Sorry to ramble on;Fines at the road side are only a court deposit and can be challenged and refunded later.They know foreigners will not bother so they keep the money.
Getting to court.Time off.Costs and time.?Austrai has a 24/7 commercial vehicle enforcment controls.
In Germany it is the BAG.Fines for no labels on ratchet straps to show the strengh it can secure.No tears or cuts.Load to be restrained.
The scenery in Switzerland is stunning.Lakes and glaciers.Very clean and well dressed citizens.Expensive
so pack the Pot Noodles.
Some countries have night time truck bans and weekend bans.France is 22.00 sat to 22.00sunday.
toby1234abc:
Sorry to ramble on; …
You got me on that one DD.By the time the poor lad has read all the posts he will miss the ferry or fall asleep from sheer boredom.
The rambling rambler from the rambling and walkers club.
Lets hope he gets on ok over there.
Its a bit daunting for a week or so then he will not want to drive in the Uk again.
With some luck a weekend off in Lloret del Mar in the summer checking out the hot totty.
Mainly Russians.They seem to have taken over from the Germans.
Finances doing ok in Russia i guess.
Hope he tries the seafood buffet at Cambrils.
toby1234abc:
Sorry to ramble on.
Keep on rambling Toby, you`re one of the best things on this website! 
toby1234abc:
Good truckstops in Belgium are Habay.They cook a foot kong skewr of mixed meat.
And Veurne is not too bad.weekwnapest fuel is in Luxembourg at Capellon.Garage both sides.Cheap ■■■■/booze.
Ask for loyalty cards at pit stops.Buy nine meals get the tenth free.The eastern euro drivers will run their engines all day/ night when parked up to power their satelite tv dishes and lap tops/dvd players and so on.
The kebabs sound up my street lol , thanks for advice all taken in and read maybe twice lol … now where best place you been weekend for good old European beer and making friends
kindle530:
Big Man:
On another note, see if you can get yourself a Frensel lens, handy when in rhd in euroland and driving around in cities, and for overtaking on m’ways.where can i get one for free
vosa officers and mot stations, and hato officers apparently give them out for free.
Seen them in the booking in office in Dover too.
Big Man:
The kebabs sound up my street lol , thanks for advice all taken in and read maybe twice lol … now where best place you been weekend for good old European beer and making friends
Any of the autohofs in Germany that are open over weekends (Autohof Guide) will have good beer and food available. Geiselwind and Sinsheim are UK drivers favourites, among others.
Asten in Holland, on the A67 near Venlo.
Habay in Belgium is another popular weekending spot, partly because there’s nowhere else near by. It’s about 4.30 from Calais which is useful as well.
If you don’t mind wine, Les Routiers in France are good. You’ll have to check which ones are open near where you want to be, same in Italy and Spain.
Or, just look on your map, judge where roughly you’re likely to be on Saturday afternoon and pick an interesting looking place to spend the day. Go there. Find somewhere to park up, explore. Park near some emergency facilities (like a McD’s), just in case you can’t find anything better.
Or, just look our map, judge where roughly you’re likely to be on Saturday afternoon and pick an interesting looking place to spend the day. Go there. Find somewhere to park up, explore. Park near some emergency facilities (like a McD’s), just in case you can’t find anything better.
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Mcd"s are these mcdonalds then , can you get a western European map or what best make etc old fashion paper one good for cooking on 
got 2 sat nav one Garmin and tom tom both full European mapping
look im quite new to this lark as well compared to some of these old hands, ive been at it 2 years.
my experience is as said on other threads get on the autoroutes up to speed and cruise control on and that’s it till you get where you going.
1st, take what toby says with a massive pinch off salt. I think the last time he was abroad was 20 years ago.
les rouiters, now don’t get me wrong there is some blinders but beware there is just as many crap ones as well. it will cost you roughly 13 euros for lunch/dinner some places you get a five course meal some you get 3.
ive done hardly any Germany so the autohofs ive only been to one and it was good and they have an excellent reputation.
swiss, get your showers and food before you go in, showers at the services in swiss costs you 10 euros in Europe they are 2 euros. on the subject of showers , I find the European services showers in decline, contrary to what people say they are not cleaned everytime someone uses them like they used to be and some off the msa’s showers are downright grotty, but they are hot.
the supermarkets normally have some sort of hgv parking but even if they haven’t there is normally somewhere to squeeze in and you wont be bothered.
