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Hi all,
Thought if anybody would know the answer to my question it would be the trampers.
At the moment I am covering the yard at my place and shunting.
Forgetting the WTD of 60 hours (I can POA that) is there a maximum shift duty time for a week?
It’s looking like I’m going to be hitting close to 70 hours over 6 days and I am still under tachograph rules not a casual worker so they require me to do manual entry everyday.
TIA

Back on topic. If you’re in the yard then neither EU or domestic rules apply. Clearly youre doing daily records so that should you have to go out driving you will readily have your 28 days records.
Presumably you know what to do should you start driving again.

No offence if you've broken down. Do print out now write on back reason your over. Then if you have yo move to get to safe parking do a print out when you get there write on the back reason again. Don't stress about it sometimes sh**e happens. No one will hang you for a breakdown as long as its recorded on printouts.

💯 dvsa look for patterns of infringements.

Indeed they do.

As far as agencies are concerned they will get paid regardless of whether you actually work, you just have to turn up at the specified time. If you refuse to drive due to the vehicle not being roadworthy tell the customer and let the agency know asap as they should pressure the company to sort things out for you as well. If agency sides with customer and insists that you take out an unsafe vehicle find a new agency!

And one more thing, I can guess, tacho can start counting each day starting from your first day of the week, so question is what time did you start your week?

It doesn't make sense, you've got diferite companies to deliver some open late some open early,some are 24/7 open. You cannot start every day the same. I've started my week 4.45 but today I have collection at 9, what I'm supposed to do, to start 4.45 because the TachoMaster wants it. The f**king AI is already doing more harm than good.

No it doesn’t just because you start at three Monday doesn’t mean you have to start everyday at three.

I know it, just I can guess what tachomaster do count like that.

Leave keys with person in charge. Taxi to the hotel, 9 hours in the hotel, taxi back. All receipts as expenses on arrival back to depot.

With no overnight bag no sod that.

You can always buy basic things you need any supermarket on the way to the hotel and put as expenses also. No need to be overdefensive if the things went wrong. Other thing is company attitude to that. If management is not approachable better to look for another job ASAP.

Oops wrong tread. 🙈

If DVSA were really serious about RBTs, they would have scrapped the format of the reports long ago. How can they be serious when the bottom results on the report are less than the legal minimum yet still show as a pass?

Operator has a licence for 3 vehicles, is the wording correct with Extra 3? Or does it need to be specifically 6. I have emailed them and they corrected to extra 6, now extra 3 but doesn't say total number. 🙄

Can anyone recommend a taco card download reader & software to keep freelance drivers legal with card downloads if they work for various companies & can’t always get to a company office within 28 days & the taco head doesn’t automatically download.

How can you not download before you leave the operator?
And do so consistently on several occasions.

When you applied for your O licence you should applied for more vehicles than you operate or known as vehicles in the Margin which allows you to bring in trucks as and when needed.

We only wanted to run 2 trucks but we have been approached we turned the work away but they want to use us.

Apply for a variation on VOLS and interim authorisation. You'll need to supply a copy of a newspaper ad and proof of financial standing.

It keeps amazing me when people take the TM exam without having the foresite to wonder what they will do with it later. How can they cope with being a TM when they can’t manage and plan their own life🙈

3 hours continuous rest within the day then it’s 15.

The OP asks about a split daily rest. If 12hrs of the 24hr period is rest, how can the answer be 15hrs of “all activities” for the rest of the shift?

If they compete to win a prize then it’s for hire or reward?

Not according to the regs it's not. The official line is that any income must not exceed the cost of competing. A trophy or rosette has no financial value.

Hi guys, not used my international cpc for over 15 years is it still valid or do I have to upgrade it?

Taken by when there were two exams, be honest with yourself and the client Resit the whole thing after such a lapse, anything else puts you and them at risk.
A 2day refresher won’t cover the last 15 years of changes🙈

Why would anyone consider sending a vehicle out on the road that is even close to being overweight, or you think it might be, forget tolerances, be a good TM and make sure it's not overweight when it leaves the operators yard! If you are unsure, check, check again and then check again! That's what you get paid for.

Surely no one will consider sending a vehicle out on the road overweight however what is one supposed to do if the load gets wet for example? That will add weight. Now, obviously the way you look into securing your load you also make sure it’s covered adequately however things do happen and I think that is when at the discretion of the inspector tolerance is used.

Why try to make the job more difficult for a driver?

I’d agree. This is one of those things admin want recorded, but often don’t make it easy or could make it easier to get the info they want.
The guide talks about monitor, it’s not down to the last millilitre🙈. But then again, it’s not unknown for compsnyvadblue to find its way into the employees cars !!!

We also had a issue where the programme on computer said 30 before 6 hours.

I have this on my tacho head for some reason but ignore it and generally have a 15 early into the day.

