Drivers Hour Guard Question

[tachograph]

Coffeeholic:

tachograph:
Being able to enter start and finish times, or any other activity manually would in no way deter from a timer keeping an accurate record

And you can indeed do that with the timer as it currently stands. As I said, all the entries you make are manual, you decide when to switch it to rest at the end of a shift and switch it from rest at the start. You press the various buttons during your shift to switch the device to and from other work, break and POA. As every entry you make is in fact a manual entry it already does what you want it to do.

OK, I mean it would useful to be able to enter start and finish times manually at a time to suit, without having to press the button at the correct time, I know you can make manual entries by pushing the appropriate button at the correct time.

Coffeeholic:
I think giving the option to go back and change things or to later them retrospectively would be a mistake. Previous incarnations of the Hours Guard have been looked on favourably by the likes of VOSA, with drivers reporting of being stopped and when the official notices they use an Hours Guard they dig less deeply than they might, and one of the reasons they did like the device was the fact you cannot make corrections or alter the info in anyway. If you could go back and alter things then I don’t think it could be sold as a way to accurately record your activities.

I can only speak for myself, but it doesn’t really bother me how VOSA regard a timer that I use, I have no problem with VOSA checking the times on my charts/card.

For me at least a timer is a tool to help keep track of work activities and times, I fail to see how if I push a button at a certain time or enter that same time retrospectively it changes the accuracy of the resulting record, weather or not VOSA or anyone else thinks that what shows on my timer is accurate is irrelevant as far as I’m concerned, as I said I see a timer as being a tool to aid the driver not VOSA, and therefore would prefer to have a tool (timer) that conveniences me rather than VOSA or anyone else.

[davey_driver]

tachograph:
For me at least a timer is a tool to help keep track of work activities and times, I fail to see how if I push a button at a certain time or enter that same time retrospectively it changes the accuracy of the resulting record, weather or not VOSA or anyone else thinks that what shows on my timer is accurate is irrelevant as far as I’m concerned, as I said I see a timer as being a tool to aid the driver not VOSA, and therefore would prefer to have a tool (timer) that conveniences me rather than VOSA or anyone else.

I can see where your both coming from and in an ideal world the ability to enter all the info manually as and when you wish would be great.

Or would it be?

If you can enter your 6.00 am start time into the timer at 11.30am along with the time spent doing driving, other work, poa and breaks then your basically missing the point of the timers purpose.

The whole original idea was to negate the need to keep records on post it notes stuck in the cab, or bits of paper blowing around in the wind.

Since the Hour Guard first hit the shops in July 2001over 60,000 were sold in the UK and 6,000 in France which generated a lot of feedback with “If It Could” and “Whats Missing Is”

A lot of the feedback has made the timer into what it is now, but there are limits as to how much it can do. If we had decided to allow manual entries to be made it’s not just a simple case of including that feature. For Example, the latest versions have 6 buttons, all of which have Multi Functions in different modes, to start including additional button presses, would then involve adding buttons to avoid button conflicts i.e pressing compen info in drive mode activates key lock but also allows the user to view the Compen Info etc giving it another purpose is not possible

All improvements come at a price, which the customer inevitably ends up paying at the shop till, if users expressed an interest in a piece of equipment that allowed them to litterally program it with everything they want, then I would consider having one brought out, if enough sales were there to cover the costs of developement.

Although the Hour Guards are designed for the Drivers, Some Vosa officers still look favourably on drivers using them, it was well publicised by drivers that when they were stopped on the M74 when Vosa officers saw the timer on the dash they rarely checked the tacho’s

Police in ■■■■■■■ also accepted the Hour Guard having purchased 3 themselves back in 2002 for officers to get familiar with.

My own experience of using the Hour Guard in the work place did not hinder any start times, I simply set the timer away when I clocked on and stopped it when I clocked off, but admittedly my main concern was that I was legal within my driving times.

[superlez]

I’m an agency Class 2 driver - and I can keep track of most of my work details in my head. Starting time, finishing time, working time, daily rest, weekly rest - you name it - no problem

But of course being agency Class 2, much of my work is multidrop, and trying to work out when my 4.5 hrs of driving time is up messes with my head

Does the Drivers Hour Guard help with this

[tachograph]

Davey Driver:
I can see where your both coming from and in an ideal world the ability to enter all the info manually as and when you wish would be great.

