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Just an observation! Why do drivers when parking in waiting bays such as Asda Warrington, not park next to another truck when there is a few empty bays? They leave a space so does the next and the next, making it harder for the next ones to arrive. 🤷‍♂️ Why not just park in line, then nobody is struggling.
Just my opinion.

So I've been driving for almost a year now and I'm fed up of doing 50-60 hour weeks when my contract is only 48. Can I say something about it or is it just something I have to put up with? We get a late payment of £20 for anything over 11 hours, but it's not the money I care about, it's time at home (which I'm not getting). Are all companies like that?

Are you ready for another cut on payslip from government?
On the 30th October it is widely expected that the rate of National Insurance will revert and go back up to 12%.
What's next? Tax will go up as well?

Hi everyone,
I am considering getting my class 1 licence, I would very much like to go with my eyes open - I think it'll be a massive undertaking just getting used to the different lifestyle versus what I've been doing for the last few years.
So don't sugar coat - lets hear the good, the bad and the reality please.
Thank you very much in advance everyone!

Hi folks, Bad enough we can’t go back to truck but this is grim and gets worse and worse!
- Tesco Grocery Distribution Centre

Apologies to anyone who work for one of these companies but is just me that over takes at least 10 or more Tesco or maritime Lorrie’s per day. 🤣

Anyone else have this problem?
Our company has now installed the cameras on the front and passenger side of all our trucks to warn us of pedestrians, which is a great safety feature but when they are that sensitive they pick up traffic cones. So imagine you get stuck in roadworks and all you can hear for miles and miles is PEDESTRIAN LEFT PEDESTRIAN LEFT. We’ve found a great solution to this problem by putting tape over the cameras but apparently it’s a whopping great fine if caught. Surely there is a loophole if caught by DVSA.

I have a question.
A new driver who started his first week where I work has his last shift on a 6 today that rolls from today into tomorrow. I think she should be done by 12.
They asked him to work Sunday night at 11pm.
He told them he can’t because he wouldn’t have a full day off. Even thou he would have 33hrs off.
Her argument is he would be working every day.
Monday to Sunday even thou he would have 33hrs off between midday Saturday and rolling into Sunday night.
She reckons the company is breaking the law. Who’s right?
Ps I wasn’t getting involved.

Hi everyone, my sat nav has stopped working I've been looking for a replacement is this model still available or is it called something else nowadays.

How many people finish early ( regularly ) on their last day of a working week ?? 🤔

Just had my 1st experience driving a 21 plate Actros with mirrors
I currently where glasses for long sighted
I found the passenger side OK to use but struggled with the drivers side
Feels to close my face and I find it distracting as I feel my drawn to it
I find normal mirrors are better as if say your driving a straight road and plodding along it's easy to glance in your mirror every now and then
But these are horrendous
Feel like a tv screen flickering in the corner of my eye
I found they are OK ish for reversing

Anyone noticed what happens when you stick together in say er, a union. Unlike us who care about big fast, covered in chrome trucks. Train drivers: £ 69000 PA + overtime.

Good afternoon everyone,
I currently have been driving class 1 now for a year with a good company who’s helped me a lot as a new driver can’t fault them, and as much as I enjoy my job I can’t help but think to myself what it would be like to get into the heavy haulage crack of things. But not got an idea on how to do this. It’s not something I’m looking to do straight away it’s more of a 5 year plan thing. My question is how do I go about getting into it? Or do I just apply for a job at a heavy haulage?
Thanks for advice and the non helpful advice which I know is coming lol.

Every time I do the tacho cpc I get into an argument with the instructor! This time it was you MUST remove your card at the end of each shift when you are tramping!
I told him I leave mine in and do a manual entry for end country, but he was having none of it, I was in the wrong and should remove it. 🤷‍♂️

On Friday, I failed my class 1 test. I was absolutely gutted because my training had gone so well. I've shaken it off and going to re take my test. The most frustrating thing was, I got 1 minor aside from the 1 serious fault. I failed because I went through traffic lights as they changing from green to amber. The examiner said because I was travelling slow, I had time to stop. I didn't argue with it because there's no point. Next time, I'll be more cautious at the lights. Has anyone else failed their first test on class 1? Feel like I'm going to be more nervous on the next one now because of what happened, especially approaching lights. Any tips or advice for me? Thanks.

Hi all,
How is it possible to increase the speed limit from 56 to 60mph for an Actros.. mean going to dealer then recalibrate the tacho, or it can be fone by tacho service?
Has anyone done this?
Tia

Good morning all! Can I have a break within my first hour of duty? Thanks!

