Well got here last night in order to do what I normally do (park up overnight before dropping tank in the morning), I drove in as usual to find that the small parking area was already full, no bother I thought and went round to the larger area next to the police station only to find that it has been changed to no overnighting and a load of containers have been chucked there!
After finding no space I decided to leave the port and try and find space in a layby for the night only to be told by the gatehouse that I needed a gate pass to leave even though I was leaving with the same container I had on, had the paperwork proving this and had gone nowhere near the container terminal.
Quickly realised I was going nowhere so was sent around to the ‘customer services’ area in order to get one of these said gate passes, now the best part, before I get one they want a fax from the company with the details of me, my vehicle, my container, seal numbers, whether I am loaded, where containter is coming from and going, all the stuff which is easily sent at gone 2200 from a family run business which is not 24/7 staffed in the office.
So now we are stuck until he tells me that a few drivers are parking for the night on Oystermouth Road by the rail terminal, get over there and find loads of drivers parked up for the night, no doubt in the same situation as myself!
Anyway, manage to find a spot along the road to park for the night only for the pretend police to come along at 0530 and wake everyone up by coming back and forth beeping their horn, cheers!
All in all, a great time at Felixstowe…!
andi_cardiff:
Well got here last night in order to do what I normally do (park up overnight before dropping tank in the morning), I drove in as usual to find that the small parking area was already full, no bother I thought and went round to the larger area next to the police station only to find that it has been changed to no overnighting and a load of containers have been chucked there!
After finding no space I decided to leave the port and try and find space in a layby for the night only to be told by the gatehouse that I needed a gate pass to leave even though I was leaving with the same container I had on, had the paperwork proving this and had gone nowhere near the container terminal.
Quickly realised I was going nowhere so was sent around to the ‘customer services’ area in order to get one of these said gate passes, now the best part, before I get one they want a fax from the company with the details of me, my vehicle, my container, seal numbers, whether I am loaded, where containter is coming from and going, all the stuff which is easily sent at gone 2200 from a family run business which is not 24/7 staffed in the office.
So now we are stuck until he tells me that a few drivers are parking for the night on Oystermouth Road by the rail terminal, get over there and find loads of drivers parked up for the night, no doubt in the same situation as myself!
Anyway, manage to find a spot along the road to park for the night only for the pretend police to come along at 0530 and wake everyone up by coming back and forth beeping their horn, cheers!
All in all, a great time at Felixstowe…!
thats what u get 6 yrs ago i was on containers it was a easy life i was on the tanks but in the last 2-3 yrs felixstowe has down hill wounder all the major transport company are crying out for drivers i would not step in to felixstowe docks they are blocking parking for drivers in the dock they expect drivers who run out of hrs due to ie a bit of snow/wind/or too much sun cranes stop for this if you are stuck for parking in felixsowe docks go to tankclean if you are carrying a tank they would let you park there ex h p freightways driver have a good day
andi_cardiff:
Anyway, manage to find a spot along the road to park for the night only for the pretend police to come along at 0530 and wake everyone up by coming back and forth beeping their horn, cheers!
All in all, a great time at Felixstowe…!
i would have put a brick throu there windscreen 
andi_cardiff:
Anyway, manage to find a spot along the road to park for the night only for the pretend police to come along at 0530 and wake everyone up by coming back and forth beeping their horn, cheers!
All in all, a great time at Felixstowe…!
Is that allowed as it is before 07.00 am 
If you have a quick look at the highway code it may tell you but I dont have 1 at hand to check 
animal:
andi_cardiff:
Anyway, manage to find a spot along the road to park for the night only for the pretend police to come along at 0530 and wake everyone up by coming back and forth beeping their horn, cheers!
All in all, a great time at Felixstowe…!
Is that allowed as it is before 07.00 am
If you have a quick look at the highway code it may tell you but I dont have 1 at hand to check
I think they just like to make the rules up as they go along!
andi_cardiff:
After finding no space I decided to leave the port and try and find space in a layby for the night only to be told by the gatehouse that I needed a gate pass to leave even though I was leaving with the same container I had on, had the paperwork proving this and had gone nowhere near the container terminal.
