In 11 years of driving various vehicles that would be of interest I’ve never had any stops. Most of my driving has been dropsides with timber and for the last 5 years or so construction plant on beavertail / lowloaders. Our vehicles are old but I always make sure the lights, plates and relcetors are clean, and that all the spare chains and other bits that we carry are neatly stored on the bulkhead.
Loose chains andmud all over the body may just be the differene between getting stopped or not.
I’ve been pulled in twice in the past few years and on both occasions was let go with nothing being checked 
.
Got stopped by a Norfolk copper a little while back in a contract motor (same firm, but different paint job) for missing some yellow on the Long Vehicle boards on the trailer.
Went over wagon and tacho with a fine tooth comb, about 45 mins, then sent me on my way with a sheet to get signed when repairs done - approx 2hrs later at depot.
I got a tug coming home last night at about 4 in the morning.
The roads were empty and I noticed a car behaind that wasn’t gaining ground and next thing it accelarated past and on cames the blues.
I followed him into the layby and up comes plod with the world’s daftest question. “Do you know why I stopped you?”.
He then came out with some bollox about a report of a tractor unit spotted with smoke/steam coming from below the windscreen. I pointed out that if that were me I think I might have noticed and having agreed he then trotted out the “while we’re here we might as well run a check”. At this point I had visions of explaining my lack of tacho, medical exemption, but after a quick look at my licence I was on my way.
In my previous job I drove a mixture of tippers and low loaders and in eight years I was never stopped by VOSA although I used to run right past leatherhead on an almost daily basis. Probably a good job because we used to push the envelope somewhat with the low loaders.
What I did used to get regularly if running down the A24 after around 8 at night was a police check regarding the plant I was carrying.
Cheers
Neilf
Got stopped a couple of years back and a prohibition notice was put on my trailer. 2 year old minted trailer carrying an open load of gas cylinders but rear orange plate was slightly faded by the sun. Still orange coloured but “not the correct shade of orange as prescribed by the rules” as I was told, my bad for not changing plate before setting off. I’ll admit I did half notice it was faded but honestly thought it would be fine as it was in good condition without a speck of rust or dirt on it. I said to myself I’d stay polite and quiet and not get cheeky until he handed me the paperwork to sign and it said on it that the fire and rescue services wouldn’t be able to determine that I had dangerous goods onboard in the even of an accident. I said “surely my open trailer of gas cylinders gives the game away that I’m carrying gas cylinders?” and he said “I know, it sounds silly but its just the rules.” Lucky I was only about a mile or 2 from the yard so the boss came out with a spare plate (the correct shade of orange) and proceeded to pull the ■■■■ out of the inspector for nit picking. He was just doing his job, I know that and it taught me that they will pick on the tiniest detail and do you if they can so my checks have been a lot more thorough ever since, which I suppose was the whole idea. And if you’re a member of the emergency services reading this, I credit you with more intelligence than VOSA seem to.
neilf:
I got a tug coming home last night at about 4 in the morning.
In my previous job I drove a mixture of tippers and low loaders and in eight years I was never stopped by VOSA
What I did used to get regularly if running down the A24 after around 8 at night was a police check regarding the plant I was carrying.
Cheers
Neilf
It’s surprising how many tippers get waved past/ignored out Oxford way (unless it’s a p1key wagon), I guess it’s down to onboard weighers eliminating overloading. Re. being stopped when hauling plant at night, I suppose that’s down to plant being nicked just after sites have closed, and getting the plant to the docks for Ireland and Africa…
neilf:
I got a tug coming home last night at about 4 in the morning.I followed him into the layby and up comes plod with the world’s daftest question. “Do you know why I stopped you?”.
What I did used to get regularly if running down the A24 after around 8 at night was a police check regarding the plant I was carrying.
Cheers
Neilf
The last plod that stopped me said “the reason I stopped you was because you were driving slowly - but there’s nothing wrong with that”. So why stop me?
I used to use the A24 at Dorking many years ago and guaranteed to get pulled, never found anything wrong, but it didn’t stop them doing it.
been stopped twice in 3 yrs, thinking its not to bad for a logger.
last time was at worksop and they just checked the truck. 
last time i got pulled was 1997ish on the a556 at the time i had a new reno premium, which was one of the first trucks to be fitted with disc brakes, the vosa chap said the only reason he had pulled me was so he could have a look at the disc brake set up.after he had looked the brakes over it was a case of carry on driver,he never bothered with the crappy trailer i was pulling. 
I also had to pull in at their bit at Stirling a few months after getting stopped the first time. I joined the queue and when it was my turn to be seen an inspector opened the driver’s door, looked at my feet or pedals or something in the footwell (plate is on passenger side so wasn’t that) then said “ok driver on you go”, closed the door and I was off. No inspection round lorry or anything. Anybody know what that was all about?
dave75:
I also had to pull in at their bit at Stirling a few months after getting stopped the first time. I joined the queue and when it was my turn to be seen an inspector opened the driver’s door, looked at my feet or pedals or something in the footwell (plate is on passenger side so wasn’t that) then said “ok driver on you go”, closed the door and I was off. No inspection round lorry or anything. Anybody know what that was all about?
VOSA man would have been checking to see if you wheir driveing in your stocking feet or bear feet.They dont like it same with alot of
the police in europe they say it’s an offence.Some thing to do with not being able to controle the pedals properly.
I prefer tiger feet.
i get pulled very regular. 1 or 2 times each month.
it’s the irish plates.
the reason the irish opperators have such a bad reputation, is because vosa pull them so much.
if they pulled tesco, or sainsburys trucks as much, then they would start finding problems eventually.
limeyphil:
i get pulled very regular. 1 or 2 times each month.
it’s the irish plates.
the reason the irish opperators have such a bad reputation, is because vosa pull them so much.
if they pulled tesco, or sainsburys trucks as much, then they would start finding problems eventually.
Only if they started finding magnets in the tesco carriers
tanasan:
VOSA man would have been checking to see if you wheir driveing in your stocking feet or bear feet.They dont like it same with alot of
the police in europe they say it’s an offence.Some thing to do with not being able to controle the pedals properly.
That’s a Type 7 (Uk & Europe) Myth. 
One n abit times.
The one time, Pulled at Stafford with a blown headlight, weighed and tapped while I changed the bulb, the guys were sound enough, lent me their slider board so I didnt have to crawl on the floor and they run off the bits of paper.
The abit time, Having a break at Forton services, sat in the pass seat feet up reading the paper I gets a tap on the drivers door, looked up and could see the top of some urchins head, he came round to my side, I opened the door and he said
“Vosa”
Me - “He’s not in here”
V - “I’m from VOSA”
Me - “Good for you”
V - “I want to check your wagon and tacho’s”
Me - “I’m on a break, come back in an hour”
Shut the door and off he went, didnt het surrounded by Police, chalked up, have a marksman under my bumper or a helicopter following me down the 6, felt abit peeved by the lack of interest
B1 GGK:
I opened the door and he said
“Vosa”
Me - “He’s not in here”
limeyphil:
i get pulled very regular. 1 or 2 times each month.
it’s the irish plates.
the reason the irish operators have such a bad reputation, is because vosa pull them so much.
if they pulled tesco, or sainsburys trucks as much, then they would start finding problems eventually.
You really believe that?
Once in 3yrs.
Cost me £200!! And parked up for 45hrs
Dont forget to carry your paper charts boys and girls, it hurts the beer fund if you get caught 