commonrail:
Saaamon:
why pay 20quid to get out of the truck and step in a puddle of ■■■■?coz you get your dinner and a shower for free
On the odd time I’ve paid for parking and got a voucher it’s gone unused when I’ve examined what’s on offer.
Thetaff2:
limeyphil:
Jack-knife:
Reefers should have there own parking area well away from everyone else so they can all sing along together.any reefer driver with any sense would switch the thing off. and before anyone says anything. frozen produce will still be frozen 11 hours after the fridge is switched off.
What a load of bollox…
i came back from eastern poland with a full load of regae regae sauce, it was still hot, it was loaded in a fridge trailer. and as the fridge is insulated it kept it warm. the temperature dropped about 3 degrees between poland and the midlands. the same insulation will keep something frozen whilst someone is on a break or rest without the fridge running.
you`ve got to know what to order 
red lion = curry
stockyard = anything
shepshed = keep clear of stew/hotpot style dishes(this rule applies to most truckstops)
colnbrook = anything
j26 = best toast in england
heywood = chinese style curry
j9 = sausage cas
portsmouth = sausage cas
alconbury = mushroom omlette
penrith = burger/chips/salad/fried onions(love their homemade tomato relish) 
lincoln farm = char grilled chicken or mixed grill
south mimms = chille con carne
these tend to be the only ones i use frequently…if im at any others,i play it safe and go with the chille. i try to avoid msas, but if i have to use one…i don`t mind bk or kfc
My lot will pay the parking, your meal and a sleeping bag/quilt. we are not planned nights out (they need the wagon back) and they are very very rare, so we don’t carry night out gear. only done 2 in 12 years.
limeyphil:
Thetaff2:
limeyphil:
Jack-knife:
Reefers should have there own parking area well away from everyone else so they can all sing along together.any reefer driver with any sense would switch the thing off. and before anyone says anything. frozen produce will still be frozen 11 hours after the fridge is switched off.
What a load of bollox…
i came back from eastern poland with a full load of regae regae sauce, it was still hot, it was loaded in a fridge trailer. and as the fridge is insulated it kept it warm. the temperature dropped about 3 degrees between poland and the midlands. the same insulation will keep something frozen whilst someone is on a break or rest without the fridge running.
You clearly have no idea what your talking about…there’s a big difference between reggae,reggae sauce and ice cream…not running on the full cylinders are you??
commonrail:
Saaamon:
why pay 20quid to get out of the truck and step in a puddle of ■■■■?coz you get your dinner and a shower for free
I prefer to cook my own dinner and have everything i need to do prepare a decent meal but i understand for those drivers who share their trucks its not as easy.
Most showers are free anyway, i find the ones you have to pay for are generally pretty good, rugby truckstop is a good example, £2 but there clean and you have a proper little room.
And above all its not free for me anyway as the company im on for dont pay parking 
.
commonrail:
you`ve got to know what to orderred lion = curry
stockyard = anything
shepshed = keep clear of stew/hotpot style dishes(this rule applies to most truckstops)
colnbrook = anything
j26 = best toast in england
heywood = chinese style curry
j9 = sausage cas
portsmouth = sausage cas
alconbury = mushroom omlette
penrith = burger/chips/salad/fried onions(love their homemade tomato relish)
lincoln farm = char grilled chicken or mixed grill
south mimms = chille con carne
these tend to be the only ones i use frequently…if i`m at any others,i play it safe and go with the chille.i try to avoid msa
s, but if i have to use one...i dont mind bk or kfc
What would you recommend at Swindon (the only time I ever went there I took one look and elected to dine at the nearby Sainsbury’s)?
GasGas:
What would you recommend at Swindon (the only time I ever went there I took one look and elected to dine at the nearby Sainsbury’s)?
+1 
GasGas:
commonrail:
you`ve got to know what to orderred lion = curry
stockyard = anything
shepshed = keep clear of stew/hotpot style dishes(this rule applies to most truckstops)
colnbrook = anything
j26 = best toast in england
heywood = chinese style curry
j9 = sausage cas
portsmouth = sausage cas
alconbury = mushroom omlette
penrith = burger/chips/salad/fried onions(love their homemade tomato relish)
lincoln farm = char grilled chicken or mixed grill
south mimms = chille con carne
these tend to be the only ones i use frequently…if i`m at any others,i play it safe and go with the chille.i try to avoid msa
s, but if i have to use one...i dont mind bk or kfcWhat would you recommend at Swindon (the only time I ever went there I took one look and elected to dine at the nearby Sainsbury’s)?
You did the right thing,that’s what I do,they do a cracking brekkie in sainsbury’s too.
