I am trying to get into driving full time by firstly doing some weekend work in tangent with my weekday job. One of the agencies I have recently signed up with for has stated that I should be fine doing most weekends, regardless of the weekly rest rules because:- (their words!!)
- it is highly doubtful I would get a DVSA check at weekends
- They would not realise that I had another job anyway, they don’t go into that much detail
I certainly would not take this type of advice as fact from an agency anyway as it isn’t their licence on the line. Just wondering what the more professional drivers on here reckon about this
I reckon the advice is pretty sound.
They have given you the real world answer. There are many do gooders on here who will get upset about it. You either want to work then or not. It’s up to you.
Chances are you could get away with this for years, until something goes wrong that is and if you should be involved in a serious accident, even if completely blameless, you will be investigated and the crap will hit the fan big time, all of it ending up on you.
Of course that’s when you draw out and flaunt your get of jail card, that letter from the agency explaining how all this is fine…they did put their considered advice in writing one supposes 
Keep yourself legal mate.
Juddian:
Chances are you could get away with this for years, until something goes wrong that is and if you should be involved in a serious accident, even if completely blameless, you will be investigated and the crap will hit the fan big time, all of it ending up on you.
Of course that’s when you draw out and flaunt your get of jail card, that letter from the agency explaining how all this is fine…they did put their considered advice in writing one supposes
Keep yourself legal mate.
Yep I was thinking about the outcome if an accident occurred and I’ll have to ask if they’d be willing to put this in writing, I won’t expect it to materialise tho 
I wouldn’t risk it, only takes an accident and you’re screwed if they find out you have another full time job.
Depends what your weekday job is…if its tacho regulated, then you will have your card checked by whoever, and it will of course show up any driving work/hours you have done for the week/month…so you are leaving yourself wide open, if however its not driving related, then you can drive weekends with a smile on your face 
truckyboy:
Depends what your weekday job is…if its tacho regulated, then you will have your card checked by whoever, and it will of course show up any driving work/hours you have done for the week/month…so you are leaving yourself wide open, if however its not driving related, then you can drive weekends with a smile on your face
Work is work whether driving is involved or not. The issue here is not driving hours but weekly rest periods. “Other work” means exactly what it says.
didnt think `other work meant another job…i thought it meant loading/unloading anything other than driving ! but as the op said, he has another job already, but didnt say whether it was driving related.
truckyboy:
didnt think `other work meant another job…i thought it meant loading/unloading anything other than driving ! but as the op said, he has another job already, but didnt say whether it was driving related.
It means ANY other paid employment; in fact in certain circumstances I think it can even go further than that and include voluntary work you do for free, even if no driving is involved.
My existing weekday job (even though it isn’t tacho regulated) does affect any driving hours I would do at weekends. The 45 hours weekly rest period would not be achieved so could only work every other weekend when I’m allowed 24 hours rest.
It is difficult trying to get the experience up a bit without committing fully and giving my full time job up and relying on agencies to provide enough work 
Theyre right in what theyre saying.
However the fact they said it in the first place would set alarm bells ringing for me
Have you tried getting a full time driving job? You say relying on agency but you may get in somewhere direct if you try
kcrussell25:
Have you tried getting a full time driving job? You say relying on agency but you may get in somewhere direct if you try
Funnily enough I’ve just applied for a couple of full time jobs this afternoon, it’s just the lack of experience that might let me down, hence agencies for a while
NorthernApe:
kcrussell25:
Have you tried getting a full time driving job? You say relying on agency but you may get in somewhere direct if you try
Funnily enough I’ve just applied for a couple of full time jobs this afternoon, it’s just the lack of experience that might let me down, hence agencies for a while
Might is the key word. No harm in trying. If they want someone they will take you. 6 months in I was working in a 2 years experience required job
The-Snowman:
Theyre right in what theyre saying.
However the fact they said it in the first place would set alarm bells ringing for me
Apologies in advance if this comes across as a bit thick, but if they are right in what they’re saying why would alarm bells ring
kcrussell25:
NorthernApe:
kcrussell25:
Have you tried getting a full time driving job? You say relying on agency but you may get in somewhere direct if you try
Funnily enough I’ve just applied for a couple of full time jobs this afternoon, it’s just the lack of experience that might let me down, hence agencies for a while
Might is the key word. No harm in trying. If they want someone they will take you. 6 months in I was working in a 2 years experience required job
Very true , I am going to keep applying, however I have 0 months at moment 
NorthernApe:
The-Snowman:
Theyre right in what theyre saying.
However the fact they said it in the first place would set alarm bells ringing for me
Apologies in advance if this comes across as a bit thick, but if they are right in what they’re saying why would alarm bells ring
Because whilst it may happen in practice (as opposed to being “right”) it’s illegal; and if they’re prepared to flout the rules in that way they may well turn out to be far less than professional in other matters.
Respect to you for thinking the right way though.
NorthernApe:
kcrussell25:
NorthernApe:
kcrussell25:
Have you tried getting a full time driving job? You say relying on agency but you may get in somewhere direct if you try
Funnily enough I’ve just applied for a couple of full time jobs this afternoon, it’s just the lack of experience that might let me down, hence agencies for a while
Might is the key word. No harm in trying. If they want someone they will take you. 6 months in I was working in a 2 years experience required job
Very true , I am going to keep applying, however I have 0 months at moment
I started off with 0 months at a “minimum two years experience” place. It can be done.
Sidevalve:
NorthernApe:
The-Snowman:
Theyre right in what theyre saying.
However the fact they said it in the first place would set alarm bells ringing for me
Apologies in advance if this comes across as a bit thick, but if they are right in what they’re saying why would alarm bells ring
Because whilst it may happen in practice (as opposed to being “right”) it’s illegal; and if they’re prepared to flout the rules in that way they may well turn out to be far less than professional in other matters.
Respect to you for thinking the right way though.
Aah I see, those pesky agencies and their “helpful advice” 
The other thing to remember is many companies you work for will ask you when you last worked (any job) and what time you finished. This is a legal declaration to get them off the hook and the agency if you had an accident and you into deep ■■■■ if not legal.
Its a bit of a leap admittedly into this world (took me 6 months), but personally I’d hang around until one of those companies realises that new drivers aren’t all that bad and give you a fulltime job. Some might even give you a bit of weekend work or even as a second driver then take you on. Try smaller companies for this inc ones who aren’t “logistics” companies.
Advantage is you don’t get a call at 2am wanting you to be at some random place at 3am to pickup a truck you never driven when theres no one else around. Agencies will do that to you and its not fun even after gaining experience.
Other things to consider:
-
You could be doing 15 hours (plus travelling) on a Sunday then going to work Monday on virtually no sleep (24+ hours is horrible!) even though its perfectly legal.
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If you got 4 hours sleep after a Sunday job, drive to normal job and get in an accident regardless of who’s fault it is, they could try to use the lack of sleep to land it on you.
Ok this sounds like the doom and gloom scenario but just don’t want anyone thinking that working 5 days then doing something as stressful as HGV driving with no backup on an extra day is remotely easy.
Mind you, its pretty terrifying after 3 years too…but that’s just going by the looks of the other motorists I pass nightly!