dailymail.co.uk/news/article … aybys.html
RHA wants to fine each driver £300.
It’s sort fo linked to this topic from a few weeks back, where the EU have backed France’s interpretation of the Drivers Hours Regs on Weekly rest periods.
Of course the Daily Mail seems to only got a thin handle on the story, just enough to bash foreigners.
What it really means is they can’t have a 45 in the cab, regardless of where they park.
Paul Carter, leader of Kent County Council, said the government should build lorry parks for the drivers to sleep in.
I think the Government tried to build a lorry park and over spill for Operation Stack and the People of Kent were up in arms about it.
From the Department of Transport Statement.
‘We are looking at improving the availability and quality of facilities for hauliers across the country and are currently carrying out a national survey of sites.’
Yet it’s been announced that Folkestone truck park is closing due to refurbishment work in the area and won’t re-open. sounds like a Yes Minister type of scenario,
“Apparently there’s a problem with lorry parking, Sir Humphrey?”
“Yes Minister,”
“Look into building some more, Sir Humphrey”
"You are aware that building lorry parks will cause uproar with the voters in the constituencies you build them, Minister?
“What should we do then, I’ve promised on TV, I will do something about illegal lorry parking.”
“We’ll tell them you have commissioned a survey of Lorry parking in the UK, that should get you off the hook until the next election”.
“Thank You, Sir Humphrey,”
'We are consulting for views about lorry drivers sleeping in cabs during their breaks and are speaking to the Road Haulage Association about this issue. We are keeping our approach under review.
Answer from the RHA,
Drivers?
Cabs?
What are they?
Quite correct in all you say Muckles. I like the bit about Sir Humphrey.
I wonder how it will work if a driver has a 45hr rest in the UK, and is then controlled in France? Since it is an Eu rule hed still be in contravention of said rule and liable for a fine wouldnt he?? So “Angry of Tonbridge” gets the driver parked on the grass verge outside his front gate, and the French tax-payer gets a big addition to their coffers!
Wasn’t there talk of developing Manston Airport and turning part of it into a Op Stack holding area and purpose built truck stop? Im surprised someone like Stobarts having branched into purpose built truck stops. They have the finances and the political muscle to influence decisions.
I think there was talk of using Manston, from people who lived on the places on the M20 where they proposed building the park for operation stack, because obviously Manston is the ideal choice due to it’s great road link with Dover and Folkestone. 
These are the same people who complain when operation stack was in place and about the parking of EE trucks.
I think the reasons hauliers don’t go big into truckstops is because any land where you could put a truckstop is far more profitable if it’s used for warehousing.
This won’t change until the government make it part of planning regulations that any land used for warehousing over x sqm’s should be used for truck parking, this will mean there is land on these large parks that has no other value but for parking, then they might do something to get a return on the land.
With all the debate over extra airport capacity in the South East, I thought Manston would make an ideal option, maybe for cargo as it now has good road link all the way to the M25 and the surrounding area isn’t highly developed and I believe it’s one of the parts of the South East with poor employment prospects.
I was going in there before it closed as they were refurbishing one of the aircraft the company I worked for owned. I was told it was owned by the people who owned stagecoach, and the people who worked there believed it was deliberately being run into the ground so they could then sell the land for housing development…
Whats needed in the UK is a massive truckstop/park near Folkestone /Dover, a dedicated one with B&B (for those who want it), fueling/truckwash and restaurants similar to Guiselwind near Frankfurt, this place also has a workshop on site (Merc dealership).Big EE, Waberers and the like could (at charge) also use it for an operating/changeover point. Until the crap facilities in the UK improve parking outside some NIMBY’s house in Kent somewhere will continue…
AndrewG:
Whats needed in the UK is a massive truckstop/park near Folkestone /Dover, a dedicated one with B&B (for those who want it), fueling/truckwash and restaurants similar to Guiselwind near Frankfurt, this place also has a workshop on site (Merc dealership).Big EE, Waberers and the like could (at charge) also use it for an operating/changeover point. Until the crap facilities in the UK improve parking outside some NIMBY’s house in Kent somewhere will continue…
What the UK needs is a policy from government that promotes building truck parking facilities throughout the country.
As I said in an earlier post, changing the planning regulations stating that any large distribution park much have so much space set aside for overnight lorry parking would be a start. When companies can’t make money from other activities from the land they might build a truckstop instead.
AndrewG:
Whats needed in the UK is a massive truckstop/park near Folkestone /Dover, a dedicated one with B&B (for those who want it), fueling/truckwash and restaurants similar to Guiselwind near Frankfurt, this place also has a workshop on site (Merc dealership).Big EE, Waberers and the like could (at charge) also use it for an operating/changeover point. Until the crap facilities in the UK improve parking outside some NIMBY’s house in Kent somewhere will continue…
could they not just take over some of the asylum migrants centres in and around kent and use them? they mist be avalable ,cos as soon as they bung someone in there,by the next day theyve legged it and theyre selling kebabs in birmingham on the black economy
AndrewG:
Whats needed in the UK is a massive truckstop/park near Folkestone /Dover, a dedicated one with B&B (for those who want it), fueling/truckwash and restaurants similar to Guiselwind near Frankfurt, this place also has a workshop on site (Merc dealership).Big EE, Waberers and the like could (at charge) also use it for an operating/changeover point. Until the crap facilities in the UK improve parking outside some NIMBY’s house in Kent somewhere will continue…
You mean like Ashford truck stop?
Only problem is it needs to be about 5 times the capacity it is now.
In Spain they have truck city, basically a hub of everything associated with road transport and the last one i saw was near Pamplona.
