Can a company insist a driver takes a reduced daily rest for their “business needs”? And if the driver refuses can they then discipline them for not taking the reduced rest?
hope they help 
DonutUK:
Can a company insist a driver takes a reduced daily rest for their “business needs”? And if the driver refuses can they then discipline them for not taking the reduced rest?
Didn’t Neil answer this on your other thread?
I would say using a driver who can reduce within the law is part of their operational flexibility. I suppose if you refuse to sign the contract of employment then you probably can do as you wish
- Your hours will be _______________ per week. The daily arrangement of these hours is set out in Appendix 1 to this contract.
The arrangement of your hours may be varied from time to time, subject to your agreement, which should not be unreasonably withheld. Any changes will be confirmed in writing and should be kept with this contract.
You are required to be available for work during your normal working hours. Given the demands made upon the business by customers, you are expected to be punctual at all times.
- Extra hours of work
You may be required to work extra hours to cover for the absence of colleagues, arising from holiday, sickness or other causes. Such extra hours will be paid at your current hourly rate. Alternatively, time off in lieu may be granted with your agreement and within the company guidelines regarding lieu time current at the time. Overtime will only be paid if approved in advance by the manager or his deputy.
.
I couldn’t find a transport contract but think you will find they all have that goal covered.
You can refuse to work, but who’s name will be on the gate when things go slack? the bloke who doesn’t mind being home a bit later or the one who misses that urgent pallet because he wants to watch Corrie 
DonutUK:
Can a company insist a driver takes a reduced daily rest for their “business needs”? And if the driver refuses can they then discipline them for not taking the reduced rest?
Depends on the reason given by the driver
Was more of a general thought as opposed to a specific incident…just get a bit annoyed at the continual assumption that we will do 15’s etc simply to get the planner out of the ■■■■ because they haven’t got a clue what they are doing!
Especially when you do a 15 only to end up back at the yard with no night out!!
If i’m honest, if we had better planners we would get very little OT…because the majority of it is down to their ■■■■ ups…
Guess i am just not keen on taking reduced rest when not on a night out!
DonutUK:
Guess i am just not keen on taking reduced rest when not on a night out!
IMO, That is the one thing they should have put into the regs -
NO REDUCED DAILY RESTS WHEN AT BASE/HOME
Was talking to a few of my colleagues today, and to a man they all said that there was no way the company could insist on a driver taking a reduced rest, it was solely up to the driver.
They were quite shocked when i mentioned that the company were quite entitled to plan a driver to a reduced rest providing there was one available.
These are drivers who wouldn’t bat an eyelid at reducing rest if they were on a night out, but share the common ethos that when back at base, they want to take 11 hrs rest.
ROG:
DonutUK:
Guess i am just not keen on taking reduced rest when not on a night out!IMO, That is the one thing they should have put into the regs -
NO REDUCED DAILY RESTS WHEN AT BASE/HOME
But you can already do that under the current regulations. Why put it in the regulations and remove that option for people who don’t mind reducing regardless of location?
Coffeeholic:
ROG:
DonutUK:
Guess i am just not keen on taking reduced rest when not on a night out!IMO, That is the one thing they should have put into the regs -
NO REDUCED DAILY RESTS WHEN AT BASE/HOMEBut you can already do that under the current regulations. Why put it in the regulations and remove that option for people who don’t mind reducing regardless of location?
It would stop the problem of planners/TMs putting pressure on drivers to do it - it has been mentioned many times on here that if a driver should keep refusing to do a reduced at home base then the likelyhood is eventually no job