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What is the legal blood alcohol limit for a HGV driver guys?

PS: Ok here's for all the conclusion jumpers.

Well this wasn't me, but alas I am only a lowly Class 2 recovery driver it was infact a superior Class 1 driver who I followed the other night along a motorway for about 15 miles weaving between hard shoulder lanes 1 and 2 then through lots of roadworks hard shoulder and lanes 1 and 2 closed with him straddling lane 2 knocking over a multitude of cones weaving into lane 3. Knocking over or clipping about 80 plus cones cops were called and he pulled into a services and just dumped the truck pretty much blocking the entrance yawning his head off and barely able to keep his eyes open. I sat and waited as 4 units turned up to where they have checked him and a positive reading was given and also with the footage I had shown them of his driving. With their observations to this he was falling asleep at the wheel, so basically a death waiting to happen. Yes this might well have cost...

Does anybody have in writing the legality in regards to cracks in the windscreen? I have refused to take a truck out because it had a crack the whole width of the screen but it was at the bottom of the screen but it DID however encroach on the area the wipers covered by several inches. Any help much appreciated as learn on CPC there can be grey areas with this problem.

Somebody asked a question on another group and I said that you can do 15 hour shifts every day provided you have a break of 3+ hours.
Am I losing my marbles because someone said you can only do a 12 hour shift with a split rest.
I may be having a dull moment but whenever I've had a 3+ hour break through the day I've been able to do a 15 hour shift without any issues or infringements.
What's going on?

Instead of letting ‘car drivers’ go straight to Class one, wouldn’t it be better to let us Class two drivers with years of experience have that promotion free of charge? A Class two to a Class one is a lot less than a car to a Class one. Then let car drivers fill the Class two positions.

Problem solved? 🤷🏼

Hi guys, a newbie here. I finally got a job as a new pass driver. Did my first overnight last night on my own. Just realized I've left my tacho card in the machine once home, I'm 50 miles away from work. Was so busy faffing I forgot. I suspect the tacho will be on other work. No idea what to do, do I do a print out? What will happen once I get driving again. Back down south to Kent from Leeds tomorrow.

Hi folks,
Crazy couple of questions,
I’m looking at doing my HGV
But wanting to see if any companies are offering apprenticeships/training etc.
I’m based near Birmingham and just trying to find out if there are any companies that are still offering apprenticeships and training.
Hope you guys can help ☺️

Hi guys random one I've just split up with the Mrs I've kept the dog obviously it's not fair on dog to be left at home does anyone bring theirs on the truck? I'm a container driver I'm not sure what's allowed and what not here's a pic of her.

Hi everyone

My employer has recently put out a brief to drivers that says they want us to use POA after we've reached <50mins on rest, whilst on a loading bay (we don't load or unload so typically put it on rest).

Myself and all the other drivers I have spoken to disagree with this as we don't know the period of time until loading/unloading is complete, in advance, so can't use POA.

What are your thoughts on this?

Hi guys, Help please. Parking brake lever failure on Renault what can I do??? TIA

Asking for a friend who is not on here. Can a company hold payment for work carried out if they do not give a weeks notice as per their contract?
He's worked for them for 2 weeks but decided it isn't for him.

If they do hold payment is there anything he can do or anyone to contact in regards to getting it.
TIA

Company I'm at want me to take a 9 hour reduced break, that's fine.
But I live 30 minutes away, so should that daily rest period start when I've finished my shift or when I'm actually home resting?

Hello guys my friend recommended this forum to see if I could find the advice I'm looking for. I'm currently looking at getting my lorry license but not sure if I will be able to get a job? A couple of years ago I was on a bit of a downer and losing my way a little, I ended up being done for drink driving. I'm currently a chef but looking at changing career any help would be appreciated thanks

Hi all.
There is some confusion at work about rescuing out of time drivers. I've told them that as long as they have duty time available that this is fine, but if out of duty time for the day they have to night out as vehicle is neither at drivers home address, or the registered address of the truck. Some say they can be rescued regardless of working time.
Has anyone got a link to a gov document or gov page that says what I have been telling them. I read it a while back, but for the life of me I can not find it.
Much thanks.

Hypothetical question for you all to gain your opinion:

A mate of mine, aged 20 has been driving class 2 for a year, recently passed his class 1 last week and the company he works for currently (which I won't be naming) have given him the keys to an artic and sending him down the road on Monday.
He's nervous about it (obviously, I would be too) and not looking forward to it at all.

However in my humble opinion, I think his company should be sending someone out with him, even if it's just for 24hrs whilst he gets used to an entirely different style of driving.

Thoughts anyone?

