On thursday I had a puncture on my trailer offside on the M25 so I called out ATS
When the laddie arrived, he told me that he wasn`t allowed to change the tyre unless lane 1 was closed. Fair enough.
I phoned the Police from the emergency phone. Shortly, a yellow rigid lorry operated by Carillion (a private contractor) arrived, accompanied by the Police, and they coned off lane 1.
A Carillion employee took my vehicle details, and details of my employer.
The ATS laddie said “Your boss will get a bill for that, it`s around £5000”
I said “Youre avin a larf, entcha?”
But no, he was adamant. He told me that Carillion had been doing this for a while. Five thousand quid for two blokes, a lorry and a few dozen cones for an hour.
No-one I have spoken to has ever heard of this, including our local branch of ATS. Has anyone on here, or was the tyre fitter simply mistaken?
I told him, and he was as gobsmacked as I was. He phoned our local ATS and they had never heard of it, and he also phoned his mate who operates a dozen lorries and he hadn`t heard of it either. So we are hoping he was mistaken.
However I would be interested to know if anyone had direct experience of being invoiced for this “service”
If the [zb’s] are involved there will always be a price to pay.
Appreciated that Carillion are a private entity and whom maintain that bit of road but that kind of thing should be covered in the RFL. I’m sure Carillion can do a good job of coning off a lane on their own without involving the [zb’s].
On the ATS front, I can’t knock the guy asking for some protection. There are so many drivers who don’t have any idea of space, distance and hazard perception that the job could easily end up in a loss of life.
If it had been me in your shoes I would have pulled the truck onto the verge as far as possible (if space to do so and the ground was okay) so as to allow as much space as possible on the offside, but you would have already done that I imagine, being another professional driver, just like my good self
I absolutely agree with the lane being closed, Rob, changing a tyre with traffic belting past at 50mph plus, just 18 inches away is tantamount to having a death wish.
I tried to get the trailer away from lane 1 but the ground was mostly pea-shingle, and as soon as I put one wheel on to it, it sank so I didn`t venture further.
My wife is a nurse, and has a very low opinion of Carillion, who supply services at the hospital where she works. She and her colleagues generally regard Carillion as profiteering.
I must say that if what the fitter told me is true (and I`m not convinced it is) then I would consider this to be nothing short of criminal extortion.
I would have thought that they would have to inform you of any charges before they commence, if they don’t then you have no obligation to pay as there is no contract either in writing or implied (verbal).
I think he might be wrong about paying for the service on tyre changing, as the lane is closed for safety reasons. However you might get charged if you had a lane closed whilst they cleaned up something like a diesel spill.
I was dragging a stone screaner on the m40 when I had a blow out and dropped it on the floor, I was in lane 2 but luckily I was surrounded by other trucks so I got over safely (the sparks were pretty) I dug up the rumble strip but I got her pulled up. I Rang the gaffer and scania because I had blown a relay when the towing board wire snapped as she dropped then I rang the old bill to close lane 1. They already knew because 3 people had already called they did that car counting thing then shut it off no maintenance company was involved and as far as I know there was no unforseen costs incurred.
so i take it that it was the police that called these highway robbers out if so then it should be the police force for said area that should get the bill as you did not call them, ats did not call them and your boss did not call them.so the police call this company out every time a tyre fitter needs a lane closed off, i wonder if they are getting a cut
I had blow out on trailer off side at J38 m4 westbound.
Police came and cleared up the bits.Then escorted me few hundred yards to wide section of hard shoulder,and offered to come back to close lane 1 if fitter not happy with situation.
Have actually seen them providing this protection.
Surely you must have told him and he would have enquired with ATS / [zb’s] / Carillion 
as you did not call them, ats did not call them and your boss did not call them.so the police call this company out every time a tyre fitter needs a lane closed off, i wonder if they are getting a cut