msa’s are the same as here … they attract crime and I don’t park in them unless I really have to. they are free but there is stuff being pilfered in them nowadays.
the ferries are a eye opener, full of eastern Europeans especially the dfds boats, there maybe 60 lorries on them and don’t be surprised that you are the only English driver, the food is free but dire so don’t get to excited about that.
the main thing to try and remember is " the glory days are over " bumping into English driver is few and far between ( which is a good thing for me ) helping each other out drivers will just as happily drive past than stop and help.
the dutch are very friendly and speak better English than us and will go out of their way to help.
the French everytime you go somewhere shake hands with everyone, it is quite comical stood in an office watching them, they can spend 5-10mins saying hello and shaking hands with everyone.
all in all its better than uk, but forget about beaches, riding your bike and having dinner with the mayor.
jessicas dad:
but forget about beaches, riding your bike and having dinner with the mayor.
You forgot about shagging the Mayor’s daughter too.
jessicas dad:
the French everytime you go somewhere shake hands with everyone, it is quite comical stood in an office watching them, they can spend 5-10mins saying hello and shaking hands with everyone.
as well as shaking your male colleagues hand you get to kiss your female colleagues. 
But not sure what you do for your cross dressing colleagues.
muckles:
But not sure what you do for your cross dressing colleagues.
Keep yer bleeding distance.
bald bloke:
muckles:
But not sure what you do for your cross dressing colleagues.Keep yer bleeding distance.
Nice one
i never been over the water and although id like an odd trip to experience it the chance of me going full full time euro are gone
however i just wanted to post on here to wish you the best and hope all goes well
I seem to have been crossing the channel since the days of horses and carts and the best thing Big Man can do is use his common sense!!
As far as I am concerned, the most important thing over the water is to BE POLITE!!! When you arrive at your destination, always walk in with a smile and the appropriate greeting ie bonjour, gutten morgen etc. It doesn’t matter if that’s the only words you know, they always appreciate you making an effort and it is amazing how quickly you pick words up. It is surprising how often you will be directed towards the coffee pot if you’re polite. If stopped by the plod, then get out the cab and walk towards him with your hand out and offer to shake his hand. That can work wonders. It may not save you from a fine if you’ve been naughty but it creates a good atmosphere. NEVER EVER hang out the cab window with the engine running to talk to him. That will get his back right up. In all my years, I have only been fined heavily three times … once I deserved it, once was an iffy one and on another day I would have got away with it and the other was legalised ■■■■■■■ robbery.
One other small tip … I noticed you asked about places to stop for a beer and where Brits stop … after a few trips, you’ll change your mind on that one. Believe me, it is not only British holidaymakers that make prats of themselves abroad! The only way you can tell I am British when abroad is if I happen to carry a newspaper into the restaurant. I am sooo glad I drive a left ■■■■■■ on Dutch plates.
There is loads more I could advise but I get bored typing it all out.
Decent places to stop?? In Germany, more or less any autohof (signposted on motorway exit signs), in Holland, Meer and Asten are good food and facilities. Also Kantoors up the road from Meer at Moerdijk.
By the way, in these days of plastic and not carrying loads of running money, a safe is pretty redundant. Nearly all cashpoints take British cards … just let your bank know you will travelling abroad and they will authorise your card for euro transactions.
To avoid problems, just make sure you park in sensible places, not in some dingy layby down a sidestreet. Make sure you always lock your cab and just be aware.
TheBear:
As far as I am concerned, the most important thing over the water is to BE POLITE!!! When you arrive at your destination, always walk in with a smile and the appropriate greeting
I would say that’s pretty good advice for the UK as well, When I was doing general haulage it was amazing how Goods In Staffs attitude could change because you were polite and helpful when you spoke to them.
jessicas dad:
all in all its better than uk, but forget about beaches, riding your bike and having dinner with the mayor.
Ha ha ha that is funny…there’s also been no talk of transiting lux…
Or the train from Germany… Lmfao. Where is brit Pete these days?
JB:
Or the train from Germany… Lmfao. Where is brit Pete these days?
Jesus, the rows I had with that bloke!!! He reckoned the best way to Spain was thro Lux!!!
TheBear:
JB:
Or the train from Germany… Lmfao. Where is brit Pete these days?Jesus, the rows I had with that bloke!!! He reckoned the best way to Spain was thro Lux!!!
and also he said must bring snow chains for Spain!