Thanks to a story published online and in the February 14 edition of Big Rigs, a new policy has been put in place for truck drivers requiring the use of showers at 16 BP service stations across Melbourne.
Earlier in February, MC licenced interstate truckie Katie Watson contacted Big Rigs after an incident at the BP service station in Scoresby, on Victoria’s EastLink.
She had parked her truck at the nearby depot and then drove to BP Scoresby in her car, where she showed her truck licence and asked for a shower key. Her request was however denied.
This was brought to the attention of AA Holdings Pty Ltd, the BP dealer group that owns 16 BP truck stops across Melbourne – including the two Eastlink service centres.
A spokesperson for AA Holdings contacted Big Rigs to advise that after hearing Watson’s story, an updated shower policy was put into place at all of its sites.
“After investigating we can assure the driver that there was a policy in place that all truck drivers who are accompanied with trucks can use the showers. This policy was put in place so it was exclusive to truck drivers without any exceptions due to public abuse by people who were using the showers and inconveniencing truck drivers who were legitimately driving trucks,” the spokesperson said.
“In assessing what occurred we realised that truck drivers, between driving shifts and/or regulated fatigue breaks, could come to our site with their personal cars and want to use the showers. This situation had not been previously realised by management.
“We now have changed the old policy to a new policy and have informed all our teams at our freeway centres of regulated fatigue breaks and/or between driving shifts which may mean that the driver does not have to come with their truck to ask to use the showers.”
AA Holdings said that if a truck driver arrives at one of their service stations in a car, they can show their truck licence and be given shower access.
The company also reached out to Watson to apologise for the incident and thanked her for making them aware of the issue.
Watson says she’s thrilled with the outcome, “They called and said thank you for bringing the issue to their attention and advised why the policy was originally put into place.”
Commenting on the new policy, Watson added, “This is a win and I didn’t expect it. I’m really happy with the result.”
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