Is it only me, or do other members of TNUK that either live here in Europe or just work here, wether it be for a UK company or a F,D,NL,B,E haulier (’ Franglais, Craig111 , Andrew, Muckles, Toby et al,) just think that the BS in England has come to a point of absolute ridicule■■?
I/we deliver/collect in mainland Europe and don’t have this H&S bull , yes there are safety rules, in a minority of sites you may have to chock the wheels, very occasionally some sites ask you to hand keys in if they are loading/unloading you while you are in the cab, rarely do we have to wear a hi-vis even if you are unloading yourself in a RDC’s .
nick2008:
And that’s why the jobs [zb]ed you just can’t do it by the book
The jobs certainly not fu[zb]ed. As for not doing it by the book, its a case of working things to your own benefit thats all making full use of available daily time. My card is 100% always in order with zero infringements…
AndrewG:
nick2008:
And that’s why the jobs [zb]ed you just can’t do it by the bookThe jobs certainly not fu[zb]ed. As for not doing it by the book, its a case of working things to your own benefit thats all making full use of available daily time. My card is 100% always in order with zero infringements…
So tipping ( working ) whilst on break is ok by you then
nick2008:
AndrewG:
nick2008:
And that’s why the jobs [zb]ed you just can’t do it by the bookThe jobs certainly not fu[zb]ed. As for not doing it by the book, its a case of working things to your own benefit thats all making full use of available daily time. My card is 100% always in order with zero infringements…
So tipping ( working ) whilst on break is ok by you then
Yes…its something ive always done.From a personal viewpoint i’d just find sitting around doing nothing for a further 45 mins when the time could be saved whilst being tipped totally wasteful and furthermore, boring. Maybe its just me but also find having 11hrs off a real struggle sometmes as 6hrs sleep is my norm and wide awake. My weekly only totals 54hrs as i just max driving hrs with 3x10 and 2x12. The exception to that is Portugal groupage where tipping is nearly all handball and consequently longer days…
Well after all the talk about needing to get out ASAP I’m now sitting a at factory and forklift drivers don’t start til 7. Couldn’t make it up. Just like being back in the army.
And it’s won’t be going on break out of principle. Coffee made and kindle time.
AndrewG:
nick2008:
AndrewG:
nick2008:
And that’s why the jobs [zb]ed you just can’t do it by the bookThe jobs certainly not fu[zb]ed. As for not doing it by the book, its a case of working things to your own benefit thats all making full use of available daily time. My card is 100% always in order with zero infringements…
So tipping ( working ) whilst on break is ok by you then
Yes…its something ive always done.From a personal viewpoint i’d just find sitting around doing nothing for a further 45 mins when the time could be saved whilst being tipped totally wasteful and furthermore, boring. Maybe its just me but also find having 11hrs off a real struggle sometmes as 6hrs sleep is my norm and wide awake. My weekly only totals 54hrs as i just max driving hrs with 3x10 and 2x12. The exception to that is Portugal groupage where tipping is nearly all handball and consequently longer days…
When I used to drive the puddle jumpers, I hated the waiting on breaks, so majority of time, I’d put it on break if I could. As for waiting 11 hours, unless I happened to be somewhere really nice, I just got bored and fed up. It’s why I much prefer vans (sorry). 
sammym:
Well after all the talk about needing to get out ASAP I’m now sitting a at factory and forklift drivers don’t start til 7. Couldn’t make it up. Just like being back in the army.And it’s won’t be going on break out of principle. Coffee made and kindle time.
I’m not exactly sure what the principle is you refer to but that’s exactly the sort of time when I would put the tacho on break.
AndrewG:
nick2008:
AndrewG:
nick2008:
And that’s why the jobs F@£*%d you just can’t do it by the bookThe jobs certainly not fu[zb]ed. As for not doing it by the book, its a case of working things to your own benefit thats all making full use of available daily time. My card is 100% always in order with zero infringements…
So tipping ( working ) whilst on break is ok by you then
Yes…its something ive always done.From a personal viewpoint i’d just find sitting around doing nothing for a further 45 mins when the time could be saved whilst being tipped totally wasteful and furthermore, boring. Maybe its just me but also find having 11hrs off a real struggle sometmes as 6hrs sleep is my norm and wide awake. My weekly only totals 54hrs as i just max driving hrs with 3x10 and 2x12. The exception to that is Portugal groupage where tipping is nearly all handball and consequently longer days…
Surely that isn’t correct!!