Motel, cafes, restaurant, used and new truck sales, tyre fitters, customs for TIR ,offices, food shops etc .
The UK is in dire need of more Lgv parking but plans are scuppered by woolly jumper wearing yoghurt makers who are clueless about haulage .
Spot a badger set or a rare sight of the pink crested newt then forget building anything for the next 10 years .
Happy days being weekender in Irun.
Do the laundry, sun bathe in Hendaye French beach , top posh to try spotting .
Drivers socialised with other drivers, have a good laugh .
Now it is sod you, I am alright Jack, I own the road, get out of the way, I am coming through anyway .
There is no impletation of the rules for weekly rests in a truck cab within the UK…we had the same rules on the amount of fuel you could bring into a country…we didnt implement that either, which is why Germany and france implemented it. The foreign road tax levy was brought in to save the government from paying out for gantries, tolls, go boxes etc…
The reason france and Germany have implemented this 45 hour rule, was to completely get back at the amount of EE trucks parked on their services etc over the weekends…BUT it wont stop that will it, as even if they did get a hotel/motel/campsite they will still need a parking place for the truck…its a discrimination through the legal back doors in my opinion…and thats where a strong union is needed…to block the countries trucks…who are blocking ours from parking for their weekly rests…although, it wont affect as many as they think, because a 45 hr can be taken prior to entering Germany…and a reduced only needed to get into the uk. If its planned right, it can be achieved.
The article is racist piece of misinformation from another useless publication but in fairness their "journalists’ are probably on minimum wage or less and are probably obliged to have thousands of words written before being allowed home in the evening based of the drivel they produce.
I agree that 45 hour breaks in the cab must stop completely and the EE drivers are the biggest victims as they are obliged to tramp around Europe for months at a time to make a very modest wage.
Foreign trucks are very reluctant to spend any unnecessary time in UK because it is another £10 charge every time the clock strikes midnight.
In Belgium & France road tolls are based on distance driven only and no charge while stopped and fines for taking a weekly 45 in the cab are very isolated cases. Lots more parking places over there too of a much higher standard and cheaper or free.
All the fines mentioned in the article were for overnight parking not weekend rests .
I certainly would not pay such a fine when there are absolutely no facilities to park in the SE or indeed in the UK generally.
If you get off in Dover or The Tunnel after 8pm you need to have enough hours to make the M4, M40 or M1 cos you ain’t going to find parking closer. But as you don’t know the length of delay in Calais you now have to play Russian Roulette and hope you can make it to some place.
Folkstone Harbour works for me but how long more will that last?
UK truck parking is appalling as stated here on Trucknet daily and thus I am shocked The RHA are now blaming Johnny Forigner but I guess it is open season on foreigners since the Brexit vote.
It might also deflect attention from The Nationwide Truck Parking Crisis in case their very own underpaid U.K. drivers are associated with lay-bys and industrial estate parking all over the country.
As already said by others the SE needs a super truck stop, US style (or Irun Toby) with all the facilities. I guarantee it will make money for the owners as long as they do not have to compete with the housing developers on the land purchase price.
I think its about time for the british authorities to travel to the eu and see the size of t/parks over there,they are massive and still not big enough.Be interesting to see were all the drivers are going to stay on a 45hr break.
regards dave.
dafdave:
I think its about time for the british authorities to travel to the eu and see the size of t/parks over there,they are massive and still not big enough.Be interesting to see were all the drivers are going to stay on a 45hr break.
regards dave.
There to many free parking but foynd parking after 6 pm more worse than in Uk.
On the plus side the ban on 45 hour breaks on the continent means that Calais is now dead on a Monday as they have all come through prior to taking their breaks, two Mondays on the trot straight in and onto a boat 
this was in the latest rha messenger 29th march
£300 penalty for 45-hour rest in cab
DVSA is to start imposing a £300 fixed penalty/financial penalty deposit which will be issued to drivers taking their 45-hour weekly rest in their cab “subject to stakeholder views”. This has been revealed in a parliamentary written reply by transport minister Lord Ahmad.
The RHA called for the enforcement action and we believe that the £300 penalty is entirely appropriate, especially where the vehicle is not in a proper truckstop. We are urging the Department for Transport to get on with enforcing this element of drivers’ hours rules. Please see HERE.
- See more at: rha.uk.net/news/2017-03-mar … tlD7l.dpuf
Large Goods Vehicle Drivers: Road Traffic Offences:Written question - HL6007
Q
Asked by Lord Blencathra
Asked on: 13 March 2017
Department for Transport
Large Goods Vehicle Drivers: Road Traffic Offences
HL6007
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of EU regulations requiring HGV drivers to have a 45 hour break every week, what plans they have to introduce criminal penalties for lorry drivers who sleep in their cabs during breaks.
A
Answered by: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Answered on: 24 March 2017
The EU drivers’ hours regulations allow HGV drivers to take a daily rest or a reduced weekly rest in their vehicle, provided the vehicle is stationary and is fitted with suitable sleeping facilities. However, the regulations do not allow a regular weekly rest period of 45 hours to be taken in the vehicle. Subject to stakeholder views, the Driver and Vehicle Standard Agency will be enforcing this through a £300 fixed penalty notice/financial penalty deposit.
oh just a reminder that this would apply to uk drivers week ended here as well,
hotel magnum:
oh just a reminder that this would apply to uk drivers week ended here as well,
Weekended on a compulsory 45 only I’d think. Not on a shorter break?
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From what date do they want to Start the new regulations?
Was at a RHA Transport Managers meeting last week just after the announcement in Parliament was made. The RHA are invited into Parliament now not having to request to be seen & they made it clear you can sleep in a tent alongside the truck for your 45 or in the trailer but not in the cab!!!