Charging My EV in a Charging Bay. Parked in by Truck Driver, Asked Him to Move. AITA?

Had to do a quick round trip to Sydney over the weekend (about a 500km round trip). Needless to say, I had to top off the EV in Sydney for the return journey. Pulled into the Seven Hills DC fast charger, plugged in and went for lunch.

Upon returning to my vehicle some 30 mins later, I saw that I was parked in by a garbage truck (and I mean "really" parked in, like cant go forward or backwards). I asked the guy "mate, how long you going to be?", and he didn't answer… I gave it another minute or two and asked again, "Hey, mate. Can I just get you to move forward a bit so I can get my car out???" Driver didn't even glance sideways… Waited another 2 or so mins and asked again "Mate, just how long are you going to be?" and he just went about his work, ignoring me the whole time. In this time, a Polestar also turned up to charge, but saw the truck there. Waited 5 mins and left as well.

After about 15+ mins, the driver finally got back in his truck and backed it up about 10 meters and I could finally get out.

I posted these photos and explained about the incident on a dedicated forum to the scolding and laughing at drivers who ICEhole or otherwise block EV parking bays. Much to my surprise, everyone (bar about 2 people) said I should pull my head in and that the guy was "only doing his job" and that I need to "get a life" and that "15 mins isnt going to kill you" to being told "was your leaving based on you needing to attend hospital???"

So, am I the a#%ehole? for asking this guy to move his truck?
Is 15 mins for someone to do their job "reasonable time to wait"?
Was I not the a$&ehole, and it was reasonable for me to want to leave on my time schedule?
What would you have done? Just waited it out, called the bikies, or chucked a "Karen"?
Is parking over an EV charging bay ok, but across a driveway at the local servo blocking access to the fuel pumps not ok?

Some photos and the obligatory MSPaint diagram…
Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3

MS Paint depiction
Google map satellite image with overlay of scale outline of truck and where truck was parked and where they could have parked that hindered nobody.

Poll Options

  • 52
    You ARE the a-hole. Guy is just doing his job.
  • 974
    You're NOT the a-hole, but damn that truck driver is.
  • 34
    Meh, neither here nor there, it's only 15 mins.
  • 13
    Bikies... This definitely required bikies...

Comments

            • @[Deactivated]: Fairly obvious if you looked at the diagram.

              https://imgur.io/xVbX0HF

              • @us3rnam3tak3n: I did. This is just foolish arguing to try and justify one selfish person, but:

                a) The top green spot is out for a start. Truck guy would be walking across traffic pushing bins a longer distance in both directions thus doubling his stay time, therefore getting less work done per day as well as getting in the way of and annoying more than just one car. And that's assuming the road is one way. If it's bi-directional that spot would be even worse. Cars parked where the EV is could reverse into his truck because many people avoid reversing once their driving test is done. So they never keep their reversing skills sharp, and when they have no choice but to reverse, they can't judge distances correctly and smash into things. That's not the truck guy's fault, but it means he has to arrange a tow truck, get bawled out by his boss, arrange another truck to complete the run, the truck is at the smash repairs for a week, etc.

                So incoming cars would now have to watch the EV parks in case some nitwit reverses out who is too busy concentrating on not reversing into the truck. They'd also have to worry about anything that could appear suddenly from behind the truck.

                Unless the drawing is implying he wants the truck to face the other way which is even more ridiculous, positioning the rear of the truck the farthest possible distance from the bins. But that wouldn't surprise me as I said before, given the OP is only thinking about himself in every instance, not anyone else. Not the truck driver, not other traffic, not foot traffic, not the other businesses who won't get their bins emptied today, etc.

                The truck driver has parked in the best spot that allows moving traffic to see each other clearly without obstruction or nasty surprises like a kid or a cyclist appearing from behind it.

                b) The spot to the right is also stupid. He's either going to have to walk the length of his own truck for every bin AND drive against traffic from the wrong side of the road when leaving, or, he's forcing the greatest amount of incoming traffic to negotiate around him (because that incoming flow would would split just AFTER the truck - part going to the right, part going to the left). That should happen BEFORE incoming traffic reaches a huge object like a garbage truck - not before.

                c) He parked in the only sensible spot and direction - to the left, with the rear of the truck closest to the bins, while at the same facing in the same direction he has to drive off in later (which by the way is legal, while facing the opposite way to traffic flow is illegal). Plus he has cleared the view so moving traffic facing each other can clearly see everyone else.

