Hi guys, i work for a pretty ■■■■ company and they have vosa on there case and they keep doing spot check visits (never known this). Been here for 5 months and the last visit they sent me because they know my license and card is clean (there’s drivers with so many infringements and also who don’t drive with card in). Anyway, tomorrow they are sending me out in the old foden truck which is a bag of ■■■■, 12 speed split (never driven this before) and they won’t even let vosa look at this truck because they know its ■■■■■■. What would you do? I’m only here for the time being whilst moving house then will do my ADR and go elsewhere. Thanks
Check the truck over as per normal on a daily check.
If it has any issues that affect safety or legality then refuse to drive it until issues resolved.
Nobody can make you drive a dangerous or illegal vehicle.
It would be unwise for anybody of seniority to even suggest you do.
Record conversations or ask them to put their comments in writing if you wish, but still do not drive it.
If they refuse to go ‘on record’ with their comments then you know they do not have faith in the validity of their comments.
If it checks out okay then drive it & enjoy the experience of learning a new box.
Walk away. Simple as that. I appreciate that I don’t know your particular financial circumstances and perhaps you really need the money, but at the end of the day they are cowboys who WILL drag you down with them. Unless you are ex military you have paid a lot of money for your licence, are you happy for them ( your employer) to jeopardise it?
All the above comments treat your post seriously, so I’ll do the same.
If a vehicle is unsafe you don’t drive it.
If you’re sacked or treated badly for refusing to drive it, you could claim unfair dismissal. If they insist you walk away and claim constructive dismissal. Unions are a great help here.
(Union recognition by companies, and previous or current employment law are for another thread maybe)
Foden boxes are fun… after a while.
.
Some might wonder how a company could only “send in some drivers to see them”, or possibly “not let them see” a particular truck though? But we’re all treating you as real.
As everybody else has said…just play a straight wicket, you have the law on your side.
I also highly reccomend joining a Union https://www.gmb.org.uk/ just for the free solicitors. The solicitors are employement specialists and if you have your day in a court then you keep ALL of your claim.
This advice goes to everybody. The £13 a month subs you can easily skank back by slowing down for a day or two.
Franglais:
All the above comments treat your post seriously, so I’ll do the same.
If a vehicle is unsafe you don’t drive it.
If you’re sacked or treated badly for refusing to drive it, you could claim unfair dismissal. If they insist you walk away and claim constructive dismissal. Unions are a great help here.
(Union recognition by companies, and previous or current employment law are for another thread maybe)
Foden boxes are fun… after a while.
.
Some might wonder how a company could only “send in some drivers to see them”, or possibly “not let them see” a particular truck though? But we’re all treating you as real.
Thanks for the advice mate, thing is I’ve only been here 6 months so dont think I’d have a leg stand on if they did get rid of me. Will refuse drive the vehicle if its unsafe, there’s obviously a reason why they won’t let vosa check the vehicle but there’s only so much you can check on your walk around checks.
Just do your checks thoroughly, getting assistance if needed for brake lights and air leaks and act according to what you do or do not find. The DVSA are looking for evidence of neglect and illegal operation rather than a minor defect which has only just developed. Do look at the tyres very carefully.
If you are not (yet) a union member, ACAS have a really good advice line, if they give you any **** about not driving an illegal vehicle and if you have house contents insurance, and ticked the ‘legal cover’ box’ you can often get employment law support paid by your insurance. If they dismiss you or force constructive dismissal.
Good luck with moving house and being able to move on. Do you need this shower’s reference for your income for a mortgage application? That does complicate things because if you did get into a legal wrangle about dismissal it won’t be resolved quickly.
Couple of years ago I walked out on a long-term full time job because I realised that if I stayed with them my licence would suffer. I’d suggest you too leave asap, albeit as has been said no one but you knows your financial position, plus Covid is limiting people’s options at the minute.
I don’t understand this idea that the company won’t let DVSA look at particular vehicles, they don’t have the option to refuse, and any refusals to co-operate would only result in a referral to the TC
Do visual check,a brake test etc before you go out on the road any doubts hand the keys back in.
SIMPLY REFUSE TO TAKE IT OUT
Any hassle WALK AWAY. in your car and home its your Licence not the Companies
DVSA with reg and tell them the details.
If you are not a troll, DVSA are not the bad guys. They will check all drivers and all vehicles the Operator cant stop them. The firm are bent so you should leave very soon. There is agency work out there, if you get points or generally a bad name you will become unemployable.
Quick update, turned up today and the other driver has been sent out in it. He took it out and it broke down lol. Anyway i think the company has got the hint i won’t risk my license to drive it. I would leave but with covid and moving house I’m trying see it out until after xmas and then do my ADR. The company is delivering skips BTW ( i saw someone else asked)
TheUncaringCowboy:
Stop being a Nancy and send it on. Good old Foden 'box to crunch the day away and discs to get a big greedy shift in, what’s not to like.
Keep the eyes and ears open for the weighbridges and go the long way if you need to.
If i was you i’d beg for a day or two in that Foden, once you’ce cracked that gearbox no lorry for the rest your driving life will present you with any difficulties, that applies whether its Fodens own 12 speed (unequal splits) or Eaton Twin Splitter which has equal splits.
Several of us here can run you through the change sequence if its Fodens own box.