PRS usually means “do a better pre-test preparation”

I recently passed my TM CPC - did it with enterprise and they were great! Did a week of home study first then did the 7 day online intensive course and passed first time! Would definitely recommend! You need to put the time and effort in as well if you want to get over the line first time as there is a hell of a lot to learn! Good luck!

I think am going with enterprise, thanks! Once I pay will I have access to the portal so I can do the home learning before the course start date?

Yes you will they will send out your folder which will come pretty quick and then you’ll have full access straight away to all of the online materials! Good luck let us know how you get on!

Thanks. 🙏

Tell driver to get a home monitor. And start making a record now. If I remember my hubby had to do 3 readings a day. And do it for over a week. Then when he goes for an appointment get him to take monitor and record with him. This was doctor already has information and will speed it up. Don't know if he can drive but my hubby is on blood pressure tablets. And he should call Dylan for a chat as I do think he can see any approved doctor. And I when to chemist for a check up. My blood pressure was high and the next day my doctors called with an appointment as it had been red flagged so this might make it quicker.

It’s a double edged sword. If you signed the TM1 to be named, then presumably you had enough awareness to consent to the role - you could have refused at that time.
If the TM role is not in your contract, advise directors you wish to remove your name on a specific date, and doing so as it is not part of your job spec.
If they sack you for going so, that’s constructive dismissal.
Sounds like you’d benefit from a chat to set a plan and how best to communicate with the directors
If the poi really hits the fan, each and every TM has equal liability for the operator, with very few exceptions, do your No 1 TM can’t pass the buck to you

In real life if they are using 25,000 ltrs plus per year then it’s paid for itself that year. If not then ask the accountant how it’s calculated for tax right off over a few years to work out the viability.

Are you sure it wasn't requiring an audit provided by an auditor who is authorised to conduct e.r. audits? An audit is an audit. If it's an e.r. audit, specific things will be required. An audit I do, will potentially be much broader that that audit.

It states to ER standard on the decision. How much broader than ER do you go? Do you know the ER standard?

Cannabis oil is not CBD! CBD is just basically a food additive 🤦‍♂️ Cannabis oil DOES contain THC as that’s the active medicine. Look on the likes of the releaf website, it provides info about driving while taking prescribed meds there👍 but long and short is, you will be nicked at roadside after drugwipe BUT it’s the CPS’s issue to demonstrate that you were unfit.

exactly what I discovered after research, so would I ban him from working and make things even harder for him and his family or let him continue to work to try pay bills and keep life as normal as possible at the risk of me losing my TM certification from the traffic commissioner. I think I know my answer but was just wondering about other people's views

High risk situation. Hold them off driving till your operator has sound legal advice of the specifics. That in turn protects you as the TM.
Not sure the courts, CPS, police, OTC or your insurers ( thru may need to be notified) would take much notice of forum chit chat,...

I can only speak as I find and I’ve been an active member of many associations. RHA are streets ahead of the rest. With Andy Warrender at the helm you can be assured of someone knowing his stuff and cares. I struggle to recommend anything else. Good luck and if I can help with anything please feel free to drop me a DM.

I can understand some people getting answers wrong on the more obscure stuff, but this is the basics of transport rules yet so many “transport managers” getting it wrong. 😅 Yes you can do 6.

Have just discovered a driver is moonlighting using a 2nd tacho. Inevitably he's been sacked with immediate affect. Do I notify DVSA, TC or Both. Before anyone asks how I know, he gave me the wrong card to download.

Not a conviction so not required to notify OTC. Thus reads like a bit of gossip / tittle tattle rather than sharing confidential files / data.
You can advise DVSA (effectively the enforcement side of OTC) but without knowing who driver niw works for, they have limited investigation options
You could report to the police - most forces have a CVU who could be interested
AFAIR, reporting to the legal authority is within disclosure GDPR and your registration with the ICO😀.

Thank you, I've looked on their website and they have no vacancies in Sittingbourne for drivers. 😕

When I worked for AE chilled I took an older guy for an assessment. He'd had his class one for 2 years but had never used it as he'd been on class 2. Obviously he left that bit of his application as they wanted 2 years. His driving was spot on but he couldn't reverse which we worked on. My point is don't be afraid to add a little sprinkle of creativeness to your experience so long as you are a confident driver. If I remember right, you're looking shift work as opposed to tramping which limits the distance a bit, I've worked for companies an hour away and it's not great everyday. Have you tried Langdons. WdE recruitment, Big transport Ltd bywaters, parker steel, faversham Laundry, harrier express, Salvatori.

Yep I've emailed all those companies. I worked at Langdons, I'm with WDE now, Big Transport want 2 years experience, the others I haven't heard back from. But I will keep...

Not true mate, if you look around ADR drivers can earn good money.