                He has made it SAFE for dozens of passing cars by inconveniencing the PATIENCE of just one delicate petal for a few minutes, which 9 times out of 10 he's probably done and gone before EV guy has finished charging anyway.

                • @[Deactivated]: Some fair points. OP was still far more patient than I would have been in the circumstances. Having someone completely ignore a simple question would have got me fired up. Maybe I'm the Karen.

                  • +1

                    @us3rnam3tak3n: Oh I see… Yeah look, it might annoy me inside too. But my next thought would be why bother the guy… I can see he's actively collecting the bins, he didn't know my car would be done charging right after he stopped or when I'd return to it, so he'll be gone soon. So I'll just sit and listen to music for a while rather than delay him even longer with a discussion that could start an argument resulting in both of us yelling at each other. Maybe in my 20s when the world revolved around me I would have acted differently though.

                    There are times to hassle people and I don't think a guy actively doing his job to get out of there asap, who has done the same thing many times a day, who knows he's going to get complaints no matter what he does, and has a mental map of the best way to service each site in order to offend the least number of people to keep his job… should just be left alone to do it. Particularly as none of us have never made a stupid car related mistake that got up someone else's nose.

                    Had he parked, went inside the store, could be seen through the window wandering up and down the aisles pausing to look at random stuff on the shelves… that would be a different story.

        • Yet another bad take.

          • @ihfree: Yes, having a little patience and commonsense today is absolutely a "bad take" whatever was I thinking, lol

  • +36

    I'm astounded some of the responses are defending the truck driver.

    It's the same "don't make a scene" attitude that taints Australian culture right from getting the incorrect meal at a restaurant to letting big businesses walk all over you.

    Don't make a scene, just sit there like good little lemmings and don't ever complain about anything.

    • +14

      This is what blew me away… people are backing the truck driver…

      Flip the script and park this truck in someone's driveway while it collects all the bins from the street, or across the car pack entrance to an apartment block while they run all the bins out of the bin store and people lose their minds… Across an EV charging bay with someone wanting to leave and it's "oh, get a life champ, the guy's just doing his job…"

        • +16

          Imagine typing all that out without even addressing the lack of communication from the truck driver - which is the main issue.

          • -5

            @I like freestuff: I did address it in another post here. I'm not going to think of every possible point every person here wants to read, nor that they are dumb so won't read other comments. But in summary, the truck driver may have been directed by his company not to react or even communicate on this subject because no answer is going to satisfy such a Karen-type person, only possibly produce a more negative reaction - so since he'll be gone in a few minutes anyway what's the point of moving OR starting a deeper argument. The fact people can't agree here proves it would be pointless there too.

            Oh and I have a high typing speed. So what seems a lot of text to you, is the same amount of typing time for a hunt-and-peck or finger-on-phone-screen person.

        • +7

          What a long rant, the truck could have repositioned in the time you typed out that nonsense. Get a grip.

          • -3

            @TightAl: It was more useful/productive than yours.

  • +1

    Bloody Volvo drivers.

  • Guys a (profanity) - I'd complain

  • Park or stop within 20m before, or 10m after, a pedestrian crossing (unless there are signs telling you different).

    Park or stop on a road in a way that blocks access to a path or driveway unless:

    you drive a bus and are dropping off or picking up passengers
    you are dropping off or picking up passengers within 2 minutes of stopping
    you park in a parking bay
    you do not leave the vehicle unattended.
    

    Could have got 2 fines minimum if you called the police.

    • +1

      private area doesn't apply and no cop is going to come

      • Nice so do all your practice burn outs in car parks and then visit your EX.

