robthedog:
Sploom:
The thing is,those that make the decisions to build more truck stops.If they see all the laybys full of trucks near the truckstop.They might decide not to build a truckstop because there is no demand for it,it looks like…
That’s because all the cheapskate hauliers park in the lay-bys and use the facilities for free[/quote
No , I’ve had parking paid for & still parked in lay-bys ( though only when empty )
dozy:
robthedog:
Sploom:
The thing is,those that make the decisions to build more truck stops.If they see all the laybys full of trucks near the truckstop.They might decide not to build a truckstop because there is no demand for it,it looks like…That’s because all the cheapskate hauliers park in the lay-bys and use the facilities for free
[/quote
No , I’ve had parking paid for & still parked in lay-bys ( though only when empty )
Thats bad if drivers are doing that.It undermines all the arguments for drivers to have better facilitied
^^^^^
Only reason I can see why anybody is doing that is if they are running to the last second, maybe being abused by some 2hat in an office by being ran ragged, instead of driver planning somewhere decent to stay for his own good,.welfare, and safety.
Not putting too fine a point on it, but read some of dozy’s older posts. 
Nuff said. 
why would anyone want to sleep in a lay-by. Desperation measures and not something that appeals to me. I would take an MSA over any lay-by anyday. You are taking tramping to the extreme and living like an animal. I couldnt live 4 nights per week in a lay-by but I am sure some actually do. They are the ones that usually look like gypsies and ther appearance reflects this type of tramping.
I couldnt do it.I couldnt sleep for one thing.The slightest noise,I would think someone is about to break in the truck.It does happen.I dont know how you can rest.But the truckstop,I feel safe enough there,even if its a false sense of security
I sleep in laybys on a reasonably regular basis .
Much of the work we do is in Scotland and the North of England ( just about anywhere north of the M62 ) but mostly Scotland . A lot of the work we do is precast agricultural concrete so not much chance of someone running away with a 6 ton concrete wall panel. .
Once you come past J44 at Carlisle there isn’t a truckstop anywhere on the A75 ,limited facilites in the 2 ferry ports in Cairnryan and nothing on the A77 from Cairnryan to Glasgow . Lesmahago or Stirling services would be the options around Glasgow , Harthill is well known as spot to be avoided so what options do you have ?
A layby for me has to be in off the road - a running lane threw it with parking spaces , a layby right on the side of the road where you get rocked everytime a car , van or a truck goes past just dosen’t cut it .A shower can be got in the services or the port on the way past. After 25 years of this game I have a long list of great little quiet spots that I can park in at night and have a great nights sleep , I don’t have to suffer the constant traffic coming through a truckstop, drivers who should know better standing yapping and shouting at each other in the middle of a truckpark. We do use truck stops, Penrith or Coneygarth woud be 2 we use on a regular basis and given the choice I’d always try to get to Coneygarth as in my opinion its a well run truckstop - good security , no acess for the “general public” to the trucks . A MSA where anyone and everyone can walk round trucks is not secure parking and as they refuse to take any responsibility for any damage done whats the point ? I’d argue that your more at risk in an MSA because the crooks know theres a concentration of trucks in one area and little or no chance of being caught .
Like everything else it all comes down to how well prepared you are for the situations your going to run into , a basin and a kettle full of boiling water will get you a wash in the morning until you get yourself to a shower when needed , planning and preperation as they say
beefy4605:
a basin and a kettle full of boiling water will get you a wash in the morning until you get yourself to a shower when needed , planning and preperation as they say
Pretty much as I was saying, a basin and kettle is pretty much a war time method of washing. So it does until you can get to a shower. Until then you are basically looking like a gypsy. The point of having to use a lay-by is more desperation.
Yorkshire Tramper:
The point of having to use a lay-by is more desperation.
Don’t agree mate. Sure, I pass people in what I term “suicide lay bys “ along major trunk routes which I shake my head at and wonder why? But to balance that and as a tramper (and I’m sure you’ll agree) you’ll know in advance the area that your day will finish and you’re already visualising where you’ll be parking that night. Personally I have a handful of deep, off the road lay-bys that I use purely because it suits my needs. I’ll know in advance that I’m aiming for one of them so I’ll have showered prior to that and I have food and beer in my fridge already in preparation.
A typical example of one is on the Fosseway just outside Moreton in the Marsh and it has a kebab van that’s open until stupid o clock. If I’m tipping Swindon late afternoon I already know (Angie permitting 
) that I’m aiming for there. It’s only difficult if you fail to plan.
the maoster:
Yorkshire Tramper:
The point of having to use a lay-by is more desperation.Don’t agree mate. Sure, I pass people in what I term “suicide lay bys “ along major trunk routes which I shake my head at and wonder why? But to balance that and as a tramper (and I’m sure you’ll agree) you’ll know in advance the area that your day will finish and you’re already visualising where you’ll be parking that night. Personally I have a handful of deep, off the road lay-bys that I use purely because it suits my needs. I’ll know in advance that I’m aiming for one of them so I’ll have showered prior to that and I have food and beer in my fridge already in preparation.
A typical example of one is on the Fosseway just outside Moreton in the Marsh and it has a kebab van that’s open until stupid o clock. If I’m tipping Swindon late afternoon I already know (Angie permitting
Yes but I am just making a point that I know I am wrong about therefore I will insist I am right. Yes seriously I get the idea of select decent lay-bys I myself know a handful of them.
I know of at least 3 opposite or beside a pub, but I ain’t saying where they are.
robroy:
I know of at least 3 opposite or beside a pub, but I ain’t saying where they are.
I am referring to that type myself. Maybe even the ones you are referring to as I did deliveries to farms Devon and cornwall areas.
