Dear oh dear … clearly not our very own Diesel Dave doing the ADR then!
Trickie:
Just done the first day of my ADR course and something that the tutor said was "daily checks are required by law at the start of every shift,20 minutes other work must be shown and by law you must fill out a daily defect check list.how much of this is true? I thought the only requirement was that you do your daily checks? Must you fill out a defect check list?
Hi Trickie,
Did the instructor actually say that the daily check and filling in a check sheet is required by ADR?
Or… was it just a general comment?
Wiretwister:
Saaamon:
I spend a couple of minutes looking round thats it, [zb] knows what all these people that spend 10mins or claim to be spending are doing.Lights (including brake & fog lights), tyres, wheel nuts (visual or twist with hand), fluid levels (oil, coolant, screen wash visual or dash display), wipers & washers working, tax disc, operators license ( unit and trailer), trailer MOT plate, number plates match, auxiliary equipment (Taillift, crane, PTO’s etc).
Better tuck that blue vest with a big yellow “S” on a red shield into your shirt Saaamon, your secret identity is showing.
Yes but any one who drives the same truck all the time knows their vehicle and doesn’t need to check the operators licence, tax disc or goodness knows what else each and every day. When I walk down the side of my trailer after finishing work for the night on the way in to the truckstop and see that my tires are not bald, they are not going to be bald the next morning, when I’ve just filled my screen wash two days ago and hardly used it, its not going to need filling again the next morning. When I know my truck doesn’t use any oil because it hasn’t needed a drop since I got it 9 months ago, I should check it but I’m probably going to miss it out more often than not because I know the vehicle like I know my car and I know my home. I’m not superman but I know my own vehicle and at least in my own case, it doesn’t take me more than 5 minutes to go over things that have realistic chance of needing attention. If you’re in a different truck every day, or someone else uses your truck on a night shift or vice versa then fair enough, but when you’re the only driver of the truck then I’d say that 5 minutes is enough and certainly no more than 10 minutes should ever be needed.
Saaamon:
I spend a couple of minutes looking round thats it, [zb] knows what all these people that spend 10mins or claim to be spending are doing.
Same here, I’m the only one who drives it and anything that’s going to become an issue gets noticed as it starts to go wonky. I spend a good bit of time filling up with fuel and always have a wander around looking at tyres and lights when I do so. It’s a different story when I occasionally have to drive the other one though, I can usually find something I’m not happy with 
robinhood_1984:
Yes but any one who drives the same truck all the time knows their vehicle and doesn’t need to check the operators licence, tax disc or goodness knows what else each and every day. When I walk down the side of my trailer after finishing work for the night on the way in to the truckstop and see that my tires are not bald, they are not going to be bald the next morning, when I’ve just filled my screen wash two days ago and hardly used it, its not going to need filling again the next morning. When I know my truck doesn’t use any oil because it hasn’t needed a drop since I got it 9 months ago, I should check it but I’m probably going to miss it out more often than not because I know the vehicle like I know my car and I know my home. I’m not superman but I know my own vehicle and at least in my own case, it doesn’t take me more than 5 minutes to go over things that have realistic chance of needing attention. If you’re in a different truck every day, or someone else uses your truck on a night shift or vice versa then fair enough, but when you’re the only driver of the truck then I’d say that 5 minutes is enough and certainly no more than 10 minutes should ever be needed.
Fair enough if you have your own allocated, or owned, vehicle. I can get any one from over 100 fleet vehicles based at my home depot, more with hired vehicle at peak times, so treat every day as a first time with the vehicle. In the past year I’ve found 2-3 trailers with tyres at or below 1mm of tread.
I’ve taken over units with no tax disc displayed only to find the allocated driver had wrapped it up with his paperwork and not put it into the holder, 3 weeks after the previous disc expired.
I’ve had trailers trans-shipped because the MOT had expired.
I’ve had a unit with no discernible oil in the sump because the dash display was defective and previous users wouldn’t get the workshop to tilt the cab to use the dipstick. There was no pool of oil in the ■■■■■■■■■■■■
I’ve had windscreen cracked for 6-8" in the center of the screen.
