Quick background. About 15 months ago I handed in my keys at the end of my shift and somehow they became “mislaid” and were never found so since then me and my oppo (we are 4 on 4 off and share the truck) have been using the spare set of keys.
Last week my oppo was on his 4th day and was at a certain RDC in South Normanton. They asked for his keys which he gave then went back to the unit and sat and waited to be tipped.
You know whats coming don’t ya!!!
Gets the green light, goes back to goods in gets his paperwork and asks for his keys.
They’ve lost 'em
End result. Unit and trailer towed back to Immingham. Unit towed to Scania in Grimsby. Off the road for 2 days. Ignition barrel and door locks all changed out.
Can’t believe when first set went missing boss didn’t order up a replacement you give it a few days to turn up then you bite the bullet and pay for new key(s)!
Although the RDC is at fault for loosing your keys I would be very surprised if the paid full costs.
I would imagine they would ask the question where the spare set was and possibly pay for the truck being off the road for the day /days till spares got there!
Good luck I hope you get the money out them and as mentioned maybe start to trust the drivers some more!
To anyone saying it’s the OP’s fault for losing the keys 15 months ago then you really need to take a look at your morals. Firstly the guy handed in the keys, regardless of whether he did or didn’t the fact of the matter is that there was only 1 set left. The owner of the vehicle should have ensured a duplicate set where available as soon as there was only 1 set left. They didn’t. Even then they are still not at fault. The guy gave his keys to an outside source (the RDC) and they lost them. Nobody else. The RDC should and probably will (without question) stump up for the cost. However, I’d love to know if the insurance company got involved…You can imagine the conversation… “What did you do with the keys to YOUR vehicle ?”, “I gave them to somebody I didn’t know because they wont tip me without me handing them in”. “You gave the keys to your £50,000 motor to a stranger ?”
Guys loading the truck overnight needed to move it and took the only set. Lost them somewhere along the way, I get in the next morning to find no keys and after 3 hours searching the yard and warehouse we give up.
We didn’t have to have new sets as MANs have a key code you can use to order new ones. Only problem was it took 4 days to get them delivered from Germany and programmed. Cost £600 just for one key too.
Total bill was a couple of grand for that single key, needed to rent a truck and trailer for the period and huge inconvenience to the company as it had been left on a bay and they couldn’t move it earning we only had one other bay free.
All our trucks are now specced with FOUR keys (overkill perhaps) but it hasn’t happened since!
