It's 11am, you're in the CBD or a busy suburban strip, and there isn't a park within 200 metres of the building you need to deliver to. Every loading zone is taken, there's no driveway to pull into, and the street is packed. This is one of the most common daily challenges for urban delivery drivers — and getting it wrong means either a parking fine or a confrontation with another motorist. Here's how experienced drivers handle it.
Know Your Loading Zone Rights
Loading zones are specifically designed for vehicles loading or unloading goods — which is exactly what you're doing. In most Australian cities, commercial vehicles (including delivery vans) can use loading zones for the time indicated on the sign, typically 15–30 minutes. According to Brisbane City Council parking information, you need to be actively loading or unloading while in the zone.
The key word is "actively." You can't park in a loading zone and go have lunch. But you absolutely can park there while carrying parcels into a building, even if it takes 10 minutes to get through a lobby, up a lift, and back. Keep your hazard lights on and make sure the van is clearly identifiable as a commercial delivery vehicle.
If you're driving an unmarked van, keep your company ID, manifest, or delivery documentation visible on the dash. Parking inspectors are more likely to give you the benefit of the doubt if it's obvious you're working.
Alternative Strategies
Plan ahead. If you know a particular building is always hard to park near, schedule it for early morning or mid-afternoon when parking pressure is lower. Avoid the 9–11am and 3–5pm peaks if you can.
Use side streets. The front of the building might be packed, but there's often a side street or back lane with parking within a 1–2 minute walk. Yes, it's further to carry — but it's free, legal, and stress-free.
Apartment buildings: Many apartment complexes have a loading dock or delivery area accessible from a back lane or basement. Check the building directory or ask the concierge. These areas are specifically for deliveries and often have dedicated parking.
Use a trolley. If you regularly deliver to hard-to-park areas, a hand trolley lets you park once and wheel multiple parcels from further away. It's faster than doing three separate stops looking for parking each time.