I’ve taken a unit over from another driver in the past month and found 3 marker lights out on the unit, only bulbs.
None of these are likely to develop between trips so I reckon I’ll keep checking and taking the time that I need, about 40 minutes with the paperwork, tacho manual entries, and cover my own back from the knives of some of my “workmates”.
Totally agree Wiretwister, in your circumstances you’re definetely doing the right thing and I’d be doing the very same.
When i got pulled by Vosa they checked my card, and said i wasnt showing any vehicle check time. I must show a minimum of 5 mins, and if any defects found report them by way of the defect book. The trailer had 2 defects on it, minor ones, and i’d put them in the defect book. Vosa said had i not reported them i would be the one paying a fine. Because there were no infringements they gave me the 5 mins check as advice and took no firther action.
Dieseldave, it just came up he meant in general
I’m struggling to think of an occasion when a driver has brought a vehicle into the workshop after their checks with a defect that would have represented an immediate danger to road safety. Ok, stuff like a faulty screenwash does really need to be done before going out on the road but also it’s not going to result in immediate carnage as soon as they leave the yard. At the end of the day there’s only so much that can be checked from an exterior walk round of the vehicle and spending 15 mins is bonkers some VOSA test stations will do an MOT in less than that.
Own Account Driver:
I’m struggling to think of an occasion when a driver has brought a vehicle into the workshop after their checks with a defect that would have represented an immediate danger to road safety. Ok, stuff like a faulty screenwash does really need to be done before going out on the road but also it’s not going to result in immediate carnage as soon as they leave the yard. At the end of the day there’s only so much that can be checked from an exterior walk round of the vehicle and spending 15 mins is bonkers some VOSA test stations will do an MOT in less than that.
^^This^^ Well said.
robinhood_1984:
Yes but any one who drives the same truck all the time knows their vehicle and doesn’t need to check the operators licence, tax disc or goodness knows what else each and every day. When I walk down the side of my trailer after finishing work for the night on the way in to the truckstop and see that my tires are not bald, they are not going to be bald the next morning, when I’ve just filled my screen wash two days ago and hardly used it, its not going to need filling again the next morning. When I know my truck doesn’t use any oil because it hasn’t needed a drop since I got it 9 months ago, I should check it but I’m probably going to miss it out more often than not because I know the vehicle like I know my car and I know my home. I’m not superman but I know my own vehicle and at least in my own case, it doesn’t take me more than 5 minutes to go over things that have realistic chance of needing attention. If you’re in a different truck every day, or someone else uses your truck on a night shift or vice versa then fair enough, but when you’re the only driver of the truck then I’d say that 5 minutes is enough and certainly no more than 10 minutes should ever be needed.
This is the difference between an OTR driver and an hourly paid driver …
Me im Hourly paid and given 25 mins for a rigid , 35 mins for a truck & trailer at the start of my shift to do my pre-trip inspection, and 5 mins at the end of my shift to make a note of any defects that happened in the day while im driving.
Now we all know you can do a quick visual check, but im being paid for that time, and nobody can make me do anything else during that time 
BigJon:
robinhood_1984:
Yes but any one who drives the same truck all the time knows their vehicle and doesn’t need to check the operators licence, tax disc or goodness knows what else each and every day. When I walk down the side of my trailer after finishing work for the night on the way in to the truckstop and see that my tires are not bald, they are not going to be bald the next morning, when I’ve just filled my screen wash two days ago and hardly used it, its not going to need filling again the next morning. When I know my truck doesn’t use any oil because it hasn’t needed a drop since I got it 9 months ago, I should check it but I’m probably going to miss it out more often than not because I know the vehicle like I know my car and I know my home. I’m not superman but I know my own vehicle and at least in my own case, it doesn’t take me more than 5 minutes to go over things that have realistic chance of needing attention. If you’re in a different truck every day, or someone else uses your truck on a night shift or vice versa then fair enough, but when you’re the only driver of the truck then I’d say that 5 minutes is enough and certainly no more than 10 minutes should ever be needed.This is the difference between an OTR driver and an hourly paid driver …
Me im Hourly paid and given 25 mins for a rigid , 35 mins for a truck & trailer at the start of my shift to do my pre-trip inspection, and 5 mins at the end of my shift to make a note of any defects that happened in the day while im driving.
