ITALY HELP AT ANY TIME

[Simon]

hi starting a new job on the 2 july running uk to italy any ifo of the road to take many thanks

Hi I am delivering a load to just outside of Naples, would you be so kind as to tell me the best and cheapest route, do I need to be wary of being hijacked as I have heard rumours but tend to take them with a pinch. I intended to use frajus. Any help would be greatly appreciated

As far as I remember, the best and cheapest route is the obvious one, when looking at a map.
Calais, Reims, Dijon, Lyon, Chambery, Frejus, Turin, Modena, Bologna, Florence, Rome, Naples.
(In Italy, look for the Italian names on the road signs - Torino, Firenza, Roma, Napoli or you'll get lost. Use an Italian Stradali (road map)).
Toll roads all the way basically, but they are also good, clear and fast.
Don't speed in Italy, they'll fine you on the spot and are apparently quite keen these days, the limit is 80 .

From Calais, Macon is an easy 9 hours. The Pub at Bourg en Bresse is getting close to 10.
B & C for the BP at Macon and The Pub at Bourge
Either of those to the TIR Parking at Campogalliano or the big service area just before Bologna is a reasonable days work.They are both slightly off the direct route to Naples, but the extra distance isn't worth bothering about.
A & B for Macon and the Pub, C & D for Campogalliano and Bologna
From either of these its an easy days drive to Naples.

All the roads and cities are still in much the same places. Where the roads have been moved, just stay between the white lines, you should be OK

[alanewing1]

Hi,


Does anyone know the cost to send a euro 5 vehicle through either the Frejus or MontBlanc tunnels?

Been several years since we had anything in Italy and been asked to price a job.

[toby1234abc]

Depending on your reload back to the uk,it is cheaper to buy a return ticket when you arrive at the toll booth,a single ticket is much more expensive.

[gunnerheskey]

Is the best way to Milan with Hazardous goods on, Frejus - Modane.....?

[r slicker]

No mate. if adr its the simplon. pm me for details bud

[toby1234abc]

You can with ADR in one of the tunnels to Italy as i used to with no problems, you get in a holding area and are escorted with a van in a convoy, i can not remember which tunnel, as you do not need to go via Simplon.

[Simon]

It's Frejus mate.
I used to do that too, with Brian Yeardleys. You had to book-in much further down the hill with your ADR paperwork (I can't remember where it was now, not to be able to tell you with any certainty). If they wanted to do a check of your load or equipment, they would do that there. You then went straight up to a holding area immediately before the tunnel, just before the toll booths, by-passing the normal holding area.
Like you say, you'd then wait for 2 or 3 more 'escort required' loads to turn up, then go through in convoy with a beaconed up van.

[toby1234abc]

As Simon has mentioned, and do not drive past the check point which is before you get to Frejus, i think it is about 20 0r 30 kms away, in France too.
The paperwork has to be 100% accurate, or you will not be able to proceed, it is a group of Pompiers or firemen that are highly trained in ADR, so you can not pull the wool over their eyes, any discrepencies in the load paperwork and the equipment required , they can call the Gendarmes over to issue a heavy fine, the Pompiers are very serious so not a good idea to make jokes to them.
It is quite easy not to spot the sign for the AdR control point, if you miss it, they will send you all the way back again.
When you get to the tunnel, park at to the right in the ADR parking area, and walk over to the glass window, to present the paper work and the authorisation that the firemen gave you.
You will need to get the ticket for the tunnel before the van convoy escorts you through, some firms fax the payment to the toll booth, and this takes time to find the booking refence and payment information.
I think ADR or the fridge drivers get a free token for the coffee vending machine?

[gunnerheskey]

Thanks for that simon & toby, i'll bear that in mind.
Thought that it'd be a right rigmarole going simplon, not that i'm dismissing it !

[gunnerheskey]

Leaving Sunday to tip Swiss Monday, then reloading piacenza. From Bern, which is best route to simplon, montreux - martigny- brig. Or interlaken brig, way round ??

[gunnerheskey]

Leaving Sunday to tip Swiss Monday, then reloading piacenza. From Bern, which is best route to simplon, montreux - martigny- brig. Or interlaken brig, way round ??

Job changed ! Swiss load cancelled ! Now straight to Piacenza (pianello va tidone) via frejus-modane, tip and re-load !

[0-HOWIE-O]

im starting for sparks next month, they run down to italy, so if i get a run i'll be in touch.. much appreciated

[gunnerheskey]

im starting for sparks next month, they run down to italy, so if i get a run i'll be in touch.. much appreciated

Ran back from swiss last week with one of sparks lads, he'd collected glucose out of Marckolsheim,

[0-HOWIE-O]

spot on, it's going to be my first class 1 job, been on recovery in the UK for 5 years... only 22 so i've got a lot to learn

[gunnerheskey]

spot on, it's going to be my first class 1 job, been on recovery in the UK for 5 years... only 22 so i've got a lot to learn

Latch on to any UK driver on the ferry or on the way down and we'll all help mate, you'll be fine....... .
Wether you go via the Blanc or Frejus, it's a stunning run. We have a regular collection out of Piacenza & occaisionaly Ancona, so hope to see you out there sometime......