Or would it be?

If you can enter your 6.00 am start time into the timer at 11.30am along with the time spent doing driving, other work, poa and breaks then your basically missing the point of the timers purpose.

The timer doesn’t allow for manual entries (I know you can push the button manually ) so this is academic really.

Originally I said “It’s a shame they don’t make a version that allows for more manual setting by the driver” to allow for start and finish times to be input manually, now this has been construed as allowing all times to be entered at some later time in the day

Like I said before “that’s just my opinion and I’m sure some people will see things differently”

[xrt]

Just noticed this thread and this little gadget sounds just the job. Will more than likely order one when they become available

[peirre]

I wonder if the windscreen suction mounts will be available for the Mk1 & Mk2

[davey_driver]

SuperLez:
But of course being agency Class 2, much of my work is multidrop, and trying to work out when my 4.5 hrs of driving time is up messes with my head

Does the Drivers Hour Guard help with this

The Hour Guard screen gives you the time spent driving and also shows what time your break is due, so lets imagine you start at 06:00 am

The timer will automatically show your 45 minute break is due at 10:30 am

You drive for 1 hr and stop at a delivery point, you switch the timer to other work so it now records how long you spend in Other Work, after each complete minute it will alter your Break Before clock by 1 minute so if you spend 10 mins at the delivery point when you return to driving the break before clock shows your 45 minute break being due at 10:40

This happens at all delivery points as long as you tell the timer what your doing by pressing the buttons the same as you would on your tacho.

The timer also displays the time your shift must end by, so you started at 06:00 with a 15 hr shift available it will start warning you at 20:30 pm that you only have 30 mins remaining.

If you start at 6am and do 1hr driving and 5 hrs other work it will advise you of the WTD break being required

The timer will also allow you to take 2 breaks the 1st upto 44 minutes the second 30 mins minimum so if you took a 25 minute break it would insist a 30 minute break was taken as the second break not 15 as use to be the case.

If a 45 minute break is taken then you have complied with the break requirement and a new 4.5 hr drive period begins

Basically its a god send for any multi drop driver as it also includes the total recorded POA for the day and week and total other work for the day in the Search Info now so it helps you fill in any paperwork where the employer wants a list of totals such as poa or other work

Pierre unfortunately the Suction Mount bracket will not fit the CE01 and will only fit the CE02 if the battery compartment cover is replaced with one off the TS01

[tachograph]

SuperLez:
I’m an agency Class 2 driver - and I can keep track of most of my work details in my head. Starting time, finishing time, working time, daily rest, weekly rest - you name it - no problem

But of course being agency Class 2, much of my work is multidrop, and trying to work out when my 4.5 hrs of driving time is up messes with my head

Does the Drivers Hour Guard help with this

It will help to keep track of the 4.5 hours driving time, but then so would a £3 egg timer

[marcustandy]

I’m glad to hear that a new Hour Guard is coming. I had one previously and found it made keeping legal and ‘hours aware’ a doddle!

The only negative, Davey, was a couple of times (over rough ground IIRC) the whole timer went blank and then reset as if the battery contacts/circuit had been broken. All the stored info was then lost. Ever come across this problem before?

Looking forward to ordering the new version!!

[davey_driver]

tachograph:
It will help to keep track of the 4.5 hours driving time, but then so would a £3 egg timer

So does a £1.00 egg timer from the Pound Shop

In fact I can sell you one if you want for 85p

But as the Hour Guard keeps track of more than just the 4.5 hr Driving time it makes your post rather pointless

Marcustandy, yes it was a problem with the CE01 & I heard of the odd problem with the CE02, the suppliers have addressed this problem by making the battery compartment a fraction smaller so the battery is a tighter fit.

