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More than 200 trucks were turned away from Ashford Truckstop in Kent on October 31 because of a lack of spaces, as drivers sought somewhere to park to avoid potential fines. Ashford Truckstop’s general manager, Darren Smith, said: “By 18.30 we had received over 90 reservations – usually around 20-30 by the end of the night. By 19.30pm we had …

New rules on where drivers can take their full weekly rest breaks in their cabs, which come in on 1 November, could unfairly criminalise them, according to the Road Haulage Association. From 1 November, drivers must take their full weekly rest breaks in cabs in formal rest areas – such as service areas and truckstops. Those who take their weekly …

A Bulgarian driver has seen off the challenge of drivers from 28 other countries to win the Renault Trucks International Optifuel Challenge. Plamen Ivanov, a driver and manager of the Bulgarian company Sunny Co, took the title, with Romanian Adrian Ţintea second and Jochen Becker from Luxembourg taking third place. Britain’s representative at the final, which was held in Toledo …

A Kent-based MP has urged the government to reach a settlement with residents and businesses near to the site of a planned lorry park off the M20 before it goes to a judicial review to ensure that building of it can get underway. Speaking in Parliament yesterday [October 25] Damian Collins, MP for Folkestone and Hythe MP, called on the …

A scheme that uses smart road signs with the aim of reducing the disproportionate number of HGV accidents on the A75 through Dumfries and Galloway has scooped the Road Safety Scheme of the Year award at the Highways Awards. Scotland TranServ, alongside Transport Scotland, Clearview Intelligence and Coeval lifted the prize at the Lancaster Hotel in London for their Vehicle …

Drivers of trucks that do not comply with the Euro IV exhaust standard must pay an additional £10 – on top of the regular £200 to enter London’s Low Emission Zone – to enter certain parts of London from today. The T-Charge applies to all vehicles that do not conform to Euro IV standards – most vehicles produced before 2006 …

People who cause death by dangerous driving and drivers who kill while under the influence of drink or drugs could face life sentences under new plans unveiled by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The MoJ announced that drivers who cause death by speeding, racing, or using a mobile phone could face sentences equivalent to manslaughter, with maximum penalties raised from …

The government must engage urgently with the haulage industry to avoid border and customs chaos after Brexit, according to the Road Haulage Association (RHA). Speaking at a panel discussion titled ‘Brexit – Ready on Day One” at the House of Commons and hosted by MP for Dover, Charlie Elphicke, RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said that the industry hasn’t had …

International development organisation Transaid has received its biggest single donation in more than a decade from Volvo Trucks – £67,080 – that will help it to expand its current and future road safety projects in Africa. The donation came following an auction at Volvo UK’s 50th anniversary gala dinner which saw a top-of-the-range limited edition Ailsa gold FH16-750 auctioned for …

Drivers will still be able to take their weekly rest breaks at official truck stops without risking a fine from November, the DVSA has said. The DVSA issued the clarification to the Road Haulage Association (RHA), after the latter expressed concern that fines could be imposed after a rest weekly rest was taken even in a truck stop or motorway …