Hi all
I know there’s lots of queries over driving hours but first day back I really tried to get it right but the computer readout says I took insufficient breaks
I will try to detail my day and hopefully someone can tell me where I went wrong
The days work was multi dropping so will give accumulated driving hours ,working hours and the total
Driving 3hrs 19 minutes
Other work 1hr 00
Total 4hrs 19
Rest (break) 37 minutes
Driving further 2hrs 24 min
Other work 1hr02 min
Rest 21 min
Total Driving 6 hrs 43 min
Total other work 2hrs 02 min
Total Work 8 hrs 45 min
Total Rest 58 min
Driving back to base 1 hr 12 min then finish
I thought for 9 hrs work I needed 45 minutes break but that would mean I had not infringed
I really want to get this right so any help or comments would be appreciated
You should have taken 45 minutes rather than 37. You could then drive a further 4.5hrs. You cannot exceed 4.5hrs driving without taking a 45 minute break. You can take 15 minutes during the period at any point and then finish off the 4.5hr drive with 30 minutes.
It is possible to complicate the issue - but this will keep you out of trouble. Best, I believe, to keep it simple until you really get into it.
Basicly you have had insufficient breaks in driving.
You may NOT drive more than 4.5 hours continuse or accumulated without a break or breaks totaling 45 min.
If splitting your break
The first break should be NO less than 15 min and the second break must be NO less than 30mins.
Murray P:
Driving 3hrs 19 minutes
Other work 1hr 00
Total 4hrs 19
Rest (break) 37 minutes (This counts as the first part of a split driving break)
Driving further 2hrs 24 min (You should have had the second part of the split driving break (30 minute break) no later than 1 hr 11 minutes of this driving period)
Other work 1hr02 min
Rest 21 min
A 45 minute break must be taken immediately after 4.5 hours accumulated driving time, this 45 minute break can be split into 2 parts, the first part of a split driving break must be at-least 15 minutes and the second part must be at-least 30 minutes, and they must be taken in that order.
So other work is irrelevant, you just can’t drive for more then 4.5hrs without a break.
example
10:00 - arrive at depot
11:00 - Leave depot after checks, etc
15:30 - Drove somewhere 4.5 hours away have to take break now.
16:15: Finish break, do what ever your doing and go home.
This is assuming that your just driving.
another example
10:00 - arrive at depot
11:00 leave depot
17:00 - 2 and a half hours other work have to take break.
17:45 - plod a long for another 4.5 hours.
adam277:
I think I finally get WTD thx to this thread.
So other work is irrelevant, you just can’t drive for more then 4.5hrs without a break.
There are 2 sets of regulations drivers work to, the drivers hours regulations ((EC)561/2006) and the working time regulations for mobile workers ( RT(WT)R )
The driver hours regulations or tachograph regulations as they’re sometimes called say, amongst other things, that you must not exceed 4.5 hours driving time before having a 45 minute break.
The RT(WT)R say, amongst other things, that you must have a 15 minute break before exceeding 6 hours working time.
Driving breaks also count as breaks for the RT(WT)R and where appropriate vice versa.
adam277:
example
10:00 - arrive at depot
11:00 - Leave depot after checks, etc
15:30 - Drove somewhere 4.5 hours away have to take break now.
16:15: Finish break, do what ever your doing and go home.
That’s OK.
adam277:
another example
10:00 - arrive at depot
11:00 leave depot
17:00 - 2 and a half hours other work have to take break.
17:45 - plod a long for another 4.5 hours.
Assuming the time between 10:00 and 11:00 was all work you would need a break of at-least 15 minutes no later than 16:00 for the 6 hour rule.
Makes a lot of sense. Learning on the job is great - to a point. But create infringements on a regular basis and there’s a good chance of the employment coming to a sudden, unplanned end. And a visit to court will absorb any holiday pay that may have been paid upon your dismissal!
Drivers’ hours and tacho are probably the biggest mystery to a new driver. But get into it and it gets a lot easier. The secret, IMO, is not to make life complicated. Sometimes there can be a straightforward way of doing the job and sticking within the rules and there might also be a more complex way that is still within the rules. I prefer the “keep it simple” path wherever possible.
I did post a reply thanking everyone but I don’t see it so I’ll thank you all again It’s a lot clearer now. Will try and get it right today!
Cheers Murray
Just a quick note on my experiences with tachos which might help. I’ve been doing multi-drop with palleted goods around Norfolk since last July. It’s unlikely that I will ever do more than 9 hours driving in one day so my working day tends to follow the same pattern:
Start 0700
Checks 0700 - 0715
Loading 0715 up till 0900
0900 Start deliveries
1000/1015ish (depending on location) take 15 min break (actually take 16 mins to ensure that tacho registers 15 mins!)
