Hi guys, I’ve done mostly multidrop over the years and mostly fridge, box motors but now taken a different direction and doing trunking, general haulage and using curtains mostly. Also doing a lot more miles and putting in more hours. In the past I never had to use POA but now I think I should be…so what’s the most effective and easiest way to use it to benefit me?
Thanks
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If you get paid for breaks or paid for breaks other than the first 45 minute break use break instead of POA.
The tachograph wrongly count POA as break and will wrongly reset your driving time on the tachograph, but POA does not count as break and legally only break can reset your driving time, this has led to a few people getting infringements for driving in excess of 4.5 hours with insufficient breaks.
If you must use POA then legally you should know roughly how long you’ll be waiting before putting the tachograph on POA, you don’t have to be told but you should know either by being told or from experience at the same place.
POA can be useful on those rare occasions when you’ve got some down time but don’t want to reset your driving time, but generally I’d say POA is best avoided unless you don’t get paid for breaks.
Apart from that I don’t know what you want to know, if you use POA be sure to keep track of your driving time so you’ll know that the tachograph display is wrong.
POA is used to extend shift times as it does not count as working time but if the company is not bothered about the WTD (the authorities are not interested) then what difference is it going to make 
It is also the companies who are responsible for calculating WTD not the drivers
That was gonna be my next question about it resetting my driving time and trying to keep track. I used it the other night just for the H of it but like you said it was probably not legal but on my display it was kinda confusing as to what was break and what was POA. I did it deliberately so I had a mental note of times and the such but I think it could lead to all sorts of confusion if used all the time
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I can generally get the job done in my time but it’s getting to the stage I’m using all my time as keep getting delayed.
They don’t seem to notice anything on my card, in fact never said anything bout it so maybe nothing to say but wary of any employer who takes no notice of concerns. Just keep piling on the work …
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EddieMD:
I can generally get the job done in my time but it’s getting to the stage I’m using all my time as keep getting delayed.
They don’t seem to notice anything on my card, in fact never said anything bout it so maybe nothing to say but wary of any employer who takes no notice of concerns. Just keep piling on the work …
If you get paid for breaks or any breaks after the first 45 minutes use break instead of POA, the effect on your working time is the same, neither break or POA count as working time.
If you don’t get paid for any additional breaks after the first 45 minutes look for another job 
On the other hand of course it would be better to get your transport office to organise the work so you can do the job in good time.
I do get paid for other breaks so that’s OK there. This is ongoing contract so I’m holding my breath hoping it’ll see me over the quiet period in the new year then expanding my horizons…
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Most of the time POA is a ballsache and will just lead to problems as it screws with the Tacho and can catch you out, but it can be useful if you you’re in a job where you’re hanging around and don’t necessarily want to count it or take it as break. If i’m being offloaded at one of our depots i’ll use POA, as while it’s unlikely I may be required to assist in some way, thus interrupting my break. Plus I’m not allowed to be curled up in the truck while offloading… I therefore have to take a break later and will do so where I know I won’t be interrupted. ZZZZzzzzzzzz
Whether you use POA or not can come down to the sort of firm you work for, if you’re paid off the Tacho records or have an office that scrutinizes these, then it may be easier to book POA, than try to explain why you’ve had what appears like excessive breaks. 
Those were my original concerns of of doing stuff recorded wrongly and the excessive showing of breaks but no one has said anything to chastise or otherwise.
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To be honest I don’t see why anyone would say anything about excessive breaks, whether you’re on break or POA the effect is the same, you’re not working you’re sat twiddling your thumbs, legally you cannot be working on POA any-more than you can on break so what difference does it make 
I’ve always booked break if I wasn’t working and it was never once questioned by a TM or agency.
If you’re concerned about it have a quiet word with your TM or office bods and see if they give a ■■■■ about you booking break while sat waiting to be loaded/unloaded.
By the way, you’re not “doing stuff recorded wrongly” by putting the tachograph on break, if you’re not working and can use the time exclusivity for recuperation, i.e. sat drinking coffee or whatever, you can legally book break.
Thanks guys…every days a school day!
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tachograph:
To be honest I don’t see why anyone would say anything about excessive breaks, whether you’re on break or POA the effect is the same, you’re not working you’re sat twiddling your thumbs, legally you cannot be working on POA any-more than you can on break so what difference does it make
Because if I use POA, i’ll still need take take a second (paid for) break to make it back to the yard!
Lol!!!
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ROG:
POA is used to extend shift times as it does not count as working time but if the company is not bothered about the WTD (the authorities are not interested) then what difference is it going to makeIt is also the companies who are responsible for calculating WTD not the drivers
No it don’t . A 15 HR shift is a 15 HR shift no matter how much poa is in it.
Evil8Beezle:
Because if I use POA, i’ll still need take take a second (paid for) break to make it back to the yard!
Fair enough
nick2008:
ROG:
POA is used to extend shift times as it does not count as working time but if the company is not bothered about the WTD (the authorities are not interested) then what difference is it going to makeIt is also the companies who are responsible for calculating WTD not the drivers
No it don’t . A 15 HR shift is a 15 HR shift no matter how much poa is in it.
If WTD was strictly adhered to then shift lengths or the number of shifts would be a lot less if POA or break was counted as working time
Would be sitting around less and less…less waiting.
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ROG:
nick2008:
ROG:
POA is used to extend shift times as it does not count as working time but if the company is not bothered about the WTD (the authorities are not interested) then what difference is it going to makeIt is also the companies who are responsible for calculating WTD not the drivers
No it don’t . A 15 HR shift is a 15 HR shift no matter how much poa is in it.
If WTD was strictly adhered to then shift lengths or the number of shifts would be a lot less if POA or break was counted as working time
Which would cost firms a lot more in extra staff and probably trucks, so I can’t see that changing…
I’m ‘encouraged’ to use POA and Break whenever possible, as our firm does try to conform to WTD.
Plus if I’m sat at home because I’ve been stood down due to my WTD hours, I’m not earning!
The result is basically some drivers MAY push their luck on what they book as POA or Break…
I think I’d like to see POA and Break to be included, and maybe the WTD hours adjusted a little to a 55 average.
Not sure if this would work or not, as the current rules that attempt to govern day men and trampers alike is a bit of an issue!
ROG:
nick2008:
ROG:
POA is used to extend shift times as it does not count as working time but if the company is not bothered about the WTD (the authorities are not interested) then what difference is it going to makeIt is also the companies who are responsible for calculating WTD not the drivers
No it don’t . A 15 HR shift is a 15 HR shift no matter how much poa is in it.
If WTD was strictly adhered to then shift lengths or the number of shifts would be a lot less if POA or break was counted as working time
No Rog … you said it extends shift times which by most drivers would be their max 15hr duty (shift)…
Off piste a bit but why do tachos defer to poa rather than other work, stupidly can reset driving time if forget to switch it, do all tachos now do this?
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