I have been doing recovery work for a few months and have worked for two firms - who seem to have differing stances on driving hours.
As I understand it one is ‘out of scope’ on tacho within a 60 mile (100km) as-the-crow-flies from base. Ideally one keeps the card in permanently and switches it to ‘Out’ on the menu for local work. I can’t lock my truck so don’t. The reason for this partial exemption from usual rules is for Police work… roads have to be cleared asap - there is not time to take a break after getting the call. One keeps a manual log of time which is also one’s timesheet. One should still take a WTD break between jobs/whenever possible.
Outside the radius one is ‘in scope’ for tacho - this work not being emergency which seems logical and appropriate. For me this has been long day trips so makes sense. One day on tacho means one has to take the 45 hours weekend rest. A google for ‘recovery driving hours’ gives one the following wordy document which is not really saying much! One should not work more than 11 hours per day although this can be extended for emergency work. Where has the 11 hours come from? Page 14 refers to domestic rules but one is not under domestic rules so that’s not the case. Drivers work for up to 13 hours per day which can be extended to 15, 3 times a week/between weekly rest periods. One cannot work on both systems so one is on EU rules. Not a helpful document! Only constructive passage is the one that refers to working time being accumulative and that makes sense. gov.uk/government/publicati … operations
Where I would be grateful for clarification from a colleague who works in the business is the following (should I be stopped by DVSA I want to know what to say);
a] max 60 working hours - well I do more than that as I work 6 days on - 3 days off.
b] the second firm have said that if one does an ‘in scope’ day - one needs to follow tacho rules for the rest of the week. i.e. day one of the working week I do a long trip and then abide by tacho rules for the rest of the week on local work. Given the nature of the work that is not possible. Consider winter for example - job after job of collisions due to icy conditions… next job oh “Sorry Officer let’s put all on hold - need a 45 min tacho break”. Common sense should prevail - the road has got to be cleared asap.
c] vehicle checks? Well as I never know when the phone will go - I do a vehicle check once a day and use POA. As it is something different and my checks tend to be late at night ready for the next day - best time for a vehicle check really. Certainly can’t do a vehicle check after receiving a call for a job. I put the card in, record the POA and remove it - putting it in again for a long trip. If that’s the case.
The first firm I worked for did have a DVSA inspection but didn’t disclose the result other than saying a ‘grey area’ regarding driving regulations. So I would welcome any comments to clarify issues.
My understanding is that if the vehicle never goes more than 100km from base then it is out of scope but if it ever goes more than 100km from base it is in scope for the whole time including under 100km
The exemption is unclear as to whether that applies daily, weekly or all the time
EXEMPTION
Specialised breakdown vehicles operating within a 100 km radius of their base.
‘Specialised breakdown vehicle’ was interpreted by the European Court as a vehicle whose construction, fitments and other permanent characteristics were such that it would be used mainly for removing vehicles that had recently been involved in an accident or broken down.
(a) You’re a part timer then Seriously, you need to choose who you work for very wisely. Most operators run a 2 tier system of ‘A’ team & ‘B’ team. The B team is considered expendable & run ragged, they have their list of excuses all lined up & finely honed. It’s not their fault that you accepted that last job despite having had no real sleep for 48hrs.
(b) They’re right, but just like you’ve discovered, it isn’t practical in the real world. All I can say is it’s extremely unlikely that anyone is ever going to fully & forensically check exactly what you’ve been working over any given period. That is until it all goes Pete Tong, in which case you’re on your own, they have all their excuses lined up & finely honed.
(c) I have several vehicles to choose from, each vehicle is better at specific types of jobs than the others. Each vehicle can be used by several differant drivers each day. At the start of a shift I pick my nominated vehicle, usually the crash unit, & thoroughly check it over on crossed hammers i.e. OTHER WORK. Each of our drivers does the same for their nominated vehicle. We all have our own personal kit that jumps to whatever truck we’re in & each truck has a kit that stays with the truck. CHECK YOUR KIT then CHECK IT AGAIN. We check our trucks after every job, especially the crash units. If we have to jump in a different truck during the day it gets a casual walk around & kit check, there is NO excuse for not doing this & YES you do have time. Am I worried that my card might not be registering a 15min ‘other work’ period of the check for the truck I’m driving . . . Not one little bit. DVSA are petrified of the recovery industry & rarely approach the drivers.
(d) It’s a great job if you can find a decent operator & get on their ‘A’ team.
ROG:
My understanding is that if the vehicle never goes more than 100km from base then it is out of scope but if it ever goes more than 100km from base it is in scope for the whole time including under 100km
The exemption is unclear as to whether that applies daily, weekly or all the time
Thanks - I deduced the exemption issue. It seems they don’t know to clarify it.
Dork Lard:
(a) You’re a part timer then Seriously, you need to choose who you work for very wisely. Most operators run a 2 tier system of ‘A’ team & ‘B’ team. The B team is considered expendable & run ragged, they have their list of excuses all lined up & finely honed. It’s not their fault that you accepted that last job despite having had no real sleep for 48hrs.
(b) They’re right, but just like you’ve discovered, it isn’t practical in the real world. All I can say is it’s extremely unlikely that anyone is ever going to fully & forensically check exactly what you’ve been working over any given period. That is until it all goes Pete Tong, in which case you’re on your own, they have all their excuses lined up & finely honed.
(c) I have several vehicles to choose from, each vehicle is better at specific types of jobs than the others. Each vehicle can be used by several differant drivers each day. At the start of a shift I pick my nominated vehicle, usually the crash unit, & thoroughly check it over on crossed hammers i.e. OTHER WORK. Each of our drivers does the same for their nominated vehicle. We all have our own personal kit that jumps to whatever truck we’re in & each truck has a kit that stays with the truck. CHECK YOUR KIT then CHECK IT AGAIN. We check our trucks after every job, especially the crash units. If we have to jump in a different truck during the day it gets a casual walk around & kit check, there is NO excuse for not doing this & YES you do have time. Am I worried that my card might not be registering a 15min ‘other work’ period of the check for the truck I’m driving . . . Not one little bit. DVSA are petrified of the recovery industry & rarely approach the drivers.