        • noise pollution and trespassing is something else

          the land owner can also invite police to issue infringements but in this instance the cops won't come as it's very short term. Example would be if there was a private carpark and someone parks in a disable spot. They can invite police to issue a fine or in some places they have private roads and get police to install cameras for speeding fines, sometimes the land owner split the profits with the government

          not saying your example won't work but no private business owner is going to invite cops for something that minimal

      • +4

        All road rules apply to publicly accessible parking areas regardless of them being on private property. Getting a cop to actually do their job however…..

        • to a certain extent yes

          e.g. if you are in a private area you can drive unregistered but require CTP as long as you don't go outside that area

          not siding with anyone

      • +6

        private area doesn't apply

        It’s not a “private area”, it would be regarded as a “road related area” and 100% road rules apply here.

        The law broken here is blocking access to an EV charging bay. Road Rule 203C, and it is a $120 to $2,200 fine for parking there, on private property or not.

        But you are right about the coppers not giving a shit, hence the reason I didn’t bother calling them.

  • +4

    The most important question, have you debadged the "build your dreams" lettering on the back? Apart from that they look quite neat.

    • +4
      • +6

        It’s even in the main post… here. It was literally one of the first things I did when I got the car.

        Edit:

        LOL @ the random negs in this thread…

        • Was it easy removing the letters? You did such a clean job of it

          • @cloudy: Very easy. About 30 mins work.

            • @pegaxs: Maybe you could rearrange the letters to spell something else.

  • I posted these photos and explained about the incident on a dedicated forum to the scolding and laughing at drivers who ICEhole or otherwise block EV parking bays

    Which forum did you post this originally? Garbage truck drivers united?

    • probably Whirlpool usually

      • +1

        Lol… (fropanity) Whingepool… it was a Fartbook group.

        • exactly the perfect place

  • +7

    You wouldn’t be a jerk asking someone to move for you in a regular carpark, what’s the difference if you’ve been charging or not. He’s got no right to block you in. If he had at least replied and told you I’ll only be a minute that’s at least a decent response. Many people are understanding and can negotiate a reasonable outcome but that requires communication

    Ring and complain to clean away.

  • +13

    I'm going to go against the grain, and say you are an ahole. You gave that guy way too much leeway. After it was clear he was a (profanity) you should have started recording him with your phone. Then make a report and attach the video to everyone who might care: The garbage company, the company that owns the EV chargers, the centre manager etc. Leave a review on google. Would it achieve anything? Probably not, but you never know. It might tip the balance.

    • +4

      Not gonna lie, you had me in the first half… :D

    • +1

      It would definitely achieve something. That arsehole will most certainly hear about it from his boss even if he doesn’t get in trouble, he is very unlikely to do it again to someone else.

  • +3

    Damn, that's one impressive Paint depiction.

    You're not an a-hole, but you are a talented MSPainter!

  • +1

    I think it depends on the voice inflection you used when you asked him and also on the environment. Was it noisy? Did he have earmuffs on? From your post, you did not put yourself in his line of sight.

    After moving to his line of vision I would have asked 'Hey mate?' a few times until he acknowledged me (while trying to make eye contact). And then asked how long he was going to be mentioning that I was charging. Regardless of his answer, I would tell him 'Thanks. I'll come back later'. And then I would leave and come back later.
    (If he gave no answer and ignored me I would have been annoyed but then I would have left and come back later.

    [mmmm, after reading my answer above perhaps it makes more sense not to engage the garbo at all; but just to come back later]

    • Instead of

      "mate, how long you going to be?"

      I would say, "Hey, would you mind moving your truck for a bit, so I can sneak out?"

      • I wouldn't ask him a question until I got his attention.

        Not me. I wouldn't ask him that. I can see he has a job to do and isn't just parked there. If I asked him a question it would be about how long so I can work out if I should get a coffee or 3-course meal.

  • +6

    Old mate probably just has a shit on with the world and enjoys ruining other peoples days. Driving an EV is probably looked at by mouth breathers with the same distain as they view being a cyclist, people will go out of their way to be a dick and show you zero sympathy if you complain.

    • +2

      Imagine hating on someone because of the car they drive.

  • -1

    Get him fired mate.

    Track his employer and complain. Then call up the regulator and complain about the company.

