is it ok to sleep at truck stops?

Flicka9736 · Veteran Member

is it ok to sleep at truck stops?

NeilandRaine · Guru

I have seen rest stop signs truck parking only, no brainer! and stops posted no trucks. but as for rest stops common sense should prevail, if you park right in the middle of one and block passage way expect at best trucks stopping and starting beside you all night. Truckies don't own rest stops but they have the same rights to use them and we do.

Grams · Guru

Actually in SA is doesn't say "Trucks Only", it says "Truck Parking"...this means that the off road parking is big enough for trucks to park in. The ones marked "No Truck Parking" means the area is not big enough for their trucks...like overhanging trees etc.

You can park in any of these areas, just give the truck drivers staying overnight some room and don't make too much noise, as they will be sleeping, day or night. My husband is a truck driver and he is always amazed at how many people think these areas are for trucks only. We have always stayed overnight, or for a few hours break in them. Never had a problem.

So Flicka yes you can stay in them, that's what they are for.

Big Gorilla · Guru

I do it all the time. Just don't drop your grey water on the concrete driveways !!!

wink

Yuglamron · Guru

Might sound silly, but if you are in a Motorhome over the 4.5 limit the Qld Transport Dept regulations say you must use truck stops. You can also not stay or park in a built up area for more than an hour.

Go figure , my own interpretation is that if you are travelling and you get tired and you stop at a 'Truck stop' that's due diligence and fatigue management.

With all parking areas though, it's probably best to stay as far left as possible and leave lots of room for truck to drive in and out. Like most of us,truck drivers would rather drive in and drive out without reversing or manouvering about the parking area.

jimbo · Guru

I used them all the time Just don't go setting up table s and chairs and BBQ stuff

Legendts · Senior Member

You really need to be considerate regarding truck stops, after all these guys are "at work" and have restrictions placed on them, so no wonder they get upset sometimes with vans parked all over the place. I try never to use them for that reason, but if fatigue is an issue and you have to use them, be mindful of where you park with big rigs in mind. If it says "trucks only" then that's what it means. Simple really in my book and no, I'm not a truckie, but have friends who are. Actually, when fuelling up, go and talk to them and ask them and see what they say.

Gazzah · Member

Flicka, we have stayed in them over night quite often depending on available room, layout & facilities, you don't get a lot of sleep especially if it has toilets in the middle. The air starter on them is something to get used to and the idling while building up brake pressure can be fun. We always park where we are out of the way of the big rigs. We have never had a problem and often clean up the area while there provided the bins will take it. Can't stand messy untidy people, it is not hard to use a bin. Enjoy

Happywanderer · The Master

You will find a lot of truckstops are mentioned in our Camps Aus book. I have stayed in a few of them.
Lone star south of Goondiwindi is very well set out for both and Bundure north of Jerilderie is another good one.
Just be considerate of thetruckies, they have a job to do, we don't.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

We only try to sleep in a truck stop as a last resort, for all the reasons given above.

Yes Gazzah, truck stops can do with a bit of tidying usually, but we stop short of collecting old tyres, fuel drums and truck parts. Sometimes it looks like this stuff has been there for years, I wonder who's job it is to clean it up?

boots · Member

Probably best left for the truckies. After all we dont want them pulling into the overnight camps designated for vans and campers.

hako · Guru

No way I'd stay at one - just like I will not park in handicapped spaces or those designed for mothers with strollers. Plenty of other places to stop without pushing the limits.

Happywanderer · The Master

It is not pushing the limits. Some truckstops have designated spots for us as well. Don't you read your Camps Aus Wide book. I use them as I feel safe knowing there are truckies nearby. Both my sons have been truckies.

brickies · Guru

Just did a Google search on camping at truck rest areas looks like it is not permitted . It is not allowed in WA and most other states

herbie · Guru

Must agree with you Brickies regarding over night stopping in truck stops.Just because they are in the camps book does not mean it is legal to do so. One truck driver who is based out of NSW has even started a petition up with other truck drivers through out OZ regarding this very practise of people taking up the limited stops for these long distance drivers. There is not enough truck stops now ,due to the time limit of them being allowed to keep driving and resting. I think some people travelling think they have a given right to just park up any where they feel like. And as for the Fatigue excuse I do not think that stacks up either. Plan your drive so fatigue doesn't creep up on you. Or find some where other than a truck stop or pull into a caravan park.The poor tired truck driver just cannot pull in any where and sleep. Some of the truckies tell me they Hate their limited amount of stopping spots getting over taken with grey nomads.Some say they are dead tired ,go to pull in and find there is no room because of all the motor homes/ caravans lined up so have to keep driving until they can find some where else to pull into. This will become an issue sooner than latter due to the NSW truckie regarding his petition going to take it to Canberra.