1030 - 1230ish (depending on location) driving/deliveries
Around 1230 take second 30 min break (actually 31 mins - same reason as above)
Therefore by 1300 (or just after), I can then drive for another 4 hours 30 mins. Normally, my printout at the end of the day shows on average a 10 hours 45 mins working day with 4 or 5 hours driving, just over 45 mins total break and the rest of the time “other work”. So far (touch wood) no infringements to date but I did have a day when I took the 30 mins break at lunchtime but forgot the 15 mins break in the morning (oops) so the tacho was flashing within 15 miles of base (wonder what that means? - being a newbie, I had no idea). Happily, I got back in time so no damage done (phew). Btw, I tend not to take a single 45 minute break at lunchtime as it tends to get a bit boring and I want to get on and get my deliveries done. Hope this helps…
Just to update
Worked Thursday and Friday and no more infringements
Took Zeethrons advice and split the breaks. 45 minutes was too boring
My mistake was thinking either WTD or drivers hours applied when in fact I guess you have to be able to satisfy both of them
Anyway I am a lot more confident with it now
Thanks again
Murray P
I have had two very similar infringements recently - both involved the tacho telling me that I needed to take a break when I was half an hour or less from base at the end of my shift. The second infringement, which took place last night, was the result of me ignoring the tacho telling me to take a 45 minute break when I was only 15 minutes from the depot. I can’t deny that the infringement was deliberate - I knew exactly what I was doing - but I’ll be damned if I’m going to extend my working day by nearly an hour (not to mention p*ssing the boss off) for the sake of 15 minutes. In a way, this was down to inexperience because I had taken my first 45 minute break too early, but by the middle of the shift I had only driven for a couple of hours (the rest of the time was loading and unloading) and it was lunchtime. I was hungry.
In future, I’ll probably eat on the go and only take my tacho break when the machine starts flashing. At least I won’t spend the entire evening in a state of “tacho tension”.
It’s taking a while to get my head around the idea that there is no such thing as a lunch break in lorry driving. It is a “driving break” and doesn’t necessarily coincide with dinner time.
philipstorey64:
I have had two very similar infringements recently - both involved the tacho telling me that I needed to take a break when I was half an hour or less from base at the end of my shift. The second infringement, which took place last night, was the result of me ignoring the tacho telling me to take a 45 minute break when I was only 15 minutes from the depot. I can’t deny that the infringement was deliberate - I knew exactly what I was doing - but I’ll be damned if I’m going to extend my working day by nearly an hour (not to mention p*ssing the boss off) for the sake of 15 minutes. In a way, this was down to inexperience because I had taken my first 45 minute break too early, but by the middle of the shift I had only driven for a couple of hours (the rest of the time was loading and unloading) and it was lunchtime. I was hungry.
In future, I’ll probably eat on the go and only take my tacho break when the machine starts flashing. At least I won’t spend the entire evening in a state of “tacho tension”.
It’s taking a while to get my head around the idea that there is no such thing as a lunch break in lorry driving. It is a “driving break” and doesn’t necessarily coincide with dinner time.
That attitude is potentially going to land you in a whole world of trouble and your boss is going to be even more ■■■■■■ off if it results in the DVSA breathing down his neck.
philipstorey64:
I have had two very similar infringements recently - both involved the tacho telling me that I needed to take a break when I was half an hour or less from base at the end of my shift. The second infringement, which took place last night, was the result of me ignoring the tacho telling me to take a 45 minute break when I was only 15 minutes from the depot. I can’t deny that the infringement was deliberate - I knew exactly what I was doing - but I’ll be damned if I’m going to extend my working day by nearly an hour (not to mention p*ssing the boss off) for the sake of 15 minutes. In a way, this was down to inexperience because I had taken my first 45 minute break too early, but by the middle of the shift I had only driven for a couple of hours (the rest of the time was loading and unloading) and it was lunchtime. I was hungry.
In future, I’ll probably eat on the go and only take my tacho break when the machine starts flashing. At least I won’t spend the entire evening in a state of “tacho tension”.
It’s taking a while to get my head around the idea that there is no such thing as a lunch break in lorry driving. It is a “driving break” and doesn’t necessarily coincide with dinner time.
Your boss shouldn’t be getting annoyed if you just run out of time and need to take a break, you should try to plan your breaks in advance rather than just waiting for your tacho to say so
philipstorey64:
I have had two very similar infringements recently - both involved the tacho telling me that I needed to take a break when I was half an hour or less from base at the end of my shift. The second infringement, which took place last night, was the result of me ignoring the tacho telling me to take a 45 minute break when I was only 15 minutes from the depot. I can’t deny that the infringement was deliberate - I knew exactly what I was doing - but I’ll be damned if I’m going to extend my working day by nearly an hour (not to mention p*ssing the boss off) for the sake of 15 minutes. In a way, this was down to inexperience because I had taken my first 45 minute break too early, but by the middle of the shift I had only driven for a couple of hours (the rest of the time was loading and unloading) and it was lunchtime. I was hungry.
In future, I’ll probably eat on the go and only take my tacho break when the machine starts flashing. At least I won’t spend the entire evening in a state of “tacho tension”.
It’s taking a while to get my head around the idea that there is no such thing as a lunch break in lorry driving. It is a “driving break” and doesn’t necessarily coincide with dinner time.
Try splitting your breaks, it opens up your day for you to manipulate your times to suit you a bit more. Especially if you are on multi drop.
