I know this sounds like an odd question, but would you run without one?
Personally I wouldnt…EVER…but it amazes me to see the number of drivers who do.
nope never…
Its also illegal
Never. I dont even shunt without one. I tell you why. I once had a truck with dodgy jaws on the 5th wheel. They click shut and locked but for some reason 50% of the time when you gave it a tug they would open up again. The reason being is that the lever was coming forward. This is something the clip stops happening as the lever needs to come forward to be pulled out. So therefore, assuming that any 5th wheel could develop that fault at any time I would NEVER even so much as shunt 50 metres without one.
Definitely not. I once left a job cause the lorry didn’t have one
I can send you a link to one of our former posters on here , he has discussed this in detail on
another truck drivers forum
but it and he must remain nameless on here due to sheer stupidity but if you send me a P.M. i can send you a link to it.
Safety Clip. The word safety tells you all you need to know. It is a safety device and as such a necessary piece of kit. No way would I run without one.
Thanks for the input guys.
Im not new to the job and I know ■■■■ well its very illegal, but we have a tractor unit hired to our company from a large hire company. The clip is missing and the chain has been purposely fastened to the release lever. Its actually come from the hire company like this.
I defected it over 2 weeks ago, but the other day I saw it come into the yard and decided to take a look , and low and behold , Still no clip. I pulled the driver , who incidentally has been using this truck for about 2 months now, I advised him about the clip and he just shrugged his shoulders and walked off.
I even warned him that if he dropped a trailer and someone got killed, he’s pretty certain to be banged up , probably on a manslaughter charge, but did he take any notice.
Ive yet again defected the truck for having no clip, and still it hasnt been replaced by the driver or management.
I’d do it myself, but being one of only two night drivers, we dont get access to the spares shed. Its locked up once the day drivers have gone home.
What a set up 'eh, and to think I drive for arguably one of the largest transport companies in the world.
you’ve complied with H&S act 1974 its up to the managment now
I need a spare one of them for my bag .
paul@midway:
I need a spare one of them for my bag .
Nick it off a unit then defect it. Unit gets a new shiny one and you get a spare for your bag. Everyone’s a winner.
Puts tin’at on and waits for the stick. 
paul@midway:
I need a spare one of them for my bag .
standard equipment for an agency driver, I carry 1 in my pocket as I find those automatic JOST 5th wheels with the sping clip never have em on 
funny though, coz theres a hole on the bracket for a dogclip to be fitted 
When I asked at Mill tspt this week, why the unit didnt have a dog clip fitted to the jost 5th wheel, I was told by the driver "it came from scania like that, it dont need 1" funny… I replied “whats that hole there for then?”
oddly though he claimed to be the H&S rep for the drivers
I even warned him that if he dropped a trailer and someone got killed, he’s pretty certain to be banged up , probably on a manslaughter charge, but did he take any notice.
Very grey area here. It is the drivers responsibilty to make sure that the truck and load he is in charge of is safe - so the buck could well stop at you.
The fact thas you have reported the defect would certainly not act in your defence, it could make you even more liable.
In court it could be brought up that you knew the vehicle was defective but were still willing to take it out. Be very careful!!!.
If there was an accident then dont think for one minute that the company would take the blame. They would thow you to the wolves without a second thought.
You could lose your licene and your job. If it were me I would walk while I still had a licence to get another job.
jammymutt, thanks for he link mate. Seems strange that two people would ask this question on two different forums, and only a few days apart.
I do carry more than one spare clip and would NEVER run without one.
Mothertrucker, I actually quizzed one of our supervisors about the "responsibility “thing about a year ago, concerning faulty ABS.
I had already spoken Anon to VOSA at Chadderton, so already had my answers, but I decied to take the management to task.
I asked " If I didnt defect a truck, but just reported it to you verbally, and I had an accident caused by the defect, when the men in white coats turn up and ask if you knew about the fault,…Knowing your ■■■ could be fried, and your bank balance greatly reduced…WOULD YOU ADMIT KNOWING ABOUT IT ■■?”
His answer was “NO”, so that told me straight away where we stood with the management.
