Since my first job was such a botch, I’ve been reading up on the regs and rules. I’ve got some questions on some things about Tacos.
First question - What is the reason behind making manual entries? When I put my card in the machine it asked me if I wanted to do a manual entry.
Second question - What does POA (point of availability) mean and when do you need to use it?
It’s giving you the chance to do a manual entry in case you want to do one - for instance if you’ve been working (but not in your truck) doing something other than driving.
POA stands for period of availability and it’s for when you are available for work but can’t currently do anything, for example when you are waiting to load/tip but be careful as there are rules regarding its use - read up on them.
Use of POA can (will) also clear your current driving period from the tacho display as it’s sort of treated as a break by the machine.
Tacos are a mexican food 
seth 70:
Tacos are a mexican food
True 
You arrive at work at 07:30.
By the time you have collected your keys and paper work the time showing on the tacho is 07:38 as you push your card in.
Your duty did not start at 07:38 so select:
Manual entry? Y
press down arrow till the flashing time goes back to 07:30. Start of duty.
The mode then flashes cos it wants to know what mode you want to record from 07:30.
Select other work.
time flashes again so press up till it says current time 07:38.
OK that.
You have recorded 8 mins other work to account for time your duty started till time you jumped in the cab.
Edit to say: It’ll show you the time you last ejected it first and ask if that was the end of your duty… but you get the idea… its to account for working time that your card was not in a vehicle.
Radar19:
First question - What is the reason behind making manual entries? When I put my card in the machine it asked me if I wanted to do a manual entry.
Manual entries are for times that should be recorded but aren’t because your driver card is not in the tachograph.
Lets say you take your card out at the end of the shift then have to go into the office for a debrief or to book off, this may take 15/30 minutes which legally should be recorded.
As you aren’t recording that time because you’ve taken the card out you get a chance to put it into the tachograph when you next insert the driver card.
The same applies when you start a shift, you’ll often be doing work booking in or even just waiting for a vehicle before you insert the driver card, again you can do a manual entry to record that time when you insert the driver card.
Radar19:
Second question - What does POA (point of availability) mean and when do you need to use it?
POA is a Period Of Availability not point of availability
A period of availability is usually time spent waiting, you may be waiting for a vehicle at the start of a shift, or waiting at a delivery because you’ve got there too early.
Legally during a period of availability you should be able to leave the workstation, and you should know in advance how long you will be waiting.
This is a fairly simplistic explanation, the pros and cons of POA could be debated all day
All as explained above.
The purpose of POA is that it doesnt count towards your 60 hour working week. This means you could do over 60 hours a week if you wanted to.
m1cks:
All as explained above.The purpose of POA is that it doesnt count towards your 60 hour working week. This means you could do over 60 hours a week if you wanted to.
You know that’s now going to start a 3 page discussion/argument about whey anyone would want to work more than 60 hours don’t you 
tachograph:
m1cks:
All as explained above.The purpose of POA is that it doesnt count towards your 60 hour working week. This means you could do over 60 hours a week if you wanted to.
You know that’s now going to start a 3 page discussion/argument about whey anyone would want to work more than 60 hours don’t you
Then my work here is done. Im off to get some popcorn to watch the show.
When I first got an infringement for going over WTD I was surprised because I hadn’t gone over my driving hours and hadn’t realised about the 6 hour WTD thing.
I had done 7 hrs duty with no break but only 3 hrs or so driving. Lots of hanging about obviously.
My TM explained that POA effectively opts you out of WTD. They state you have to take 15mins at 6 hrs duty. So say you work 7 hrs, 3 hrs drive and 4 hrs other work you haven’t gone over your drive time but you have gone over your WTD time. If you chose POA for 1 of those hours of other work, e.g. because you arrived and they told you to park up for an hour, that hour of POA does not count toward the 6 hrs working time. Its an opt out.
Contrary to what seems more likely you are only supposed to record Period of Availability if you know beforehand how long you won’t be needed so shuffling forward in a queue does not technically count.
Radar19:
Since my first job was such a botch, I’ve been reading up on the regs and rules. I’ve got some questions on some things about Tacos.First question - What is the reason behind making manual entries? When I put my card in the machine it asked me if I wanted to do a manual entry.
