Here we go again, was Wes Walker’s immediate reaction to his latest runaround from authorities.
Walker had hit the phones looking for answers as to why a red Chery hatchback had been left abandoned in a truckies’ rest area just north of Nanango on the Burnett Highway in Queensland for the last three weeks.
“No one wants anything to do with it,” said a fuming truckies’ advocate, best known for his successful campaigning to get truckies toilets at the Gatton pads 145km to the south.
“The police pulled in to take the number plates off but said it wasn’t their problem. An unwarranted and unregistered car has been left in a truckies’ rest area, but no one wants to put their hand up and say it’s their responsibility.
“And who loses out again? The truck driver, that’s who.”
Even without the latest impediment to truckies’ fatigue management, Walker says the site was woefully inadequate with only enough space for a B-double.
“Now, if a B-double goes in there and another car goes into park, the truck driver is not going to be able to get out.”
Big Rigs has approached the Department of Transport and Main Roads for comment.
For Walker, the abandoned car is another slap in the face for truckies who he says are being short-changed along this stretch of highway.
Earlier this month, he highlighted the glaring gap between the quality of the heavy vehicle inspection areas near Nanango, which had a 30 minute parking limit for truckies, and the crumbling rest area alternatives nearby.
Update: October 26, 11am
A TMR spokesperson told us that the department is responsible for removing abandoned vehicles from within the state-controlled road corridor.
“The abandoned vehicle within the rest area near Nanango is expected to be removed within the next week, subject to competing road safety priorities,” the spokesperson said.