Hi Guys
Need some real advice as I think I have been hired by Cowboys
I recently stopped as a Licensed Private Hire driver. Near where I lived I answered an advert for Short Term Contract for 7.5T drivers no experience needed will train.
I’m 44 and have an old style licence that gives me all the entitlements to driver 7.5T.
I was surprised on interview that a driving test was not expected and told I was hired for 3 days. Day One I drove three 7.5T Trucks and was stopped by a Police random speed check. I was asked for Tacho, well this where things got tricky.
See I thought Tacho was for 16T trucks, I told the company at interview I had no experience of 7.5T and on Day One I was given no training just chucked two sets of keys at me and told to drive to locations. Police was not happy but as I was close to Yard and I explained to Police the above I was warned with no further action. This truck had a manual Tacho which the POLICE showed me behind the speedo, I never knew it was there, on return to yard I was given a very quick overview on manual Tacho.
Day Two I was told to take a new truck out and to show I was totally green I went back to Foreman and said I can’t get the speedo open for Tacho. He then informed me that its Digital Tacho and then said if you get stopped by Police for no Digital Tacho you say the company has applied for a Tacho for me and you have a months grace. So all day I drove with no Tacho.
Day Three I get talking to a driver from another firm at destination and explained all of the above. He then tells me even if you have no Digital Tacho you still must have a Tacho to record manually.
On return the firm asked me to do some more days but I made my excuses saying sorry I was booked for 3 days I’m now busy the rest of the week. This Friday I have a meeting booked to discuss further work but I’m very concerned as I see Fork Lift Drivers at the yard that have told me they have no licence for forks and the guy told me no one does, yet the yard is on a Public road.
I then here from other guys that on Long Jobs Drivers get no rest and on coming from a Devon job the driver was falling a sleep. Then I here the trucks a regularly over loaded and the driver is expected to drive.
Advice for green driver to trucks please
Thanks
Can you get me an application form? I’ve got my own spurs, chaps and ten gallon hard hat 
Come on then, lets have the name of the firm… 
well he did say he had been hired by cowboys so it must be WELLS FARGO. 
MrHappy:
Come on then, lets have the name of the firm…
lol
Can’t do that as I’ll be using all the Breaches to make sure I get paid.
No Pay !
3 Day Report to: VOSA, Health & Safety Executive, Emigration, Inland Revenue
44 Tonne Ton:
MrHappy:
Come on then, lets have the name of the firm…
Pony Express?
Marquee company in London
Dodgy007:
MrHappy:
Come on then, lets have the name of the firm…
lol
Can’t do that as I’ll be using all the Breaches to make sure I get paid.
No Pay !
3 Day Report to: VOSA, Health & Safety Executive, Emigration, Inland Revenue
I really wouldn’t do that, you’re gonna leave yourself wide open. Ignorance is NO excuse I’m afraid. 
Are you going to Emigrate? 
BTW, GTF out of there and stay out 
I think i’d be a bit careful about reporting to vosa, after all you did drive illegally for three days yourself. To drive a digi tacho vehicle you must have a digi card, no card no drive as I understand it. Fair enough you said you told them that you had no experience so you could possibly be excused day one, but as for days 2 and 3, you have gone along with what you have been told by a foreman in the yard, which is the equivalent of MMTM and is a cardinal sin. You might have been better off finding out some more info from the dft website which would have given you the correct information from the off.
As for my digi card comment, that may or may not be correct of course which is why you should never take advice from anybody on forums as we are mostly knowitallknownothing merchants
dinosteveus1:
Dodgy007:
MrHappy:
Come on then, lets have the name of the firm…
I really wouldn’t do that, you’re gonna leave yourself wide open. Ignorance is NO excuse I’m afraid.
Are you going to Emigrate?
BTW, GTF out of there and stay out
Emigrate ? no Londoner 
If there is problem with pay then I’ll do anonymous reports
MrHappy:
I think i’d be a bit careful about reporting to vosa, after all you did drive illegally for three days yourself. To drive a digi tacho vehicle you must have a digi card, no card no drive as I understand it. Fair enough you said you told them that you had no experience so you could possibly be excused day one, but as for days 2 and 3, you have gone along with what you have been told by a foreman in the yard, which is the equivalent of MMTM and is a cardinal sin. You might have been better off finding out some more info from the dft website which would have given you the correct information from the off.
As for my digi card comment, that may or may not be correct of course which is why you should never take advice from anybody on forums as we are mostly knowitallknownothing merchants
Ok cool thanks for the heads up
Say no more, if its the Marquee company i’m thinking of then you might as well forget reporting them, you’ve got about as much chance as a pork chop in a synagogue of grassing them up! I shouldn’t worry about it, they would only keep you on for the summer while its busy then its “See you later” at the end of the season. They won’t be worried about tacho’s and hours, during the summer months they will run and run until they get caught or the vehicles break down so your better off out of it. Put this one down to experience and if you want to continue driving for a living then do a bit of research on the rules and regs
Digi card info is correct, if you haven’t got one - you can’t drive. Only exception is if your card got damaged, then you have 15 (I think) days grace whilst waiting for your new one. BUT you have to have held a digi card first.
And I agree - get out and never return, chalk it up to experience 
So if your gonna do an anonymous report, now you can name and shame
i wouldent be reporting it fella ignorance is no defence if you hold the licence your expected to no the rules which is fair enough
