HATO (TOS)ers will

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
61

att:
…Obviously if a tyre changer needs to close down a lane, then the vehicle should be towed off the carriageway…Why should thousands be inconvenienced because of one driver and a flat tyre :confused:…

Cant see many haulage companies standing for long for example a :- £350.00 + tow fee, to get vehicle to next services and have to Pay for the new tyre + fitter too many times , :unamused:
before they start complaining of Extra costs and why couldnt a lane closure have been put on for the wheel change ■■ H+S and all included …

:shock: :open_mouth: :open_mouth: :open_mouth:

Yeah, those fishnets can be a ■■■■■, especially when climbing in and out of a 4x4!!!

I find keeping heels and knees together and swinging both legs round togther works wonder :laughing: :laughing: saves the sheers and the odd embarrasing moment :unamused:
Lady-like hunn`… :wink:

62

I’ve not had any personal dealings with them. Apart from them changing lanes without indicating, parking in ‘Police Patrol Vehicles Only’ lay-by’s and dawdling along then speeding up!
I saw one of the police programme’s on tv where a HGV carrying steel reels had stopped cos his load had shifted and was unsafe. The Fire Service were there and HATO’s aswell. The Watch Commander wanted the motorway closing in case the reels sprang open when being moved because they could cut the roofs off cars and kill people. The TO’s present didn’t close it and argued that the motorway should stay open and they were in charge of the scene and not the Fire Service. A Police Sergeant was despatched and as soon as the Watch Commander started explaining his point, he closed the motorway, end of.
I hoped that these were a minority of bellends at the HA. In their shoes I would’ve just listened to the Fire Service, they know their jobs and don’t endanger people unnecessarily.
The HA seem to do a reasonable job most of the time though. They don’t change tyres because if the wheel fell off at a future point, they would be liable, as is my understanding, which is usually wrong.

63

The Highway Man:

Denis F:

extrucker:
We have one or two idiots,one or two on a power trip etc but 99% want to do a good job and keep lanes open.

we know we’ve seen them on here :wink:

but it’s the same in any group ( including truckers) there will always be a small minority who can best be described as tossers :wink: :grimacing: :grimacing:

Good job we’re not all like that. Some of us are even house trained. :smiley: :wink:

can you give me the phone number for your trainers, there’s a few drivers who could do with a little help :wink:

64

MikeCunn:
I’ve not had any personal dealings with them. Apart from them changing lanes without indicating,

Pulling out or returning after overtaking, because as your most likely a trucker, we would have most likely overtaken you in which case if you are doing 56 and we overtake you, is there much point in indicating since what would you do with that information?? Police don’t train to indicate once you have overtaken as the Highway Code says only indicate if it will benefit someone, and there is nothing in the HC that says you should indicate in after overtaking as you should always drive in the left lane any.

MikeCunn:
parking in ‘Police Patrol Vehicles Only’ lay-by’s

Believe it or not, the HA own the motorway and we are allowed to stop there as its ours. The signs have started to be changed around the country but money is the issue, anyway, if the sign was changed to “Authorised vehicles only” , you still would moan were parked there anyway

MikeCunn:
.and dawdling along then speeding up!

Yep, some do that. Take their reg and ring HAIL, They shouldnt be doing it.

MikeCunn:
I saw one of the police programme’s on tv where a HGV carrying steel reels had stopped cos his load had shifted and was unsafe. The Fire Service were there and HATO’s aswell. The Watch Commander wanted the motorway closing in case the reels sprang open when being moved because they could cut the roofs off cars and kill people. The TO’s present didn’t close it and argued that the motorway should stay open and they were in charge of the scene and not the Fire Service. A Police Sergeant was despatched and as soon as the Watch Commander started explaining his point, he closed the motorway, end of.
I hoped that these were a minority of bellends at the HA. In their shoes I would’ve just listened to the Fire Service, they know their jobs and don’t endanger people unnecessarily.

Interesting, when we close a motorway lane for a tyre change everyone moans and says we shouldn’t do it, when the fire service want to close a lane and we say no as we want to keep truckers moving, were in the wrong as far as truckers are concerned and the fire service are right.

By the way, did any wire ropes spring out into the road??

65

att:
HATO`s are just another product of the nanny state.
We were fine before them.
I can only see that they cause disruption to the flow of traffic for the most menial of things :frowning:
If someone on the hard shoulder needs anything, then the responsibility should be with the driver stranded.
Obviously if a tyre changer needs to close down a lane, then the vehicle should be towed off the carriageway…Why should thousands be inconvenienced because of one driver and a flat tyre :confused:

And if it is cold/wet etc. and I am broken down, I would rather spend the time in the confines of my own vehicle with cab heater on, the actual risk of getting hit from behind is very small, I am willing to take that risk in the name of comfort, and besides, my very own guardian angel would ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ over any HATO any day of the week :grimacing:

That said, my only one dealing has been positive, they lack intelligence and imaginative thought, but they seem OK.