    Make a mountain out of the mole hill till someone compensates you.

    • +5

      I don’t want the guy fired, I just want education that they simply just can’t park like that and block anyone in, regardless if it’s at an EV charger, or just someone parking to get lunch.

      And where was I asking for compensation??

      • I'm just saying. The only language some people understand is over escalating.

        It's that or be a door mat crying on online forums.

      • He wasn’t simply ‘parking like that’ he was doing his job.

        • +1

          From the Road Rules dictionary;

          park, in Part 12 and for a driver, includes stop and allow the driver’s vehicle to stay (whether or not the driver leaves the vehicle).

          To stop and allow the driver's vehicle to stay… It was "parked".

          • @pegaxs: He was parked doing his job. Not just simply parked.

            How do you expect him to do his job ?

            • +1

              @Eeples: By not blocking cars in. I even posted a link in the OP post to show at least 3 alternative parking spots he could have utilised.

              You don’t get to park people in and ignore them just because “doing a job”. (Unless you’re an emergency vehicle.)

            • +1

              @Eeples: Parked? Yes.

              Illegally, also yes. He was clearly parked on the road obstructing traffic.

  • -1

    Is he the a-hole for ignoring you? Yes. Is he an a-hole for blocking you in? No.

    Curious OP would you have taken it any other way if you asked him to move and he said no it'll just be 15 minutes or was the only answer you were expecting from him to be a "Yes". If that's the case then you'd be the (profanity) since he is just doing his job. Also different story if he just arrived and you were just about to leave, but it looks like old mate was already in the middle of his job.

    • +3

      Curious OP would you have taken it any other way if you asked him to move and he said no it'll just be 15 minutes

      No, that is fine, there was a Bunning across the road, coffee shops in the area. If I had have known it was going to be 15 mins, I would have left and come back. I just wanted to know. was it 2 mins, I'll just wait, or was it 15 mins, go away and come back?

      And on that note, why is his job more important than my freedom of movement? Why am I the arsehole just because I want to get on my way and get home? Moving his truck would have cost him 60 seconds at most, it cost me 15 extra minutes.

      it looks like old mate was already in the middle of his job.

      He wasn't in the middle of his job, he was loading the first bin as I arrived. I initially thought since I asked him,. he would just do the first bin, put it back and move the truck… He didnt… he proceeded to do the remaining 7~9 bins… but yeah, I'm the arsehole for just wanting to go home.

      • Yes, the garbo should have told you how long upon your pleasant enquiry.

        That would have informed your return time.

      • Ok in that case he is the a-hole for not informing you how long it will take. But I would chalk it up to being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Had you left a bit earlier you would've been gone had you stayed a bit he would've been done. You might see it as an easy move forward a few metres but to him it could be a big inconvenience maybe having to lift the hydraulics, put on the locks to the truck etc… Unless you've done his job you don't know how it works for him.

  • So how would you have reacted if he respond and say he'd be about 15 minutes?

    Clearly has issue with communication or just being polite but I couldn't help but notice in your little list you complained about your travel schedule, the time he took with his job or how he parked doing it, but nothing about the fact that he didn't say anything …

  • -2

    my thoughts

    1. this is why we can't have nice things
    2. this is why there will never be world peace

    OP is clearly very very upset by all this, and went to another forum only to be told

    everyone (bar about 2 people) said I should pull my head in and that the guy was "only doing his job" and that….

    but now that you've had everyone on OZB say that you're in the right, can you find your neutral middle and go about your life?

    • +1

      Hey… I always 100% come to OzBargain for my confirmation bias needs :)

      And I dont know about "very upset"… I would have used the words "mildly inconvenienced". I was more curious if this was something that the general public though was "acceptable behavior" or if it was only that particular group that was full of Cleanaway employees…

  • +1

    I would've jumped in my car and played Ludacris' Move Bitch really loudly on repeat.

