bridges

foreign trucks stopping on the hard shoulder - under bridges

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chunder27

2,309 posts

208 months

Friday 3rd November 2017
quotequote all
So, the simple fact is the foreogn drivers get to park free everywhere else but here?

They have taken over the vast majority of long haul driving in Europe for reasons we all know.

Mainly so that big companies can save money, by not using UK companies.

Sorry, but if you can afford to spend a few quid on parking that is your hard cheese Mr BG PLate

The majority of them have been here countless times and do it not because they cant afford it, but because they don't want to.

Another problem with lorry parks is hookers, sorry but it has to be said, I worked near South mimms and a lot of morning you would drive round there to get to Potters Bar and see women in tarty clothes waiting at bus stops, and a local plod told me it was ride in the services area.

Never was before they took over our haulage primarily.

SOlutions, more enforcement, give highways agency plastic coppers more power to book them, always on motorways and also on major routes like A5, A14, A20, just fine them, simple.

Sticks.

8,761 posts

251 months

Friday 3rd November 2017
quotequote all
This has been an issue in Kent for a while and recently... http://www.kentonline.co.uk/ashford/news/lorry-dri...

However.... http://www.kentonline.co.uk/ashford/news/truckstop...


98elise

26,625 posts

161 months

Friday 3rd November 2017
quotequote all
Sk00p said:
MrBig said:
I notice that this practice seems to be on the rise again, noticeably on the slip road out of services. Presumably just avoiding parking charges...
Cobham services on the M25 is really bad for this, long slip roads in and out loaded with lorries when I pass at 6:45
Haven't they sorted that now by coming off part of the slip?

I've noticed a lot are now parked on the slip road at the Farthing Corner services, which ironically has truck parking available.

It is getting really silly now. On a recent drive to Canterbury every layby is now an unofficial lorry park.

Lance Catamaran

24,983 posts

227 months

Friday 3rd November 2017
quotequote all
98elise said:
Sk00p said:
MrBig said:
I notice that this practice seems to be on the rise again, noticeably on the slip road out of services. Presumably just avoiding parking charges...
Cobham services on the M25 is really bad for this, long slip roads in and out loaded with lorries when I pass at 6:45
Haven't they sorted that now by coming off part of the slip?

I've noticed a lot are now parked on the slip road at the Farthing Corner services, which ironically has truck parking available.

It is getting really silly now. On a recent drive to Canterbury every layby is now an unofficial lorry park.
Last time I drove out of Canterbury there was one with just the cab in the layby, the trailer happily jutting out into lane 1

Nickyboy

6,700 posts

234 months

Friday 3rd November 2017
quotequote all
The problem is the lack of parking for them, there was a story running somewhere else about the same subject. Everyone knows they have to stop for their daily rest etc, problem is the services are full, often by 6pm, you can carry on to the next one, that's full too etc etc. The simple fact is that the facilities for truck drivers in this country are almost non existent. Truckstops just don't exist anymore apart from the odd one here and there. They should be on every motorway every 50 miles or so, instead you have overpriced service areas with little parking and people wonder why we end up with situations like this.

Has anyone seen the facilities truck drivers in the US get? Huge truck stops, free parking, weigh scales, clean facilities, office services, armed security etc etc. But then that's a country that prioritises it's freight, people actually respect the fact the country replies on them unlike this country where everyone expects everything today but nobody wants the trucks that deliver it.

james7

594 posts

255 months

Saturday 4th November 2017
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chunder27 said:
Another problem with lorry parks is hookers, sorry but it has to be said
Theres never enough to go round, i understand your pain. Have you thought about sharing?
Maybe someone could design an app so they knew where their services were required idea
Kinda like uber, but instead of a prius you get an escort lick
In the long run i reckon it could reduce prices too wink

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

126 months

Saturday 4th November 2017
quotequote all
grumpy52 said:
We charge all the foreign trucks that visit the UK .
Yup. Introduced in 2014.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hgv-road...

grumpy52 said:
It would be interesting to see a credible explanation of where all the extra revenue was spent as it certainly hasn't been spent on increasing or improving facilities.
As with VED and fuel duty, it goes into general government coffers, and is not ringfenced in any way.

