HGV trailer parking in layby

[Smiljan]

Is it illegal to park a HGV trailer in a layby and leave it there with the trailer facing traffic (ie facing the wrong way)?

I only ask as my favorite pit stop layby I use for a breakfast break now and again has had a HGV trailer dumped there facing the wrong way for months, it struck me that if someone hit it in a car it would be game over. I guess it's no different to hitting the back end of the trailer at speed but it just didn't look right. The trailer is in the layby just at the start of it and the main road (60 limit) runs right alongside with no divider or setback.

Is it illegal or just unusual for a trucker to do that?

[Glenn63]

Does it have any company logo on it? If it’s been there that long possibly been stolen might be worth ringing the company or reporting to police. We had a few trailers stolen at my last place, taking the trailer unloading stock somewhere then dumping the empty trailer.

[Smiljan]

This is it, no plates on it or smother company markings, a kind PH er has given me the link to report abandoned vehicle so I’ve tried that

[anonymous-user]

Google 'fly tipped lorry trailer' as well to see one of the joys of illicit waste dumping in trailers.

If no restrictions on layby may be difficult to shift.

[kiethton]

Around here trailers like that are often purchased by a certain “type” for next to nothing as they’re end of life/near-broken. They are then filled with rubbish, often hazardous stuff that would cost to dispose of properly, before being abandoned.

Nice little earner...

[Ardennes92]

Not sure about the legality of parking a trailer facing oncoming traffic but isn’t rear under-run protection fitted to the rear along with lights/reflectors; wouldn’t fancy hitting either end but the front looks a lot more dangerous

[sunbeam alpine]

If I'm reading this right, you should change the thread title to "Free trailer in layby..."

[Kiribati268]

Ardennes92 said:

Not sure about the legality of parking a trailer facing oncoming traffic but isn’t rear under-run protection fitted to the rear along with lights/reflectors; wouldn’t fancy hitting either end but the front looks a lot more dangerous

Indeed. Rear and side guards are fitted so that if a car runs into the trailer the drivers head isn't the thing that stops it.

Hitting the front of a trailer like that would be lethal.

The reason it's there is as said earlier. It's the new fly tipping. Not rights get knackered trailers and fill them with rubbish and dump them.

[GC8]

An HGV trailer will be taxed, MOTd and insured. It can park wherever it could with the traction unit attached. The only exception will be if prevented by a local bylaw. This is becoming more common, despite there being nowhere else for HGVs to park.

[GC8]

My above post supposes that it is legitimate. HGV trailers have a VIN and a registration number (on a regular reg plate) on their chassis.

[Smiljan]

Thanks all, the local council are on the case so it’ll probably still be there next year

Interesting to hear it’s ok to park facing the wrong way too.

[Glenn63]

You’ll fridge trailers like this every night with the unit parked behind so they can sleep without the fridge running next to their ears.

[markymarkthree]

It could belong to GLL HAULAGE LTD.

[the tribester]

Is it a UK trailer?

A UK trailer needs to display the registration number of the unit towing it. It's not being towed, so won't have a number plate.

It doesn't need to be taxed. But if a UK trailer, it should be tested, and have the test disc displayed.

If the test has expired, then it's likely end of life, sold and dumped.

There will be a trailer ID number on the test disc, which should match a number on a plate or written in weld on the chassis. Email this ID number to DVSA and report the abandonment. There should be conditions of trailer storage on the business Operators licence.

[cossy400]

the tribester said:

Is it a UK trailer?

A UK trailer needs to display the registration number of the unit towing it. It's not being towed, so won't have a number plate.

It doesn't need to be taxed. But if a UK trailer, it should be tested, and have the test disc displayed.

If the test has expired, then it's likely end of life, sold and dumped.

There will be a trailer ID number on the test disc, which should match a number on a plate or written in weld on the chassis. Email this ID number to DVSA and report the abandonment. There should be conditions of trailer storage on the business Operators licence.

Dont give you test discs anymore, get the trailer number and MOT check it like you would a car.

[Lemming Train]

1. open the back doors and have a look inside. I suggest doing it carefully as it could be full of asbestos if dumped. If it's full of asbestos, used tyres or rubbish then you can safely say it's abandoned and no-one will care.

2. have a look around the trailer chassis for the MOT certificate. It's not on the headboard in the photo so probably mounted near the parking brake and shunt buttons somewhere on the nearside.

3. council will do feck all as it'll cost them a fortune to investigate it, remove it and legally dispose of any contents.

[Smiljan]

Thanks for that, I think I'll leave the snooping alone. Main query was if it's normal to park with the evil end of the trailer facing traffic - seems it is and quite common going from some of the posts.

It has been reported and next time I'm there I'll see if it's still there. If it is I might take some more photos and update the thread

[Lemming Train]

Smiljan said:

Thanks for that, I think I'll leave the snooping alone. Main query was if it's normal to park with the evil end of the trailer facing traffic - seems it is and quite common going from some of the posts.

It has been reported and next time I'm there I'll see if it's still there. If it is I might take some more photos and update the thread

No, that's rubbish. Very rare to see an artic trailer or demount box dropped on the 'wrong' side of the road in a layby.

[Smiljan]

Someone above said it’s very common with fridge trailers for noise reasons. Anyway I’ve never seen it before so thought I’d ask.

Not many truckers in here I guess as no one has definitely said whether it’s frowned upon or not.

[Lemming Train]

Smiljan said:

Someone above said it’s very common with fridge trailers for noise reasons. Anyway I’ve never seen it before so thought I’d ask.

Not many truckers in here I guess as no one has definitely said whether it’s frowned upon or not.

It's only snowflake truckers who drop fridges so they can sleep. Proper fridge drivers turn the temp down to -25 so that it's roaring away at max which blocks out all other ambient noise and the constant thrum gives you the best night's sleep ever.

But they don't park them facing the wrong way anyway. If anything they'll drop them and pull forward 20ft, or they'll go park behind the trailer. I knew one guy who did that, was parked on an industrial estate in Swindon, ready to tip at Iceland RDC in the morning. Went to sleep parked up behind his trailer, all good. Woke up in the morning, opened his curtains and there it was - gone !