Hi. What is the average price people have paid for car to class 1 all in please? I have seen as cheap as £2k and as expensive as nearly £5k.

Good morning! Can you drive a HGV without a Class one license? I don't mean with trailer but just a unit on its own if it's no longer for work purposes?

The minimum living wage is going up to £11.44
Does that mean we are all be working closer to the minimum living wage?

Hi. I've just signed with an agency. It asked if I wanted to pay £1 per shift, so that if I caused any damage or had a crash, then I wouldn't have to pay towards any damage.
Is this right as I thought you would never have to pay if you had an accident in a company vehicle? Thanks.

Bit of advice needed I was involved in a very minor slow speed accident on the m62 yesterday but after some advice on whos at fault:
We were in crawling traffic around the m606 jct of the m62 yesterday I was in the inside lane with another hgv infront of me a Porsche boxter has come down the slip road and tried to force a gap that wasn't there between me and the wagon infront down my blind side and I've hit the car with my passenger step.
Am I at fault???

Hi everyone, it was my first day today in a lorry professionally (multi-drop), though I didn't keep a check on the tachograph throughout the day, I'm still not completely confident on how to use it/rules but I'm getting there, I didn't take any breaks whatsoever and don't believe I needed to legally; question is as I did 02:45hrs of driving/04:10hrs of other work, is everything legal and ok? As I didn't reach 04:30hrs of driving/06:00hrs of other work I assume I'm legal and ok - I don't want any infringements or issues, any ideas welcome, thanks.

Currently arguing with the boss. I'm supposed to be going to Enfield to a business on Brancroft Way EN3 7PL, off Mollinson Avenue. We run Euro 5 trucks with no DVS cameras ETC fitted.
He says he has phoned the customer and we are good to go in with these vehicles, I say not! As according to the TFL checker it is inside both he LEZ and the DVS zones, potentially landing us with £600 PLUS in fines for non compliance (and wiping the job out in the process). What say those on here more educated on London Village than we are!
Thanks chaps.

HGV Driver Shortage
As an ex driver myself who owns a Truckers pub and who has let his CPC lapse, we have been listening to our customers who are overnighting here in Trafford Park, there are many reasons given in these chats as to why so many are fed up, but the one overriding and most frequently mentioned is that of the hated driver CPC, whilst everyone agrees of the importance of refresher training for safety reasons, the biggest gripe is the over commercialization of the training, the cost to drivers and the fact that most periodic training has to be done in their own time, mostly at weekends during rest periods and at their own cost, not only that but many of these so called training experts have never themselves driven a truck or have the faintest idea of what most of the training covers, the EU introduced training has proved to be yet another example of Bureaucracy gone mad to create a tag along industry at the expense of an already over stressed driver.
Has anyone come up...

Well done to the ‘professional’ drivers who were stuck in the queue on the M1 South near Trowell services jct25ish who just ignored a broken down car in lane 3 because the queue had cleared and they wanted to crack on. I was the Royal Mail driver who got out and pushed him over to the hard shoulder along with a guy in a car who came to help me. Yes we’d all be stuck there half hour but what’s the harm in another couple of mins to get the car out of the way quicker to make the road safer for everyone.
PS there were dragons 🐉 and s*** 😆
Life is short… sometimes we all need a hand so be kind… It won’t kill you.

Hi guys, maybe I'm being a bit daft here, but can't HGV drivers only work 90 hours a fortnight, but how can people get around working 60 hours a week?
After some clarification about that please
Thanks

Not sure if anyone can help me here. So, I managed to get a class one position, which I had been in for 5 weeks. Now, my reversing is a bit dodgy, being new and everything, but, I've managed to get by with no mishaps, until Thursday. I caught a trailer when trying to reverse between two of them in the yard and caught the curtain. There was damage, but, nothing major. I immediately told management, who's first words to me were oh for f**k sake. I was on holiday on Friday, and today. But, received a phone call telling me that they were letting me go because 'maybe Class 1 work wasn't for me, and maybe I should stick to rigids' where on earth do I stand here? Was everyone else's reverse manoeuvres perfect within 5 weeks?

Hi guys and girls, had an accident today, driver error car sat in my blind spot and I didn’t see him. The boss has insinuated that money is going to be taken out my wages for it. I have no written contract and I’m due to be paid for this month on the 10th, I’ve got a lot on my plate at the minute and I’m stressing like owt. Any help would be appreciated.

So I lost my job today because of infringements for not taking my breaks for long enough. Thing is I know I have had my breaks. 1x15min (18min) within 4 hours of shift and another 30mins (33min) when my driving time gets to about 3.5 hours I switch it to “bed” so I know the tacho is working right.