XDA

2,141 posts

185 months

Saturday 4th November 2017
quotequote all
Nickyboy said:
The problem is the lack of parking for them, there was a story running somewhere else about the same subject. Everyone knows they have to stop for their daily rest etc, problem is the services are full, often by 6pm, you can carry on to the next one, that's full too etc etc. The simple fact is that the facilities for truck drivers in this country are almost non existent. Truckstops just don't exist anymore apart from the odd one here and there. They should be on every motorway every 50 miles or so, instead you have overpriced service areas with little parking and people wonder why we end up with situations like this.

Has anyone seen the facilities truck drivers in the US get? Huge truck stops, free parking, weigh scales, clean facilities, office services, armed security etc etc. But then that's a country that prioritises it's freight, people actually respect the fact the country replies on them unlike this country where everyone expects everything today but nobody wants the trucks that deliver it.
Why would anyone want to invest in further facilities for truck drivers given the state they leave the current ones in? Why do some of your colleagues insist on urinating and defecating outside instead of using the toilet facilities provided inside?

anonymous-user

54 months

Saturday 4th November 2017
quotequote all
Nickyboy said:
The problem is the lack of parking for them, there was a story running somewhere else about the same subject. Everyone knows they have to stop for their daily rest etc, problem is the services are full, often by 6pm, you can carry on to the next one, that's full too etc etc. The simple fact is that the facilities for truck drivers in this country are almost non existent. Truckstops just don't exist anymore apart from the odd one here and there. They should be on every motorway every 50 miles or so, instead you have overpriced service areas with little parking and people wonder why we end up with situations like this.

Has anyone seen the facilities truck drivers in the US get? Huge truck stops, free parking, weigh scales, clean facilities, office services, armed security etc etc. But then that's a country that prioritises it's freight, people actually respect the fact the country replies on them unlike this country where everyone expects everything today but nobody wants the trucks that deliver it.
The haulage industry has changed massively over the years but you cannot compare the UK to the USA, you are comparing a tiny 'overcrowded' area with expensive land costs and 'short haulage' trips to one with a vast land area and long haulage trips.
You have to compare Europe to the USA due to the size.
Another factor to consider is all the 'free' service areas in parts of Europe are on 'not free' toll roads, others charge for toilet use etc all the countries have different models.
Service areas were set up for drivers to take a 'break' from driving they have now become 'defacto truckstops' by default, apart from the industry changes truckers may not help themselves with the demise of traditional truckstops, if you Google map the 'red lion truckstop' you see the layby outside rammed with trucks probably trying to use some of the facilities and not paying therefore the business becomes unviable and is worth more as housing/an alternative use.
As regards your 50 mile truckstop idea here's a 'wafflers' link from 2011 https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/policy-on-s...
There was another 'waffleshop' in November last year https://www.ukhaulier.co.uk/news/road-transport/dr... following concerns raised by Kent MP's in a 'Great Hall' debate at Westminster about the behaviour of truck drivers in the area, you know the usual defacating everywhere, pish bottles, litter parking in residential areas etc.
It's a big national problem left for the local planning system to consider but no one wants a truckpark in their area.
Maybe it should be part of planning conditions that new and improved industrial estates and Amazon hubs etc should provide 'adequate' on site parking and facilities rather than leaving it to local neighbourhoods and residents to deal with the parking fallout and antisocial antics (and yes I have got a current C+E licence before you accuse me of having an anti truck rant).

Nickyboy

6,700 posts

234 months

Sunday 5th November 2017
quotequote all
XDA said:
Why would anyone want to invest in further facilities for truck drivers given the state they leave the current ones in? Why do some of your colleagues insist on urinating and defecating outside instead of using the toilet facilities provided inside?
They're not my colleagues but i understand what you mean. Half the problem is the influx of Eastern European drivers where this kind of thing is normal