Trucking It!
It was just under two years ago now, that I sat the theory test to get my class 2 heavy transport license. The HT road code was full of loading, restraining, vehicle size and log book information that wouldn’t affect me while working in the film industry.
There was, however, a small detail that has proven to be quite troublesome: “Heavy motor vehicles and vehicles fitted with a flat deck or tray for carrying goods that are parked on the street at night must display a rear-facing red light that is on the side of the vehicle closest to the center of the road and is visible at a distance of 100 meters.”
I first encountered a problem with this requirement when I parked a truck outside St Lukes shopping centre after daylight hours and could not locate a switch for the red light. I parked the truck on a well-lit part of the street, only to return to find a $150 parking fine waiting for me.
I brought this up with the production manager, who had never heard of such a fine before and assumed that the rental company was at fault – the truck was not fitted with a red ‘marker’ light.
This is a bit of a grey area, but information from a rental company has confirmed what I later found in the HT road code:
There is no legal requirement for a permanent night-light to be fitted to the rear of a truck (some rental companies do have them, but most do not). However, if the vehicle is parked on the road, then it is the driver’s responsibility that it complies with NZTA legal parking requirements and has a night light on.
The easiest solution I have found for this is to attach a battery-powered red bike light, although, these eat through batteries when left on for long periods of time (like overnight) and are understandably temperamental when out in the rain.
I’ve learnt my lesson and now request trucks fitted with a permanent light before the production manager/producer makes a booking with a rental company. If they don’t have any available with a marker light, then we hire from elsewhere.
Michael Williams, art and props
