How Records Must be Kept
Page 41
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MOST operators of goods vehicles know that from Monday next, October 1, daily records will have to be kept in respect of every vehicle in service.
No reason, except the possession of a dispensation, will be accepted for failure to comply with the Regulations, and the operator may be fined or even have his carrier's licence revoked or suspended for such omission. Application for dispensation must be made to the licensing authority, but it will not be granted unless the authority be satisfied that it is not reasonably practicable, having regard to the nature of the business concerned, for the Regulations dispensed with to be observed.
Dispensations to be Granted This does not apply in the case of the business of agriculture or that of a travelling showman, as the author ity is bound to grant dispensation in these cases, unless he be satis fied that, for special reasons, the observance of any requirement of the Regulations is desirable in respect of particular vehicles or vehicles used for any particular purpose.
Originally, the period of 24 hours was timed to commence at 2 a.m., but this stipulation has now been rescinded, and it may commence at any time.
Each record must relate to this separate period of 24 consecutive hours, and each entry must be made so soon as the necessary information is ascertained. The driver must make the entry when commencing work, when starting rest, when restarting work, and so forth.
There are four types of form. Form 1, for a full-time driver em ployed on collection and/or delivery work within a radius of 25 miles from his loading base. Form 2, for a part time driver similarly employed. Form 3, for a full-time driver employed on collection and/or delivery work, or any other work (e.g., journey work) outside or partially outside a radius of 25 miles. Form 4 indicates the information required for a 'part-time driver so employed. All this information may be kept in any other form arranged by the licence holder, provided that each prescribed entry is readily identifiable.
It is important to note that " driving " is a somewhat comprehensive term. According to Section 19 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, any time spent by a driver on other work in connection with a vehicle or its load must be reckoned as driving time. If a driver spends half an hour in making a vehicle ready to take out or in loading, then this is counted as .driving time, but records are not required in respect of men who do not actually drive vehicles, unless they be statutory attendants, which expression means the extra men required by law to be employed in connection with certain vehicles or when trailers are drawn. It does not include drivers' mates or van guards engaged solely because the employer thinks it desirable to have tWo men on a vehicle, but if the extra man ever drives he must keep a record.
What is Work?
The expression " work " includes worh of any description, ,and not only that of driving. In the case of a part-time driver or statutory attendant, for example, it would include time spent by that man behind the counter or in the warehouse.
The importance of this matter is emphasized because there are many instances in which a part-time driver may be employed in some other occupation, such as gardening, and this has to be considered, in order that the examiner may be satisfied that the man is having his proper periods of rest. Such work would, of course, not count as driving time.
The information to be recorded falls into two sections, one relating to the periods of work and rest of the driver and ' statutory attendant (if any), and the other to the journeys made and the goods carried.
Dealing now with the requirements in connection with the forms mentioned above. In Form 1, the date and time are those which include the 24 hours of the record. If work be started on the evening of one day and not finished until the next day, both dates must be given ; the date and the time work was last
ceased are required. " Work " in the case a a full-time driver means actual driving or work in connection with the vehicle or its load. If the
driver be employed on any other work, then he is a part-time driver.
All the rest periods of half an hour or longer between the starting of work and stopping must be shown, but rest periods of less than half an hour need not be considered, as they are regarded as driving time. The total time worked means the number of hours between the time of commencing and ceasing work, less the rest intervals.
In giving the districts served only the names are required. There is no need to give the route. In describing the goods carried, it is sufficient to give a general title such as furniture, groceries, parcels—various, etc.
Details of Heaviest Loads Information regarding weight is the heaviest load carried at any time during the recorded period, but the entry "not exceeding 21 tons" may be made if the load does not at any time exceed that weight ; otherwise, particulars must show the actual weight of the heaviest load carried. This does not niean that every load must be weighed, as, in many cases, it can be closely calculated.
In Form 2 the only difference required by part-time drivers on collection and/or delivery work within 25 miles and those for whole-time drivers similarly employed is that in the former case the time spent in connection with the vehicle or its load must be shown separately.
In Form 3 there are two differences between the information required and that recorded by a fulltime driver on collection and/or delivery work within a 25-mile radius.. The particulars of the journey must be given instead of the district served, and the general destination of the goods is required.
Form 4 also requires the above information.