It’s my first class 2 job driving using a tacho. I’m absolutely gutted. All my manager said was I should know how to use a tacho when I did my test, which is absolutely wrong because it isn’t something you get taught.

How on earth do I learn how to use a tacho properly?

I can drive a truck no problem. Just computer says no. 😢

Morning all.
This is similar to a load I was faced with yesterday (ignore that it is strapped) I believe what I did was correct but I was told that as it is an XL trailer, it's good to go without any securing. A discussion was had and I just want to see how others deal with this? There were no straps supplied or available
Just to add there was around a foot to the edge on each side, 24 pallets of bricks.

Can anyone explain the logic behind hazard warning lights when driving around an RDC? I understand using them to do a reverse manoeuvre, but why at all times? 🤷‍♂️

Today I was parked on an industrial estate for over 3hrs on bed awaiting instructions for my next job. Is it still classed as a split daily rest as I never did start / end country on the rest as I didn't expect being there that long? Even though I was on-call I was freely able to dispose of my time even though I didn't leave the cab.
Thanks.

I fancy giving tramping a go at the place that I currently work at but they don't pay for Parking, No microwave and you don't get a set truck, the parking isn't really an issue but would you guys tramp in a different truck every week?

Hey guys, Is this true? What your opinion about this? 'HGV driver shortage pushing industry to tipping point, research reveals'..

Thinking of doing my class 1. I’m currently a mechanic and work for a main dealer I’m on 34k a year basic but average bonus 2k a year, is it worth the change when thinking of salary, seen quite a few people say they get up to £15 an hour. Online I’m seeing salary of 50K minimum. Jobs I’m seeing don’t state hours etc so does anyone know what sort of times and hours it would be for a 50k a year job. Sorry to put 2 questions in 1 post but didn’t wanna make multiple.

Hello, I got an infringement for using cruise control when going downhill. I was doing 57mph on the motorway. I thought it was 60 the max speed? Or that's what the theory test taught me. Can someone explain please.

Hi,
I've just booked my HGV course through as easy as HGV looking for a new career. They work along side a recruiter that's gets you a job at the end of the course, any dealings with this sort of thing? Currently earning nearly 60k a year with overtime. I can afford a pay cut but what sort of money/jobs are there for a new driver? Living in derby (east midlands) thanks.
Hurlee

Alright truckers,
Has any of you been threatened by your employer that you will get a disciplinarian due to speeding twice in 3 months (doing 58 max 60mph for more than 15 seconds) I do trunks to Scotland and sometimes it's hard to keep the speed especially when going down the hill fully loaded. He has showed me the charts of doing 59 but the thing is I didn't get any over speeding on tacho so I just laughed at him and told him hgvs can do 60.
Thanks.

Hi, I've been told there's an infringement on this, can anyone confirm?
I'd just like to say thank you in advance to those who will understand that the WTD only required me to have 2x15 and not a solid 30.
I'll have a further ding dong with my boss tomorrow. 👍

Hi guys quick question. A colleague has said that your not allowed to stick anything to your windscreen when driving such as a phone holder or sat nav holder. Apparently vosa doesn't allow this. Is this true? If so any holder for a Garmin dezl to stick to vents. Thanks

I'm maybe an old has been, but I seriously think there's far to much technology in trucks nowadays just look at Daf, Iveco and Merc the amount of faults they throw up on a daily basis. I also think that's how there are more accidents involving trucks with lane assist auto braking adaptive cruise control and others drivers are to reliant on the technology and concentration can lapse, it seems to me drivers don't seem to be able to anticipate potential problems the way drivers 25/30 years ago did because many trucks were under powered by todays comparison and had manual boxes that you had to plan your gear changes so you paid more attention to the road. That's my opinion and many will take the piss but that's how I feel.

Started at 7:45am took card out at 10:46pm over my 15 hours by 1 minute what's the punishment? Written infringement to sign or will I get a fine?

I had a driving assessment through a driving agency.
It’s not a test, so I just treated it like a drive with a work mate as I have nothing to prove.
When it was over the guy said it was very rude to put the radio on and flashing the lights is frowned upon,
And one hand on the steering wheel.
If you are going to change your driving style just for the assessment then I think the whole exercise is pretty pointless. Especially if I driven HGV for 34 years.
Yes I got temp work.
Thoughts please.
You don’t assess tradesmen coming to your house!

Morning peoples. I had a gentleman's disagreement at work yesterday regarding breaks required with regards to wtd. If you're one of those that still thinks you need to complete 30 mins break before you hit 9 hours shift time, please don't comment...