Hi I hope your all having a great day! After passing my 3month probation period in my first class 1 job, I was advised to get a philips navigator due to alot of farm work so I will need to be able to pin point the roads and access into the farms without driving past them. So my question is how do I read this? Is they an easy way to read a map or does it come in time? Yes I have a truck satnav already but been able to use a map would help me more then relying on technology all the time. Any help would be greatly appreciated thank you.

I have been offered a job, as I am a new pass, I have to pay £800 insurance excess for the first year, only if I was to damage it, or cause an accident. Is this normal practice?

Hi all. I'm new to the forum. I'm looking for some advise if possible. I recently ended my employment with a company which was unfair dismissal and the now trying to cut my hours making up bullsh** saying I've been fiddling my hours 🤬 I've asked them for a full printout from my tacho we're there claiming I fiddled my hours but there refusing to give it me. Are they legally required to give me a printout if I request 1 and if not who would I contact so that I can get a printout because I don't want to be getting screwed over and having money taken off me. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

Hello everyone, Is it common knowledge that XPO pay peanuts?

What is it with all the horse boxes causing delays with breakdowns, aren't they subject to same 6 week checks as trucks?

My supervisor told me I got a bus lane fine and handed me a piece of paper with the details of it but there was no picture.
Also the fine happened in June so the appeal and reduced fine options have passed.
In agency so phoned my agency today and they said they have nothing to do with that side of things so I’ll need to speak to the depot manager - he’s the one who handed me the PCN and all he said was I’d have to appeal it. 🤷🏻
Is there legally any policy on how soon a employer should take to let you no uv got a traffic fine as the fine has since gone up and I didn’t even no I had a fine.
Tried calling citizens advice but no answer after 20mins.
Thing is I’m also driving for the council yet it took them over a weeks to notify me, tried calling the council but they were also no help. 😫

I haven't driven commercially for 18 months (Not used my digi-card). Left the industry to follow other pursuits & interests. Both my Digi and CPC cards are still valid. I am considering going back into driving, freelance/agency part time work. In the event of the first time using my card after said period of time, how would I record via manual entry, to account for last time card was used. :? T.I.A.

Tacho card in 6.50.
Break at 12.35 for 40 minutes. Then drove back to the depot which is a ten minute drive and had 20 minutes (there was no phone signal where I parked) at 14.35 my tacho and dash bored lightning up like Christmas saying I need 15 more minutes. Yes I split my break but had an hour in total. Should of lasted me until I finish as I'm multi drop and only need 45 minutes per day.

Not sure if I should bother appealing this but on m6 j2/3 stranded vehicle in lane one so red x on gantry I moved to lane 2 and once past the stranded vehicle I moved back into lane 1 as I could see it was clear ahead however lane did still have red x above and I’ve been given £100 fine and 3 points. The fine fair enough but the points is a piss take as I was past the vehicle that caused the red x.
What are people’s thoughts?

It seems the outside lane on 3 and 4 lane motorways are fair game now in a truck. Daily I see it being used, you must too. It wasn’t a thing 5 years ago, why has it become normal?

Wages for class 1 now are a joke, it’s going backwards. The only job offer I have is 14 quid an hour class 1 nights. They make it look better by including holiday pay onto it. But basically it’s 14 an hour, who wants all that responsibility and working nights for that. And this is agency which normally pay more and it’s not even contracted work. And there’s a lot of day work for 13 odd pound per hour. I’m out this game now, can’t even pay bills on that. Earn more driving for Uber or stacking shelves.

As a previous Class 1 driver I had no problem being flashed in by anyone 7.5t, 18t whoever.
Why is now I flash artics in my 8 wheeler tipper you artic boys just ignore me? Do you believe your above us or just in your own world? I have been driving for donkeys years but it seems to be getting worse lately! Or maybe I’m just an old man having a moan.

Why do these young lads and girls want to spend their time & serious money on a HGV? Fancy truck? Out on their own? 25 years ago was the best job in the world, find phone box ring in & job still got done. Now! Tracker in cab possible camera & phone might as well have manager in passenger seat! Because they’ll whittle ya to death! Go be a bricklayer 8 hrs a day! 😀

Anyone been caught for no seatbelt in a truck is it just a fine or points as well the letter. I’ve had asking to identify myself as the driver is saying between 100-500 fine and up to 6 points was caught by one of them new camera vans with seatbelt and phone cameras.

Can I ask how common in cab cameras such as samsara are now and how drivers feel about them?

Got to love these idiot drivers that come down the slip roads matching your speed and sitting side by side with you. Then wafting their arms about as if it’s your fault not theirs that they couldn’t get on the carriageway.

Good morning all, Another insecure load. 🤦 Vehicle prohibited. Driver and operator reported.
#UKcheckpoints

Hello people. I'm a new class 2 driver and secured a tipper driver job finally. But after a week the transport manager is giving me jobs hand written with only street name no post code. When I ask for a post code I'm told that's my job! Is this normal? Is it just expected for me to have years of road knowledge after 5 days of driving? Any advice would be appreciated.