(d) It’s a great job if you can find a decent operator & get on their ‘A’ team.
a] Not sure about A or B team - the first firm simply were not getting the work they had envisaged so I got back in contact with the current firm who I had contacted initially but did not have a vacancy at the time. The first company pay a fee per job within a certain distance radius of the base and then so much per mile outside the 100 km. As I learnt being given long distance work was working out much less than local work. It would seem I was in the ‘B’ team as I noticed on time sheets that certain folk only did local jobs. The current firm pay driving time plus loading/unloading… some firms do pay hourly but not so common I gather in the industry. I seem to be considered for jobs immediately so with them I may have made the A team from the start! Long distance jobs pay better and that’s what most of mine are.
b] That what i’ve deduced. Today for example. 0400 call Transport Police job 20 mile away - a drunken driver had decided his car could motor up the rail track, came unstuck in the gravel and disappeared. I simply had to winch the car on board and take it to the secure yard. Second job was taking a car with an immobiliser fault to the local garage. Third job was a 100 mile trip starting at 1100 and finished about 1900. I put the card in for this job and took it out when finished.
c] Each firm it seems works differently. You have a shift pattern which neither of my two employers have had. I keep the truck at home and in this county Police jobs HAVE TO be attended within 45 mins. This morning I had just 30 mins to get there and probably took 10 mins to get ready - a vehicle check the night before seems a wise move considering. I have heard the DVSA approaching recovery drivers so I am just trying to prepare myself. A good manual log of work is kept as well as some record of vehicle checks. In my experience if one is considered for an early job like this morning - they keep you going for the next 12/13 and then finish. Bit like by default as to whether you are on early or late.
d] I love the work but it’s quite hard not knowing when the day may finish and what food to take with you… if you get the time to prepare it. I am still settling in but a bit harsh not being able to have proper meals. Of the two in the area clearly the current one is a better bet.
The worst of the bad operators expect a 12hr shift then put you on call out. Walk away.
One trick a Co’ I worked for in the early days used to really upset me. You’re the only driver in the yard so they’ll keep you back to cover the Police contract, at the same time a breakdown is sitting at the roadside waiting to be transported a 4hr drive. They’ll keep you back until another driver is free then send you on that 4hr recovery. This happened most often with 2-3hrs to go before a shift change. This means you are often working a 15-16hr day & it’s why a club member can often be waiting 4-5hrs for their transport.
The best Co’s to work for have enuff drivers to suit the different types of work & don’t need to juggle drivers to cover the Police work.
Things have changed over the last few years but the old time police turned a blind eye to Recovery, if the job got done, drink driving, licences, curfews were an afterthought as long as the mess was cleared up and the road reopened before breakfast [emoji505]
Maybe I’m just being a paranoid ■■■■ but im bothered by your doing the vehicle check the night before. To my mind I can’t know if or what may have changed on my vehicle whilst I’ve been away from it. To that end it should always be checked just prior to use.
IronEddie:
Maybe I’m just being a paranoid ■■■■ but im bothered by your doing the vehicle check the night before. To my mind I can’t know if or what may have changed on my vehicle whilst I’ve been away from it. To that end it should always be checked just prior to use.
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I suppose I vary the check depending when I finish work. If I finish or have a break in the evening say between 2100-2300 I’ll do a thorough vehicle check then. Other days like this past week I have returned at hours like 0200-0400 so I have done the check in the morning. I used POA just to make the point as my times are so variable. When I start the truck I do a quick check of lights etc whilst she is warming up but not what one could call a thorough 15min check like I would if I was starting work at a regular 0600 and working all day.
I work from home on 24 hour call with an assigned vehicle. For Police jobs one has to be there within 45 mins and like the job I mentioned Sleaford is 25-30 min drive and I have also got to allow a little spare time to find the location. As I understand it one has to do daily vehicle checks but not necessarily before you drive off. A recovery vehicle also has the speciallst equipment like the winch etc to test. How do you do a break light check when no one else is around other than fitting a mirror on the house wall… but you can do that check in the dark (most drivers I have found tend not to bother… brake light bulbs rarely go compared with say headlights). If I find a fault like the winch remote which I had on Wed I have to inform the office asap not ‘last minute’ 30 mins before a job.
Not perfect but the best way I can think of to cover myself.
My 24 hour shift starts at midnight so I have done the vehicle check beforehand. The firm try and keep drivers on the early shift if they have had a night job and finish at about midday. But if there isn’t a job in the morning then one will do the next job that comes in which may go into the evening thus changing to the late shift. [As the pdf document says recovery hours can be accumulative compared with other driving occupations]. If I have a late night and start work in the afternoon (after 9-11 hours daily rest) I do a vehicle check about midday in preparation for the late shift.
So either way I am doing a vehicle check before shift NOT the night before as I implied.
ROG:
My understanding is that if the vehicle never goes more than 100km from base then it is out of scope but if it ever goes more than 100km from base it is in scope for the whole time including under 100km
Spent some time getting a thorough grip on this. You are absolutely correct… the exemptions are almost irrelevant. I wouldn’t want to argue the case with an EO if stopped.
Seriously, you need to choose who you work for very wisely. Most operators run a 2 tier system of ‘A’ team & ‘B’ team. The B team is considered expendable & run ragged, they have their list of excuses all lined up & finely honed. It’s not their fault that you accepted that last job despite having had no real sleep for 48hrs.