Hauliers fight overnight charges at service stops
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• Hauliers have slammed the widespread imposition of overnight charges at roadside service stations following their deregulation by the Department of Transport last year.
Despite promises to the contrary, any organisation now running a service station is bound to provide free parking to drivers of LGVs only for the first two hours of their stay.
The problem is highlighted by owner-driver Barry Geekie who pulled into Coates Gate Service area on the M74 in Scotland on Monday 16 January when he ran out of permitted driving hours. Two hours into his sleep, at midnight, he was woken by a member of the site's staff and a £.5 overnight parking fee was demanded. Geekie refused saying he had nevi.' had to pay before and explained he could not move on as he hod run out of driving hours.
The police were called and again he explained he couldn't move the vehicle—at one stage it was even suggested he should be towed away. But another site was not offered and he was left alone for the rest of the night.