i proposed the abolishment of road tax just 2 weeks ago. the argument against is pretty weak. job losses 
j.gooch:
maybe you should have read his comments before criticising meâŚI just tell it as it isâŚ
I did, and I thought he was winding you up.
Is it me, or does anyone else think that those who profess to âtell it as it isâ come across as patronising and smug?
Regarding women in the transport industry, I personally have had two female transport bosses. Both brilliant, but they made it in a manâs world, they didnât try and fight past-battles, they just got on with the job.
Dazza:
Is it me, or does anyone else think that those who profess to âtell it as it isâ come across as patronising and smug?
not in my case. i just dont see the point in beating about the bush. when you have a point to make then make it clear. otherwise, why bother? 
scanny77:
Dazza:
Is it me, or does anyone else think that those who profess to âtell it as it isâ come across as patronising and smug?not in my case. i just dont see the point in beating about the bush. when you have a point to make then make it clear. otherwise, why bother?
Neither do I, itâs just that weâre expressing an OPINION, not the gospel truth. 
delboytwo:
Lankytim:
The reason behind the lack of decent parking areas with security and good facilities is that they cant make it pay. Nobody is interested in doing anything unless they can make money from it, including the government. They should be fulfilling their social responsibilities instead of looking for ways of making cash.i slightly disagree with you there there is no parking cos councils wont give planning, cos people out there just donât like trucks in there back yard if you no what i mean.
Ithink in this case werâe BOTH right on this score, although if truck parking made huge amounts of money im sure councils would soon forget their dislike of trucks and open up MSAs everywhere.
the way i see it, they make the rules so they have a duty to provide places for us to park up whether they like it or not. they provide other services that dont make a lot of money and providing secure parking at a reasonable cost is no different. we arent talking free parking or building swanky hotels for drivers to enjoy. we are talking about hard standings with a 12 foot fence all the way around and a security guard manning the single entry/exit point. 100 trucks at ÂŁ10 a night would pay for the initial outlay in no time plus the staff wage for the security guard. there is no excuse for them to deny their responsibility to an essential industry
scanny77:
the way i see it, they make the rules so they have a duty to provide places for us to park up whether they like it or not. they provide other services that dont make a lot of money and providing secure parking at a reasonable cost is no different. we arent talking free parking or building swanky hotels for drivers to enjoy. we are talking about hard standings with a 12 foot fence all the way around and a security guard manning the single entry/exit point. 100 trucks at ÂŁ10 a night would pay for the initial outlay in no time plus the staff wage for the security guard. there is no excuse for them to deny their responsibility to an essential industry
Hi again -we totally agree with you - try looking how All 4 Trucks in Calais-absolutely how it should be done.
j.gooch:
The point I am making is âwhy do these vehicles stop for their 45 minute breaks on the hard shoulder of the motorwayâ? I am not talking about overnight parking. I agree that the charges levied for same are extortionate.They are breaking EU laws - and lets face it, as I said earlier - if the emergency vehicles need access to the motorway - by them parking here makes it impossibleâŚ
in your original post you said you were driving past the msa in question but now you say they were taking a 45 not a nite out 
just how slow were you driving past to know they were on a 45 min break and not a night out
scanny77:
the way i see it, they make the rules so they have a duty to provide places for us to park up whether they like it or not. they provide other services that dont make a lot of money and providing secure parking at a reasonable cost is no different. we arent talking free parking or building swanky hotels for drivers to enjoy. we are talking about hard standings with a 12 foot fence all the way around and a security guard manning the single entry/exit point. 100 trucks at ÂŁ10 a night would pay for the initial outlay in no time plus the staff wage for the security guard. there is no excuse for them to deny their responsibility to an essential industry
Richie there is guidelines that have to be adhered to for MSAâs, they qualify them for theâsigns agreementâ they enter into when they operate the MSA. They include amount of HGV parking, the MSA should be fenced off to prevent pedestrian access and access from unauthorised vehicles. They are allowed a modest motel/lodge facility. Its not the MSAâs fault that the Highways Agency let them away with murder. The legislation and policy is all in place, its just not adhered to.
Right now there are MSAâs with no or practically no HGV parking, most are not fenced infact you can walk on and off most of them as well as drive. There are huge hotel complexes on them where you can book a weeks stay! And some where there is no food or drinks after 10pm. Non of these is a road safety matter apparently, but parking on the hard shoulder, even just barely onto the motorway from the MSA (because there is no room) is somehow a major safety concern.
Iâve been moved on myself from the hard shoulder just at the exit of an MSA because there was no room, the HATO said it was dangerous. HATOâs see traffic entering and exiting Knutsford MSA through the no entry signs and somehow completly ignore this safety requirement for it to be closed. Some âstakeholdersâ are more important than other âstakeholdersâ !!