  • +2

    This is what happens when a keyboard warrior meets a real street warrior

    Garbos are not hired for their people skills and due to your lack of experience with the working classes, you failed to persuade him to adjust his working schedule to accommodate you

    You were at the wrong place at the wrong time, accept it and move on

    Cross-shopping this experience across multiple forums as a form of virtual therapy should also make you feel better about yourself

  • pegaxs - "excuse me truck driver - you've parked me in , could you scoot forward/backward a few meters so I can get out?"
    garbo - "sure, just give me a minute to unload this bin"

    —-2 minutes later—-

    garbo moves.
    pegaxs - <waves> " thanks mate" and leaves.
    garbo then continues to do his job

    VS

    pegaxs - "excuse me truck driver - you've parked me in , could you scoot forward/backward a few meters so I can get out?"
    garbo - "get (profanity) (profanity)"

    yeah, pegaxs is the a-hole in the latter scenerio

    • +3

      Apparently I'm the arsehole in both…

      It went more like;

      pegaxs: "Scuze me mate? How long are you going to be?"
      Garbo: *cricket noises*
      *5 mins later meme.jpg*
      pegaxs: "Scuze me, mate? Can I just get you to move your truck forward so I can get out?"
      Garbo: *cricket noises intensifies*

      Seems some people here have never been parked in and had the driver near the offending vehicle totally ignore their requests… I just dont know what I could have done better… Apparently it was the fact I was driving an EV that was the issue.

      Maybe if I was driving a Ranger or some other penis extension, old mate would have been more accommodating. We could have just stood around circle jerking about how big our trucks were… :D

  • Walk around, take a video, show everything and post on youtube, the green against the green. (Recycling vs EV). Might have gone viral

  • +1

    Could you just get into the truck and move it yourself? I wonder if he would still ignore you..

  • -1

    He thought he was allowed to park there, given the shiny pile of trash that was already sitting there in the blue parks, just like his blue truck.
    It'd have been interesting how the interaction went down in person, maybe it came across too much like most EV drivers/owners do and that's why he thought nah you can wait.
    Maybe he's just a jerk.

    You've got a date, time and rego of the truck, complain to cleanaway if you're that upset.

  • +1

    Email the pictures to the company and call and lodge a complaint.

  • +1

    I wonder if the responses here would be different if this was an ICE car parked in a normal parking bay.

    Will people still support the truck driver?

    The fact that the truck driver didn't even acknowledge the OP shows arrogance.

    • +3

      depends how the OP spoke to them - we are only hearing the OP's POV

      if we heard the truck driver's opinion - he might have waited several minutes for the EV driver to appear - got p'd off waiting, so decided to go ahead to back up to the bins he needs to collect

      at which point woke EV driver appeared - by which time garbo was 'nuh - your turn to wait in the far queue'

  • -1

    my guess is the truck driver can't afford an EV and hates 'woke' people who think they're saving the planet

    were they wearing a MAGA hat - "Making Australia Garbage Again" ?

    • +3

      hates 'woke' people who think they're saving the planet

      Yeah, nah… ironically, you didn't read me say this the first time either…

    • I charge my electric scooter and other gadgets entirely off solar. Am I trying to save the planet? No. I'd save more in electricity than taking the excess batteries I have to a scrap dealer for cash.

  • +4

    Get Rego, call Cleanaway and report the driver. Report should go to his manager. You may get a call back from said manager if you're lucky.
    Alternatively you can request to speak to the Operations Manager and speak to them directly.

    No reason why he couldn't have pulled forward, let OP reverse & leave, and then reverse the garbo truck back to where he was originally.

    This guy shouldn't be an a-hole while representing a company.
    He can be an a-hole in his own time, eventually he will be an a-hole to the wrong person.

    • +2

      And should he move out of the way again so the next ev driver can get in to the charging space?

      •  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
        
      • +2

        Yes, because that is the law. Road Rule 203C. You can’t block EV charging bays.

        There was literally 3 other places the truck could have parked that hindered no body… ICE or EV.

  • Call the police. Probably just a loser jealous you have an EV.
    "You must be richer than him, you must have earned it via foul means, therefore you must be evil and deserve punishment"

    Aussies think they're laid back, not anymore, everyone is jealous of what others have.

  • People need to refer to South Park episode : Smug Alert!

