As we travel around this country we see overnight parking bays with what appears to be discrimination against truck drivers, especially at some of the best parking bays.  Some of these are very roomy with toilets and running water.

Can the nomads explain this to me and what they would object to if an oversize load and accompanying pilots pulled in before sundown?

We can only drive in daylight hours, and have to find the nearest, SAFEST, suitable parking bay overnight.   When motors have stopped we might pull out our barbecues and cook our shared meals.  We can't leave until the sun rises in the morning.

We're generally a quiet mob, going to bed fairly early.

Other transport, including B-doubles and road trains are all under fatigue management, with massive fines if they don't observe these conditions.  They have to pull up when possible to observe the conditions of their log books.

Even we don't like pulling up next to fridgees, but otherwise, would anyone object to a wide load and the pilots pulling up in the same parking space, but not to impose next to you if we could avoid it?

 

Anything is better than a wizbang.

Oh bugger! I now have a whiz-bang "work" vehicle and so do many other pilots. Most parking bays have enough space to get away from other vehicles, even really big trucks.
I parked next to a road train at Nullarbor R/house one night, and the driver listened to books all night as he slept in the bunk. The speakers are in the doors, and my camp bed was 2 trucks away, and I still heard parts of the book.
We have often discussed the sign with the truck crossed out on the approach to parking bays. I wonder what would happen? Who would catch us?

We're happy to share with trucks. I just put the ear plugs in at night! One night the truck was so close I could have put my hand out the window and touched it!

I've happily stopped at a rest area with a truck already parked and felt more secure that a truckie was sharing the area. This was a mixed area for all. I don't mind sharing.

I do tend to whiz bang to go to the loo and put the dogs out as well. The downside of a van I reckon.

Just as bad as wizzbangs are early morning caravaners who get up before dawn for an early departure, starting their vehicle and leaving them running, vehicle doors slamming, winding squeaky legs up etc, loud voices without any concern for those around them.

There are inconsiderate people in either wizzbangs and caravans.  

-- Edited by Duh on Sunday 29th of September 2013 08:35:47 AM

I don't mind sharing  but I been a normal transport driver and I could do without them parked around me. After 43 years in the game I now find them mostly annoying. Plan your trip stop at the at approved area and not when you think no one will notice.

I hope you don't mine one strong no.

I live on a main road so I'm used to noise at all hours. Doesn't bother me at all.

Have never had a problem with sharing with wide loads and escorts have done so on several occasions and not had one complaint.

Have also used parking bays for trucks and one morning woke up to find five road trains parked up which we did not hear come in.

We were very quiet when we left hoping not to wake them

 

No complaints from us CG. We often park up in a truck bay so can't see a problem with trucks using campsites (if you can get into them!! some have entrances and overhangs that I am sure vanners sometimes find difficult). We must be some of the lucky ones cos when we go into the van and shut the door we don't notice noise from neighbours. Many a morning we have got up to find a truck or two along side us (including fridgies and the occasional stocky) and we haven't heard a thing. If we are on a timeframe to be somewhere that necessitates an early start we always park in an area where we can't be hemmed in otherwise we just wait till the truckies leave. We have had many an early morning coffee and toastie with truckies.

I use Truck Stops regularly. One that comes to mind is just before crossing the S. A. border into W. A. on the Nullabor. There is a big stop on the right side. On the Western Ring Road after the Geelong turnoff, there are two big Truck Stops opposite each other. There is a high McDonalds sign outside each one. l always overnight there before and after travelling on the Spirit of Tas.

quite ok with us too CG, as a former truckie I enjoy the company of like minded souls.

If you have to rest then you have to stop end of story.

We always try to park out of the way of others. We are all travellers on the road and should be willing to share the space with others doing much the same as we are.

frank

Cruising Granny wrote:

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I can always hop into the front seat and slip out the door without whizzing and banging. I love my Betty.

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 Can't do that with a Hiace or go through the back with a tailgate. Frankly I get sick of the whiz bang and the effort involved as well as lifting the tailgate. Time for a more comfortable van me thinks.

spida wrote:

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I was surprised in WA with all the new toilets and dumps at the 24 hour stops that they had not done the same at the truck stops. Dont truckies have our 'needs'? I have no problems with trucks using those stops. I am sure there are times when we really need to use their ones also.

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This gives us the sh!ts too.  We do have needs, trust me. It's ok for the blokes, but sometimes a bush is just not wide enough. That's what prompted the question about sharing.  I have to admit the entrances to these parking bays can be a bit restricted making it impossible to get a long, wide truck into the site.

Another problem which occurs with sharing, is caravanners who park slap bang in the middle of the parking bay, or right in front of the little shelter instead of moving as far forward as practical, to make room for others. 

I have also woken up in the camp bed, outside of the Landcruiser with a big truck near me which pulled up during the night.  I must be a sound sleeper.  The Sprinter is all but sound proof, so nothing bothers me in the night.

Boy have I got itchy feet!  The back and leg is still very painful, but my feet are itchy.  I've been home long enough according to me.

We usually wake up before daylight, but we can't move until the sun peeps up over the horizon.  Such civilised hours.

-- Edited by Cruising Granny on Sunday 29th of September 2013 11:58:45 PM