Few and far between. More pay sh** than good.

You definitely have to be in the right location to find the good ADR jobs, I live relatively close to Tilbury / Purfleet in Essex, there's quite a few different companies round that area. I found a job the first week I got my ADR by just ringing round companies I googled.

True mate, I know where I am it’s not worth getting a lot of companies near me only pay extra £1 a hour.

Also, are you doing print outs in UTC?

Whatever its set at 😆, how can you tell.

The machine will ask Print in UTC? Might be why the print out showed you finishing at 1600 hr iah when you thought you'd finished at 1700 ish.

If it’s a printout needed to be kept as a legal record it needs to be in UTC, for this it doesn’t matter because there’s no time difference at the moment.

Every 3 months or incident led.

That’s what I am looking for the guidelines, but cannot for the life of find any on eyesight checking. 👍

3mo tgs originated with one of the accreditations, but they had no medical reason to do it so often, other than a way to fail the audit Apart from following these accreditations, I really doubt any operator can medically justify doing them at 3 months - I’d rather Red they’re honest why they are so often.
High eye injury risk jobs - typically welding etc might have at 6 months, most occu health do annual, your optician is happy at 2 yrs and Vocational licence at 5 yrs.
obviously after an incident regardless of the periodic checks

Yes, I understand. In fact, I would like to know if a British company is paying to transport international cargo. I know that Portugal has very low salaries. In Spain, they are much better, but they cannot be compared to salaries in the United Kingdom. The only advantage of these countries is the climate. 😂

Your not comparing like for like other than both drivers sit in a truck
Yes the climate is different, but so are rents, taxes, social benefits such as health, transport, food, utilities etc etc.
perhaps their lower general cost of living is why so many Brits move 😀

From your comments and as a driver I’d make a BIG sine for the front of the trailer so the can’t miss it when picking up the trailer warning of this. Then if it’s regularly with one unit bungee the suzies up. Having done this once and caught many more up on trailers, once you are aware of the issue and looking for it you can see it happening in the out side mirror and stop your turn, get out and un snag it. Also are the handles on the curtains slightly bent so the catch? Or often the bottom flap of the curtains covers the handles but is cut to shape. Is it wound too far to the back of the trailer so the curtain doesn’t cover the handle?

I think the little latch that holds the handle in is too loose, which does happen on the older trailers.

Um sorry to say this but replace it then. Tiny bits of maintenance = avoiding big problems like broken air lines causing down time.

I've had drivers like this and they're a constant battle that isn't worth dealing with. Hats off to the guy you want to work hard but if the o licence is up into the firing line your going to be putting guys out of work.

Crap. The guy is breaking the law and there is no argument. If the driver is put out of work, then that is his fault. The law is the law and is none negotiable. The op has every right to expect management to back them.

Absolutely! Just how I tried to explain to the driver that breaking the rules risks others jobs. He just had to go in the end couldn't take it any longer.

So, what diverse answers.
The only risk assessment would be as a return to work of our trainer.
They’re not going to driver, so no need for a licence. The company that’s says the trainer needs full entitlement is simply limiting their opportunities.

Correct me if I am wrong, you do not need to take a refresher if you were working as a TM or ETM? Or is my interpretation of the requirement wrong? My understanding was that you need to take it only if you did not do any TM work during last 5 years, or since you got your certificate. And I agree that even if you do work as TM you should have at least 2 days refresher course to refresh your knowledge. I would be interested in a refresher that just covers all the changes that are happening with the legislation even as a TM that worked as TM for last 5 years. The problem is that i was unsuccessful in finding a company that covers that in their refreshers.

Would appreciate if someone could point me in the right direction.

Being date specific in your refresher would be a nightmare to manage whether it was at 2 or 5 yr intervals.
Some do a mix of long term refresh and the more current updates - typically those in the last 2yrs. In many ways it’s not changes, more about clarifications-...

The errant TM has applied for a PI to put their case and a decision to be made then. We assume the conviction was notified, guessing they surrendered their TM role. It’s now up to the TC.
We don’t see these types of PI being written up and published in the weekly OTC circulars.

They have 30 days from receipt to query an invoice, after which they lose the right and it's deemed accepted - not paying is not the same as having issue with the content. Assuming they have assets and wish to continue to trade, go legal.

£26.20 tax free.
Plus meal allowances.
If you pay over this the full amount becomes taxable.
Not just the additional pay.

If you haven't agreed signed an contract to allow them to deduct money from your wages then its illegal. Therefore I would advise you to take them to the small claims court. Usually the threat of it would make them pay up.

Yes.. a couple of times.. Highways England will have details of the closure.. TFL are pretty sneaky because Highways have to apply to close the road.. Must admit that the diversion signs weren't always clear.. Usual one was M25 junction 28 into London on the A12 and out on the A406/M11.. TFL left the cameras on and waited to see how many would just pay up..