[lee_g]

Davey,

to add another dumb question for you…

when you select break, and take 45 mins, on a digital tacho it resets your driving time back to zero (IIRC) so if you have two breaks in a day (if you dont know length of delay so cant select poa or shuffling along a queue) and the final one is at least 30 mins and that takes it over the 45 mins your driving time is reset again. there fore if you have not remembered how long you have been driving (not much chance of this but bear with me) according to the tacho you have another 4.5 hours of driving as it doesnt remind you when your 9 hours is up for the day (2 x 4.5)

i know you could print it out and work it out yourself but what if you have run out of roll. ( i know its a hell of a lot of ifs and buts)

does the hour guard do this for you by remembering your total driving time for the day?

[limestone_cowboy]

All that info is available while in drive mode by pressing the search info button. Search through current day, week or fortnight.

[davey_driver]

Giblsa:
does the hour guard do this for you by remembering your total driving time for the day?

The Hour Guard tells you how long you have been driving today in total, along with the current period i.e first 4.5 hrs or second 4.5 hr period after a break.

As requested by many existing users of the timer, it now resets the driving period to zero after a 45 minute break so you can see how long your second driving period actually has been.

As Limestone Cowboy say’s, it’s all available in the Search info section

Press Search Info once and it will list Total Drive today and remaining drive time available based on 10 hrs if you have not used your 2 x 10 hr drive periods

[tachograph]

Davey Driver:

tachograph:
It will help to keep track of the 4.5 hours driving time, but then so would a £3 egg timer

So does a £1.00 egg timer from the Pound Shop

In fact I can sell you one if you want for 85p

But as the Hour Guard keeps track of more than just the 4.5 hr Driving time it makes your post rather pointless

Yes but as only the 4.5 hours driving time was asked about, a saving of well over £65 could be made by buying a cheaper timer, I’d hardly call that a pointless post

[davey_driver]

tachograph:
Yes but as only the 4.5 hours driving time was asked about, a saving of well over £65 could be made by buying a cheaper timer, I’d hardly call that a pointless post

Not Really £65

More like £41

There are 2 versions £79.95 & £44.95 Excluding any discount

And as I’ve already pointed out to one Driver, if your not bothered about downloading the Data then just get the cheaper version, the only difference is the shape and the cheaper one does not have the USB download feature, both use exactly the same software.

You can buy basic stop watches, I’ll also be supplying the All Ride Big Time for around £8 but it depends what information you actually want from a drivers aid?

A normal count down timer wont stop you having infringements, you still need to rely on writing your times down for deliveries or at least keeping a mental note.

It’s each to their own, they can buy any product available if they are happy to use that, I’ll still endeavour to offer value for money by selling products at discounted prices, after all, my aim has always been to help keep drivers legal regardless which method of time keeping they use.

[lee_g]

will it have a case like the sat navs have or is this an optional extra? or is there not one yet?

[davey_driver]

Giblsa:
will it have a case like the sat navs have or is this an optional extra? or is there not one yet?

There is not one yet but one could be available later this year if there are calls for one

[lee_g]

Davey Driver:

Giblsa:
will it have a case like the sat navs have or is this an optional extra? or is there not one yet?

There is not one yet but one could be available later this year if there are calls for one

personaly i think there would be quite a call for them, especially for agency drivers changing cabs every day and having to put it in thier bag and risk it breaking!

[madbaz]

Davey Driver:

Giblsa:
will it have a case like the sat navs have or is this an optional extra? or is there not one yet?

There is not one yet but one could be available later this year if there are calls for one

Put me down for one

[davey_driver]

I’ve spoken to Carol the lass in Hong Kong who handles the manufacturing, she is obtaining prices for protective cases, so I’ll see what she can come up with.

The software is completed now and production starts on Monday

A Last minute alteration to the software has included an extra feature which I’m sure many users will like, there is now a facility to correct the main clock in the event it gains or loses a minute or two without having to reset the timer from scratch.

The Shipment is due into the UK on or around 26th April and anyone who has placed an advance order should have their timer dispatched on or around the 28th April.

I will be using Fastway Couriers for delivering the timers on a next working day delivery basis, however, if Fastway do not have a Franchise holder in your area the timer will be sent by recorded delivery through Royal Mail.

You can see if your area is covered by Fastway Couriers at

www.fastwaycouriers.co.uk