Yorkshire Tramper:
beefy4605:
a basin and a kettle full of boiling water will get you a wash in the morning until you get yourself to a shower when needed , planning and preperation as they sayPretty much as I was saying, a basin and kettle is pretty much a war time method of washing. So it does until you can get to a shower. Until then you are basically looking like a gypsy. The point of having to use a lay-by is more desperation.
I’ll have had a shower and a shave late afternoon , parked up for the night , a basin wash in the morning and another shower the same day . We don’t all have the luxury of pulling up to a hotel with 52 passengers onboard , like robroy I have a few laybys near or beside pubs - one of which the owner lets me use a bed and breakfast room to have a shower in the evening for a £5 .
You’ll never make the most of the job if you expect everyting laid on for you ,if you expect to be spoonfed you’ll be badly disapointed in this job also being run ragged by the office idiots . Go north of Inverness or west of the A9 and you won’t find much in the way of truckstops , parking up in a truckstop with 4 or 5 hours duty or driving time left just because there isn’t another truckstop on your route isn’t a valid excuse , planning and preperation as I said will keep you from looking like a gypsy
beefy4605:
We don’t all have the luxury of pulling up to a hotel with 52 passengers onboard
Can you imagine the horror on their faces if I pulled up in a lay-by and told them all we have a basin and hot water, this is home for the night.
Yorkshire Tramper:
beefy4605:
a basin and a kettle full of boiling water will get you a wash in the morning until you get yourself to a shower when needed , planning and preperation as they sayPretty much as I was saying, a basin and kettle is pretty much a war time method of washing. So it does until you can get to a shower. Until then you are basically looking like a gypsy. The point of having to use a lay-by is more desperation.
How many showers do you have a day?
As long as you get a shower in at some point of the day, why does it have to be as soon as you wake up? Beefy makes a very good case imo.
stu675:
Yorkshire Tramper:
beefy4605:
a basin and a kettle full of boiling water will get you a wash in the morning until you get yourself to a shower when needed , planning and preperation as they sayPretty much as I was saying, a basin and kettle is pretty much a war time method of washing. So it does until you can get to a shower. Until then you are basically looking like a gypsy. The point of having to use a lay-by is more desperation.
How many showers do you have a day?
As long as you get a shower in at some point of the day, why does it have to be as soon as you wake up? Beefy makes a very good case imo.
Depends on how dirty I get, minimum once a day. You may be ok walking around like a tramp. I don’t. I take a pride in my appearance even well before I drove coaches. My point is if you need a shower and you have parked up in a lay-by then you have no option but to wash from a bowl. If you are at a truck stop or an MSA you have facilities to shower anytime. That is my preference and I am sticking with it. Also if you are at the end of your day and you are using the showers and facilities of these places then why would you drive off and find a lay-by. Saving money no doubt.
Yorkshire Tramper:
stu675:
Yorkshire Tramper:
beefy4605:
a basin and a kettle full of boiling water will get you a wash in the morning until you get yourself to a shower when needed , planning and preperation as they sayPretty much as I was saying, a basin and kettle is pretty much a war time method of washing. So it does until you can get to a shower. Until then you are basically looking like a gypsy. The point of having to use a lay-by is more desperation.
How many showers do you have a day?
As long as you get a shower in at some point of the day, why does it have to be as soon as you wake up? Beefy makes a very good case imo.Depends on how dirty I get, minimum once a day. You may be ok walking around like a tramp. I don’t. I take a pride in my appearance even well before I drove coaches. My point is if you need a shower and you have parked up in a lay-by then you have no option but to wash from a bowl. If you are at a truck stop or an MSA you have facilities to shower anytime. That is my preference and I am sticking with it. Also if you are at the end of your day and you are using the showers and facilities of these places then why would you drive off and find a lay-by. Saving money no doubt.
Nothing to do with saving money - if I have 4 or 5 hours driving left and know there wont be services where I’m going I’ll use the showers and keep driving . Sometimes I like to push on and fill a card out in the knowledge that I will have an easier day the next day , a later start to avoid rush hours , I’d rather be ahead of myself than trying to play catch up because I parked up early .
beefy4605:
Nothing to do with saving money - if I have 4 or 5 hours driving left and know there wont be services where I’m going I’ll use the showers and keep driving . Sometimes I like to push on and fill a card out in the knowledge that I will have an easier day the next day , a later start to avoid rush hours , I’d rather be ahead of myself than trying to play catch up because I parked up early .
Your choice mate, if you are happy at that then nothing more to say on it really.
Sploom:
Thats bad if drivers are doing that.It undermines all the arguments for drivers to have better facilitied
How does it? I used to do a lot of farm work, and they’re not known for being conveniently near an MSA. So I see nothing wrong in stopping say mid-afternoon in a service area, getting myself cleaned up and having a brew, then carrying on to the farm where I’ll probably end up parking for the night. Same if you go up Scotland, or even down the South West; once you get away from the motorway network you’re pretty much stuffed for anything more than a basic sink and a strip wash.
Saying that drivers shouldn’t use MSA showers if they’re not parking there for the night is just sanctimonious nonsense.
I think that there is a difference here between those that have little option but to sleep in lay-bys as by some of the examples shown and the type who prefer to sleep in them over any other choice. These type also do it to save money as part of their wages and use the money as such and then live like gypsy’s in order to facilitate this. Some will argue that the facilities are not great in some rest areas and although this is true iin some places, they are still better than having none at all. Using baby wipes and or a bowl of water to wash in leaves you pretty much grimy after a week of doing this. Also employers not paying for parking forcing their employees to live like this is another reason why it is not good.
What would you do if you lived in the 18th century?
Only one cold bath a week!
You can do a lot with baby wipes,but if there is a truckstop nearby and you choose to use laybys ,then you cant complain afterwards that there are no facilities for drivers