Agree with a lot of this actually.
Yes, motorways were fine before us, should be no different as all we did is take over some duties from the Police, there should be no change, and in fact there isnt.
We disrupt traffic flows how? Blocks for debris were done by the Police before us, no one ever complained. If i can move something without a block i will.
Yes, people on the hard shoulder should deal with their own problems. problem is they dont have a phone, cant speak English, dont know what to do so we get sent.
Cant tow a truck with a flat rear offside tyre on a trailer, thought you would know that to be honest.
Happy for you to stay in your truck, its your decision not mine. If/when you get hit on the HS we will come back to check if you are ok.

Echoing the thoughts above, if you see something you consider is wrong, poor driving by a HATO vehicle, pointless actions by a crew then pick up the phone and use the HAIL line, 08457 504030 and register a complaint. That will go to the Team Manager to investigate, if we dont know the troops are doing wrong we cant look into it. If they do wrong they get told, if they are doing right they will get a pat on the back. Simple really.

Mick

66

Just a quick one OD, the HAIL number has changed, it’s now 0300 1235000. :wink:

67

Personally these people who complain about HATO closing Motorways are the same one’s who also complain when the Police close the Motorway to do Accident Investigation Work after a fatal accident.
I remember the Police closing motorways or putting in Rolling Road blocks before the DAys of HATO, I also remember getting really annoyed at drivers who block the motoway because they won’t overtake a Police patrol car doing 50mph.

Things might have got worse in the last few years, for a start there is a dam sight more traffic on the roads so any restriction causes a massive problem, but I don’t think the blame can be put at the door of the HATO’s, we are all having to live with over the top H&S, due to a compensation culture and whoever was dealing with the situation, Police or HATO, would have to follow the guidelines laid down by thier bosses.

68

I agree Muckles.

Can I give you a few scenarios though for you to consider.

With my previous post on the M42 M5, you are a HATO and have a burning car. With past experience, you have had a tyre blow across the 3 lanes and hit the central res. Deep down being human you want to keep everyone moving but you know the dangers and have a difficult call. Knowing that in training if there is any doubt then keep it safe, do you inconvenience people and stop it or keep one lane going?

You get a report of a pallet in lane 2. You are at say J25 and it is J26 to J27 somewhere but those junctions are 11 miles apart. The informant hasn’t noted the metre by metre square blue marker sign so you have no clue as to where it is. Knowing the carnage that can ensue from someone hitting or swerving to avoid the debris, do you put on an immediate block at say 50 bearing in mind you have to have all the traffic ahead, including heavies doing 56 to be well away from you so you can see said pallet and stop the traffic safely as you cant just stop from 50 or do you drive along obeying the 50’s like we have to and just clear up the mess after 6 cars have hit it and dumped oil from their sump all over 3 lanes. Both options are available to us to use so its your neck if you get it wrong.

You come across a car with a flat. There is a family of 4 and the hubby has never changed a wheel before. Recovery is very busy and gave a 120 min eta. Its cold and raining. We cant change wheels and in past experience a mate who changed his own wheel on a van didn’t do the nuts up tight enough and the wheel later fell off meaning a new half shaft, studs, wheel and drum. The other option is to assist him by telling him what to do and advising he checks the nuts later?? Also bear in mind that many on here think I should just do it for them thus leaving myself open to disciplinary and a complaint from recovery company who would have been paid £150+ to come out and do the job.

69

It is not often or probably never that i have agreed with Big Jase but credit where credit is due.

Pulling out or returning after overtaking, because as your most likely a trucker, we would have most likely overtaken you in which case if you are doing 56 and we overtake you, is there much point in indicating since what would you do with that information?? Police don’t train to indicate once you have overtaken as the Highway Code says only indicate if it will benefit someone, and there is nothing in the HC that says you should indicate in after overtaking as you should always drive in the left lane any.

If someone has overtaken anyone, it must mean they are going faster than you and are not a threat or danger anymore, providing of course they do not cut back in suddenly, almost scraping the paint off your bumper.

The action of making someone sit in a bacofoil jacket on the embankment should be the choice of the driver, certainly a lady in a Fiat 500 is much more vulnerable than me, a hairy arsed trucker protected by a unit & 45’ trailer which in total weighs 44tonne. another truck who runs up my arse will be long dead before me, it could even protect me if I am sat comfortably in the passenger seat with a flask, a book and more importantly a head restraint. I might scald me nadgers with hot coffee but I have a warning on my cup about that.


I don’t know whether there was already a HATO in attendance at this incident as the news report seems to have been overwritten.

Unless this type of incident happens like on the M1 Cathorpe in 2008 I still reckon the safest place to be is in the lorry cab protected by a load and trailer.

70

I’m just misunderstood mate, that’s all. I’m fair more intelligent and thoughtful than I’m given credit for but C’est la vie.

71

HATOs do a great job, or certainly the ones local to me do (M6 J15-20 M56 J12-6), I have been doing motorway rescue work for over 10 years, 10 years with DAFAid, and now 3 months with the RAC, They have always been helpful, sensible and professional, they are there to help and will always do so if necessary.