Tim thetruckie · Senior Member

Flicka9736 wrote:
You know the ones... cutouts on the side of the road or at actual truck stops? I wouldn't make ahhabit of it, but would it be okay at a push or is it frowned upon? I'd hate to be woken in the middle of the night by the Popo or worse still, some great big, bald, angry, tattooed and seriously pi***d off truck driver beating down my caravan door cos I parked in the wrong spot, or worse again still, HIS spot!

Flicka , use your common sense , park off to the side if you can or at either end if you really need to . There was a post complaining (in another forum)about the noise made by change overs being made in a parking bay in which the poster was told the facts of life by a lot of posters and not all truckies either .This clip on Utube is a perfect example how tight that vans and M/H's can make it in parking bays by parking in the wrong areas .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKR1GmoH11I&feature=channel

Flicka9736 · Veteran Member

Thanks so much everyone. Differing opinions, but the tone of "use common sense" is the same. Which makes perfect sense. Oh and I realize people may have been offended by my "Truckie" description. Please keep in mind his description also fits my hubby to a T. Just so you know I don't actually take issue with the "big, bad, bald, heavily tattooed" types lol. Neither do I take issue with truck drivers, (our family is full of them lol...like a small plague lol) I just have a very weird/dry sense of humor.

Flicka9736 · Veteran Member

Thanks Timthetruckie. I watched that video and honestly, it looked like the second truck that came in was the one that made the tight fit for the original truck. What did I miss? I'm not being a smart arse. ..its a genuine question.

herbie · Guru

If you take a GOOD look at that video ,the reason the truck had a tight squeeze pulling out ,is because that inconsiderate motor homer was parked in the truck stop in the first place.What the truck drivers say between each other regarding all this is not really printable on here.

Tim thetruckie · Senior Member

Thanks Herbie , that is it perfectly . If you take a good look at the video you can see M/H's and vans pulled up under the trees at either end , which for them is easy compared to backing a triple road train into the same areas or worse backing out of what is a drive though parking area because some inconsiderate idiot has parked in the wrong spot . The thing is Flicka those areas are there so trucks can stop check their load , tyres etc as well as take their compulsory rest breaks .

While Im on the subject , when in a parking area where there is tables etc do consider that a lot of truckies cook their own meals on the road and it is nice to use a table instead of the fuel tanks to cook and eat off . There is a parking bay about 40k north of Moree that I have used a lot to cook a feed because of the table set up there . One evening I pulled in to find a van there with chairs out all around the table and gear all other it and they weren't prepared to share a corner and got rather nasty about the whole thing as if they owned it .

brickies · Guru

Truck Rest stop , One would beleive it would be for trucks not free camping , Truck rest areas are there to kept our road safe so tired truck driver can take a rest so they need free access to the truck rest stop

herbie · Guru

I am hearing you Tim, LOUD AND CLEAR.I am on my way back from the Cape and what I have seen at some of the truck stops from RV travellers is unbelievable. Some of the truckies at a road house we pulled into said they just block the Rvs in now as just cannot get a place to park up to get some sleep. One truckie told us and also showed us his fine he got for not having his rest brake in the allotted time, due to the fact the truck rest area he was going to pull into was so full of motor homes and caravans there was no room so he had to move on further up the h/way hoping that stop was not taken over,but between where he could not pull into and heading to the next stop the cops pulled him over and done him for driving over his 12hr limit. So no wonder this block based out of NSW has this petition on the go regarding all this. It is just so selfish of people to do it. The attitude of some people is I pay rego so I can park where I damn well like. Well sorry that is not the case. Because we all pay rego does it mean we can drive down the h/way the wrong way.

