As you said in your post that it was 9:02 am this has nothing to do with the London Night Time Lorry ban.
There is a weight limit on that road to stop HGV through traffic; not to stop trucks from making deliveries there. Your company should have appealed straight away enclosing proof that you had a delivery in North Street on that date and time. The charge would have been dropped.
I used to deal with Lambeth council on a regular basis (I was a TM based just down the road near Vauxhall Bridge). They were always very fair in my dealings with them.
By paying the fine and not saying anything your company have basically said you were using the road as a rat run.
I knew id get brilliant advice on here , that’s why I knew what to do about this BS when it happened… I found that web page regarding Lambeth but its dated 2005 so didn’t seem much help . I signed a contract at work which states NO deductions will be made except tax and NI … . I think the street has a strictly nothing over 7.5T but I delivered to a building site , there was a brick delivery coming in after me … I also agree I should of been given a copy of the fine and been allowed to argue my case . I would have had no objection to that at all.
I have not given in and this week the boss , who pleaded ignorance of my case and said it was not him that had authorised it but will look into it.
So he looked into it and Friday he said I could have the money back and they were in the wrong taking it without my permission. Victory for me , They did argue that they cant know every weight limit I go to and as I am on the ground i should be able to see it was not allowed, he said what if it was a Low bridge , if it was a low bridge i said it would of been better signed , he said he doubts it wasn’t signed , we agreed to differ I did suggest that their customers should be aware of any probs but he said it is allways my decision . I also said that they should have some trust in me and if i did break a law it was unintentional . I see there point and they should see mine. I think the boss does he was very annoyed that it was handled this way as it erodes drivers trust in management and encourages an us and them mentality My words to him lol he did say though that I should call him when ever have any problems again … I note the post regarding union involvement . I am in the unite union but i decided not to get them involved because even though this was a problem I thought i could handle it myself and keep a bit of goodwill . I save the union for the big one like like redundancy or something major I think.
The Company i work for are couriers and have lots of spinters and connects and only two lorries and I think they sometimes lump us lorry drivers in with the white van men . . they are allways getting tickets and speeding fines etc so I think they tried to get heavy handed but picked the wrong driver Thanks guys ,
PS they must love me at work since because they sent me to Cornawll Bodmin and this sunday afternoon I leave for a holiday to Glasgow LOL True Love huh
Thanks Chunky
I was after a little local Knowledge I thought It was the case I should of been allowed the chance to explain. It wasn’t the night time ban I don’t think.
The funny thing is my company are only appealing for the other two they got , we got three in all. I passed the site , reversed into a makeshift bay they had made out of plastic bollards then had to move away again for the customers of virgin gym to exit , then back in again in the 9 am traffic and then past again to pass over the other side of the water to a drop in Croydon I honestly didn’t see any signs prob to busy taking photos
Thanks again all of you I knew I made the right choice , I would of dug in I think if they had not refunded me … but Its not in the bank yet … promised though …
… also for those who like me spent a lot of time in london i would advice to check out one of them maps London Lorry Guide A4 size … I’ve got one of them. it’s all you need : nighttime ban, weight, height restrictions etc…very useful
blueroom1:
I note the post regarding union involvement . I am in the unite union but i decided not to get them involved because even though this was a problem I thought i could handle it myself and keep a bit of goodwill
As you felt confident handling it yourself I’d say that was a good call blueroom1
Congratulations Blueroom, on a positive conclusion.
I’d suggest that your experience shows the value in going about things in a mature and adult manner. You were wronged, you made a justified complaint, your obviously decent boss investigated the matter, he admitted the matter had been dealt with wrongly, you got your money back, justifiably.
I say “justifiably” because this sounds like a classic case of a ‘jobsworth’ at work. As has been said, this weight limit has been introduced to stop lorries using the street as a ‘rat run’, however, you weren’t using it as a through route but were simply going about your lawful and legal work, and as has also been said, if you’d appealed you’d almost certainnly have had it quashed.
Well played that man.
Off on holiday well seems ur boss is a fair chap if he’s put his hands up to it buy him a box of roses to say thanks boss might go a long way showing your apreciation for him sorting it out quickly even if they were in the wrong
my gaffer will pay parking ticket ans weight restriction fines or he’ll pass them on to the customer but only if you inform him in advance.
If you don’t see a restriction sign that’s your problem i’m afraid. This is the problem with a “get the job done attitude” you can leave yourself open to penalties.
I work regularly for builders merchants delivering to small building sites in and around Leeds. If the companies I worked for caved in that easy they would go bankrupt. I know that many signs say “Except for access” but if I have 4 packs of breeze blocks to be delivered and no sprinter with a hiab capable of lifting 1.2tonnes there is no other way to get the good delivered but to drive through the limit. I have never had to pay a fine once for this a simple letter detailing the delivery always gets the fine lifted. Or the more usual case (the officer stops you there and then) I show them the delivery note and it ends there. I fear you emplyer just caved in far to easy and paid the fine
I did suggest that their customers should be aware of any probs but he said it is allways my decision . I also said that they should have some trust in me and if i did break a law it was unintentional . I see there point and they should see mine. I think the boss does he was very annoyed that it was handled this way as it erodes drivers trust in management and encourages an us and them mentality My words to him lol he did say though that I should call him when ever have any problems again … I note the post regarding union involvement . I am in the unite union but i decided not to get them involved because even though this was a problem I thought i could handle it myself and keep a bit of goodwill . I save the union for the big one like like redundancy or something major I think.
… also for those who like me spent a lot of time in london i would advice to check out one of them maps London Lorry Guide A4 size … I’ve got one of them. it’s all you need : nighttime ban, weight, height restrictions etc…very useful