Quickly realised I was going nowhere so was sent around to the ‘customer services’ area in order to get one of these said gate passes, now the best part, before I get one they want a fax from the company with the details of me, my vehicle, my container, seal numbers, whether I am loaded, where containter is coming from and going, all the stuff which is easily sent at gone 2200 from a family run business which is not 24/7 staffed in the office.
All in all, a great time at Felixstowe…!
Yes unfortunately Felixstowe have done that for many years, you needed a gatepass even if you parked in Tankclean. It was the same in Southampton
andi_cardiff:
After finding no space I decided to leave the port and try and find space in a layby for the night only to be told by the gatehouse that I needed a gate pass to leave even though I was leaving with the same container I had on, had the paperwork proving this and had gone nowhere near the container terminal.
Next time drop your trailer on the THA or on Trelawny lorry park (nr. 86pk) if there’s space and bobtail out. 
animal:
andi_cardiff:
Anyway, manage to find a spot along the road to park for the night only for the pretend police to come along at 0530 and wake everyone up by coming back and forth beeping their horn, cheers!
All in all, a great time at Felixstowe…!
Is that allowed as it is before 07.00 am
If you have a quick look at the highway code it may tell you but I dont have 1 at hand to check
Probably since the docks would be classified as private land (hence the need for a gate pass to get out)
Vosa would probably have a field day with docks tugs if it was public land 
Yeah, been in there once, never again.
Semtex:
animal:
andi_cardiff:
Anyway, manage to find a spot along the road to park for the night only for the pretend police to come along at 0530 and wake everyone up by coming back and forth beeping their horn, cheers!
All in all, a great time at Felixstowe…!
Is that allowed as it is before 07.00 am
If you have a quick look at the highway code it may tell you but I dont have 1 at hand to check
Probably since the docks would be classified as private land (hence the need for a gate pass to get out)
Vosa would probably have a field day with docks tugs if it was public land
Well VOSA must have some control over it, or drivers would be able to pull there card to do a container change over to save driving time.
ajdavis64:
Semtex:
animal:
andi_cardiff:
Anyway, manage to find a spot along the road to park for the night only for the pretend police to come along at 0530 and wake everyone up by coming back and forth beeping their horn, cheers!
All in all, a great time at Felixstowe…!
Is that allowed as it is before 07.00 am
If you have a quick look at the highway code it may tell you but I dont have 1 at hand to check
Probably since the docks would be classified as private land (hence the need for a gate pass to get out)
Vosa would probably have a field day with docks tugs if it was public land
Well VOSA must have some control over it, or drivers would be able to pull there card to do a container change over to save driving time.
IIRC, the last set of rule changes closed up that loophole. Quarries were the same where your driving was “out of scope”
Since 2007, if any part of your journey in on public highway, then all driving counts.
If, however you are driving a tug on dock property all the time (or a supermarket RDC for example) then that is “out of scope”
Semtex:
ajdavis64:
Semtex:
animal:
andi_cardiff:
Anyway, manage to find a spot along the road to park for the night only for the pretend police to come along at 0530 and wake everyone up by coming back and forth beeping their horn, cheers!
All in all, a great time at Felixstowe…!
Is that allowed as it is before 07.00 am
If you have a quick look at the highway code it may tell you but I dont have 1 at hand to check
Probably since the docks would be classified as private land (hence the need for a gate pass to get out)
Vosa would probably have a field day with docks tugs if it was public land
Well VOSA must have some control over it, or drivers would be able to pull there card to do a container change over to save driving time.
IIRC, the last set of rule changes closed up that loophole. Quarries were the same where your driving was “out of scope”
Since 2007, if any part of your journey in on public highway, then all driving counts.
If, however you are driving a tug on dock property all the time (or a supermarket RDC for example) then that is “out of scope”
Yeah, I know that, its just strange they have more powers than the police these days.
.