Question: if u work Mon - Fri tramping. Have plenty of working & driving time left. Can u run in early Saturday morning - go home for 28hrs. then run out Sunday afternoon. Before starting ur normal Mon to Fri, knowing u will have enough driving hours for the jobs and knowing you can finish Fri and get over 62hrs rest to catch up??? Legal???

Anyone else heard of this rumour of the government bringing in a pay per mile tax? Sounds bonkers.

Quick question and serious answers only, what height do dpd run there double decker trailers at, as my Tom Tom 6250 sat nav only sets up to a maximum of 16ft 3. Thank you in advance.

Driving Time Problem:
Would someone know why the driving time in tachography showed as 4.4 hours at the end of my shift instead of 2 hours? It seems the driving time didn’t reset after my second break?
Here is the scenario:
Start work at 19:45
Driving from 20:30 - 1.5 hour
1st Break 30 mins from 10:00 to 10:30
Other work 2 hours
Driving 2.4 hours
2nd Break 30mins
Other work 1 hours
Driving 2 hours

Can anyone explain what's is going on with driving work this time a year 2 weeks no work. 🙈

Birmingham has got to have the worse drivers in the UK, over the last four months that I've been working in Birmingham I've seen more bad driving than I've seen in the last ten years, I've driven in all the major cities in England but Birmingham takes the biscuit.

This don't look right apparently the driver of the Nissan juke reckons my driver did this but as from pictures damage to his car on passenger rear and damage to my truck drivers front light.

Here's one for you. Motorway has 3 lanes and all 3 restricted to 50mph due to Road works. Can HGVs use the outside lane?
This morning I saw 2 HGVs pelting down lane 3 on the M1. Everyone else stayed in lane 1 and 2.

Genuinely curious as I see quite a lot of posts advertising jobs and they get laughed at or jabbed for the wages offered so.
What is a decent wage for a class 1 driver?
Obviously experience is dependant so assume they have been doing it for a couple of years.

What is the world coming to? Can’t connect to my trailer because it isn’t on level ground have to wait for the shunter. 🤣🤣🤣
Just to clarify, the trailer is facing ever so slightly down hill, site rules say I can’t pick it up the shunter had to pull it out of that bay and put it into another bay. H&S b#llsh#t.

I'm salaried, class 2, is £445 a week bring home good, sometimes I do 35-40 hours other weeks I can do 45-50 hours, that puts me below minimum wage, I like the company, I sometimes get nights out which is paid £34:75, just wondering if it worth going for class 1 with my own money, limited to 2 nights out a week due to family.

As a new driver I find it very irritating that all experienced driver would rather wait for you to get close to there truck before abruptly sounding there horns if you see some one struggling into tight spaces I'd of thought the decent thing would be to help out we all gotta learn somewhere my new name for the individuals are basically w**kers might as well be the Karen's of truck driving world. 🤣🤣🤣

Hello everyone, Got my class one test in the morning anyone got any tips for nerves? Thanks!

Was kindly told tonight by someone who is so called in charge of health and safety and a machine operator and knows nothing about driving laws that I was breaking the law by taking a nine hour reduced rest and that the maximum I should be taking is twelve and that working a thirteen hour day was also breaking the law..!
Understandably I got a bit erm.. with him and told him he didn’t know what he was talking about even after trying to explain to home I can take three reduced rest in a two week period.. so he kindly said he was in a hurry to go home as I wonted to prove it to him on the internet and would take it further tomorrow..!
I’ve already got there first and reported him and my rules of driving hours and tachographs book will be on his desk ready for his lunch time reading although I suspect he won’t believe that ether..!
I’ve only been driving 30 odd years.. what do I know hey..! Nothing obviously..

Quick question for those with a superior knowledge of Drivers Hours than me.
I started my shift this morning after my 45 hours off at 00:01.
I’m looking to finish today’s shift at 14:31, so 14 1/2 hours.
If I then have 9 hours off am I ok to start my next shift at 23:32 tonight?
Tia.

Anyone got any tips for driving with these Cameras? It’s just took me 20 mins to get onto a bay. I can’t see anything with them. I have Photophobia (my eyes don’t react well to sunlight) and always have to wear sunglasses. I don’t know if that’s affecting me but I honestly just can’t see. It’s so much easier with mirrors. 😪

Worst thing on the planet is when people watch a new pass trying to get on a bay and instead of helping they laugh. I ended up being a banksman for the poor guy because not one other single person wanted to help and that's where the industry is at the moment. Point and laugh rather than help.

