Driving to Italy
Discussion
Hello yorkieboy.
Who you doing that for, (pm if you don't want to put it on here.)
It is all pretty simple tbh stick within all the laws and you should be fine. Do you have to run in a convoy of 5, or are you allowed to do your own thing?
If it is compulsory it sounds very much like a FBN or F1 type role.
I'm guessing if the convoy is compulsory you will have a lead driver, if this is the case just do as they say/want as long as its legal
If memory serves me right, Italy is now compulsory to have your headlights on at all times. The company "should" make sure the trucks are properly kitted out with all the gear you need, but I'd want to make sure I had all the relevant truck paperwork, including defect books. Spare bulbs and fuses, a couple of spare digi tacho rolls, a warning triangle, hi-viz and some breath tester kits. Your own little tool kit always helps also
Driving wise its all EU rules but some stuff I learned over the years that may help???
The French police like to see a decent break/daily rest on the tacho/digi card. Every time I had a break in France I would always, always have an hour even if pushed for time it helps to keep the French police and customs on side Never have a 46 minute break, 50 bare minimum.
Daily rest a 9 is legal and fine, but again they would prefer to see an 11, it was just the way they were over the years. Also if filling up on the pumps, don't record it as break, as it is illegal and although some do it over here and blag it, the French hate it. When you have filled up, if you are stopping for a legal break, move the wagon off the pump area to the parking bays.
Don't speed, don't let it over speed even on the downhills and definitely always keep a decent gap between you and the wagon in front, if not the French and German police will be over you like a rash and it will cost you. I was led to believe that satnavs with safety/speed camera warnings were illegal in France, but not 100% on this.
I'd also everyday show my 15 mins booking on/vehicle checks on the tacho before setting off, and tried to always show 5-10 minutes at the end of day also if I could.
If you do get a tug at anytime, be polite and even just try and say the most basics in their language, I always found this really, really helped a lot. Same for fuel and motorway stops, restaurants etc if they see you making an effort and you have a smiley face, (not a goon) they will be much more helpful in return.
Do you know what route you are taking? If its a decent company, (sure it is) they will already have everything sorted, route, fuel cards, paperwork, breakdown cover?, toll cards and toll boxes for relevant roads, tunnels, ferries etc,etc. Just listen and learn off the others especially the lead driver if you have 1.
It has been nearly 3 years now sadly since I last went away but even back then parking was becoming a big problem pretty much everywhere, the truck stops, restaurants and motorway services were filling up really early. It was a bit easier for us as we always ran through the night, and parked/slept in the day.
Most over night parking is free, but if you do have to pay 9 times out of 10 you will get it back in vouchers off your dinner. Facilities for truckers abroad are on the whole far superior to what we get in the UK. You may pay in some places on the road to use toilets, but will probably get a voucher back that you can use in coffee shops and restaurants.
I hope this hasn't come across as teaching you how to suck eggs, its pretty much just the way I did things for 20 years and fortunately in all that time I never once got a fine or telling off from the authorities
Most of all enjoy, I'm sure it will be a blast and route dependent you will pass some cracking scenery along the way
If you tell me your route, I'll try and rack my brains for decent stops along the way.
I am a little jealous
Who you doing that for, (pm if you don't want to put it on here.)
It is all pretty simple tbh stick within all the laws and you should be fine. Do you have to run in a convoy of 5, or are you allowed to do your own thing?
If it is compulsory it sounds very much like a FBN or F1 type role.
I'm guessing if the convoy is compulsory you will have a lead driver, if this is the case just do as they say/want as long as its legal
If memory serves me right, Italy is now compulsory to have your headlights on at all times. The company "should" make sure the trucks are properly kitted out with all the gear you need, but I'd want to make sure I had all the relevant truck paperwork, including defect books. Spare bulbs and fuses, a couple of spare digi tacho rolls, a warning triangle, hi-viz and some breath tester kits. Your own little tool kit always helps also
Driving wise its all EU rules but some stuff I learned over the years that may help???
The French police like to see a decent break/daily rest on the tacho/digi card. Every time I had a break in France I would always, always have an hour even if pushed for time it helps to keep the French police and customs on side
Never have a 46 minute break, 50 bare minimum.Daily rest a 9 is legal and fine, but again they would prefer to see an 11, it was just the way they were over the years. Also if filling up on the pumps, don't record it as break, as it is illegal and although some do it over here and blag it, the French hate it. When you have filled up, if you are stopping for a legal break, move the wagon off the pump area to the parking bays.
Don't speed, don't let it over speed even on the downhills and definitely always keep a decent gap between you and the wagon in front, if not the French and German police will be over you like a rash and it will cost you. I was led to believe that satnavs with safety/speed camera warnings were illegal in France, but not 100% on this.
I'd also everyday show my 15 mins booking on/vehicle checks on the tacho before setting off, and tried to always show 5-10 minutes at the end of day also if I could.
If you do get a tug at anytime, be polite and even just try and say the most basics in their language, I always found this really, really helped a lot. Same for fuel and motorway stops, restaurants etc if they see you making an effort and you have a smiley face, (not a goon) they will be much more helpful in return.
Do you know what route you are taking? If its a decent company, (sure it is) they will already have everything sorted, route, fuel cards, paperwork, breakdown cover?, toll cards and toll boxes for relevant roads, tunnels, ferries etc,etc. Just listen and learn off the others especially the lead driver if you have 1.
It has been nearly 3 years now sadly since I last went away but even back then parking was becoming a big problem pretty much everywhere, the truck stops, restaurants and motorway services were filling up really early. It was a bit easier for us as we always ran through the night, and parked/slept in the day.
Most over night parking is free, but if you do have to pay 9 times out of 10 you will get it back in vouchers off your dinner. Facilities for truckers abroad are on the whole far superior to what we get in the UK. You may pay in some places on the road to use toilets, but will probably get a voucher back that you can use in coffee shops and restaurants.
I hope this hasn't come across as teaching you how to suck eggs, its pretty much just the way I did things for 20 years and fortunately in all that time I never once got a fine or telling off from the authorities
Most of all enjoy, I'm sure it will be a blast and route dependent you will pass some cracking scenery along the way
If you tell me your route, I'll try and rack my brains for decent stops along the way.
I am a little jealous
Seeing as you can get a ferry to Sicily from lots of different Medditeranean ports, would they drive
5 trucks all the way down to South Italy for the very short ferry or go from somewhere like Genoa
for a much longer boat trip but way further north for less driving ?
Maybe the OP can answer when he gets back......
5 trucks all the way down to South Italy for the very short ferry or go from somewhere like Genoa
for a much longer boat trip but way further north for less driving ?
Maybe the OP can answer when he gets back......
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