Hi all,
I’ve arrived for work tonight and been asked or perhaps told we will see later when I get back where to take my 45 tonight, are they allowed to do this?
I thought it was down to me to decide but maybe not!?
They can factor it into the route if you are doing a set run but all the places I’ve been to just let the drivers take the break when they need to.
Yes, of course they are.
They can factor it into a route,especially if it is a time sensitive delivery. They can state,within reason, where you take your break etc. But if anything happens and you will run out of driving time then they can’t obviously force you to keep going.
As I say,if anything happens that slows you down… 
Can they factor in break on a bay ■■
Darb:
Can they factor in break on a bay ■■
Yes, why couldn’t they?
Lots of businesses lay down break times for their employees, why should this industry be any different. You work in a shop, factory or office and tea breaks and lunch breaks are usually at set times.
Under the terms of their O Licence the company are required to schedule the work so as to comply with the hour’s regulations and as long as the breaks they are factoring in do not contravene the regulations then they are doing nothing wrong.
Coffeeholic:
Darb:
Can they factor in break on a bay ■■Yes, why couldn’t they?
Lots of businesses lay down break times for their employees, why should this industry be any different. You work in a shop, factory or office and tea breaks and lunch breaks are usually at set times.
Under the terms of their O Licence the company are required to schedule the work so as to comply with the hour’s regulations and as long as the breaks they are factoring in do not contravene the regulations then they are doing nothing wrong.
For goodness sake! Here we go again. The examples you quote all have set working hours with known (generally) periods of work. While breaks can be factored into your route, it is not possible to know in advance of every situation that may occur so the point really is, common sense and practicality should be the watch word.
No two tasks in different disciplines can ever be compared as like for like.
HTH!
fredthered:
Coffeeholic:
Darb:
Can they factor in break on a bay ■■Yes, why couldn’t they?
Lots of businesses lay down break times for their employees, why should this industry be any different. You work in a shop, factory or office and tea breaks and lunch breaks are usually at set times.
Under the terms of their O Licence the company are required to schedule the work so as to comply with the hour’s regulations and as long as the breaks they are factoring in do not contravene the regulations then they are doing nothing wrong.
For goodness sake! Here we go again. The examples you quote all have set working hours with known (generally) periods of work. While breaks can be factored into your route, it is not possible to know in advance of every situation that may occur so the point really is, common sense and practicality should be the watch word.
No two tasks in different disciplines can ever be compared as like for like.
HTH!
I agree with what you are saying, common sense should come into it with regards to when you take your breaks. However the question was can the company tell you when to have your break which in my opinion is yes, it is a reasonable request as long as no laws are being broken. Bottom line when you are an employee you are under contract to that company and its terms and conditions so they are within their rights to ask a reasonable request.
most of my breaks are taken on bay as i dont touch the load only secure and open and close the doors.
fredthered:
Coffeeholic:
Darb:
Can they factor in break on a bay ■■Yes, why couldn’t they?
Lots of businesses lay down break times for their employees, why should this industry be any different. You work in a shop, factory or office and tea breaks and lunch breaks are usually at set times.
Under the terms of their O Licence the company are required to schedule the work so as to comply with the hour’s regulations and as long as the breaks they are factoring in do not contravene the regulations then they are doing nothing wrong.
For goodness sake! Here we go again. The examples you quote all have set working hours with known (generally) periods of work. While breaks can be factored into your route, it is not possible to know in advance of every situation that may occur so the point really is, common sense and practicality should be the watch word.
No two tasks in different disciplines can ever be compared as like for like.
HTH!
I was merely pointing out that lots of businesses lay down times for breaks, which is quite legal, and while it may not be so easy or sensible to do so in this industry it is no different in that respect and the company are breaking no rules by doing so.
The OP said he was going to be told where to take his break, not a time to take it, and that decision would be made later so unforeseen circumstance are obviously being taken into consideration. More a case of, “Take your break while getting tipped at XYZ Parcels,” or “Take your break back here while we are loading you for your second run,” and that decision will be made when they know how the run is going. Not difficult to understand that from reading the question.
