Your Views.

[TWR]

This is about HGVs parking up at the service area at night ( They have no choice when their TACO time is up) the price is around 10 pound, there has been quite a number of thefts from their trailer amounting to thousands of pounds, should the owners of the service areas have all night security to patrol these areas? Yes, this is a motoring question but I'd like to know your views.

[jackthehat]

What about if the haulage companies clubbed together and funded the provision of a dedicated night security staff at the service station carparks?

[smart1]

Yes JTH, I think they should - and CCTV too, if they haven't already.

[hc4361]

But then should the RHA provide security to the non-member foreign HGVs?

[sunny-dave]

Read my posts - I'm not against HGV traffic - just saying that it should pay its fair whack rather than being subsidised by other road users.

If it means an increase in the costs to the final consumer then that is only fair - why should my road tax subsidise someone who insists on eating strawberries in January ... or any of the other nonsensical uses of illogically cheap roadfreight.

Perhaps TWR could also enlighten us on the rationale behind trucker A taking three miles to overtake trucker B on a two lane dual carriageway, just because he has a speed advantage of 0.5mph and is going to use it, regardless of the inconvenience and danger to other road users ...

[boxtops]

HC, the foreign trucks already don't pay to use our roads, unlike our trucks which have to pay to use roads in Europe - why give them free security facilities too?

It would be not difficult to charge them as they get off the ferries here in Dover - OH has to pay to travel, and to park overnight in foreign truckstops, those are patrolled regularly.

We don't have nearly enough truckstops in the UK, it's a disgraceful situation which leaves drivers no choice than to park where they can, when their hours are up.

[TWR]

I will agree on the Over taking caper Sunny to me that is inconsiderate, I used to wait my time for that, but the full cause of the tail backs are our knob heads in europe, ask the police what they think about it, I am not going in for an argument Sunny, the HGV is there to do the work, the thing pays its way, it also has to run 24hrs to crawl back 10000 + pounds + trailer costs without Insurance, Fuel, Tax, + Driver's pitance of a wage! & if anyone thinks they are on fantastic money, think again. I do not particular like this outfit but take I've got a clean lorry Stobart, you take how many HGVs this bloke has then count the cost.

[hc4361]

boxtops, I am well aware of that but the problem is that within the EU we have the freedom of travel and the freedom to transport goods within member states.

If all HGVs are charged to use toll roads in Europe that is fair (eg French truckers pay the same as UK truckers to use French toll roads). The French would not able to charge UK truckers and not French lorries.

Our Vehicle Excise Licence fees cannot be imposed on other countries and under EU laws we are not allowed to penalise European truckers by imposing a charge at the docks.

The fact that it works out unfair for UK truckers is tough cheese. Even imposing extra duty on fuel for HGVs wouldn't necessarily work as foreign trucks tend to fill up at the docks on the cheap side and only buy the bare minimum in the UK (as of course UK trucks do on the way back from France).

[TWR]

Thank you Boxy, I've said all along about foreign traffic coming over here, they pay SOD ALL to use our roads, the Derv Underbelly trailer tanks the have will do their journey through out the UK so they do not have to pay our inflated prices.

[hc4361]

It is pleasing to see that the gap between French fuel prices and UK fuel prices is narrowing and that the UK is not (quite) the most expensive.

[sunny-dave]

Yeah - I'm not spoiling for a scrap TWR - just an itch that I sometimes need to scratch.

Basically I couldn't/wouldn't do an HGV driver's job for any money (let alone their current low level of pay) so I have no right to moan.

Sorry for hi-jacking your topic too - I agree entirely that the UK should have more 'secure' overnight stops for truckers - and, as boxy, says the foreign HGVs should be paying a premium for using them.

[cazzz1975]

What about if the haulage companies clubbed together and funded the provision of a dedicated night security staff at the service station carparks?

[TWR]

No Probs Sunny, Cazz, when the service areas come about they where for the HGV driver of that time ( we where called Trampers at that time as we were away all week, the are now privetly owned, they are quick enough to knock on your cab door in you have not paid though ( Been there & told them to Izz off at 1 am in the morning)

[jackthehat]

Cazzz - TWR seemed to be able to see your version of the question.

Perhaps you could ask him if a 'privately' funded area of the car-park, paid for by the haulage company, wouldn't solve these problems, especially as it will have been negotiated and agreed with the owners of the car-parks?

Of course, his browser may 'clear its throat' and he'll be able to see my questions........let's wait and see. :o)