Hi…
Are there any rules/laws stating that you must be allowed access back to your cab; if you hand your keys in to be tipped; allowing you to change your tachograph mode?
Any information would be greatfully appreciated…
Snowmonster 
They don’t want you in the cab, in case you knock the hand brake off (or get too comfortable 
)
Put it on the correct mode when you leave it, either Break, POA or other work, if you’re assisting with the unloading (I usually put it on break) or don’t leave any valuables in the cab & leave it unlocked or have a spare key (or give 'em another set of keys 
)
If you get caught in the cab, they could stop unloading & ask you to leave site/banning you in future, then you’ve got to explain that to the boss when you get back 
Different DC’s have different rules & we are supposed to abide by them. (like the good little children that we are )
The argument we have at work at the moment is, if you select break or POA, and carry the keys and paperwork from the cab to the office, then fundamentally you are breaking the law, as you are stating your are on break whilst working… which VOSA could, and have in the past, done drivers for…
Which drivers have been done for handing paperwork in while on break?
The last time this subject came up one guy/girl said that once they back on the bay they eject the card, walk to the “hospitality” area, do the gubbins with paperwork etc, relax until tipped and paperwork and keys returned, then go back to the vehicle, insert card and do a manual entry for other work, break etc.
Pretty logical actually, although I personally just stick it on break once I’m on a bay as I’ve previously had ten minutes or so other work in parking up and handing paperwork in etc.
I was told some drivers were done at Fradley Park, concerning this issue…
Snowmonster:
Are there any rules/laws stating that you must be allowed access back to your cab; if you hand your keys in to be tipped; allowing you to change your tachograph mode?
I have found Sainsbury’s and Tesco’s to be the worst, others ones i’ve visited allow you back in the cab but hand the keys in.
I think handing keys in and trailer brake on should be more than sufficient and drivers should be allowed in their cabs if they choose.
Always someone will abuse this though and hand in a spare set or fake set, silly really as this shows us to be untrustworthy and leads to all drivers having to stay in waiting room.
If you need to go back to your cab think some will stop the loading / unloading process which causes more hassle. You could always say you have medication in your cab fridge you need to take after hours of waiting.
The rules are in place for safety but as with all H & S its bollox at best and aimed at the idiot who would want to drive off and kill folk in a moment of madness or the lowest lifeform who can barely function (usually found behind the wheel of Trucks ).
Nothing to stop us really going back to our cabs but as mentioned the threat of being banned and losing your job.
Obviusly the threat of being banned from some RDC’s is no threat whatsoever and can be a bonus…
I just thought, as it was a legal requirement to change the mode of your tachograph accordingly, then they legally had to allow you access to your tachograph to do this…
I have asked the question to VOSA, but they never/rarely/slowly get back to you…
Cheers
Snowmonster…
Despite all the scare stories DVSA are not stupid. It would be accepted that you could put it on break before leaving the cab to hand paperwork in. If re accessing the cab was an issue. Where that is the case then it would.be sensible to show an extra 5 minutes of break (e.g. 50 mins) to allow for the handing in of paperwork.
If you were really THAT worried about it then ejecting the card and manual entries would be the easiest solution but it’s clear by many posts on here that those that make manual entries are somehow lesser drivers for wanting to do the job properly.
If your that terrified about it leave it on work
it could be argued the toss your not on break until you have removed the key from locking up the vehicle where does it end
Snowmonster:
I was told some drivers were done at Fradley Park, concerning this issue…
Was this the same drivers who tell us about the time that they called the police, who chalked their tyres & insisted on a bay either side being left clear while they have a 9 hour break ?
Assuming it’s a digi Tacho just make sure it defaults to other work when you stop & stays on that when you switch off & remove the key, some default to rest on stopping engine. Then there is no reason to get back in to change mode.
I’ve been led to belive that if you are backed on to a bay, that this cannot be counted as daily rest as you may be required to move your vehicle (don’t get me wrong I have put it on break before, and will possibly do so in the future)
I normally put it on POA . This was also brought up at my last CPC course, they said that most tacho’s built after 2010 are Bluetooth, which means VOSA can just drive by You vehicle and down load your card.
I’ve heard of drivers being pulled leaving Lidl’s and Aldi’s that self tip.
Can anyone confirm these!
Stevie B71:
I’ve been led to belive that if you are backed on to a bay, that this cannot be counted as daily rest as you may be required to move your vehicle (don’t get me wrong I have put it on break before, and will possibly do so in the future)
I normally put it on POA . This was also brought up at my last CPC course, they said that most tacho’s built after 2010 are Bluetooth, which means VOSA can just drive by You vehicle and down load your card.I’ve heard of drivers being pulled leaving Lidl’s and Aldi’s that self tip.
Can anyone confirm these!
1, aslong as you are not doing the unloading then yes you can put it on break.
2, , no vosa cant drive by and check you but that may happen in the future.
- yes vosa have been known too pull in drivers that have just unloaded/loaded at aldi/lidl because they know that the driver unloads/loads himself and they know some will try and grab a break doing it.
All this cant do this,cant do that` really gets my back up.Back it on the bay,put it on break, hand in paperwork and keys then go and sit,sleep, get generally fed bull ■■■,whatever. You are not unloading the truck, numpty on a forklift is, so your having a break.
To answer the original query - No, there are no rules or laws which say you must be allowed access to your cab to change the mode on your tacho.
If you are leaving the cab and you think you might need to change modes while you are away (e.g. if you know you will be helping to unload before going off for a break while A N Other carries on without you) then you could eject the card and do a manual entry on your return, or do a (written) manual entry on a printout afterwards to correct the record (as per the Regs…).
As an hourly paid drone I never, ever put it on break when tipping regardless of where I go or what I am allowed to do. Can’t understand why anyone would.
BillyHunt:
As an hourly paid drone I never, ever put it on break when tipping regardless of where I go or what I am allowed to do. Can’t understand why anyone would.
I’m hourly paid and as long as I’m not involved in the tipping or loading I stick it on break every time. It does help of course that I don’t get deducted these breaks. The reason I do this though is that just maybe by having a break there I will have enough time to get to my next tipping/loading point before they go home. It could make the difference between parking up at 3 pm twiddling my thumbs or getting on to the next job and parking at 6 pm three hours pay the richer.
It goes without saying that I also take breaks for ME when it suits me.
m1cks:
Despite all the scare stories DVSA are not stupid. It would be accepted that you could put it on break before leaving the cab to hand paperwork in.
Really? You could take 10-15 minutes at a lot of RDCs to hand your paperwork in.
BillyHunt:
As an hourly paid drone I never, ever put it on break when tipping regardless of where I go or what I am allowed to do. Can’t understand why anyone would.
Even for an hourly paid driver, it could still make the difference between getting back to base/your own (or someone else’s) bed within your 13/15 hours and having to kip in a layby.