They get a lot of stick from the people that have never benefitted from them, it is much the same when people see an RAC van blocking junctions or parked on the side of the road, theyre a nuisance to you, but would it be different if they were attending your sons/daughters/wifes/mothers car in an emergency?

72

Pulling out or returning after overtaking, because as your most likely a trucker, we would have most likely overtaken you in which case if you are doing 56 and we overtake you, is there much point in indicating since what would you do with that information?? Police don’t train to indicate once you have overtaken as the Highway Code says only indicate if it will benefit someone, and there is nothing in the HC that says you should indicate in after overtaking as you should always drive in the left lane any.

Was this taken from a “CorsaSport” type drivers’ handbook? :laughing:

73

The_DAF_Man:
HATOs do a great job, or certainly the ones local to me do (M6 J15-20 M56 J12-6), I have been doing motorway rescue work for over 10 years, 10 years with DAFAid, and now 3 months with the RAC, They have always been helpful, sensible and professional, they are there to help and will always do so if necessary.

They get a lot of stick from the people that have never benefitted from them, it is much the same when people see an RAC van blocking junctions or parked on the side of the road, theyre a nuisance to you, but would it be different if they were attending your sons/daughters/wifes/mothers car in an emergency?

AA/RAC Men annoy me when I’m out shopping, oh, so do charity collectors, and those red-vested tramps (Big Issue Vendors) :smiley:

74

It used to be red epauletted tramps that bothered me!! Then they changed colour!! :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

75

All i can say is there is more ill-informed bollox on this thread than i have read for a long time :laughing: :laughing:

Apart from

The_DAF_Man:
HATOs do a great job, or certainly the ones local to me do (M6 J15-20 M56 J12-6), I have been doing motorway rescue work for over 10 years, 10 years with DAFAid, and now 3 months with the RAC, They have always been helpful, sensible and professional, they are there to help and will always do so if necessary.

They get a lot of stick from the people that have never benefitted from them, it is much the same when people see an RAC van blocking junctions or parked on the side of the road, theyre a nuisance to you, but would it be different if they were attending your sons/daughters/wifes/mothers car in an emergency?

I thank you :bowing smilie: :laughing:

Ps any company that cannot afford a £350 occurance shouldn’t be in business, they should be thinking of the bigger picture and the £30-£300,000 it costs the general economy with the tailback and possible rtc’s caused to save them £350 notes ■■ :open_mouth: .

Old days BIB lift and shift, new “customer friendly,soft and fluffy, cuddly” H/A causing delays to thousands to save a multimillion pound company a few quid.

Lift and shift is the new option :smiling_imp: :grimacing:

76

The HATO has to inform you to get out of the car/cab & stand behind the barrier, it is part of the procedures and the training, he then has to call into the RCC that “Safety Advice Given” if you choose to sit in your cab / car etc, that’s not a problem, as he will then call in “Safety Advice Given, but ignored” Whichever it is, it noted on the log for that incident.
This is all because of the blame & claim world we live in, if it’s on the log that “SAG ignored” then should something happen, the driver can’t claim it’s the HA’s fault as they were never given the safety advice.
There are already posts on other forums from people asking who they can claim against when held in a traffic jam due to a major RTC, that some-ones body parts are strewn across the tarmac doesn’t matter, they’ve been inconvenienced and want compensation.

77

att:
HATO`s are just another product of the nanny state.
We were fine before them.
I can only see that they cause disruption to the flow of traffic for the most menial of things :frowning:
If someone on the hard shoulder needs anything, then the responsibility should be with the driver stranded.
Obviously if a tyre changer needs to close down a lane, then the vehicle should be towed off the carriageway…Why should thousands be inconvenienced because of one driver and a flat tyre :confused:

And if it is cold/wet etc. and I am broken down, I would rather spend the time in the confines of my own vehicle with cab heater on, the actual risk of getting hit from behind is very small, I am willing to take that risk in the name of comfort, and besides, my very own guardian angel would ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ over any HATO any day of the week :grimacing:

That said, my only one dealing has been positive, they lack intelligence and imaginative thought, but they seem OK.

HARD SHOULDER quick reminder
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=61357

Dont think sitting in a 40footer is going to save you!
Good luck

78

The real Biffo:
The HATO has to inform you to get out of the car/cab & stand behind the barrier, it is part of the procedures and the training, he then has to call into the RCC that “Safety Advice Given” if you choose to sit in your cab / car etc, that’s not a problem, as he will then call in “Safety Advice Given, but ignored” Whichever it is, it noted on the log for that incident.
This is all because of the blame & claim world we live in, if it’s on the log that “SAG ignored” then should something happen, the driver can’t claim it’s the HA’s fault as they were never given the safety advice.
There are already posts on other forums from people asking who they can claim against when held in a traffic jam due to a major RTC, that some-ones body parts are strewn across the tarmac doesn’t matter, they’ve been inconvenienced and want compensation.

To be fair, where someone’s blatantly at fault (a good example I’ve seen is a dozy window cleaner losing his ladders on the M5) they should be made to compensate for peoples’ loss of earnings etc…(I’m not advocating claiming in event of a fatal by the way0