Hello, i have a job coming off to spain and straight back. I am the owner of the truck and i do have my own international CPC , but it seems a while ago when i took it and can’t remember a thing. I am wondering if some of you guys out there could advise me in regards to what to do for the best, i am from the north west and i am going to Barcelona and straight back, in a 44ton artic. Which would be the best way to go? What are French and Spanish driving regs? i do hav spotlights on my unit and have heard that that is a big no in spain but not sure, What paperwork do i need to take with me for the trip, i will be empty there loaded back.
keep tachos bang on especially in spain fines go in to 4 figures not which way you been advised to go but if get a chance go via millau bridge a sight you must see,make sure you have all correct paper work the same again fines run in to 4 figures
Cheaper going Rouen (not sure if there is still diversion for roadworks) plus the added bonus of avoiding Paris and seeing the marvellous Millau viaduct…we have 1 of ours heading back from Majorca this week and he goes this way everytime, ( he doesn’t like Paris or Paris police vehicles)
I did a collection in Milau for Casablanca before the bridge was built.Had a good lunch there as well from the factory owner.Only two pallets of leather.
Pretty town that Millau, i went through in an artic just to see what is was like, a windy hill road, in and out, plenty of places to park up and have some decent food.
I was on my way to Morocco & gave this French driver a lift South,he was heading for Lyon.I let him drive the truck & the factory owner thought that he was taking the goods to Casa,so he invited us to a fancy restaurant in the centre of Millau for lunch & paid the bill. A short time later I dropped the driver off at the split on the main auto-route to Spain. But earlier we stopped on the bends at a truckstop,he had been driving but a Brit tourist who had been following congratulated me on my driving!
For Spain, you need a spare pair of glasses if you wear them, for France and Spain you need a hi viz for break downs, and two warning triangles, one at the front, one at the back if you break down.
If you have no tacho records for the last 28 days, you need an activity attestation form, with no hand writting on it, they can be down loaded off the net, if you have a holiday/absence/sickness in the last 28 days.
When leaving the truck, i had a bum bag for my valubles, or have a safe fitted under the bunk for peace of mind, when you have a shower or coffee stop.
The border at la Jonquera is now a truck city, casinos, huge buffet all you can eat places, shops from all eastern euro countries, but i suggest not to stop there, as cab break ins are very common, even for a shower or fueling up.
I used to run the national free roads, but it takes longer, lots of tractors and roundabouts to slow you down and more fuel burnt up.
Some have said ratchet strap the cab doors at night, but if there was a fire, there is not much time to get out.
You will now see more random Douane or customs conrols in France all night and all day, anywere, if you are polite, you can have a laugh and joke with them and be on your way, i open the cab door, and shake the hand, trying to speak French to them goes a long way. The French coffee is terrible, and a latte over there is a black coffee with a tea spoon of milk, and they get funny if you ask for milk.
Simon, an expresso single or double when i am tired, but now in the UK they have a “flat white”, quite potent and a bit of a bite to it, and also the Cortado , which means short, these can be found in any of the big names that you see on all roads in the UK.
are you running with a Fridge? if so, dont forget the ATP Cert, €500 euro on the spot fine if you havent got it, prob more now!
And dont forget a copy of your O licence Certificate/ Insurance docs / full drivers licence inc paper.
I read very recently, in a reasonably trustable publication (although I don’t remember which one ), that the French have decided to drop this breathalyser kit requirement.
The implementation was delayed several times and I’ve lost track of when it was actually to come into force. I’ve got a feeling it was put back to about May/June this year and now it’s been dropped.
My boss got us all a kit last year, ready for when it was to come in initially, so I’ve got mine whatever has happened now.
I read very recently, in a reasonably trustable publication (although I don’t remember which one ), that the French have decided to drop this breathalyser kit requirement.
The implementation was delayed several times and I’ve lost track of when it was actually to come into force. I’ve got a feeling it was put back to about May/June this year and now it’s been dropped.
My boss got us all a kit last year, ready for when it was to come in initially, so I’ve got mine whatever has happened now.
It was dropped, Simon, you’re right. It was all because of the hoo haa when someone discovered that the guy that persuaded Mr Sarkosy (sp?) to bring this law in was in fact, the owner of one of the only two companies in France that made the kits. One of the corruption charges that was made against the former President.
), that the French have decided to drop this breathalyser kit requirement.