Coffeeholic:
fredthered:
Coffeeholic:
Darb:
Can they factor in break on a bay ■■Yes, why couldn’t they?
Lots of businesses lay down break times for their employees, why should this industry be any different. You work in a shop, factory or office and tea breaks and lunch breaks are usually at set times.
Under the terms of their O Licence the company are required to schedule the work so as to comply with the hour’s regulations and as long as the breaks they are factoring in do not contravene the regulations then they are doing nothing wrong.
For goodness sake! Here we go again. The examples you quote all have set working hours with known (generally) periods of work. While breaks can be factored into your route, it is not possible to know in advance of every situation that may occur so the point really is, common sense and practicality should be the watch word.
No two tasks in different disciplines can ever be compared as like for like.
HTH!
I was merely pointing out that lots of businesses lay down times for breaks, which is quite legal, and while it may not be so easy or sensible to do so in this industry it is no different in that respect and the company are breaking no rules by doing so.
The OP said he was going to be told where to take his break, not a time to take it, and that decision would be made later so unforeseen circumstance are obviously being taken into consideration. More a case of, “Take your break while getting tipped at XYZ Parcels,” or “Take your break back here while we are loading you for your second run,” and that decision will be made when they know how the run is going. Not difficult to understand that from reading the question.
Absolutely, the company can plan for a drivers breaks to be taken where the company say, obviously if the driver gets held up he/she may have to have the breaks at times and places other than those planned but that does not in any way affect the companies legal right to plan break when and where they see fit.
Plenty of companies plan breaks to be taken while at a particular place.
And I never said they couldn’t! I merely stated that common sense should be used and obviously the law will always take precedence.
would it cause you any hassle to take a break where they request it
hitch:
would it cause you any hassle to take a break where they request it
If its on a loading bay then most likely there’s no ability to get something to eat, sometimes no ability to use the toilet and you can’t go for a walk to stretch your legs. Being forced to take a break sat in the cab or in a drivers waiting room for me is not a break from work, regardless of whether it meets the legal criteria.
We had this argument with a pallet firm who wanted to deduct for breaks for night trunkers even though they paid straight through on days. Their argument was we had 4hrs at the hub between arrival and departure where we were waiting to load/unload and we could take it then. Our argument was we couldn’t really leave the truck or the hub. In the end we used the nuclear option, PoA, pointing out that it actually met the criteria of PoA so if they were going to stop money for breaks then we’d run down to the hub, stick it on PoA for all the waiting time and stop for 45 minutes halfway back.
Conor:
hitch:
would it cause you any hassle to take a break where they request itIf its on a loading bay then most likely there’s no ability to get something to eat, sometimes no ability to use the toilet and you can’t go for a walk to stretch your legs. Being forced to take a break sat in the cab or in a drivers waiting room for me is not a break from work, regardless of whether it meets the legal criteria.
And this is my point, I nearly always have my breaks while on a bay as it suits me getting home a little earlier and also it does away with trying to find an empty lay by through the night. But recently I had the pleasure of spending nearly 3 hours at Tesco Doncaster sat on a rickety old wooden bench 
with no access to my snap. Luckily it wasn’t far to my next job where I sat in the cab and ate in comfort. Now if I was looking at a long drive following this tip at Tesco I probably would have pulled out and parked up to eat, not a full 45 just long enough to get my snap down me and if my gaffer didn’t like it then I’d be more than happy to explain my decision to him 
After saying that tho I have driven nights for nearly 4 years and no-one has ever questioned any breaks I have, maybe they allow a little more on nights as tiredness is a bigger issue or it’s simply because I don’t take the [zb]
Conor:
hitch:
would it cause you any hassle to take a break where they request itIf its on a loading bay then most likely there’s no ability to get something to eat, sometimes no ability to use the toilet and you can’t go for a walk to stretch your legs. Being forced to take a break sat in the cab or in a drivers waiting room for me is not a break from work, regardless of whether it meets the legal criteria.