Snap-on Harry:
limeyphil:
Jack-knife:
Reefers should have there own parking area well away from everyone else so they can all sing along together.any reefer driver with any sense would switch the thing off. and before anyone says anything. frozen produce will still be frozen 11 hours after the fridge is switched off.
There a nucience but if a customer pays for refridgerated transport he should expect it.
Sorry guys but I am a fridge unit driver and I am afraid if I have frozen or chilled goods the fridge stays on but, I do have to say when parking up I do always try and find a place away from everyone but I am afraid in this day and age sometimes in fact most times I have no choice as parking up is a trick in itself what with everyone either blocking you in or places being so full you can’t get in and then you go to lay-bys and someone has parked in the middle so your unable to get in in front or behind and that’s if its not full to the brim etc. As for people asking me to turn my fridge off I am afraid not sorry. However what I will say is I do get paid parking but I also begrudge paying ( company’s money) for 24 hours when I have just paid for 24 but then have to move a few hours after my 24 and so they try charging me another 24 absolute rip off me thinks they should have an hourly rate too for these times I think
Truckulent:
Employer pays for parking - no question.Why would you park someone else’s truck/load and mind it yourself all night and pay for the privilege yourself ■■?
+1
I do try to avoid MSA’s tho… I like good food such as from the Stockyard or Colsterworth which the company also pays for…
DonutUK:
I have never done the whole “layby” thing…always parked at truck stops, company yards or if no alternative, MSA’s.I just don’t think i would enjoy being parked for 9 hrs without some basic facilities like a toilet.,…and no, ■■■■■■■■ in a carrier bag, or ■■■■■■■ in a bottle, isn’t the same!
How do those of you who don’t get their parking paid do it?
I only get paid parking on the very odd occasion I’m carrying a high value load. I know loads of places to park for free around the country that are both secure and near supermarkets that have toilet facilities, and pubs (I don’t tend to use them but understand the need for a pint or two after a long day) and takeaways within a few minutes walk. I wouldn’t park in an MSA, it’s a rip off and the food on offer is inedible if you ask me.
I am still at a loss as to why the services and truck stop’s don’t let you “Plug in” fridges and charge a reasonable fee, in line with derv costs (£5/£10) and it would make sleeping next to them a lot more comfortable.
AFAIK Electric is cheaper than derv but I don’t have the figures to quote.
On a side note, I have noticed a lot of MSA’s being upgraded. MOTO have scrapped a lot of the “Eat In’s” and are going for more along the “Fresh” food lines.
The new bar at Lymm (The Fifth Wheel) looks quite nice and not too overpriced either.
Dave-ECF:
No, but we do get a VERY generous amount of night out money, done 2 night out a week for 6 months, total parking money paid to date £0
Depends on what you call “generous” ,night out money for me was always for personal expenditure not parking.
Company I work for pay for it.
I pay it initially, usually on the credit card then keep a receipt, take a picture of it, send it to them and they transfer the money. Also means I have a receipt to claim back for my accounts as well
Company I work for are really good about it though, although someone would do bloody well to empty the stuff we carry its still to do with security and being in a well lit busy area overnight if we can’t park at a venue/gig.
They also realise that their drivers are much happier if they can have a shower and something to eat on days off as we can’t carry gas stoves. Hot water noodles only last you so long!
Any feedback from Agency drivers? I never ask about this in advance and expect it to be paid. A failure to pay might prove inconvenient next time.
cav551:
Any feedback from Agency drivers? I never ask about this in advance and expect it to be paid. A failure to pay might prove inconvenient next time.
I’m agency, I get parking paid if I do night out
limeyphil:
Jack-knife:
Reefers should have there own parking area well away from everyone else so they can all sing along together.any reefer driver with any sense would switch the thing off. and before anyone says anything. frozen produce will still be frozen 11 hours after the fridge is switched off.
Have to disagree with that, I was in yearsleys at hams hall the other week. A memo on the wall read roughly as follows:
Re refuelling of fridges
A driver failed to check the fuel level of his fridge before he set off. The tank ran dry approximately 2 hours before he reached his destination. When the customer temperature probed the -25 load, they found it was -18 and rejected the load, causing £34000 worth of losses to our customer, and ultimately our insurance. Always check the tank on your daily checks!!
Moral of the story is, they want it temp controlled, you don’t ■■■■ about with it. He who pays the piper calls the tune. If you can’t hack a fridge running overnight, get on the curtains
My company will pay it, get a receipt you get the money back.
Rarely pay for parking since any over nighters i do are in the far north of scotland. No hassles with parking way up north, find a deep lay by quiet no hassles or park in places like Portree in the centre of town free and got local places to get something to eat.
The rare times i do overnighters in England will park at a MSA or truckstop and pay.