Lucy:
Squiddy:
I’m not disputing your right to take a leak. If my boss told me I was not allowed to take a leak I would tell him to zb off.I’m just baffled that anyone cant hold it back for 4.5 hours. Is this what I have to look forward to in old age? Not being able to hold my bladder for more that 4.5 hours? How do you even sleep??
Not had kids then, I take it?
msgyorkie:
Once again I cannot believe that drivers have allowed themselves to be browbeaten and told that they CANNOT stop for a toilet break!!!FFS what in the hell is this world coming to if you are not allowed to stop to pass a bodily function!
I bet the office monkeys aint told they cannot use the toilet untill they have worked for 4.5 hours!
Evening MSG.
You do know me, I gave you the heads up for the job where your working now.
To give you an idea of what some companies are like, when you got the heads up about me leaving said company and you taking my job via another website, as I was going to Richard Long. I stopped at a service station in France. I pulled in, parked up, turned engine off, before I even got to chance to change the tacho mode I had the office on the phone.
Why have you stopped?
Well I have a gut feeling I may need some bowel movements.
ffs, well make sure its a 15 min bowel movement was the response.
There really is some fantastic folk to work for out there, hence why I will never go back on the books with anyone, and I never disbelieve some things folk post about some companies.
I’ve had the short term pleasures of working for some right planks.
Was once told to cover for someone and do their detail because he was on a “■■■ break”, when I questioned this break and asked when I was due my ■■■ break I was told, “But you don’t smoke, don’t be daft”
I’ve nothing against smokers, but since when does smoking qualify someone for extra breaks, one of the places I used to work at, some of the people could go through 20 a day, around 5 mins a ciggy, that’s over an hour and a half extra break.
Back to topic, If I need to go, I will. Only torrential rain will make me put it off
Saratoga:
It seems there isn’t an actual specific law about toilet breaks but there are lots of inferred responsibilities for employers. Some links for you to read up on. Personally, if I need a loo break on a run and I’ve been told not to stop then I will go but I’ll chose a place where I’m near the vehicle of sorts assuming regular standing up-liquid releif but otherwise I will stop at services.hazards.org/toiletbreaks/toiletbreaks2
tuc.org.uk/workplace/tuc-17668-f0.cfm
xperthr.co.uk/blogs/employme … r-toi.html
Thread on Consumer Action Group Forum
Some URLs you might want to look at. However, as an ‘Owner & Driver’ surely you should know this yourself? Having worked in a call centre in the past I can understand the point where management want to make sure there is adequate cover on the phones but more than that is just detrimental to the service, in more ways than one!
As a driver, or a mobile worker as it is put, we have a certain level of independence from the management to get the job done. I too have had the call asking why I had pulled into xyz services on my route and usually the offer of ‘I can use a bottle and bring it in as proof if you’d like, or do you have a fetish for that?’ usually stops ANY further enquires! But if the lorry is tracked and someone calls you whenever you stop, or are going ‘too slow’ or anything like that, then clearly they’ve got too much time on their hands…
not looking good is it
and it dose not look like there is anything I can do about it regarding grassing them up to someone like ACAS or someone like that
The only thing I found of any use from your links was
The DTI spokesperson added that an employer could “not normally” require that an employee only take a toilet break after receiving permission, but added “there are circumstances, perhaps on a production line or furnace environment, where taking a toilet break without permission may put the safety of co-workers as risk.”
Regarding Squiddy’s input. When I was 18 I used to do Preston to Lockerbie Creameries and back with a Transit van & twin axle trailer collecting Scotch Cheddar cheese. I never used to have a pee 'till I got back to the yard. Now, at 53, not a chance.
However I think it is not just age that has changed things. Iv’e spent some time in the tropics, mostly Thailand & the Philippines, over the last 10 years. When you are there it is noticeable you don’t pee as often because you lose more fluid in sweat. So I wonder as the bladder is not filled up as much, has it shrunk in capacity? It is certainly noticeable that when I come back to the UK I seem to pee lots more. A cup of tea seems to go through in little more than 20 minutes.
