Wayside stop article..

aussie_paul · Guru

Wayside stop article..

Yuglamron · Guru

I would like to join the debate re Truck Stops and rest areas.

I drive a Motorhome that is classified as a heavy Vehicle requiring an HR licence.

In Qld the law states I cannot park for more than an hour in a built up area and when on the Highway I am required to use truck stops.

I am therefore between two camps, do I comply with the law and use truck stops and annoy Truckers or break the law and use rest areas.?

Woody n Sue · Guru

Yet another reason to make towing a trailer a seperate licence endorsement so that the rules can be clearly explained to people .
Yes I admit that some of the rules need to be made or cleared up but if licence endorsements were made this would surely have yo follow .
Yuglamron I know this doesn't help you right now, you defiantly are in an unusual predicament there, I can see you having difficulty in both camps , do you have to fill in a log book ?
Woody

Yuglamron · Guru

No Woody,I don't have to fill in a log book and there seems to be no Fatigue rules that dictate hours you can drive. Some of the bigger vehicles the 40' coaches are the same. A truck driver has limits but not for RV's.

The only thing is to use your common sense and drive to conditions and stop before you get tired.

Bruce and Bev · Guru

Getting back on topic to the article, I agree with the Editor that truck stops are for trucks - not others.

If the truckie breaches his mandatory rest times, not only can the business get a hefty fine, but the driver (who may be an employee on pretty ordinary wages) can be fined and loose his license.

While there will always be the few who are arrogant enough to stop and camp in truck only areas regardless, some States are shockers for lack of rest areas - SA being the worst from our experience. I always find it highly amusing the see signs paid for by the taxpayer saying "fatigue kills", but there are no rest areas for 100's of kms.

Desert Dweller · Senior Member

In Victoria rest areas have signs that designate whether they're a truck stop only, shared area or just a recreation area (car, caravan, motor-home). Pretty simple if everyone uses a bit of common sense. The sheer weight of numbers of retirees hitting the road is going to cause massive problems in the future. There's just too many people doing it with many thousands to come.

Bushy · Member

Yuglamron,what is the GVM of you're motorhome and how long is it .

Yuglamron · Guru

Hi Bushy the Mod Plate says 8.5 Tonnes and it's 7.7 metres long without the towed Suzuki.

RV's are generally not in the "Fatigue Regulated Category" so do not have to follow the same rules as trucks and other fatigue regulated vehicle.

Just commonsense not to drive when tired for obvious reasons.

-- Edited by Yuglamron on Saturday 18th of June 2016 09:46:14 AM

Bushy · Member

Vehicles cannot park more than 1 Hour in a built up area if it is 4.5 Tonne or more than 7.5 metres in length unless it is actually loading or unloading . Licence is LR is for 2 axle 0ver 4.5 tonne but not more than 8 tonne so unless you motorhome has more than 2 axels you only need a LR endorsment not heavy as you previously stated . MR licence is 2 axles and more than 8 tonne .HR licence is 3 axles or more and over 8 tonne . You can check the NHVR .National heavy Vehicle Regulator .

-- Edited by Bushy on Saturday 18th of June 2016 11:08:41 AM

-- Edited by Bushy on Saturday 18th of June 2016 03:37:09 PM

-- Edited by Bushy on Saturday 18th of June 2016 03:40:09 PM

The Phantom · Guru

"Rest stop war at boiling point"

Surely that must be poetic license, or do I take a baseball bat next time I head away?

The Phantom

Happywanderer · The Master

This is all ridiculous. Don't stop where the trucks are supposed to stop. Don't think it is your right. It is not.
Some stop will have extra pieces where you get completely out of the way of where the trucks park. I will use those but never the truck stops.

Ron-D · Guru

My feelings too, happy wanderer .

Woody n Sue · Guru

Spot on Happywanderer
But I guess that is using too much common sense for some
Woody

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Thing is to prepare your stops BEFORE it gets too dark ! Finding good or safe stops at night is very difficult .. If I've ever stopped at share truck stops ? I try to leave plenty of space .. I notice in Ceduna the police watch the truck area every evening .

Dickodownunder · Guru

Having driven heavy vehicles for a living for many years I can not see why it shouldn't be a traffic offence in each state for a caravan / motor home / ute with a canopy etc etc etc to camp in a designated truck rest area.
Designated truck rest areas are designed to accomodate large vehicles and when you are driving a road train or B Double and you commit to turning into a designated truck rest area, there is no going back when you discover some clown with a caravan has parked smack bang in the middle of the area.

Ok there may be an argument that they should be allowed to stop there for a break....15 to 30 minutes but, if this HAS to be the case then the driver should be immediately available to move on or at least move out of the way if a truck needs access.

Drivers of heavy vehicles generally have a code between each other whilst they are operating trucks that they do not interfere with other truck operators when parking and in all other driving situations.
I know..I know, there can be "cowboys" in the industry as well but generally drivers are professional in what they do and they deserve the right to access rest areas that are provided for their use.
The majority of "a man with a van" people have little to no idea of the requirements of heavy vehicle operators.

The wayside rest areas that have the sign with the picture of a truck with a slash through it are usually too small or "tight" to provide access for a large vehicle or combination.

It will be a very brave government that introduces a separate licence for drivers of large and/or articulated RV's but some day they will realise that special testing for RV's will be necessary.
Dedicated licencing will also be a great revenue source as well...ssshhhh!!!

Hit all drivers who are doing the wrong thing where it hurts....in their hip pocket.
Legislation in each state will give the police authority to implement this action.
Leaving this job to local council employees is half the problem.

Travel safely and dont camp in designated truck rest areas.

-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Sunday 19th of June 2016 08:45:16 AM

Desert Dweller · Senior Member

One of our relatives that was new to camping at the time stopped overnight in a truck rest area. A refrigerated truck pulled in & parked right next to them. They were so stupid that one of them got out of bed & knocked on the drivers cab shouting ''turn that noisy thing off''. It was the refrigeration unit! Idiots!