Read: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=71511
Then read it again and again and some more until you know it off the top of your head.
The fact that a newly qualified driver doesn’t understand the legalities of EC driving hours shows what a complete farce the DCPC is.
To the O/P, things will improve. I didn’t have a clue what I was doing when I first started, but given time you’ll get the grasp of the intricacies of LGV driving. 
You seem to be very naive and/or expect everything spoon feeding to you. I’d imagine that the agency didn’t tell you’d be helping to pack boxes because as a removal driver it’s quite obvious that that will be the case. As for tachos, instead of expecting someone else to show you how they work could you not have looked it up online beforehand?
As for not having the 15 hour thing explained, surely the nine hours rest in any 24hr period was explained? Is it not obvious from that?
Anyhow, welcome to the industry. It sounds like you’ll fit right in.
Give the lad a break already!!!
He has said he is new and naive, hence he is asking for advice.
Sounds to me like he wants to get it right and is asking for advice from his peers - better to ask the questions (and look stupid to you guys) than not ask and get a nasty fine from vostapo!
I dont recall reading his post saying “please kick me whilst I am down and being the stupid idiot I am, i went over my max daily hours and I deserve all the ridicule you can throw at me”
I remember when I first had to use a tacho (a disk, not a card) I didnt have the first idea what the hell to do - I had to ask someone. Much the same as the rest of us/you I guess. They dont show you in real life what to do with a tacho - its all a matter of theory. IMO, you should have to physically insert a card, enter manual entries and show how to record breaks/other work, etc. as part of the initial CPC modules.
This wouldn’t be a bad idea for the periodical CPC training either as I know there are many many drivers who don’t record any manual entries AT ALL.
How your supposed to log out of your tacho, walk to the office, hand your paperwork in and get de-briefed at the end of the day, get your paperwork and into your lorry for your next shift without incurring any working time whatsoever is beyond me! Thats what recording manual entries are for - recording ALL of your working time from start to finish of each shift!
So, to give the lad some assistance, direct your answers to being helpful, or don’t reply at all if you have nothing positive to contribute!!
OP, have a look at these for starters:
gov.uk/drivers-hours/overview
gov.uk/government/uploads/s … europe.pdf
Hope this helps…
K
I did try and warn you:-( .
The Company you were doing the removals for would have paid far more an hour to your agency than their usual driver. That’s probably why they only sent two of you. Have to get their monies worth. Now you have learnt a valuable lesson and gained some experience.
Isn’t that what its all about?
dsbu:
Give the lad a break already!!!He has said he is new and naive, hence he is asking for advice.
Yes, you’re right. We must trust this complete stranger on the interwebz and believe that every word he says is true.
Put it down to experience, just tell the agency that you dont do removals, the try and learn the hours you can and cannot do, especially do not go over 15 hours in total on duty, dont forget your walk around checks as well, and deffo do not hand yourself in to Vosa, or report the fact you went over your limit. Go on the VOSA website and learn the drivers hours rules, and dont get disheartened, pick yourself up, dust yourself down, and carry on you will learn, and remember the golden rule, if you dont know something…ask
Radar the reason you don’t remember hearing about the 15 hour max rule during your CPC is because strictly speaking there isn’t such a rule.
It would have been explained to you that you must have 9 hours rest in any period of 24 hours.
24 hours minus the 9 hours rest means you can only be on duty for a maximum of 15 hours in that 24 hour period.
Most drivers find it more convenient to add up working hours rather than subtract rest hours, hence the talk of 15 hours max.
hope that is clearer for you.
dsbu:
Give the lad a break already!!!He has said he is new and naive, hence he is asking for advice.
Sounds to me like he wants to get it right and is asking for advice from his peers - better to ask the questions (and look stupid to you guys) than not ask and get a nasty fine from vostapo!I dont recall reading his post saying “please kick me whilst I am down and being the stupid idiot I am, i went over my max daily hours and I deserve all the ridicule you can throw at me”
I remember when I first had to use a tacho (a disk, not a card) I didnt have the first idea what the hell to do - I had to ask someone. Much the same as the rest of us/you I guess. They dont show you in real life what to do with a tacho - its all a matter of theory. IMO, you should have to physically insert a card, enter manual entries and show how to record breaks/other work, etc. as part of the initial CPC modules.
This wouldn’t be a bad idea for the periodical CPC training either as I know there are many many drivers who don’t record any manual entries AT ALL.
How your supposed to log out of your tacho, walk to the office, hand your paperwork in and get de-briefed at the end of the day, get your paperwork and into your lorry for your next shift without incurring any working time whatsoever is beyond me! Thats what recording manual entries are for - recording ALL of your working time from start to finish of each shift!So, to give the lad some assistance, direct your answers to being helpful, or don’t reply at all if you have nothing positive to contribute!!
OP, have a look at these for starters:
gov.uk/drivers-hours/overview
gov.uk/government/uploads/s … europe.pdfHope this helps…
K
+1
Was you home 2250 or finishing work?
htfc1984:
Was you home 2250 or finishing work?
