Hello All
Im wondering about driving while on the dock, Felix to be exact. Its private property I think, and I always use the other duties mode for whatever Im doing while getting boxes on and off. Is this correct? Or, should I be using the driving mode for what bit of driving I am doing there. I aught to know this, but im not 100% sure.
Mal.
Well, Im glad to see I aint the only one that dont know this! 11 veiws and no reply yet, fair warms the cockles of me art guv! 
Mal.
Mal
Don’t you have an auto tacho, this should be recording any driving automatically regardless of mode selected. In this case you just have to remember to switch your hour guard over between driving and other work so you don’t inadvertantly go over your 4.5 hours before break time.
Just a thought
Jules
Yes Jules, it is an auto tach, and it will record the driving ok. Really, youve hit the nail on the head as to what Im wondering about, do I have to record it as driving time (the same as on a public highway) on the hours guard, or, because it is limited off public road driving, I sort of dont have to take it from my 9 hours on public highway time? See what I mean?
Mal.
The way I see it is this, if the tw…sorry, chap from the ministry comes looking at your tacho chart he’s going to be looking at ■■■■■■■■■■ driving time, so the safest bet would be to class all driving as driving time unless you are involved in some serious off road work (lots of time in a quarry for example)
Just a thought 
Jules
Yeah, I reckon better safe than sorry Jules, I would say that on the dock its more a case of serious sitting time, with a little driving! But, if I dont get a difinitive answer, Im gonna book it the same as all other driving time.
Mal.
Mal, I’m with your original view…if its off public highway, it don’t count.
If you’d just spent 3 consecutive hours driving a yard shunter, then got in your own truck & went out on the roasd…would you count that 3 hours towards your 4.5■■? Didn’t think so.
It is acceptable to write on the back of the disc “several periods of off road driving”. (if there’s not lots, you could even note the times aswell).
This came from an ex cop turned trucker.
Driveroneuk:
It is acceptable to write on the back of the disc “several periods of off road driving”. (if there’s not lots, you could even note the times aswell).
Well, thats the type of thing im wondering about Driver, I remember an Argos bloke moaning like a good’un about them keeping him shunting those demounts about in their place, he reckoned they said, it’s off road, so it dont count and write something on the back of the card. I have a bad memory sometimes though, and would like to know for sure.
Mal.
I see your point Driveroneuk, personally I’d err on the side of caution if it was short periods between waiting…but then again, that’s just me 
Jules
I’ve been digging around on this topic and the nearest I can come up with is in a Responsedocument to a DfT Consultation Paper which contains the following.
ARTICLE 4 - DEFINITIONS
Article 4(1) - Carriage by Road
Mixed views from industry about the inclusion of off-road driving. Those against believe it will lead to a substantial reduction in driver productivity. There are also calls for a “road” to be defined. The enforcement authorities suggest amending exemption to read “any journey made by a vehicle wholly or in part on roads open to the public”, as they see no need to include the driving of specialist site vehicles operating solely on roads to which the public do not have access.
Which infers that the EC Regulations do not currently define the word “Road” and by inference therefore, also “Off Road”.
Initially, this lapse in the legislation appears strange. But when you consider that the EC is legislating for a number of member Countries who all have differing road systems and transport links of varying quality, then it is logical that the EC would not seek to overrule/shape/interfere with, a member Countries primary legislation.
The definition of “Road” under the Vehicle (Excise) Act, and the Road Traffic Act, was explored on a recent thread about the M6 Toll Road.
From reading the section I have highlighted in blue, it seems reasonable to assume that the enforcement authorities are treating such private areas as “off road”.
Thanks for that info Krankee, it does seem vague to say the least! At the moment, based on what Ive learned so far, Im going to treat it as driving time as the times involved are not so great at any rate, BUT, I am forgetfull with the Hours Gaurd on the dock sometimes, which is why I wanted to be clear about this, I think there is a case for and against at the moment. Maybe the dock coppers at Felixstowe would know? just thought of that!
Mal.
I think you come up with a good one there Metal!
Heres a bit from the link:
The crux of this definition is whether or not the general public are allowed access to the dock areas, or only vehicles requiring access to businesses there. If the general public have access then it cannot be classed as ‘off road driving’. However if there is some obstacle to the general public, such as security, or a barrier etc to prevent access by the public then it is off road and any driving in this area is classed as ‘other duty’.
and a bit more:
If you only drive on private areas, (i.e. the docks), you do not need to keep a tachograph record. However if your duties involve driving on public roads you do.
snip:
Although the driving within the dock area is classed as other duty, it must be taken into account when considering weekly rest. For details of the taking of weekly rest please see drivers hours legislation.
Im 99% sure from that the other duties Ive been using is OK.
Cheers for that site MH!
Mal.
no worries mal as i say i dont know it myself but thankfully out there is lots of people who do and thankfully google allows us to find this stuff quickly and its just been stuff i have been looking up for to get myself re aqauinted with the industry so i think aha i know i seen somethign about that and there we go
yeah thanks Metal…a cracking useful link that.
as far as i can remember the dock roads are private with public access so normal highway code applies as such cannot be classed as off road driving
alix776:
as far as i can remember the dock roads are private with public access so normal highway code applies as such cannot be classed as off road driving
What about when youve gone under the caonpy? I can see it when going from Trinity to Languard or whatever, but actually on the dock I’d reckon that aint public.
Mal.
sorry ,al its still dosnt come up off road driving
Found this thread now (you were referring to from the Newbies forum Mal). I don’t know the answer, but from the stories outlined about the Ministry men there I would always leave it on driving mode whilst tramming about on the dock. It’s not worth the hassle nor trying to argue the point with the more powerful Ministry men. Your choice however 