brickies · Guru

Truckies should just call the police and get them to move the RV out of the truck rest stops . There a difference between truck rests area and truck stops

Flicka9736 · Veteran Member

Aha, ok now I see it. Thanks guys. So I guess the general consensus is, if it says "truck" rest area, then don't park there. Makes sense. The main reason I asked is, we've travelled to and from Rocky from Brissy twice in the last three weeks, as my Dad had an accident while fishing and was in a coma. We don't have our van yet, so it was a straight through trip. However now that we're getting a van and taking off permanently in Oct, we're really noticing all the vans about and noticed some vans at truck stops as well and wondered if this was frowned upon. So I reckon I've got my answer. I truly believe the reason some drivers are so inconsiderate of trucks is thru really don't understand the difficulty in maneuvering a big rig. My daughter father in law is a long distance driver and he was complaining one day about people over taking him, then pulling in front of him only to slow back down. I didn't understand the significance of his complaint till he explained how difficult it is to pull up in a truck. I honestly didn't realize that it wasn't just a matter of applying the brakes and slowing down. ..never having anything to do with trucks I personally didn't realize the magnitude of their load. Perhaps a lot of others don't either. But in my opinion they need to make it their job to educate themselves. I have a similar issue towing a horse float. People don't realize that not only do I havet to pull up a couple of ton, but it's a couple of ton of live weight (similar to towing water). Horses who can get hurt and/or lose their s**t if I have to slam on the anchors because someone pulled out in front of me, then slowed down. Knowing all of that though, I still didn't understand how much more difficult it was for trucks, than it was for me. Not that its an excuse but I'd say most people just don't get it.

Tim thetruckie · Senior Member

Flicka this is a very wide problem , people that have had nothing to do with trucks just dont understand the dynamics of them . Your normal semi running up the road can be loaded upto 46tonne , B Double 68.5tonne and road train depending on the configurationï¿½upto 140tonne . None of these can stop on a dime or take off like a sports car . They all need room on corners , the longer the combination the more room .

-- Edited by Webmaster on Tuesday 2nd of July 2013 09:27:56 AM

Weedy Pigeon · Senior Member

Say what you like about truckies, you just can't beat the sound of big diesels.

Grams · Guru

Regarding the truckie who got fined for running out of hours, that is his fault. He could have parked on the side of the road, or he could have allowed plenty of time to take his break. I'm assuming this truckie knew the area and knew where he could stop...most truckers wouldn't leave it to the last minute to decide to use one particular rest stop.

I agree RVs and Caravaners should park to the side of the rest areas, not side by side. I watched the YouTube video with my husband, also a truckie, and we both said the guy who parked near the exit was at fault, he could have backed his truck up to allow plenty of room for the road train to leave easier than he did.

The rest areas are for everyone, they are NOT for trucks only, this may be the case in other states but in SA it's not. I can't say about other states, though we have used the ones trucks frequent where they have showers and toilets, and never had a problem.

Yes common sense should always be used, and some people don't use it unfortunately.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Just up the highway from our home is a big rest-stop, where we've seen plenty of caravans and m/homes at night. 5 k's further on theres a service station with an unofficial paddock next to it where trucks park overnight. Often there'll be caravans or m/homes there too but they park along the back near the trees away from the tucks. There's no signage anywhere which limits who can park where.
Its all a case of respecting the truckies space and common sense.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Common sense is the name of the game - on our way up from Victoria last year we met up with Happy Wanderer at a pretty big rest stop - it was a good one with toilets - the area was wide enough for trucks to have one side, and campers the other - both respecting the others right to be there. These stops are REST stops, not camping areas, they are meant to allow you to rest up - drivers and travellers alike - have a meal, and continue on your way - not set up camp in.

Grams · Guru

Nope not joking, the triple on the right is fine, but the double could have backed up, which is what I mean. And if he can't back a double he shouldn't be driving. I agree backing a triple is hard, and hubby can do it easily, but he did a lot of practice to be able to do this every time now.

-- Edited by Grams on Monday 1st of July 2013 08:28:02 PM