Just curious

granty · 19 July 2005 09:02

Just back from driving down through europe in the car on holiday. I went through the Mont Blanc tunnel to get to Italy, and was curious as to the procedure for a truck to go through. All trucks looked to get pulled up further down the valley into a holding area, not sure if it was for booking in or customs etc. then when they got to the tunnel entrance, after the heat detector, all the fridges are pulled to one side into another holding area, why? whilst tauts and tilts are allowed straight through,

As a part time truck driver you dont get many jobs going that far, but i just wondered what was going on and why, you never know one day i might end up there with a truck and knowing what was happening might stop me from making a total prat of myself.

convoy · 19 July 2005 09:21

Welcome to TruckNet UK granty

robinhood_1984 · 19 July 2005 09:24

As far as I’m aware all trucks pull into the waiting areas at both ends and go though in convoy’s each way due to the terrible accident that happened in there a few years ago. No doubt someone will know more and elaborate further.

ianyng · 20 July 2005 17:07

The fridges get escorted through because of the extra fuel tanks on the trailers.
The big areas at the Blanc are where you have to pull in to have your Euro classification checked.
At the Gottard in Switzerland, the holding areas are to space the trucks out more.

ianyng · 20 July 2005 17:11

Also at the Gottard, there is an area at the bottom of the hills where trucks are sometimes directed into to let their brakes cool down.

thebear · 20 July 2005 21:31

Think you will find the fridges get escorted thro because there is a 2.5 metre width limit dn most fridges are 2.55 wide… hence the 2.5 limit. Only allowed through at the moment cos the Frejus is closed

ianyng · 20 July 2005 22:24

Never heard that one before.
Its feasable though.

thebear · 20 July 2005 22:27

ianyng:
Never heard that one before.
Its feasable though.

It’s true too

ianyng · 20 July 2005 22:33

I stand corrected in that case.
Have you heard that fridge trailers have to carry fire extinguishers because they carry diesel tanks?

spardo · 20 July 2005 23:02

ianyng:
I stand corrected in that case.
Have you heard that fridge trailers have to carry fire extinguishers because they carry diesel tanks?

Mine certainly did.

Salut, David.

granty · 23 July 2005 10:00

thanks for the info

ianyng · 1 September 2005 22:43

Fridges are 2.6M wide.

brit_pete · 1 September 2005 23:24

If you look at the site fromthe UK Goverment about transportation between
GB and other countrys you will find that quite a few state a fire extingusher is required for the tractor unit, You will normally only have to carry those items required for ADR/HAZ cargos when you are doing this work , as any fuel tank under 1000liters does not come under the adr/haz
rules,

thebear · 2 September 2005 06:49

ianyng:
Fridges are 2.6M wide.

I ain’t gonna argue over 5cms (says a fridge driver)

ianyng · 2 September 2005 20:45

brit pete:
If you look at the site fromthe UK Goverment about transportation between
GB and other countrys you will find that quite a few state a fire extingusher is required for the tractor unit, You will normally only have to carry those items required for ADR/HAZ cargos when you are doing this work , as any fuel tank under 1000liters does not come under the adr/haz
rules,

That is currently changing.
All fridges will have to carry fire extinguishers because of the diesel tank.