The Big Train pulled up at Chester Racecourse recently. CM
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was there ready to tackle the issue of digital. tachographs and drivers' working hours. Here's how we got on...
Words: Kevin Swallow
It's testament to the fine art of debate
that the delegates at the recent Big Train course held at Chester Racecourse preferred w argue the finer ts of digital tachographs rather than return to the buffet for a third helping.
'me applauded their simplicity, while others expressed ern about minutes being rounded; operators not downloading dieicards for weeks on end; agency drivers finding the paper has run out and there is no replacement roll... And one owner-driver even refused to say "digital tachograph", let alone have one in his cab.
Working time
A total of 12 people had signed up for the 'Rules and Regulations Governing the Road Transport and Passenger Carrying Industries' course.
They were a mix of drivers, agency drivers, ownerdrivers and driver trainers — and, of course, the two tutors from contract hire and rental giant Fraikin.
After everyone had helped themselves to free coffee, Tim Williams. who was presenting the course, got the delegates to introduce themselves.
One had travelled from as far away as the Isle of Wight (IOW) to attend, pointing out that he was on the minute-to-midnight ferry back home. We got cracking...
The delegates (and ('M) mulled over and studied the issue of the Working Time Directive, then got stuck into the definition of Periods of Availability (POA) and exactly what they constituted.
Following another caffeine break, the delegates broke into groups to map out a working week and identify legitimate POAs, before discussing how a week's holiday is measured during the fortnightly driving period and then over a 17-week period.
Driving rules
With an assortment of agency workers and owner-drivers, where holiday simply constitutes no work, the question required input from all sides before anything resembling a definitive answer was reached.
The course offered strong tips for record keeping with analogue and digital tachos, and demonstrated how you can show due diligence when conducting daily checks and filling out defect sheets.
After lunch, subjects of derogation. driving time, breaks and rest periods were dealt with. It never fails to amaze us just how intimate drivers are with the rules that govern professional driving.
As the afternoon wound down, delegates tackled subjects such as moving vehicles during a designated rest period, going over allotted hours to reach designated parking, understanding when you can take a split-rest and make up the time, and getting to grips with doubt manning. Not to mention adding ink to digital printc and tacho discs.
As soon as the feedback forms were filled in, the delegates left, with the 10W-bound driver the first to