    I see that the mother of all EV tornados forming in Australia…..EV have or die

    • +3

      If you are all bent out of shape over the EV part of this post, you are missing the point.

  • +2

    At least you're not stuck in a dead end job smelling garbage all day. No wonder he's a Kant

    • +2

      And with attitudes like yours towards people who provide essential services its little wonder he might have been fed up with clowns who want to berate them telling them how much better they are than him and make comments about his job.

  • +2

    He probably just hates his life something chronic. Forget about the keyboard warrior trolls. They hate their lives too.

  • Well, to the truck driver - see you next Tuesday.

    Petty small people.

  • +1

    I cant believe anyone who defends the truck driver. Who just ignores people who speaks to them :S

    Unless he has some kind of medical condition that ignores people I'm not aware of he is a A=hole. But in saying that, there's all sorts of people everywhere. The good the great and the dregs of society.

  • -4

    Those EVs take hours to charge anyway, so what's an extra 15 minutes, really?

    • +1

      I bet you don't pull over for emergency vehicles.

    • +1

      Lol. It’s a 350kW charger. My car charges at a max of 90ish kW… from 40% to 95% was about 40mins.

      Up to about 80~85%, it’s very fast, maybe 15 mins. After 85%, it slows from 90kW down to about 35kW.

      I only planned on charging to about 85%, more than enough to get home, or about a 25min charge… but because I was stuck there, I left it to charge up to 96%. The last 10% took over 15 mins.

      So, thanks for your ignorant comment that allowed me the chance to correct your inaccurate knowledge and misinformation.

    • -4

      I love how easy it is to trigger an EV driver <rofl>

      • +2

        Seems this thread triggered some ICE drivers as far as I see it… :D

      • People still use rofl? Lame.

        • +3

          People like dcash who have a meltdown when they see the word "EV".

  • +4

    If you didn't have an EV people wouldn't be supporting the truck driver as much as they do. I've had people see my EV (not realising I'm the owner nearby) and saying they're going to box it in.

    Degenerates.

    • Not gonna lie, it's crap like this that makes me glad I ordered an EV that uses the ICE shell (though obviously an EV if you look at the front, at a glance it's just a mini SUV). Get all the benefits of an EV but hopefully less of the casual dickheadery.

      • In the tiny EV market we enjoy right now, that must surely be an MG ZS EV?
        The front end and lack of muffler tip are dead giveaways.

        • +1

          Yep, but I guess a Kona or a few others would have a similar benefit- Anyone out looking for an EV to have a go at will find them (as we said, front is a dead giveaway), but I (hope) a lower chance of a rando keying them in the carpark among the 20 other ZSs, while Telsa, probably the MG 4 and some of Nissan's Tron-Chic line are neon signs.

          Eh, just some worry about a tiny chance of (profanity), really

          • +1

            @seannami: It's a sad indictment on a country that we are this way. The UK isn't, and most of the US isn't either. I reckon we're taking a cue from the worst of Amerika. But it's not a problem until it's a crisis, and it won't be that until there's a critical mass of people affected.

            Seems the only way to stand a chance of avoiding ICEholing is to convert an old car, but leave it looking as ICE as possible.
            Delete exhaust system, keep "just the tip".
            Lots of hidden speakers for engine sounds.
            Non-aero wheel covers and non-eco tyres.

            Is this what we're being reduced to? The lowest common denominator?

            • @Speckled Jim: There are knobs everywhere, we just hear about it more I'm afraid

  • I want to read the whole truth of this tale of woe.
    The missing bits.
    Or if not can we have another poll option?

    Both are AHs

  • Something similar happened to once at Rockdale Bunnings. The truckie blocked me in and acted like i was being unreasonable that i wanted to leave.

  • +1

    I think 289 users are missing the answer to this riddle.

    "Bikies… This definitely required bikies…" The votes should be here.

    If OP had a unopened pack of bikies he could have just got into his EV sat down and started munching on those delicious bikies before even realizing a truck was even there.
    By the time they had finished munching them deliciously and found the nearby rubbish bin and come back, the truck would have already been gone!

    No fingering of a#%*$hole required!

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