When I am out on the road all day, I try to drink less so I don’t need to stop, (I’m old school, I’m there to get the job done) but often by mid afternoon my lips are starting to become very dry. Surely that’s dehydration?
About 16 years ago I used to pull full loads of whisky out of a bonded warehouse in Glasgow. I was driving for a 2 truck small haulier subbed to Archbolds. He mentioned this no stopping idea. I believe its to do with a condition in the GIT (Goods in Transit) insurance re the load not being left unattended, possibly being confused with a dropped trl not being covered. However, if insured under RHA terms, the max cover is so much per tonne - which will likely be a LOT less than many high value loads. Shuttlespanker and a few other operators here, who’s names temporarily escape me, might know■■?
Squiddy:
Bonnie Lass, it’s interesting you speak of fluid intake levels affecting concentration. I have always found that this and that and sometimes I need to google fishcakes and did you know that piglet is an anagram of get lip?
Sorry, did not understand your comments, please can you explain clearer.
ironstipper:
msgyorkie:
Once again I cannot believe that drivers have allowed themselves to be browbeaten and told that they CANNOT stop for a toilet break!!!
I bet the office monkeys aint told they cannot use the toilet untill they have worked for 4.5 hours!Evening MSG.
You do know me, I gave you the heads up for the job where your working now.
To give you an idea of what some companies are like, when you got the heads up about me leaving said company and you taking my job via another website, as I was going to Richard Long. I stopped at a service station in France. I pulled in, parked up, turned engine off, before I even got to chance to change the tacho mode I had the office on the phone.
Why have you stopped?
Well I have a gut feeling I may need some bowel movements.
ffs, well make sure its a 15 min bowel movement was the response.
There really is some fantastic folk to work for out there, hence why I will never go back on the books with anyone, and I never disbelieve some things folk post about some companies.
I’ve had the short term pleasures of working for some right planks.
Aye aye Mr A! 
At the end of the day the correct words you should have used begins with F and ends in off!!
There are times that I can drive for a full 4.5 hours without a toilet stop required, however these days I tend to drink more. Back then I had a lot more headaches and other related health issues that were mostly down to either not drinking enough or not drinking enough of the right liquid.
Cans of pop, coffee, latte’s, even tea. The caffeine in those are partial diuretics which means you pee more. Drinking water is better for you in most circumstances and the recommended level to drink is two litres a day minimum.
If you’re just driving and not much else then you might not feel the effects as much but I’ve done Hiabing with builders merchants in the heat and then I tend to feel that 2 litres isn’t enough, so it does depend on your work load.
So during the night or trunk runs I tend to get through about half a litre an hour, sometimes more sometimes less. I’d say these days if you’re driving for the full 4.5 hours and don’t need a pee, then perhaps you are dehydrated? That is a bad thing these days you know
Oh, and water also helps keep me awake on the road Seeing as it is me usually on my own, it’s my choice when and where I stop within reason. Yes, most vehicles are tracked but that’s understandable these days. I get more practice at ‘holding’ when I’m driving coaches, but then all I need to do is ‘suggest’ an MSA is coming up and I’m pretty sure someone will feel the need to shop 
the law says you can stop any time you like when it relates to the safety of your vehicle and no company policy can over-rule the law.
besides, they really dont help when they have you sitting next to the coffee machine for a couple of hours before sending you on a trip. coffee going in means coffee going out and the human body does not adhere to drivers hours regulations so when you need to go, you need to go!
Saratoga:
It seems there isn’t an actual specific law about toilet breaks but there are lots of inferred responsibilities for employers. Some links for you to read up on. Personally, if I need a loo break on a run and I’ve been told not to stop then I will go but I’ll chose a place where I’m near the vehicle of sorts assuming regular standing up-liquid releif but otherwise I will stop at services.hazards.org/toiletbreaks/toiletbreaks2
tuc.org.uk/workplace/tuc-17668-f0.cfm
Reading those, does this mean that the oft-quoted ‘Drivers may not use the toilets’ at RDCs is illegal? Do they have to provide facilities, or at least allow the driver to use what facilities exist, as the drivers are working there, albeit temporarily?