That was pulling my card from the taco machine.
Thanks to everyone who’s commented. I know that I made a mistake now and I should of done more research etc. I’ve told my agency that I’m not doing removals again, this may of put me back at the bottom of the list but I’m not breaking my back and now the law for that company. I’ll be applying for permanent jobs this weekend and I’ve got two more agency interviews next week.
Hey radar. Put it down to experience. It’s a steep learning curve in haulage as there’s really patchy on the job training. I was fortunate enough to start when there were old hands (proper truckers) like my old man’s generation who loved showing you the ropes. I relied on that to get me started. As a newbee starting out under the current culture, well I only hope all the best for you. I was going to mention it but Steve the argonaut has it down to a tee. Take a few moments with a cuppa to go through the regs. The secret I’ll let you into is start thinking of how much rest you need in a rolling 24 hour period. Once you get that concept licked, it’s enlightenment and you’ll never refer in your own mind to 13/15 hour days again. You’ll be surprised how many drivers don’t appreciate the subtle difference. Good luck!
Lots of finger waggers will disapprove but there are ways and means of not going over your hours and risking not getting back to base etc. If you are clever about it and still appearing squeaky clean if you get pulled.
Ideally operators should plan work to be compliant but if you do get stuck out in a layby with no overnight kit, and are thsn restricted to what further agency work you can take that week, it’s a bit moot who’s teaching who the lesson.
You should know the rules but the most important one I follow is my own and it is if I am too tired to drive, I don’t.
Yet another post deleted without so much as a private message explaining why.
Truckbling:
Yet another post deleted without so much as a private message explaining why.
Do you want me to have a word for you?
My first ever shift was through an agency and i was delivering exhausts, like you i didnt have a clue what i was doing and i was sent out with rough directions how to get to the first drop then i was told i would be kept right by the customers. I eventually found my first drop and the customer didnt have time to help me and didnt even know where my next drop was 
about 14 hours later, no tea break, a very stressfull day and some of the drops still on the truck, i drove back into the yard and i was that late the night security had to let me in as everyone else had finished hours earlier, i went home with my tail between my legs and my dreams in tatters as i didnt want to ever drive a truck again as i thought that it was always going to be like that and i coudnt handle it !!
that was way back in 1994 and ive now got 16 years experience behind me ( gave up for 4 years to look after my kids ) and in that time ive NEVER had a shift as hard as that again !!
i still think the company at that time was trying it on and put 2 runs together as even now i would struggle to complete it !!
what i can remember was it was 20+ drops to garages and the run started in Glasgow, first drop was Leven in Fife the rest all over central Scotland and my last drop was in Greenock !! 
dsbu:
… IMO, you should have to physically insert a card, enter manual entries and show how to record breaks/other work, etc. as part of the initial CPC modules. …
Agree with this 100%. I also think learners should have to use a tacho disc (or card, but I’m not sure you can hold a card without a full LGV licence■■?) each day they spend in a training vehicle too. Simply to ensure they have some idea what to do when they’re released out into the real world.
I have had my licence 27 years and my digi card a year the digi card has never been used and to be honest I would need to be shown again how to use it as I have forgotten 
Asking people is the old way, and it is the best way.
I will ask when needed and the old dog will learn, quite simple really.
I think you have balls posting your failings and bad experience as some posts will have great advice between the berating posts also you maybe helping others who after reading this thread may not be so willing to share bad experiences for fear of being shot down when they so desperately need grown up advice from the experienced drivers willing to share advice and help.
Keep your chin up Radar, tomorrow is another day and hopefully a better day 
Sir LANs-a-lot:
dsbu:
… IMO, you should have to physically insert a card, enter manual entries and show how to record breaks/other work, etc. as part of the initial CPC modules. …Agree with this 100%. I also think learners should have to use a tacho disc (or card, but I’m not sure you can hold a card without a full LGV licence■■?) each day they spend in a training vehicle too. Simply to ensure they have some idea what to do when they’re released out into the real world.
That’s a good idea, I’m sure you can hold a digi card without a HGV or PSV licence or how do you get one for van and trailer work on a B+E licence.
Alternately they could allow training schools to hold dummy ones just to show and use the card during training.
Radar19,
it was your first trip, you made mistakes, but nobody’s been hurt or worse, the trucks been returned in one piece and the job got done. NOW MAKE SURE YOU GET PAID.
I think most of us had bad experiences when we started, my first job on my own was only about 3 hours driving the rest of the day I spent handballing a full artic load of goods as the customer didn’t have a forklift. although it wasn’t agency it was a one off for a local haulier, after I got that job done I got plenty of other jobs from him that didn’t involve handballing.
You’re at the bottom rung of the ladder, you’ll probably get the worst jobs and worst trucks. it’s all experience
It does seem that despite many changes since I did my test, it still leave a lot to be desired in getting a new driver ready for work. Sadly most new drivers seem to have to work for agencies, but I think a full time job with a company you’re more likely to get some training.
I think you now need to get a good understanding of the EU drivers hours and the WTD.