My argument... if working over 9 hours, a break of anything over 15 minutes followed by a break of over 15 minutes, but totaling 45 or more minutes will suffice. I.e. an 18+27, a 22+23 etc etc.

Trainer... no that won't work, either has to be 3x15+ or 15+ followed by 30+.

To reiterate this is purely wtd and not AETR/EU regs.

What's your opinion. If I'm wrong I'm wrong but I can't see what criteria I'm not meeting.

Can someone please clarify something for me. How many hours a week are us drivers supposed to be working? My new boss says I can't work more than 60. Ffs I've been doing nearly 70 a week for nearly 30 years, am I going to prison? Surely it's 71 hours with loads of POA.

Here's a debate. I'm changing my car and buying another diesel.
All the newish cars now are petrol or petrol hybrid.
Why is everyone jumping to petrol engines? when they're banning them too. Lol doesn't make sense.
The car I'm gonna buy is a GT line Kia sport age diesel.
Cheaper than a petrol why? When they're both being banned. Am I missing something.

Lads, my boss has just notified us that he’s having internal driver face in cameras fitted in our cabs. Do you think this is or should be banned? is it legal? And what’s your opinion on this?

Hi all, do any of you work on fuel tankers? My cars fuel pump failed (only 40k) and the garage said it was totally gunked up and the tank was full of contaminants, they said from using supermarket fuel.
I said that everyone uses supermarket fuel and the tankers all fill with the same stuff no matter if they’re going to Asda or shell, they said Shell and texaco add things to improve the fuel and that I should use V Power diesel as I have a high performance model, I think a focus ST diesel is a normal focus with a few spoilers and a bit more bhp.
Anybody know the truth of this?

All this £15.00 +is all very good and its what's needed to keep drivers, but has anyone thought that when you earn just over £50,000 per year you will stat paying higher tax rate think it's 40% so is it worth it to do all the hours 60/70 hrs a week or stick to 40/50?

A question in drivers hours please.
I’ve never done jobs where I’m parked on a bay waiting to be tipped - used to deliver and build furniture for Wincanton.
When sitting waiting to be tipped, what does the taco go on?
And does the waiting time go towards your drivers hours for breaks?
Cheers

Quick question
One of our drivers got pulled at hearts head yesterday because his load was higher than his head board, so even though it would be strapped can't go above head board and be 30 cm away from it, so my top packs have to me off the others I might get away with, when did this happen
Had to wait for another wagon to come and move some packs over

Have I just done the correct thing?
I'm on agency, got offered 3 days work this week (Weds-Fri), driving Waste Disposal Truck.
Turn up to the job this morning, get handed keys, card in and start doing my checks. Straight away warning lights stay on all over the dash for a fair few safety things, AEBS, Steering, traction and a few lights not working etc. It was suggested that most of the fleet were like that and I should just acknowledge them and crack on.

Now, I said I wasn't happy to drive it, spoke to someone on the phone from that company and explained that I wasn't happy to use the vehicle and walked off the job as there were no other vehicles to use.
I understand their point of view with regards to needing drivers and to get vehicles out on task etc, and now it leaves them short a driver again.
I'm probably not in the good books of my agency either, even after explaining the situation.
In my mind I was within my rights to refuse to drive as its a safety issue I've picked up on...

I've got a job on class 1 doing 12 hour shifts but on annual salary, but if I was on hourly it would work out £10.80 an hour. Is this normal or am I being ripped off?

Hi morning all, Why do many companies put cameras on the drivers?

Guys what’s umbrella? I’ve been offered a job and been told I’ll get more if I go umbrella but I don’t know what it is?
it’s such a weird one, I’ve been made redundant after the company went bust and so after 2 weeks of no joy I applied for a HGV job with a one line description that said “moving vehicles from site to site” on agency 6 week contract.
Long story short I’m starting as an ambulance driver Monday and they said I can have £3 an hour more if I go umbrella.

Why do all tipper jobs have experience as a “must have”? How hard can it be? It just goes up and down. Hook and wheel jobs don’t seem to require experience and that’s a bit more complicated surely.

Just a bit of advise and an explanation to you guys why you new passes find it so hard to get a start in the industry. Firstly I’m not a new pass I’ve had a class 1 26 years, Transport manager CPC holder, ran my own lorries and am a driver trainer/ assessor.

First thing you need to realize is there is and never has been a driver shortage. I know loads of class 1 license holders who won’t do the job because the pay and conditions are crap, mostly. Instead of the government paying experienced drivers a decent wage they chose not to so a lot of drivers left the industry and chose to work in different fields. The government then payed for new drivers on boot camp about 3 grand a time to do the training but then can’t get a job!