Now we all know you can do a quick visual check, but im being paid for that time, and nobody can make me do anything else during that time
Translated in to English…
Spend 5 minutes doing the walk round check, followed by another 20 minutes in the tea room having a brew, as I get paid for 25 minutes for checking 
when i was running the garage for a building suplies company a few years ago we had a vosa check when we applied for more vehicles on the o licence.
one of the first things he pulled us up on was that we did not use a zero defect system,he more or less implied that this was a must as far as the variation was concerned.
we issued each driver with a defect book that had to be signed to say there were no defects or a defect note put in to me in the garage.
im not sure if its a legal requirement but the vosa man made it clear its what he wanted to see in place.
as you said, it is NOT a legal requirement, but they do like to see it
Trickie:
Dieseldave, it just came up he meant in general
Ahh… OK, thanks for that mate.
I only asked in order to clear up any possible BS, cos some instructors can get a bit carried away.
From an ADR point of view, fair play to your instructor though, because ADR has no actual requirement for a daily check form to be filled in for ADR purposes, although a company could make it a company policy. 
I always take between 15 and 30 minutes check trailor truck over and that includes tyre pressures on every tyre with a pressure gauge.
Please dont tell me many still do the ‘tyrekicking’ as a ways and means of determining tyre pressure. VOSA will jump all over you if your tyre or tyres are 10psi or more under inflated.
The truth of the matter is that there is no requirment by law to show any time. VOSA would like to see a period of time 10 or 15 minutes at the start of the working day (when you put your card in) . Other work mode should be used as you are carrying out “other work”. When I go to McBurney’s I check the unit over first, takes about 5 minutes. Then I pull off as the trailer will be elsewhere in the yard. Then I check that. It takes you roughly 25-30 minutes to get your keys, paperwork, check your motor, hitch up and leave the yard passing a check sheet in to security (as required by the company before you leave).
Every trailer you pick up is also subject to check’s and a completed check sheet.
I check everything 1) Incase there’s a problem that could cause me grief and 2) I don’t want blame for missing something that was already done.
The amount of trucks you see driving down motorways with headlights out in this country is shocking.
Vosa didnt say anything to me about not showing any time before setting off this morning…
tuckman:
I always take between 15 and 30 minutes check trailor truck over and that includes tyre pressures on every tyre with a pressure gauge.Please dont tell me many still do the ‘tyrekicking’ as a ways and means of determining tyre pressure. VOSA will jump all over you if your tyre or tyres are 10psi or more under inflated.
They won’t
Please tell me this is a joke. If not, why not get the jack out and check for play in the wheel bearings too.
tuckman:
I always take between 15 and 30 minutes check trailor truck over and that includes tyre pressures on every tyre with a pressure gauge.Please dont tell me many still do the ‘tyrekicking’ as a ways and means of determining tyre pressure. VOSA will jump all over you if your tyre or tyres are 10psi or more under inflated.
Now that’s proper RDC talk !!! Is this a wind up lol
And anyway I have some of those hundred quid Dr Martens boots with built in pressure gauge.
I own and maintain my truck, I know it’s little idiosyncrasies , I check the lights and make sure I’ve no flat tyres with said boots. Im doing container work at the minute and there’s more than enough time to have a good look round in daylight whilst tipping.
I agree with Robin hoods posts . It makes me laugh while tipping or loading at one of the big RDCs sat watching the shiney boot hi viz brigade with there million candle power torch and clipboard making a right meal of it doing there walk round and round and round . . . . . . . Checks. As someone’s already posted it takes less time for an MOT inspection