If you’ve seen all those posts of drivers getting an HGV licence then wander around looking for a job almost no one wants to give you? Now think TM CPC and looking at an even smaller number of potential employers!
Mist drivers have never run their own business, so going RTM is an even bigger leap into the darkness

Steering alignment mate.

That’s what I thought aint my problem anyway, 😂 I've told my boss its a tracking issue.

I had that on my to steer wheels a few month ago, but my dents and bumps were on the outside of the tyres.

It’s only good for explosives, gasses and flammable liquids Classes 1, 2 and 3. You’d be fine for petrol tankers or gas tankers. But if you want to do general haulage most companies would want you to have all classes apart from class 1 and class 7 (explosives and radioactive materials).

Advise company of your concern and they should have someone available to show you the ropes. More often than not, even if you’re a competent driver, and been doing the job for years, you will still (more often than not) be buddied up with someone for a day or two, so they can show you the ropes, paperwork, procedures etc. And they will carry out an informal assessment on you, and share the driving involved on those days, as a means of ensuring you’re capable.

...you'd rather be lazy and risk prosecution, and post here about it, than run legal? WTF.

It’s an aid, it is not full proof. The driver who solely relies on sensors is going to always have scraps. The driver is a professional and should be able to cope with out the aid. If an accident happens where H&S is needed a sensor not working would raise questions but very unlikely to be deemed the reason the incident was not avoided.

Fair points only looking at the hypothetical but you are right about the driver being professional and not relying on the sensors. Thank you!

It is not standard fitted feature. It's an ad on. Like Jaxon said, that is bullsh** excuse to say I was waiting for the sensor to beep . I've been thought not to rely on anyone but only on what you can see, say, if you're overtaking and someone flashes it's safe to return to left lane, you don't take that for granted, you check your mirrors and you return when YOU deem safe to do so. Same with a sensor, you still look right?

Definetly look you wouldn't trust any feature when you are driving for sure....

I’ll buck the trend, experience can have some influence but not as much as some of the posts postulate. No make how long and varied the TM is (experienced), working for owner driver than can do little different to the newbie.
And in a larger environment, their enthusiasm and open to ideas could be a benefit compared to some crusty dogmatic TM. What I mean is, being newly qualified does not of itself mean anything apart from being judgemental

14 days.

Not according to GTMR and TC’s.

The emphasis on the 14 days prior to PMI is that does not come into play until April

Ours was can you see the number on the trailer....which trailer....boss says trailer 3h198....yes its trailer 3h198 you've passed.

Thought it was changed at the side of the workshop to NE14 ABJ.

It could be now that av left.

Now the curve ball. The OP mentioned a 2 door towing a trailer. Not sure whether this post is to test everyone, but of course a 2 door 4x4 is not a dual purpose vehicle as defined by construction and use regs as its likely to have only ONE passenger seat whereas the exemption from Operators Licencing us that the vehicle needs to have at least TWO passenger seats to be exempt from OL requirements.
If this post is genuine, I wonder why the OP was so specific to say 2 door , a test to see who would pick up on it from someone who knows the C&U regs?

You’ve misread the definition, 2 rows of seats is an option not a requirement. Think of the original DPV, the short wheel landrrover, driver +1 passenger and the rear is for goods, dogs and bales of straw 😀

Let's put the arguments aside if it is right or wrong, what has it got to do with the driver, how does it affect them?

It’s the driver who is liable to pay the fine if stopped. It’s the driver who could receive points for an enforceable offence. It’s the driver who could be prosecuted and potentially face jail time should a serious accident occur as a result of them driving an unsafe vehicle.

Not all trailers have leg! They defective legs have been removed so there is nothing unsafe about it. Therefore there is no fine, points or anything to prosecute. The lack of legs wouldn't cause an incedent. Driver is not asked to to drop the trailer as that would be unsafe. As long as he doesn't disconnect it then he has no problem. If there is a fire he let's the unit burn with the trailer, its the owners problem not his. The owner has thought about all this. If driver is so worried fill a defect sheet and leave it at that.

I’m fully aware that not all trailers have legs, see my...

I’m thinking more to the point that the tyres have done 70,000 miles in 3 years that’s a lot of travel. Friction will play a big part in a tyre becoming defective without it going noticed weakening the tyre from the inside, and if you look at one of the pics the inner wall looks like it’s been cut rather ripped from a blow out that’s caused by over load or something large getting penetrated into the tyre. It looks more like the seem on the inner wall has weakened and given way. Just talking from my experience.

Minimum rest periods are there to ensure that varying start times like this has less impact on our well being. In this case I would probably suggest you need to get over yourself. Stiff upper lip old boy it's only 1 6am start!

That's just 1 week tbf it varies from 5am to 1130am.