NSW truckstops

There are almost seven hundred truck stops around NSW,including heavy and light vehicle rest areas and load checking areas. These areindicated on the RMS diagram, where the green icons represent rest areas andthe pink, load checking areas.

When driving long distances, it s important to plan yourbreaks beforehand, as it may be long periods of time in between stop areas. TheRMS website allows truckers to tailor their stops using an interactive map,which can be found here http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/usingroads/restareasmap/index.html.This easy-to-use tool requires you to enter your origin and destination, selectif you need rest areas and/or load checks, as well as any other facilities, andit will identify appropriate truck stops on your route.

Often, you will find truck stops with food facilities, suchas a fast food chains or cafes. There will also be adequate parking availablefor long vehicles and refueling facilities. There are also 24-hour truck stopsfor overnight drivers, however not all sites are, so please check prior to yourjourney.

The RMS has adopted a spacing parameter where major heavyvehicle stops must be provided approximately every 100km. If the distanceexceeds 100km, a gap is identified and actions outlined by RMS on how toaddress these gaps includes; upgrade rest areas to major rest areas, enhancecommercial service stations, establish or expand heavy vehicle facilitiesaround rural towns, and construct new major heavy vehicle rest areas.

While improvements are being made to truck stops around NSW,remember to plan your breaks and give your body and mind a rest. Taking the timeto stop is a more efficient and safe approach to long distance drives. Always stop, revive, survive.