Tacho queries Ibuy Commercial Motor every week and enjoy reading
Page 32
Page 33
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
it and find it very informative. I drive an eight. wheel tipper, moving stone and sand out of quarries in the North-West.
In a recent issue there was a wallchart with basic drivers' hours (CM 28 May-3 June). Great, but it didn't answer the questions I want answering.
Our drivers are told that when they are in the quarry or on site this is not counted as driving time but as "other work". We are currently run ning out of a quarry in Glossop (backside of the world, traffic wise!) to the new motorway in Manchester. To do the number of loads the gaffer wants we must stretch the rules to the limit. I estimate a round trip to take about an hour. In that hour we will probably be on site and in the quarry for about quarter of an hour.
We should have our break after four-and-a-half hours, but because we are on site or in the quarry for about an hour of that time we are having our break after five-anda-half hours.
I was recently stopped for a vehicle check. The wagon is a brand new Scania so there was no problem in that respect, but I was sweating when the police officer inspected that day's and all that week's charts.
He questioned the fact that I hadn't taken my break until five-and-a-half hours after starting in the morning. I gave him my explanation about being on site and in the quarry and, after much deliberation, he accepted this.
I was given a producer (which was in order; I later reported to the police station) and was sent on my way.
The tachograph in the wagon is automatic. I run on the "duty time"symbol and turn it to "rest periods" for my breaks. How could we show the fact that we are on site? On the old tachographs we would run on the "driving" symbol, using the "duty time" symbol for other work. Could you please clarify this situation?
I passed my HGV when I was 19 in the Royal Corps of Transport. I am now 34 and have been driving wagons all that time. I have a clean licence and want to keep it that way—I enjoy the job and like being round trucks. I hope you can answer my questions.
Name and address supplied.
Interesting questions! We'll ask our legal eagle for his opinion and get back to you—Ed.