Harry Monk:
sammym:
Well after all the talk about needing to get out ASAP I’m now sitting a at factory and forklift drivers don’t start til 7. Couldn’t make it up. Just like being back in the army.And it’s won’t be going on break out of principle. Coffee made and kindle time.
I’m not exactly sure what the principle is you refer to but that’s exactly the sort of time when I would put the tacho on break.
Quite so, Harry.
You couldn`t make it up could you…?
Harry Monk:
sammym:
Well after all the talk about needing to get out ASAP I’m now sitting a at factory and forklift drivers don’t start til 7. Couldn’t make it up. Just like being back in the army.And it’s won’t be going on break out of principle. Coffee made and kindle time.
I’m not exactly sure what the principle is you refer to but that’s exactly the sort of time when I would put the tacho on break.
And i always have and would if I hadn’t been spoken to like that yesterday. It’s also slightly pointless I’d only had an hour and a half’s driving time to clear. Let’s be totally honest as well - I’m paid good money as it’s Sunday. The 45 Mins will pay for my takeaway tonight.
It’s a shame I don’t like the people at this company’s as the job is brilliant. Just one or two drops and getting out in the countryside of wales. Places I have to go have loads of space to reverse. It’s really quite enjoyable.
sammym:
It’s a shame I don’t like the people at this company’s as the job is brilliant.
Then…
Learn to switch off whenever one of the drones starts telling you what socks you should be wearing next time you’re in.
Just nod smile and nod again then, go out and do your thing your way.
One of the first things taught to me by older drivers many many years ago was ‘f***em’.
sammym:
And i always have and would if I hadn’t been spoken to like that yesterday. It’s also slightly pointless I’d only had an hour and a half’s driving time to clear. Let’s be totally honest as well - I’m paid good money as it’s Sunday. The 45 Mins will pay for my takeaway tonight.
Well, it isn’t pointless because it means you would have 4.5 hours driving time available to you when you leave rather than three, which could make a big difference to how the rest of the day pans out. If you are drinking coffee and reading your Kindle then that falls fairly and squarely into the category of break, but your comment about treating it as work paying for your takeaway meal just smacks of somebody just trying to string the job out for his own benefit and simultaneously to the detriment of the operator.
AndrewG:
Roymondo:
AndrewG:
Tipping on break saves time. Why sit on a bay waiting to be tipped for an hour then leave the yard only to stick it on break for 45Another case of thinking dvsa/vosa own and rule drivers lives. Anyone would think they have staff purely devoted to spying on drivers at delivery sites…
Why do it? Because (hourly paid, as 99% of agency drivers are, and the majority of full timers) you end up with more money in your pocket.
Forgetting the fact wasting time and dragging the job out unnecessarily can cost employers, the same ones that pay a drivers wages each week and one of the downsides of paying by the hour. 90% of us are on PPL, its far more productive, earnings are higher for both drivers and the company. No one sits in a yard waiting to be tipped with the tacho on other work, its pretty pointless when it could be on break…
This is a typical answer from a owner driver always thinking of the pound
It’s up to the driver when and where he wants to take his break and always will be
Plus most are on buttons so why would they be thinking of the haulage company
If you’re in the business and that kind of thing affects your earnings for the truck then your in the wrong business
[/b]
Harry Monk:
sammym:
And i always have and would if I hadn’t been spoken to like that yesterday. It’s also slightly pointless I’d only had an hour and a half’s driving time to clear. Let’s be totally honest as well - I’m paid good money as it’s Sunday. The 45 Mins will pay for my takeaway tonight.Well, it isn’t pointless because it means you would have 4.5 hours driving time available to you when you leave rather than three, which could make a big difference to how the rest of the day pans out. If you are drinking coffee and reading your Kindle then that falls fairly and squarely into the category of break, but your comment about treating it as work paying for your takeaway meal just smacks of somebody just trying to string the job out for his own benefit and simultaneously to the detriment of the operator.
As I said usually I’d try and get a break in. But they annoyed me and I won’t be coming back so I don’t care.