[Simon]

spot on, it's going to be my first class 1 job, been on recovery in the UK for 5 years... only 22 so i've got a lot to learn

Latch on to any UK driver on the ferry or on the way down and we'll all help mate, you'll be fine....... .
Wether you go via the Blanc or Frejus, it's a stunning run. We have a regular collection out of Piacenza & occaisionaly Ancona, so hope to see you out there sometime......

Aye, have your camera handy. You'll want it ready for taking quick snaps.
It's a stunning drive, especially the first time.

[Wheel Nut]

Thanks for that simon & toby, i'll bear that in mind.
Thought that it'd be a right rigmarole going simplon, not that i'm dismissing it !

No rigmarole and free passage through France, well until the Vignette kicks in.

[toby1234abc]

Out in the country i found it hard to find a decent place to have a nice meal, most close early, and limited at the weekend.
Plenty of fast food outlets when passing through the small towns, fast pizza and so on.Not run or owned by Italians.
The meals on the motorways are very good, lots of choice, so if i knew i would end in the rural areas it would better to have a late lunch or early dinner.
The road signs do not make sense, there are low balconies on the houses which can be hit by the trailer when you turn, worse at night.
If you make an error, you can take hours to turn around on a steep winding mountain pass, or get stuck in small village with no place to turn around.

[witty]

SHOULD ANY DRIVER REQUIRE ANY INFORMATION TRANSLATION IN ITALY OR REGARDING ITALY OR ITALIAN LAWS, PLEASE CALL BRIAN (R SLICKER) ON <Phone number removed by Admin>. AT ANY TIME DAY OR NIGHT IS NO PROBLEM.
(PLEASE NOTE THAT THE NORTH OF ITALY IS MY FORTE)

Hi i am moving to southern italy later this year do you know of any italian companys taking on english drivers. Want to try and find employment now so i can get on there national health scheme. Any help or tips would be appreciated, cheers..

Try Arcese. My mate had a spell with em for about 4 years. They gotta depot in the UK so they do a lot of to and fro to each depot.

[Smith824]

I know the basics of Italian convoi exptionel but could anyone tell me a web site I can get more information ?

[Simon]

http://www.autostrade.it/tr_eccez/index.html is that any good ?

[Makavelli]

Can anyone tell me if Naples really is as dangerous as people say? I've got a delivery there in the morning and deliberately parked up 50 mile north. As we have a regular customer there I thought it a good idea to find out

[toby1234abc]

You should be safe to park where theremany trucks as safety in numbers,Napoli is controlled by criminal gangs,I spent a few days there in a hostel and found it safe walking around.
There were rumours of truck hijacking by armed men and the truck stolen with high value loads,but they never harmed the driver. A drivers myth of being tied with rope to a tree, wearing his pants, and ground glass in his eyes.

[Simon]

Can anyone tell me if Naples really is as dangerous as people say? I've got a delivery there in the morning and deliberately parked up 50 mile north. As we have a regular customer there I thought it a good idea to find out

If I were you I'd be speaking to my customer tomorrow about safe parking.
I'd also be confirming anything with my insurance company as well.

You should be safe to park where theremany trucks as safety in numbers,Napoli is controlled by criminal gangs,I spent a few days there in a hostel and found it safe walking around.
There were rumours of truck hijacking by armed men and the truck stolen with high value loads,but they never harmed the driver. A drivers myth of being tied with rope to a tree, wearing his pants, and ground glass in his eyes.

That's a good point about safety in numbers.
The rest is drivers rumour and Tobyism. Not that there is no truth in drivers rumour (or Tobyism), as long as you understand the source

[Makavelli]

Thanks for the info. Made it here with the truck still in tact but it appears that any road rules don't apply in Naples!! Every man for himself

[Simon]

Thanks for the info. Made it here with the truck still in tact but it appears that any road rules don't apply in Naples!! Every man for himself

I've heard that, although I had kind of expected it. As you head further South into Italy, this driving style becomes more and more apparent. For instance, on the Eastern side of the GRA during rush hour, the two lanes and hard shoulder markings are ignored. I found myself among 4 lanes of cars

[EASTKENT]

Is this man Brian still around to give advice off to Rome thursday in avan looking for some safe parking as will prob be there for the weekend thanks in advance.

[toby1234abc]

A van should be no problem to park in a secure hotel car park.
Most have Cctv, and all night security man on guard.
Empty the valuables, open the glove box to show it's empty.
In rural areas, it is quite safe, enjoy the scenery and the Lavaza coffee.

[docterdave]

Need parking in Firenza for a couple of days.
Id like to spend some time sight seeing so not too far from town or public transport.

Cheers
Dave

[bb9]

Truly a helpful gent you are....