If I sit a driving assessment for different company and it interferes with my daily rest period is that an infringement? Already used all my holidays at work so trying to work round it. 😅

Went through this as 50 and there was a meat wagon hiding round the corner.
Work said a letter turned up saying 50. No picture no details no camera details for calibration.
Reckon I'll get away with it with the pictures or be able to do the speed awareness course?

Well I passed my module 4 and reversing tests today. I've got my class 2 driving test in the morning any tips to keep calm on my test.

This is why I prefer driving in mainland Europe.
This truck stop near lens France has a well stocked supermarket and you cook yourself what ever you want.
One of the truckers was even baking a cake.
There is also a outside bbq area.
Showers toilets spotless because it’s cleaned all the time.
There is a state of the art truck wash there too.

These are the hours I’ve worked this week as a class 2 driver. Is it legal?

Would you work for a firm that pays you a different rate for driving or unloading? I've heard Agro at Whitchurch do this too?

A question about driving different vehicles and tachos.
I have the full license but for the past month or so I have been in a van. Do I need to enter over a months worth of manual entries when I get back into a lorry?

What is the correct procedure when leaving your card in all night like an idiot. I did a print out and that's it.

Hi guys, Go the quickest route or go M4 - M5? Choices choices. 😂

Thinking of starting 4 on 4 off. Anyone else spent most there working life on Monday to Friday like myself and then made the move..... just after some thoughts. 😎

Good day people. Can I ask please, if I’ve had a 4 hour break in my day how many hours max is my WTD? Is it still 15? Tia.

Here’s a question following on from my earlier post. I genuinely don’t know the answer. I’m 32 years a truck driver (53 if you count going with dad as a baby) when can you legally go to lane 4? After the sign normal white lines. Or, after the sign broken white lines.

Afternoon everyone, Ultimate insult not paying for 45min break, really?

Hi Guys, need a little advice - I had my 45hr rest last weekend - started work Monday 6am same tue, wed, finished Thursday at 3pm & then had a 26hr rest & started work Friday night at 8pm through to Sat morning 6:30 also going in Sat night at 8pm through to Sunday morning & then back in Monday morning at 6am.
Now technically I've worked 7 days but work is saying I had a 26hr break in between so I'm ok - the thing is they want me again for next weekend but I'll be taking a 45hr break mid week. What I'm asking is in my mind I've done 7 days - what do you think?

Ok cuz safe load don’t give me a break is only one thing I always feel I do wrong.
Today load one was empty pallets one double stack of empty cans. How the hell I'm secure that without damaging cargo?
I like see other people work please share if you have pictures of different cargo and how you secure them, how you use internal straps and how you use ratched straps please. I know but this thing don’t give me a break 😛 that’s what I do with empty cans, trailer don’t look like xl rated.

Not sure if this is allowed on here or not but this happened infront of me as I was driving to work. The truck in the photo was driving a hill in Cornwall and it's trailer had come loose and was only being held by it's hoses. As I was directly behind the truck I got off the road and parked the car on a driveway and went to see if I could help. I instantly thought he hasn't put his clip in the kingpin and it's worked loose? But he had done everything right as you can see from photos. Then I thought his pin on trailer had snapped? Yet that too is in place. He had driven around 50 miles from Paignton and it had only now just come off the unit and the driver had already done multiple hills so the question is how has this happened? His kingpin is locked a d clipped in place yet the guide rails are completely twisted and snapped. Driver was understandably shaken and when the the trailer went off to the left hand side it went up a pavement and ripped off his trailers left side foot from the...

Hi all, I work on the bins and today I've had someone refuse to work with me due to me being deaf, I wear a hearing aid which helps and I can get on with my work normally as well as anyone else, I know this isn’t really lorry related but I’m curious what you guys and girls would do in my situation?

So just renewed licence for hgv. Licence returned with only 1 yr on it? Just looked up on Google says after 65 have to do every year 🤔 really what a waste of resources. 😡

Question time.

You’re on your way back to the yard, you’re on a 14hour 30minute shift, you’ve got 15minutes back to the yard and you’re finished. However you get a blow out and you now obviously need a call out, you get the usual “60 to 90minute” then + the time it takes to get the tyres changed, let’s just call it 2hours. This means you’ll get back to the yard on a 16hour 45minute shift (2hours for the blow out + 15minute journey back to the yard). Obviously you’re not suppose to go over a 15hour shift. You do the double print out, write on the back the reason why etc.

1) do you get paid for the extra 1hour 45minutes because legally you can’t go over a 15hour shift so does this mean you can’t get paid for it?
2) if Vosa pull you will they still try and fine you etc for the hour & 45 even though it was a legitimate reason?
3) the 9hour minimum break between shifts must surely still start from when you finish not when the 15hours was up?

Not a circumstance I’ve encountered but...