We had this argument with a pallet firm who wanted to deduct for breaks for night trunkers even though they paid straight through on days. Their argument was we had 4hrs at the hub between arrival and departure where we were waiting to load/unload and we could take it then. Our argument was we couldn’t really leave the truck or the hub. In the end we used the nuclear option, PoA, pointing out that it actually met the criteria of PoA so if they were going to stop money for breaks then we’d run down to the hub, stick it on PoA for all the waiting time and stop for 45 minutes halfway back.
This is my view too, if I can’t get some grub, use the toilets, lay on the bed then it will go on bed BUT I will stop down the road IF I want to.
We deliver to Iceland Warrington, you’re told you have to wait in a waiting room, there are 6 chilled bays (6 drivers) yet there are only 4 chairs, so its either stand or sit on the floor. My mate has been there for 2 1/2 hours before waiting to be tipped sat on the floor for most of it, this was his break, did he recuperate from his 3 1/2 hour drive there? Of course he didn’t! He then he had 3 more self tip drops before another 4ish hour drive home and they wonder why some of us end up in a ditch.
We also deliver to Iceland Swindon, you’re not allowed out the cab there, apart from to use the toilet. That is a break IMO.
NewLad:
We deliver to Iceland Warrington, you’re told you have to wait in a waiting room, there are 6 chilled bays (6 drivers) yet there are only 4 chairs, so its either stand or sit on the floor. My mate has been there for 2 1/2 hours before waiting to be tipped sat on the floor for most of it, this was his break, did he recuperate from his 3 1/2 hour drive there? Of course he didn’t! He then he had 3 more self tip drops before another 4ish hour drive home and they wonder why some of us end up in a ditch.We also deliver to Iceland Swindon, you’re not allowed out the cab there, apart from to use the toilet. That is a break IMO.
Yet another example of a company making up rules to suit themselves. We tip at both places you mentioned but with frozen and the rules we “must” adhere to (it’s elf ‘n’ safety you know) are polar opposites of what you do. At Warrington we sit in their nice big subsidised canteen and they ring us when we’re tipped, at Swindon we have to sit in a tiny room with not enough chairs, no food, and a crappy coffee machine until we’re tipped.
It’s a mockery really when you get two conflicting processess on the same site!
NewLad:
Conor:
hitch:
would it cause you any hassle to take a break where they request itIf its on a loading bay then most likely there’s no ability to get something to eat, sometimes no ability to use the toilet and you can’t go for a walk to stretch your legs. Being forced to take a break sat in the cab or in a drivers waiting room for me is not a break from work, regardless of whether it meets the legal criteria.
We had this argument with a pallet firm who wanted to deduct for breaks for night trunkers even though they paid straight through on days. Their argument was we had 4hrs at the hub between arrival and departure where we were waiting to load/unload and we could take it then. Our argument was we couldn’t really leave the truck or the hub. In the end we used the nuclear option, PoA, pointing out that it actually met the criteria of PoA so if they were going to stop money for breaks then we’d run down to the hub, stick it on PoA for all the waiting time and stop for 45 minutes halfway back.
This is my view too, if I can’t get some grub, use the toilets, lay on the bed then it will go on bed BUT I will stop down the road IF I want to.
We deliver to Iceland Warrington, you’re told you have to wait in a waiting room, there are 6 chilled bays (6 drivers) yet there are only 4 chairs, so its either stand or sit on the floor. My mate has been there for 2 1/2 hours before waiting to be tipped sat on the floor for most of it, this was his break, did he recuperate from his 3 1/2 hour drive there? Of course he didn’t! He then he had 3 more self tip drops before another 4ish hour drive home and they wonder why some of us end up in a ditch.We also deliver to Iceland Swindon, you’re not allowed out the cab there, apart from to use the toilet. That is a break IMO.
Having drivers sat on the floor is shocking,even a dog gets a basket 
A lot of bollox and bullstein as per usual! The driver decides! His licence, his fatigue and guess what? His CHOICE too! 
firms making it up as they go along! NO 
Of course it is reasonable of a company to factor in a break they do it in all other jobs I am currently a Train Driver here in Sydney and 1st thing i do when looking at my timetable is to see where my break is admittedly I only do 7 hour shifts and on average only do 30% driving in my 35 hour week but I still get breaks put in.