Second question - What does POA (point of availability) mean and when do you need to use it?
I’ve moved this thread to a more appropriate forum, the forum for advice for new drivers. You may also find the Saftey and Law forum usefull as well as its stickies with useful information to you like…
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=71511
Looooo:
When I first got an infringement for going over WTD I was surprised because I hadn’t gone over my driving hours and hadn’t realised about the 6 hour WTD thing.I had done 7 hrs duty with no break but only 3 hrs or so driving. Lots of hanging about obviously.
My TM explained that POA effectively opts you out of WTD. They state you have to take 15mins at 6 hrs duty. So say you work 7 hrs, 3 hrs drive and 4 hrs other work you haven’t gone over your drive time but you have gone over your WTD time. If you chose POA for 1 of those hours of other work, e.g. because you arrived and they told you to park up for an hour, that hour of POA does not count toward the 6 hrs working time. Its an opt out.
Contrary to what seems more likely you are only supposed to record Period of Availability if you know beforehand how long you won’t be needed so shuffling forward in a queue does not technically count.
They don’t make it easy for you do they.
I kept forgetting about the 6 hr rule to begin with - I found it helpful to write at the top of my clipboard (where I put day sheets/cust paperwork etc) “WTD - the time I started and the time by which I must have had my first break”
I also would log every break - the time I put it on break and the time I switched it over (always worth letting it run for one minute more just so you don’t accidentally switch it over at 14 mins)
What should I do in my case guys. I leave the house at 8.30 and travel to work in lorry, get their at 9, might only drive between 11 and 12.30 and do other yard work. Do i need to show my breaks and what should I set tacho at? POA? Finish work at 5 and home by 5.30
ytre:
What should I do in my case guys. I leave the house at 8.30 and travel to work in lorry, get their at 9, might only drive between 11 and 12.30 and do other yard work. Do i need to show my breaks and what should I set tacho at? POA? Finish work at 5 and home by 5.30
Use breaks and other work. Assuming you do a 5 day week and have an hour break you would have no need for POA as your average weekly hours are below 48.
ytre:
What should I do in my case guys. I leave the house at 8.30 and travel to work in lorry, get their at 9, might only drive between 11 and 12.30 and do other yard work. Do i need to show my breaks and what should I set tacho at? POA? Finish work at 5 and home by 5.30
Do you have a lunch break and if yes for how long??
ROG:
ytre:
What should I do in my case guys. I leave the house at 8.30 and travel to work in lorry, get their at 9, might only drive between 11 and 12.30 and do other yard work. Do i need to show my breaks and what should I set tacho at? POA? Finish work at 5 and home by 5.30Do you have a lunch break and if yes for how long??
Hi Rog, m1ck, I have a half hour lunch break and 15 mins at ten o;
clock, driving varies everyday and only work 3 days a week
ytre:
ROG:
ytre:
What should I do in my case guys. I leave the house at 8.30 and travel to work in lorry, get their at 9, might only drive between 11 and 12.30 and do other yard work. Do i need to show my breaks and what should I set tacho at? POA? Finish work at 5 and home by 5.30Do you have a lunch break and if yes for how long??
Hi Rog, m1ck, I have a half hour lunch break and 15 mins at ten o;
clock, driving varies everyday and only work 3 days a week
Put tacho on break for lunch and leave on other work the rest of the time then all is covered
ytre:
ROG:
ytre:
What should I do in my case guys. I leave the house at 8.30 and travel to work in lorry, get their at 9, might only drive between 11 and 12.30 and do other yard work. Do i need to show my breaks and what should I set tacho at? POA? Finish work at 5 and home by 5.30Do you have a lunch break and if yes for how long??
Hi Rog, m1ck, I have a half hour lunch break and 15 mins at ten o;
clock, driving varies everyday and only work 3 days a week
You should put the tachograph on break when you have your breaks and leave it on other work for the rest of the time.
If you leave the tachograph on other work it will automatically change to drive when the vehicle moves and automatically change back to other work when the vehicle stops moving, so you will only need to remember to change the tachograph mode when you start and finish your breaks.
Thanks guys that’s brilliant. Can I still drive my full hours if ive done yard work all day ?