LORRIES IN MIDDLE LANE

[BrianStAlbans]

Going slightly of track, has anyone else come across the idiots who speed up as you try to overtake.They seem quite happy travelling at 55 but when you get along side them they feel the need to match your speed.

I'm quite happy following lorries but tend to do most of my overtaking going up hills as my outfit will maintain speed when the lorry starts to struggle.

 

[colin(bridgend)]

Here I go again - in my opinion the obvious answer would be to put all the long distance freight back onto the railways and have distribution centres set up (marshelling yards) and the goods then delivered over short distances by lighter lorries thereby getting rid of the 44 ton artics and thereby helping to preserve the environment,less damage to the highway and possibly less accidents.

This would not be agreed though because of the financial investment the politidians have in road transport - eg Marples being the minister for transport and Earnest Marples being the contractor that built the M1. This conflict of interest is still going on in present day government.

HGV drivers are generally a very considerate bunch of lads with a few spoiling it for the majority - a major supermarket chain of drivers in south Wales are a typical example of poor driving by HGV drivers.

 

[BrianStAlbans]

Sounds good on paper Colin and they are trying to build one in Radlett not far from my home . The council looks like rejecting it on the grounds that they predict a potential 6000 traffic movements PER DAY from the site onto local roads that if there is a minor shunt on the M25 become totally gridlocked.

 

[colin(bridgend)]

The Ford factory in Bridgend had its own rail link constructed when the factory was built - all goods both in and out travel by rail and the trains run at night in order not to inconvenience passenger traffic and the level crossing over the A48 trunk road.

British Steel (Corus) had a large marshelling yard at Margam which was used for all freight in and out of the steel works. Now instead of a train of approx. 30 trucks each carrying 3 coils of sheet stell there are numerous lorries coming out of the works day and night each carrying one coil of steel.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

The Ford factory in Bridgend had its own rail link constructed when the factory was built - all goods both in and out travel by rail and the trains run at night in order not to inconvenience passenger traffic and the level crossing over the A48 trunk road.

British Steel (Corus) had a large marshelling yard at Margam which was used for all freight in and out of the steel works. Now instead of a train of approx. 30 trucks each carrying 3 coils of sheet stell there are numerous lorries coming out of the works day and night each carrying one coil of steel.

I'll vouch for what Colin says because those trains used to come through Hereford on their way to I believe the rolling mills at Brymbo (or somewhere in that area). Now we have 90 lorries driving up the A49 in place of one train . Totally senseless when the rail infrastructure is already in place.

 

[Vic_5039745]

I feel bound to say that in my experience, lorry drivers are on the whole a pretty decent bunch to have to deal with while on the road with my caravan. My main grumble lies with other caravanners and motorhome drivers who stubbornly refuse to get a move on even when the road in front of them is completely empty.

In closing, all the time the great British public demand weekend and in particular Sunday opening of DIY stores and supermarkets, artics, and a varied assortment of other commercial vehicles will be ever present on our motorways.

I'm really not bothered by them and I thought that the original letter published in the magazine was a bit extreme in its tone.

Cheers!

Vic

 

[marc_5134223]

Hi to all, as an HGV driver and caravaner myself I understand what all of you are saying I find most wagon drivers ok with a few exceptions mainly ones from over the water, most caravaners are ok I flash anyone in who goes past me if they are going slow enough to get a signal from me (the company car drivers dont seem to need a signal they just stay in what ever lane they want) and most signal back to say thanks. 7.5t will be limited to a degree anything over 3.5t and built after a certain date and with a certain type of engine (euro 3 or above) will have to have the limiter activated on their vehicles (they are factory fitted but have to be switched on)

not shaw what sort of time line there is to have this done but it has started to happen already.

We are not to bad you know as said on another post there are bad eggs driving all types of veichles bikes, cars, vans, hgv and caravans but we are not all the same.

marc

 

[ClaireDavid]

I have to say, that I never really used to pay much attention to HGV drivers. They were there and did a job. But since we got our first van last year, It struck me just how curteous these drivers actually are... If we are towing, and are overtaking, its amazing just how many of these drivers give you a flash to let you know that you have cleared and have enough space to pull in in fron of them.

Compare that to the all too familiar speeding standad driver who will cut you up, under-estmate the length of your outfit and begin pulling in before they have even go past you, and have this strange almost possessed look on their face as they grimmace determined that they will not be overtaken by a caravan! Oh for shame!!!

Too many people get so absorbed into trying to get somewhere as fast as they can, that they forget that they are supposed to be going away to relax!

 

[will2]

I fully agree with your post

 

[hgv dave]

in reply to denis.....yes hgv,s from the r.o.i do not have speed limiters fitted.i have a friend who use to work for a haulage firm based in the r.o.i and he use to run to europe from the r.o.i and he told me his boss told him to ignore the hours rules in the uk because the police would never prosecute because of the paperwork involved,the police would just make them park up and have there rest and let them carry on,but he was told to obey the law when he got on the continent.now about the topic of putting more freight onto rail,the idea is sound but one major factor.....cost!...it is far more cheaper to move goods,food around the country by road than it is by rail,also the railway network could not handle even a 10% increase in frieght because it has not got the rolling stock to handle it and would have to invest in more.....cost again!!! also the rail network in this country is geared up for passenger transport not freight so any increase in freight would mean delays to passengers and i dont think that would go down too well with the genral public!....as for the coments about lane discipline......ive lost count of the caravans ive seen in the third lane of a motorway doing a damm site more than 60mph.im sorry to rant but as a hgv driver and caravanner i do the most that i can while working to help fellow caravanners and im tired of being put down for just doing my job.

 

[marc_5134223]

Freight on the railways, it is starting to take off. Stobart have a daily goods train going upto scotland looks very nice new wagons and a nice paint job too, on the side of every wagon it goes on about less CO2 than the lorrys on the road...

 

[hgv dave]

stobart using trains.the train is used mostly for his tesco contract,tesco have a big depot at crick and sends up freight to scotland on it.but when it arrives at the railhead how does it get to the stores?............by road...ok i can see what you are saying about co2 but what about the hgvs that deliver goods into the crick depot from the producer of the goods.i have taken soft drinks from a factory in bradford down to crick so some of that load can go on a train up to scotland.what it comes down to is money,it is still cheaper to send goods by road.