The second point I must point out is that it’s not the company that won’t take you on it’s the insurance companies who won’t insure you.
When I had my own trucks my insurance policy was over 25 with 2 years experience and the first year for one truck was 5...

Serious question guys. The A592 from Windermere to J40 M6 Penrith. Is this route ok for an artic? Tia

Will it be okay if I go 10/15 minutes over my 10hour limit? Will be short going back to the yard?

Come on then let’s discuss wages up north. After seeing all the southerners on here getting paid £20+ a hour I feel like a peasant on my wage.
Located in Barnsley South Yorkshire so wondering other people’s wages in my area. 👍
Class 1.

Hello afternoon all, QUESTION: Manual Entries. Who’s doing them? Who isn’t?

So I’m intrigued. If you turn up at your job one morning and the boss comes out and says “Your articulated truck is no longer needed, we’ll be putting you in a 7.5t version on the same pay”
What would you do? 🤔

Can already see how this is gunna go, no it has not happened to me, I happily took a job driving a 7.5 recently with promise of Hiab training and rigid on order, trailer to come in the future. Just intrigued on the “my truck is bigger than yours” theory.

What are people’s opinion about working for agencies? I know work is not guaranteed but they seem to pay so much better! I was on £14/ph weekdays doing Amazon which I did for nearly 2 years, the company I worked for stopped the contract so I went to do DPD on agency and now I’m on £21.25/ph (umbrella) weekdays and £25ph weekends and iv been given work 5 days a week until the Xmas rush ends, I know it’s not permanent but I’m looking to do my ADR anyway, but I take home nearly £400/£500 more a week! Does anyone work agency long term and prefer them?

New to driving, currently experiencing the fun of my first breakdown. Just wondering what mode I should set the tacho to whilst waiting for recovery?
Cheers 🤟🏼

Hi this company own me money for last week.
They are doing contact for Amazon in Manchester (Bolton).
I was told that I will get paid today after downloading my tacho.
Still no money in my bank account.
Please can anyone give me any advice as this happen to me first time in my life.
Thank You

Trampers,
Park up 5pm outside 8am collection, do you put your card in after 11 hours rest (4am, start being paid) or wait till 7am, 14 hours 3 hours unpaid. Our employee is telling us its a grey area and we will not be paid. As far as we're concerned is if your not on a break and not at home, what are you doing (work).

Good morning everyone, I have a serious question here. Is it illegal to take a break while unloading truck?

Right I’ve passed all my tests first time (hp, mc, reversing, practical, all my car stuff first time) but this cpc has had me on ropes 3 times now it’s laughing at me I don’t know what it is anyone got any tips know of any videos to watch etc?

Morning, A friend of mine just completed another CPC Course Tacho. The instructor advised now only on a Friday you can drive extra hour i.e.a 11 hours to get home. But must not go over your 13/15 hours a day. Anyone else heard this?

So I start my first job in a few weeks and it’s 5 on 3 off Rota. If I wanted to do overtime am I right in thinking I can work either my first rest day or 3rd rest day overtime and use the other 2 as my weekly rest?

Hi. Anyone else had something like this off their employer?
This only applies to distance drivers or anybody that does ‘nights out’, i.e. those whom sleep overnight in a company vehicle.
As of Monday 16th November, each day you will need to take just one photo of a subsistence receipt. By subsidence, this means the receipt needs to be of any money spent on food or drink on the day that you will be doing a night out. This can be done at any point during your shift using the camera within the driver app on the vehicle’s smartphone. This is a requirement of the HMRC to ensure employees are incurring expenses for meals and other subsistence costs while travelling, and that the payment remains a reasonable estimate of the costs usually incurred. This process is enforced by the HMRC on the company to enable nights out to remain untaxed.
We advise you to keep hold of your subsistence receipts for at least 6 months, this is in case we need to check receipts that don’t have photographic...

Just failed my assessment of reversing a Ridgid. I'm a new pass, you get one time to do your reversing as a test which I passed haven't driven since May. I want this so much but feel like a failure is a horrible feeling don't no what to do give up or keep goin? Any advice please. 😔

GOOD MORNING ALL! So my boss wants me to go into work on Thursday, drive the VAN 1hr 1/2. Then drive an ARTIC for about 9 hours maybe 10, and then drive the work VAN back an 1hr 1/2. Is this legal?
TIA

HELLO everyone, My partner is looking for a career change. He currently earns £25.5k a year at 32 years old and we’d love to expand our family but can’t do so on his current salary.

I just want to ask about any tips or advice someone would give to a person starting out in this industry. What kind of salaries would he be looking at once qualified?

Is there anything he should know before paying to become qualified etc?

We are outside of London in Hampshire