Another supervisor said he would admit it, I told him he was a liar.
I also know what you mean about being more liable AFTER Ive defected a truck. Myself and the other night driver are classed as the thorn in the sides because we pull the trucks up for everything and anything that would stop it from passing the MOT, and we refuse to drive them, whereas a lot of the day drivers [mostly class 2] will drive with the wheels hanging off if required.
I never used to be so picky, but about 10 years ago when driving for Parceline doing freight deliveries, I was asked to take a particular truck. It turned out the speed limiter wasnt working, so I carried on with the intention of defecting after the run. I was running past the weighbridge at Salmesbury [ between Preston and Blackburn] and I got pulled in. Guess what they were checking■■? Limiters.
Its a good job the men in white coats didnt go in the fuse box, because when I got back to the depot and mentioned it to the SUPERVISOR, he told me to “Just put the fuse back”. The Barsteward had taken it out a few days prior when using the truck himself, and never bothered to replace it.
I had to be dragged away from this ■■■■ and left the company quite soon afterwards.
From that day on I became a thorn in the transport offices side where faults are concerned. It my licence with my name on it.
Buttyman
If I didnt defect a truck, but just reported it to you verbally, and I had an accident caused by the defect, when the men in white coats turn up and ask if you knew about the fault,…Knowing your ■■■ could be fried, and your bank balance greatly reduced…WOULD YOU ADMIT KNOWING ABOUT IT ■■?"
His answer was “NO”, so that told me straight away where we stood with the management.
Very funny thing the law. This case rings bells with me because a few years ago a friend of mine reported a fault on a truck that went into the book. It was a faulty lock fastening on the back doors.
He thought he had fulfilled his obligations and took the truck out.
Going round a corner the door swung open and smashed into an oncoming car causing serious injuries to the driver and passenger.
Of course the official line of questioning took place and my friend said that the fault had been reported.
The firm freely admitted that it had been reported and was due to be fixed. So then the {zp} hit the fan and my friend found himself facing a jail sentence because he **knew [/**i]the vehicle was faulty and still took it onto the public highway - with disastrous consequenses.
The company said they thought the fitters had done the job - the fitters said they were waiting to do it etc etc.
The bottom line was it ended up all down to the driver. That is the point that I was trying to make.
Cover your own tail and walk!!
Buttyman:
The clip is missing and the chain has been purposely fastened to the release lever.
My current lorry has a similar design, like an “L” shaped clip comes down securing the lever in place and you pull on a chain to release, though the guy that done the driver assessment said this was legal.
Mine too, as well as a previous Scania. No hole or clip on either. My previous Iveco had a locking handle arrangement and again, no clip or hole. Both types scare me witless but are totally legal. 
Hooly:
Buttyman:
The clip is missing and the chain has been purposely fastened to the release lever.My current lorry has a similar design, like an “L” shaped clip comes down securing the lever in place and you pull on a chain to release, though the guy that done the driver assessment said this was legal.
Thats the set up on this truck in question. There is a hole for a clip just above the release lever.
Buttyman:
Thats the set up on this truck in question. There is a hole for a clip just above the release lever.
Had a look last night, as Lucy says neither clip nor hole…was actually going to fit my own clip had there been.
I read this with interest because my truck has one of those spring loaded L shaped things. First day on the job I defected it for that and a couple of other things, only to be told as long as it was spring loaded it was legal. I was dubious but left it at that.
A couple of weeks ago I was pulled over by Vosa for a vehicle inspection,ever get that sinking feeling. After they had done Vosa man came up to me and said “Looks a bit tatty but it’s all in in good order no faults at all”
Here in the US we don’t have the dog clips like they do back home. I haul tankers around and once it goes clunk, lift the legs and drive away…!!!
I had a trailer fall off the back at Booker Fitch in Livingston about ten years ago, so I know all about the reasons behind putting on a clip. My fifth wheel had faulty jaws, and it snapped the chain like it was string, trailer was fully loaded with beer, came right off the back and landed ■■■ up, right in front of the transport office…!!!
Stu