Plus I can hardly go for a walk or do what I want… some break. I was waiting to work - ready to answer the call of duty. The weather is lovely - my break will involve a nice walk.
yourhavingalarf:
One of the first things taught to me by older drivers many many years ago was ‘f***em’.
A simple and efficient philosophy is that 
.
I was taught the same when I started, and since then I’ve adapted it to many x 1000 situations…and it always works.
Many fail to see this which is why their work days range from chaos to crap.
Harry Monk:
AndrewG:
Tipping on break saves time. Why sit on a bay waiting to be tipped for an hour then leave the yard only to stick it on break for 45The OP did mention that he was required to tip the load himself with a pallet trolley and this obviously isn’t “taking a break” in any meaningful sense of the expression.
Agreed Harry.
I always respond to many of Andrew’s posts with the same line ie ‘You are an owner driver’ so he obviously and quite rightly comes at situations from a different perspective.
Of course you should take proper breaks, it’s one of the few things left in the job that is ‘‘for’’ the driver.
If it would not create safety and fatigue issues it would be on the constantly increasing list of yet another worker’s right that has been taken away from us. 
Drivers make me mad when they say things like ‘‘I got that break in’’ or ‘‘I got my 11s off out of the way’’.
They aren’t their to ‘‘get in’’ or ‘‘get out of the way’’ they’re there for your benefit to stop you being exploited my unscrupulous planners and TMs
Wake up some of you… FFS 
I admit I do bend things, I too will tip on break quite often, but I sure as hell make sure I still get a proper break later when I feel the need, and when it benefits me more.
Midnight Rambler:
AndrewG:
Yes…its something ive always done.From a personal viewpoint i’d just find sitting around doing nothing for a further 45 mins when the time could be saved whilst being tipped totally wasteful and furthermore, boring. Maybe its just me but also find having 11hrs off a real struggle sometmes as 6hrs sleep is my norm and wide awake. My weekly only totals 54hrs as i just max driving hrs with 3x10 and 2x12. The exception to that is Portugal groupage where tipping is nearly all handball and consequently longer days…Surely that isn’t correct!!
Yes it would be correct.
9 hour drive plus a 45 tacho break is rounded up to 10 hours.
10 hour drive plus two 45 tacho breaks is rounded up to 12 hours.
sammym:
As I said usually I’d try and get a break in. But they annoyed me and I won’t be coming back so I don’t care.Plus I can hardly go for a walk or do what I want… some break. I was waiting to work - ready to answer the call of duty. The weather is lovely - my break will involve a nice walk.
There is a difference between break and rest periods
What is classed as a break?
A break is any period of time during your working day when you are not carrying out
any driving or any other work. This time must be used just to relax and recuperate.
What is classed as a rest period?
A rest is an uninterrupted period of time when you can do anything you want; apart
from doing any type of working, regardless of the employer.
sammym:
Well after all the talk about needing to get out ASAP I’m now sitting a at factory and forklift drivers don’t start til 7. Couldn’t make it up. Just like being back in the army.And it’s won’t be going on break out of principle. Coffee made and kindle time.
Before you start moaning about treatment, just learn the basic rules first
I dont find sitting in a tin box at a factory waiting for someone to knock on my window either a restful or a good way to recuperate.
Fresh air in the countryside of north wales which im getting now on the other hand… lovely weather, stunning views and total chill.
Question for those who think you “should” rather than “can if you want” - if during this legit break period forky had rocked up could I have completed my break or would I have had to get out open doors then climb into a fridge and pull around heavy pallets with pump trolley?
Ultimately I’m earning more money, I’m happier and I’m more rested using my method. People can do what’s best for them. The joy of the agency is I know I’m not coming back here - I’ll do my job properly but I’m not disadvantaging myself for them.
AndrewG:
The exception to that is Portugal groupage where tipping is nearly all handball and consequently longer days…
It seems Andrew is routinely specific when it comes to geographic locations, as for example a city in Andalucia, where he once went or a lake in Austria, known to him from a bus trip with the rest of the oap-s from the retirement home.
But when it comes to Portugal, it has in several instances been just “Portugal”, as if it were a small village of 40 inhabitants just a whisker west of Salamanca.
Better brush up on your Google Maps mate! For example you could claim to have delivered sand in Porto and most on here would cheer you on 