Gary
If you don’t drink, you will do yourself harm…
If you put off your natural bodily functions, you will do yourself harm…
Why would you do yourself harm on the say so of A.N.Other? 
Law or not, company rules or not - when you have to go, you go!
Simples
bonnie lass:
Squiddy:
Not trying to be antagonistic, but can you lot really not go 4.5 hours without having to take a toilet break? What do you do at night■■? I’m not disputing that it’s your right to stop for a wee or number two, and I understand the “don’t stop” policy for high value loads, but if you can’t hold on for 4.5 hours maybe you need a cathater … or incontinance nappies,
Different people have different needsThey have different characteristics of body functions!! It is simply not the case of ‘really not go 4.5 hours without toilet break’, it isn’t always that simple. some people need a larger intake of fluids for various reasons, others don’t. Some dehydrate at a great rate if fluids are not reguarly maintained. dehyration or too little intake of fluids can lead to poor concentration levels & perhaps even worse when fatigued or stree levels are high. That is just a small insight to the matter
■■■■ right…everyone is different…depends what and how much you’ve drunk/eaten…
No one tells me when I can or can’t go to the loo. If they tried to and were threatening about it I would abandon the load - whatever it was, as soon as I could park up the trailer safely - and leave them to sort it out themselves…these type of people are arrogant ■■■■■ and there is only one way to deal with it. 
Whilst I can sympathise with some of the sentiments expressed here, particularly with the demands of getting older, I can’t help thinking of what my Mum used to say to me & my siblings if we wanted the toilet when on a trip.
" I told you to go before we set off!"
I have a gastric band and although I hardly eat anything I drink gallons of water a day so there’s no way I could go 4.5 hours without going to the loo. As others have said though, if you’ve gotta go you’ve gotta go, why risk your health on the say so of some desk jockey who shines a seat with his arse and is probably about two feet away from a toilet and brew/chocolate machine
Fat Controller:
Whilst I can sympathise with some of the sentiments expressed here, particularly with the demands of getting older, I can’t help thinking of what my Mum used to say to me & my siblings if we wanted the toilet when on a trip.
" I told you to go before we set off!"
My missus can hang on to a crap for 4 days, but she is forever nipping to the loo. I often think she is in love with her mirror image!!! 
bonnie lass:
Squiddy:
Bonnie Lass, it’s interesting you speak of fluid intake levels affecting concentration. I have always found that this and that and sometimes I need to google fishcakes and did you know that piglet is an anagram of get lip?Sorry, did not understand your comments, please can you explain clearer.
I don’t understand my comments either. Think I had too much cider last night 
Truckulent:
bonnie lass:
Squiddy:
Not trying to be antagonistic, but can you lot really not go 4.5 hours without having to take a toilet break? What do you do at night■■? I’m not disputing that it’s your right to stop for a wee or number two, and I understand the “don’t stop” policy for high value loads, but if you can’t hold on for 4.5 hours maybe you need a cathater … or incontinance nappies,
Different people have different needs■■■■ right…everyone is different…depends what and how much you’ve drunk/eaten…
No one tells me when I can or can’t go to the loo. If they tried to and were threatening about it I would abandon the load - whatever it was, as soon as I could park up the trailer safely - and leave them to sort it out themselves…these type of people are arrogant [zb] and there is only one way to deal with it.
I know some have been shifted from the water drinks machine, being told ‘you haven’t got time’, & sent off!, the said person has never challanged me, good job I say!
Squiddy:
bonnie lass:
Squiddy:
Bonnie Lass, it’s interesting you speak of fluid intake levels affecting concentration. I have always found that this and that and sometimes I need to google fishcakes and did you know that piglet is an anagram of get lip?Sorry, did not understand your comments, please can you explain clearer.
I don’t understand my comments either. Think I had too much cider last night
I hope you haven’t got too much of a bad head this morning
Haircuts and toilet breaks are taken in firms time.
"My hair grows in firms time, "
“not all of it” they replied.
"I haven’t had it all cut off. "
Boom Boom Mr Derek