Would I be in the right to refuse to drive a truck with no working heater at all■■?
Of course!
Ben9:
Would I be in the right to refuse to drive a truck with no working heater at all■■?
I`d say no…but we would need to know more about the circumstances involved.
a truck with a defective heater generally would not be VOR just for that, they only fix it at the next S+I
I suppose that depends on what you really mean by “in the right”
Main problem is that there’s very little, if any, actual legislation about sleeping in the cab of a lorry.
“Tramper/Roamer” don’t even exist as an official trade/job title.
There is legislation about the temperature in the workplace. But trucks are probably exempt because they’re mobile, and “they” will always try to have it both ways - It’s not a workplace once you’ve booked off, but you still can’t smoke in it becasue it’s a workplace 
In the “real world” I won’t night out in a truck, in the cold months, without a night heater. But I’m old. And ugly. And really don’t give a zb 
One option is to use the big night heater. You know, the one under your bunk. Usually refered to as having “x amount of horses” But if you do, try to park away from me, and next to a reefer 
Ben9:
Would I be in the right to refuse to drive a truck with no working heater at all■■?
I’m guessing this question is brought about by the other question concerning this issue? I’ll have a go anyway !!!
I’d guess it relates to how long you’re going to be in it for and what is reasonable. Try to answer your own question by looking at it another way and that is…I own a truck and i employ a driver. Should i provide him with a heater in the truck in the winter or should i tell him to wear extra clothing?
That might help you answer it.
dambuster:
One option is to use the big night heater. You know, the one under your bunk. Usually refered to as having “x amount of horses” But if you do, try to park away from me, and next to a reefer
I think there in lies the problem. I think the OP means the regular heater isn’t working, as opposed to the night heater, and running the engine isn’t going to make a difference in that case.
I would say you are in the right to refuse to drive it, how are you going to keep windows demisted if the heater doesn’t work? That’s gotta be a safety issue surely?
Sorry coffeedude.
Well in that case, if you dig hard enough, you should be able to find the relevant writings to back up a request to VOR the truck.
My head’s a little fuzzy at the moment, but it’s along the lines of “If you don’t have an opening windscreen, it’s off the road unless it has a system to demist it” (Usually an electric fan) Side/Door windows for some reason don’t count.
*Disclaimer
That’s from about twenty years ago. But then, London cabbies are still supposed to have a bale of hay
I refused a unit as its radio was broken. As it was the afternoon of England vs Argentina, World Cup 2002, my TM didn’t have a leg to stand on…Shot myself in the foot though - gave a daf 85.330 sleeper back for a 75.270 day cab in kwik save red & white… 
Ben9:
Would I be in the right to refuse to drive a truck with no working heater at all■■?
ive done it for nearly 2 weeks in my old erf and its a nightmare when its really cold, it doesnt take long before your feet and hands are that cold you cant feel them,i stopped more than once at the sevices to try and warm them under the hot air blowers,i was young then and a bit nieve so did it, now if it was 20 odd mile i might do it, 100/200 mile no chance its dangerous .
plus if drivers can get trucks changed because the ■■■ lighter doesnt work to charge the battery on there sat-nav then im sure i could get it changed for a defective heater
i suppose you possibly could. if you werent able to clear the windscreens it would be a safety issue (like has been said) but as to the warmth of the driver, i dont think you have got a leg to stand on. what about the motorway workers? how do they keep warm during the day.
on the other hand in the summer while working for fowler welch i was given a scania that didnt have a sunroof and the elecy windows didnt work and it had no aircon. as the outside temperature was about 20’C i vor’d it until the windows were fixed and they backed me up when the boss asked if it was a bit petty " would you sit in an oven all day while working?" was one question he was asked and he replied no so he answered his own question there!
Lee G:
i suppose you possibly could. if you werent able to clear the windscreens it would be a safety issue (like has been said) but as to the warmth of the driver, i dont think you have got a leg to stand on. what about the motorway workers? how do they keep warm during the day.
By running between lanes of fast moving CGAF traffic with an 8 foot sign on your back, it makes me sweat thinking about it
C = Couldnt
G = Give
A = Self Explanatory
F =
I give in. I can’t find the “proper” bit, but I did come across a new bit - Statutory Instrument 717 of 2009 
I think it’s a newer version of the old “Type Approval” thing, because of course everything is being re-written into “European” But anyway . . . even in that (the new one) it says
- Defrost/Demist
Vehicles must be fitted with adequate defrosting and demisting devices.
“Adequate” means: sufficiently effective to ensure adequate visibility through the windscreen under all conditions.
I’d agrue that the key word in that is “devices” - Thereby ruling out cracking open a side window
Wheel Nut:
By running between lanes of fast moving CGAF traffic with an 8 foot sign on your back, it makes me sweat thinking about itC = Couldnt
G = Give
A = Self Explanatory
F =
PMSL - That was the first “settle down” job I had after leaving the Army in the late 80s.
Scary ? At times I thought I’d rather be back on the Divis flats complex
if its local drops i think you will manage but if it effects your ability to drive safely then use that card to get out of it or check the fuses, if all else fails set the unit on fire that will keep you toastie 
In the summer, i had a truck that only blew out hot air 
i wouldnt go out in it, not for safety reasons or anything complicated…
just simple common sense, its very nearly 2010 and in this day and age there is no reason why you should be cold at work. it’s not the 60’s and 70’s we are way passed that stage and all trucks should have a working night heater, normal heater and a radio.
simple.
Ben9:
Would I be in the right to refuse to drive a truck with no working heater at all■■?
Now when I was a lad we had never heard of heaters, a simple candle was sufficient to keep your hands warm
And if it really got cold we would light it
By gum these young’uns now adays dont know they are born
I have refused to drive trains and buses on the grounds that the heaters aren’t working or are blowing hot air in the summer.
Anything that can cause you to lose concentration is enough to refuse to take it imho.
Davey Driver:
Ben9:
Would I be in the right to refuse to drive a truck with no working heater at all■■?Now when I was a lad we had never heard of heaters, a simple candle was sufficient to keep your hands warm
And if it really got cold we would light it
By gum these young’uns now adays dont know they are born
A Candle 
Thar’t lucky t’ ave a candle… We ad ter mek do with newspaper round legs, a ferret stoofed down trousers, and a small boy t’ warm us ands on.
C-Kay:
In the summer, i had a truck that only blew out hot air
The Renault Premiums seem to take forever to blow warm air, but then again it has to be seriously cold to have the heater on as I usually have it blowing cold and with the window open