i have been asked to find something out.
a large company have taken over the bin lorry work from my local council, “i’m not amused”.
however, the drivers are a good bunch of lads.
they have run on log books for years, but now they want them to use a digi card.
my question is this. can a digi tacho be re programmed to domestic regs, or is it designed for eu regs only?
the differences are:
domestic 5.5 hours driving=30 minutes break.
EU 4.5 hours driving=45 minutes break.
there are many more, but these are the main ones that concern the lads.
i’ve told them to run on “out of scope” but they have shop steward that needs a cut from the union, so he won’t accept such an easy outcome, he will ride out this new digi tacho proposal until he’s on a beach in the sun.
Simple answer is that the Digital Tacho cannot be reprogrammed to work under GB Domestic rather than EU rules.
Not sure where you get your 5.5 hours working then break from. There are NO break requirements under GB Domestic hours rules for HGV drivers (there are break requirements for PSV drivers running under GB Domestic). Nor are drivers under GB Domestic subject to RT(WT)R. The only requirement under GB Domestic for wagon drivers is that in the 24 hour period they do not do more than 10 hours driving and 11 hours work.
There is nothing to stop the drivers continuing to use Log Books when the vehicle is fitted with a Digital Tacho and they are running GB Domestic. The only problem is that the VU will continue to warn them that they are ‘driving without a card.’ Although that is solved by the series 2 Digitals when run ‘out of scope.’ But I doubt that the Operator is going to want to replace all the old VUs just to stop that. The drivers could use the Digital Tacho with their driver card in and select ‘out of scope’ but the recording will show all those ‘unscheduled stops’ that a Log Book won’t.
geebee45:
Simple answer is that the Digital Tacho cannot be reprogrammed to work under GB Domestic rather than EU rules.
Not sure where you get your 5.5 hours working then break from. There are NO break requirements under GB Domestic hours rules for HGV drivers (there are break requirements for PSV drivers running under GB Domestic). Nor are drivers under GB Domestic subject to RT(WT)R. The only requirement under GB Domestic for wagon drivers is that in the 24 hour period they do not do more than 10 hours driving and 11 hours work.
There is nothing to stop the drivers continuing to use Log Books when the vehicle is fitted with a Digital Tacho and they are running GB Domestic. The only problem is that the VU will continue to warn them that they are ‘driving without a card.’ Although that is solved by the series 2 Digitals when run ‘out of scope.’ But I doubt that the Operator is going to want to replace all the old VUs just to stop that. The drivers could use the Digital Tacho with their driver card in and select ‘out of scope’ but the recording will show all those ‘unscheduled stops’ that a Log Book won’t.
the GB domestic regs are as follows.
Take a break of at least 30 minutes when you have been driving for 5.5 hours. Alternatively, within a period of 8.5 hours, you must take breaks that add up to at least 45 minutes. This is so that you are not driving for more than seven hours and 45 minutes. You must take an additional break of 30 minutes at the end of this period to get refreshments, unless it is the end of the day.
Ensure that in any working day the maximum amount of driving is ten hours. You should also make sure that you should work no more than 16 hours between the times of starting and finishing work.
Take a continuous rest of ten hours between two consecutive working days. You can reduce this to 8.5 hours up to three times a week.
Have at least one period of 24 hours off duty in any two consecutive weeks.
Sorry Phil I think you are mixing the 2 different sets of rules, relating to PSV & HGV drivers.
Rules for drivers of passenger carrying vehicles
Taken fron PSV 375 page 24
Domestic driving limits
Driving is defined as being at the controls of a vehicle for the purposes of controlling its movement, whether it is moving or stationary with the engine running, even for a short period of time. Breaks and continuous driving
After 5.5 hours of driving a break of at least 30 minutes must be taken in which the driver is able
to obtain rest and refreshment.
Alternatively, within any period of 8.5 hours in the working day, total breaks amounting to at least
45 minutes are taken so that the driver does not drive for more than 7 hours and 45 minutes. The driver must in addition have a break of at least 30 minutes to obtain rest or refreshment at the end of this period, unless it is the end of the working day. Daily driving
In any working day, the maximum amount of driving is 10 hours. The daily driving limit applies
The rules for HGV drivers
Taken from GV262 page 26
Domestic driving limits
Driving is defined as being at the controls of a vehicle for the purposes of controlling its movement,
whether it is moving or stationary with the engine running, even for a short period of time. Daily driving
In any working day the maximum amount of driving permitted is 10 hours. The daily driving limit applies
to driving on and off the public road. Off-road driving for the purposes of agriculture, quarrying, forestry,
building work or civil engineering counts as duty rather than driving time.
Day: The day is the 24-hour period beginning with the start of duty time. Daily duty
In any working day the maximum amount of duty permitted is 11 hours. A driver is exempt from the daily duty limit (11 hours) on any working day when he does not drive.
A driver who does not drive for more than 4 hours on each day of the week is exempt from the daily
duty limit.
geebee45:
Simple answer is that the Digital Tacho cannot be reprogrammed to work under GB Domestic rather than EU rules.
Not sure where you get your 5.5 hours working then break from. There are NO break requirements under GB Domestic hours rules for HGV drivers (there are break requirements for PSV drivers running under GB Domestic). Nor are drivers under GB Domestic subject to RT(WT)R. The only requirement under GB Domestic for wagon drivers is that in the 24 hour period they do not do more than 10 hours driving and 11 hours work.
There is nothing to stop the drivers continuing to use Log Books when the vehicle is fitted with a Digital Tacho and they are running GB Domestic. The only problem is that the VU will continue to warn them that they are ‘driving without a card.’ Although that is solved by the series 2 Digitals when run ‘out of scope.’ But I doubt that the Operator is going to want to replace all the old VUs just to stop that. The drivers could use the Digital Tacho with their driver card in and select ‘out of scope’ but the recording will show all those ‘unscheduled stops’ that a Log Book won’t.
the GB domestic regs are as follows.
Take a break of at least 30 minutes when you have been driving for 5.5 hours. Alternatively, within a period of 8.5 hours, you must take breaks that add up to at least 45 minutes. This is so that you are not driving for more than seven hours and 45 minutes. You must take an additional break of 30 minutes at the end of this period to get refreshments, unless it is the end of the day.
Ensure that in any working day the maximum amount of driving is ten hours. You should also make sure that you should work no more than 16 hours between the times of starting and finishing work.
Take a continuous rest of ten hours between two consecutive working days. You can reduce this to 8.5 hours up to three times a week.
Have at least one period of 24 hours off duty in any two consecutive weeks.
As geebee45 said there are no break requirements or weekly rest requirements for drivers of goods vehicles driving to domestic regulations
This Order modifies, in relation to the drivers of goods vehicles, the provisions of section 96 of the Transport Act 1968 (which relates to permitted driving times and periods of duty). Drivers who drive goods vehicles for all or the greater part of their time spent driving vehicles to which Part VI of the 1968 Act applies are exempt from all the provisions of section 96 except the daily driving limit in subsection (1) and the daily duty limit in subsection (3)(a) ( article 2).
I`ve been on log book for years untill recently. The basic rules are to show no more than 11 hours work and no more than 5 hours driving otherwise you run the risk of having your log book revoked due to it not being your secondary job function, if you exceed 5 hours driving it will be seen to be a major part of the day is driving. Many North london utility Companies are exempt to the DCPC for this very reason.
