Moving parking location query

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

where do i start…
is my firm liable to pay for or compensate my FURTHER travelling expenses due to changing my parking location for my vehicle?.
the story…
before i accepted my current job,it was agreed with the operations manager that i would park my truck near to where i live(newcastle),and not in the main yard at teesport with the other drivers.this was verbally agreed with myself and the company.so from febuary 2006 until october 2008 this was the case.however when the recession started to bite,and half of our drivers were paid off,i was informed by the operations manager i would have to start parking in teesport with immediate effect.this adds another 45 miles each way onto my weekly travel to work totalling another 90 miles a week,due to cost saving paying for yard parking(£10 per week).i protested,but felt i shouldnt pursue the matter as people were loosing their jobs,and have parked in teeside since ocotober 2008.
i have recently found out that 2 drivers from down the country who have recently started with the company have had their parking locations changed recently,and are being payed their extra travelling expenses,and i have also been told if the company moves your location by more than 25 miles,they must pay said expenses.
does anyone know the crack with this legally?,or has this happened to anyone on here?
thanks buck(out of pocket trucker)

2

This would be a tricky one:

It would depend on where you were actually based. It looks as if your base was Teesport but you were allowed as a concession to keep the truck at Newcastle. For you to be based at home the Operators Licence would have to show that I think.

The fact that you did it for 2 years creates a “custom and practice” arguement, but I think this would take a lawyer to sort out.

3

You have 2 things on your side -

A contract

buck rogers:
it was agreed with the operations manager

A precident

buck rogers:
being payed their extra travelling expenses

4

You’ve now been parking in Teesport for over a year and although you protested at the time this was over a year ago, so I would say the verbal contract and any agreement by practice is probably now out of the window (I could be wrong though :wink:).

I don’t see that there’s a precedent that should have been used in your case as the other drivers agreement came after your parking place was changed and after you for all intent and purpose accepted the change, but it is a good place to start talks with your manager.

I would have thought your best action would be to approach your operations manager and point out the unfairness of the situation and explain the extra time and expense incurred because of the change in parking place and see if you can come to some kind of arrangement.

Good luck.

edit:

buck rogers:
i have also been told if the company moves your location by more than 25 miles,they must pay said expenses.

I can’t find any reference to this, as far as I can see if the employer relocates which is basically what your talking about then you can claim redundancy if it’s too far to travel but I can’t find anything about a legal right to travelling expenses.

5

tachograph:
You’ve now been parking in Teesport for over a year and although you protested at the time this was over a year ago, so I would say the verbal contract and any agreement by practice is probably now out of the window (I could be wrong though :wink:).

I don’t see that there’s a precedent that should have been used in your case as the other drivers agreement came after your parking place was changed and after you for all intent and purpose accepted the change, but it is a good place to start talks with your manager.

I would have thought your best action would be to approach your operations manager and point out the unfairness of the situation and explain the extra time and expense incurred because of the change in parking place and see if you can come to some kind of arrangement.

Good luck.
i park my wagon at home had to be appoved by vosa as vehicle was not at company address two drivers are getting half of expense paid back but had to put in as parking expenses
edit:

buck rogers:
i have also been told if the company moves your location by more than 25 miles,they must pay said expenses.

I can’t find any reference to this, as far as I can see if the employer relocates which is basically what your talking about then you can claim redundancy if it’s too far to travel but I can’t find anything about a legal right to travelling expenses.