I got pulled into Scotch corner weighbridge today and given the full monty for an hour and a half ,no infractions but a verbal warning for insufficient fortnightly rest period .Now i was aware that i had reduced a rest period to 24hrs and had to pay it back at the end of this week but the Vosa guy said that if they went back to the 5/8/13 then it would ok and they could just give me a verbal warning(totally confused now) As far as i can make out they have started a working week from the time of the 15/8 which was a 48 hrs off period and then worked through from there .I am happy that i did not get any infractions (it would have been a £300 fine and parked up if i hadn’t had those days off) but am confused by the verbal warning when i haven’t infringed on my hours ,if i had committed an offence that warranted a fine then surely they would have fined me especially if it was a biggy like £300.
If you had done anything you could guarantee that fine. Like most people with some authority they can never just say ‘nothing wrong here, on yer way drive’
maga:
If you had done anything you could guarantee that fine. Like most people with some authority they can never just say ‘nothing wrong here, on yer way drive’
I know it’s bloody irritating ,only option is to keep your gob shut and count your blessings .One consolation is that a couple of foreign bods where parked up 
Here’s a question ,what happens if ,because of the 1.5 hr delay i miss a delivery slot and have to return the load or spend a night out causing problems with the office because the truck wasn’t back as planned and another delivery was missed ,is there any comeback from VOSA
Of course, just send them the bill.
martyh:
maga:
If you had done anything you could guarantee that fine. Like most people with some authority they can never just say ‘nothing wrong here, on yer way drive’I know it’s bloody irritating ,only option is to keep your gob shut and count your blessings .One consolation is that a couple of foreign bods where parked up
Here’s a question ,what happens if ,because of the 1.5 hr delay i miss a delivery slot and have to return the load or spend a night out causing problems with the office because the truck wasn’t back as planned and another delivery was missed ,is there any comeback from VOSA
How can they justify delaying someone for 1 1/2 hours?
Before VOSA, when it was the “ministry men” I think you could ask for the check to be deferred on the grounds that it was inconvenient at that time - i.e. you had a delivery with a booking time, or you were on your way back to base with no spare time.
Just out of curiosity, what mode did you have your tacho on while they had you pulled up for 90 mins??
If it was me I’d have had it on POA, would that have been right??
I think other duty,as you didn’t know the length of time in advance.
Dan Punchard:
I think other duty,as you didn’t know the length of time in advance.
Yeah, good point, I’d ask the question and see what kind of answer I got, they might not like being asked, but worth a go. I’ve only been in VOSA’s company once before and that was for about 10 mins while card was checked.
selby newcomer:
Just out of curiosity, what mode did you have your tacho on while they had you pulled up for 90 mins??If it was me I’d have had it on POA, would that have been right??
Doesn’t matter because i was using analogue and the tacho had been removed so i have no idea what that time would count as ,probably other work ■■
I think why it took so long was because they had to collate hours from digi,analogue and time sheets that track my van driving hours and then work out which vehicles where vans and which where trucks ,they could have asked me and i would have simply marked on the time sheets what was what
Did they check your load was strapped and fine you if it wasn’t. Just asking.
Vosa can not be sued for lost time,failed deliveries or a night out and other costs.
It is called harmony.Ie not seen to just target one type of vehicle or which country they come from.
If the check was that long you have had a free safety check so know the truck is legal.
Although Stafford M6 has a dedicated check point that specialises in foreign vehicle enforcement.But i have seen the odd Uk truck in there.Lets say they stopped only van drivers for a week.They would feel picked on.With the foreign trucks you saw parked up,they could not just pull you for a five minute check while they had a check for an hour and a half or the “works”.
Truckbling:
Did they check your load was strapped and fine you if it wasn’t. Just asking.
amazingly they did not even ask me to open the back ,imo they where specifically looking for time faults and vehicle faults,mind i was in a box truck
Did they give you a document confirming the stop and vehicle check?
selby newcomer:
Just out of curiosity, what mode did you have your tacho on while they had you pulled up for 90 mins??If it was me I’d have had it on POA, would that have been right??
I don’t think you are allowed to sit in the cab and “read a newspaper” or “be told to move off” whilst they are checking your vehicle, so technically you are on “other work” when ■■■■■■■ with VOSA checks because “you are not free to dispense with your time as you see fit” nor “free to dispatch without further delay” whilst the checks are being carried out.
If it makes you late, then it’s only a problem if you find yourself doing an unexpected night out (run out of 15 hours on duty) NO problem when you’re paid by the hour.
I’ve not been pulled again by VOSA since southbound fleet services over a year ago. It doesn’t seem to happen very often, but obviously you don’t want to have any serious infringements in the last 28 days, or it’s a big fixed penalty notice… I got a “verbal for doing 2 x 55 hour (on duty not driving) weeks back to back”. I explained that I didn’t work for a whole week prior to this fortnight, and I would be not working 5 days of the week after as well. Yup, you’ll never be told “On your way driver, nothing wrong here!” 
bazstan009:
Did they give you a document confirming the stop and vehicle check?
I don’t think VOSA give out the slips that confirm a vehicle stop any-more … got stopped about 2 yrs ago at Boston Spa check on A1 … all ok … asked for paper to confirm … was told it is all logged on the computer ( laptop at check point ) … so that is all they need … was on anologue tacho, so got disc signed.
I got stopped last week at the a52/a46 roundabout between Nottingham and Grantham, they checked tyres and lights, weren’t worried about tacho, and apart from commenting that one tyre would need changing soon (already noted on defect sheet), was told all ok, carry on. To quote Miles Jupp: ‘great bunch of lads’, in and out in about 5 minutes
Gary
The Rustler:
bazstan009:
Did they give you a document confirming the stop and vehicle check?I don’t think VOSA give out the slips that confirm a vehicle stop any-more … got stopped about 2 yrs ago at Boston Spa check on A1 … all ok … asked for paper to confirm … was told it is all logged on the computer ( laptop at check point ) … so that is all they need … was on anologue tacho, so got disc signed.
Hours stuff is recorded via pc when they check your charts/card but if vehicle is inspected they must provide a doc(i forget the code but will look it up).
If they dont chances are the vehicle examination is not recorded!
You can phone and ask for the doc after the event, some times safer than winding them up.
They are getting bloody sneaky are those VOSA men, for many years they only ever opened up on a Tuesday and they were normally gone by 1.30pm
Wheel Nut:
They are getting bloody sneaky are those VOSA men, for many years they only ever opened up on a Tuesday and they were normally gone by 1.30pm
was it like clockwork so the naughty boys knew when they could get past.
maga:
Wheel Nut:
They are getting bloody sneaky are those VOSA men, for many years they only ever opened up on a Tuesday and they were normally gone by 1.30pmwas it like clockwork so the naughty boys knew when they could get past.
Yeah Civil Service hours 9-5 from their base. Seen them about in the small hours these days 
Winseer:
I got a “verbal for doing 2 x 55 hour (on duty not driving) weeks back to back”.
I assume you mean driving-other work, and not including POA and break 