Anyway their own vehicles have carte blanche to go places we can only dream off like the coach park 
welshboyinspain:
j.gooch:
The point I am making is âwhy do these vehicles stop for their 45 minute breaks on the hard shoulder of the motorwayâ? I am not talking about overnight parking. I agree that the charges levied for same are extortionate.They are breaking EU laws - and lets face it, as I said earlier - if the emergency vehicles need access to the motorway - by them parking here makes it impossibleâŚ
in your original post you said you were driving past the msa in question but now you say they were taking a 45 not a nite out
Just checked my original post - in which you refer to as above - cannot see anywhere that I stated I was driving past an MSA, let alone one in question - sorry⌠whether night out or 45 minute break it it still breaking the law
sorry you didnât say you were driving past one but you must have been driving to see th CZ watching a film on his laptop but you still donât explain how you know how long they were parked for or is it just bash a foreigner post?
if your husband is owner operater and you are MD of haulage company maybe your 2 businesses could start a petition with the RHA
why doesnât your hubby not work for you? you not that bad a boss are you
welshboyinspain:
sorry you didnât say you were driving past one but you must have been driving to see th CZ watching a film on his laptop but you still donât explain how you know how long they were parked for or is it just bash a foreigner post?
if your husband is owner operater and you are MD of haulage company maybe your 2 businesses could start a petition with the RHA
why doesnât your hubby not work for you? you not that bad a boss are you
I actually said that a Czech driver overtook us watching a film, yes we were driving, but it really doesnât matter whether it was 1 minute or 24 hours on the hard shoulder - unless in an emergency it is still illegal - and before you respond with âmaybe they had an emergencyâ doesnât explain 30 trucks in such a short radiusâŚ
I am a director of 1 haulage company, and another company (nothing to do with haulage). I wouldnât join the RHA/FTA as they have no backbone in supporting the haulage industry.
My husband works with me⌠and I am really not a bad bossâŚgood pay and conditions and the perks are brilliantâŚ
j.gooch:
but it really doesnât matter whether it was 1 minute or 24 hours on the hard shoulder - unless in an emergency it is still illegal - and before you respond with âmaybe they had an emergencyâ doesnât explain 30 trucks in such a short radiusâŚ
out of interest where was this?
Mike-C:
j.gooch:
but it really doesnât matter whether it was 1 minute or 24 hours on the hard shoulder - unless in an emergency it is still illegal - and before you respond with âmaybe they had an emergencyâ doesnât explain 30 trucks in such a short radiusâŚout of interest where was this?
M25 - M3 Junction to Dartford Tunnel
j.gooch:
M25 - M3 Junction to Dartford Tunnel
could have sworn M3 went to southampton, no wonder us foreigners are getting lost and running out of time on M25 
welshboyinspain:
j.gooch:
M25 - M3 Junction to Dartford Tunnelcould have sworn M3 went to southampton, no wonder us foreigners are getting lost and running out of time on M25
Joined at M3 Junction with M25 - left M25 at Dartford Tunnel !!!
the RHA? when was the last time they did us any favours? must have been before my time 
Mike i dont recognise any MSA as secure or for trucks. they dont want us and they make that obvious with their employment of illegal clamping activities.
my point about road safety is from a rest perspective rather than numpties driving through the HGV parking area. a driver i was talking to the other night said he found someone trying to nick his fuel and didnt get back to sleep afterwards. i would be the same so without proper secure parking they are potentially putting tired drivers on the roads. in practice this is unlikely to be a serious issue but in theory it is very valid and politicians like theory. that is what they base everything on. they dont have any idea of what happens in practice so we can put this point to them and ask them what they are going to do about it.
scanny77:
the RHA? when was the last time they did us any favours? must have been before my timeMike i dont recognise any MSA as secure or for trucks. they dont want us and they make that obvious with their employment of illegal clamping activities.
my point about road safety is from a rest perspective rather than numpties driving through the HGV parking area. a driver i was talking to the other night said he found someone trying to nick his fuel and didnt get back to sleep afterwards. i would be the same so without proper secure parking they are potentially putting tired drivers on the roads. in practice this is unlikely to be a serious issue but in theory it is very valid and politicians like theory. that is what they base everything on. they dont have any idea of what happens in practice so we can put this point to them and ask them what they are going to do about it.
I agree Rich, i donât see MSAâs as secure, although they could be a bit more secure than they are. I have parked in two (overnight)in the last two years, i positively avoid them for overnight stops although thats not from a security perspective. Ultimately though the problem with anyone percieving anywhere as âsecureâ has a big stumbling block. Other drivers use them, who do you think robs fuel and slashes curtains?
j.gooch:
Joined at M3 Junction with M25 - left M25 at Dartford Tunnel !!!
Well youâve certainly highlighted something here. Assuming Clackett Lane is full, a likeley scenario, would you care to name the next rest areas going either way from Clackett Lane services ?
Mike-C:
j.gooch:
Joined at M3 Junction with M25 - left M25 at Dartford Tunnel !!!Well youâve certainly highlighted something here. Assuming Clackett Lane is full, a likeley scenario, would you care to name the next rest areas going either way from Clackett Lane services ?
Think you are on the wrong forum - try âWhere Am Iâ. But in answer to your question : Thurrock Services (M25) or Maidstone (M20)