washy jnr:
We have to carry a torch in our cab’s as required by the Animal Transport Welfare regs for carrying Livestock…and we do get checked to see if were carrying one when pulled by Vosa if trading standards are present at the checkpoint
it is common sense but not law in all cabs. More fool anyone who doesn’t have a handlamp in their bag along with a pen, tape measure, stapler and some cash for emergencies
As far as I’m aware there is no law that says you have to have a torch in the Cab, In fact I seem to recall it being discussed before on here.
Obviously is is common sense though.
Maybe Trading Standards need a little word with HGV Direct about missleading Claims and Advertising. 
You can also use a mobile phone as a torch in an emergency, they give off enough light for an escape route. I discovered this after leaving a ladies bedroom in the middle of the night to start work, I might have managed without, as it was a well worn route
Wheel Nut:
‘…You can also use a mobile phone as a torch in an emergency, …after leaving a ladies bedroom in the middle of the night…’
Wheelers is right, but as he’s possibly omitted to suggest, be careful to personalise the phone’s profile by muting the beep - especially when administering vodka & Rohypnol on the poor lovely is not enough 
It also improves the chances of getting away after grabbing your money back, eh 
Happy Keith:
Wheel Nut:
‘…You can also use a mobile phone as a torch in an emergency, …after leaving a ladies bedroom in the middle of the night…’Wheelers is right, but as he’s possibly omitted to suggest, be careful to personalise the phone’s profile by muting the beep - especially when administering vodka & Rohypnol on the poor lovely is not enough
It also improves the chances of getting away after grabbing your money back, eh
just Bacardi Breezer in this case, and she was paying 
Wheel Nut:
Happy Keith:
Wheel Nut:
‘…You can also use a mobile phone as a torch in an emergency, …after leaving a ladies bedroom in the middle of the night…’Wheelers is right, but as he’s possibly omitted to suggest, be careful to personalise the phone’s profile by muting the beep - especially when administering vodka & Rohypnol on the poor lovely is not enough
It also improves the chances of getting away after grabbing your money back, eh
just Bacardi Breezer in this case, and she was paying
Maybe save her compromising her liver with a crate-full by turning the light off or suggesting ‘barn doors’ 
mike68:
The latest V.O.S.A scheme is if you are stopped for having a blown headlight bulb or similar, they plug a laptop into your truck and can tell how long it’s been out, they then compare this to your tachograph and are able to prove that you started your journey without attempting to rectify the fault. Resulting in a fixed penalty of £60, this must be true a man in a waiting room told me.
Lol, course they do…
Soo many stories.
I’ve heard that if you’re found with a defect and started whilst still dark - ie 4am or whatever - and you said it was fine when I left, you might get asked how you checked, then it’s good to produce a torch. Never heard that it’s law though.
Noting that I start at 4.30 am most days, a Vosa guy asked if I carry a torch for vehicle checks , I replied yes but I never use it, the trucks in a lit warehouse all night
mike68:
The latest V.O.S.A scheme is if you are stopped for having a blown headlight bulb or similar, they plug a laptop into your truck and can tell how long it’s been out, they then compare this to your tachograph and are able to prove that you started your journey without attempting to rectify the fault. Resulting in a fixed penalty of £60, this must be true a man in a waiting room told me.
Like to see them do that with my mate’s F reg Foden or L reg F88
Trev_H:
‘… asked if I carry a torch for vehicle checks , I replied … the trucks in a lit warehouse all night…’
Does the warehouse illuminate the aft end of the pin on the 5th wheel, etc?
That’s when my company issued torch always gets used, night and day.
Meanwhile, it seems that we’re being cut more slack from these agencies by simply carrying a torch & telling them what they want to hear instead of barking up trees by trying to fathom what our leaders are, or are not advocating in law.
Chances are that some obscure directive from Belgium probably dictates what we’re legislated to do - as well as explain where our money goes
next it will be law to carry spare underpants!instead of getting 4 days out the old ones pain the arse for two days thou!
This is quite a common ADR myth…
chicane:
ADR needs to be ‘Intrinsically Safe’, …
Sorry chicane, that’s not quite correct mate.
Malc has this spot-on:
8.1.5.2 The following equipment shall be carried on the transport unit:
(snip) Portable lighting apparatus conforming to 8.3.4
8.3.4 The portable lighting apparatus used shall not exhibit any metal surface liable to produce sparks.
This is what ADR has to say about intrinsically safe torches:
ADR 8.5 S2(1)
S2: Additional requirements concerning the carriage of flammable liquids or gases
(1) Portable lighting apparatus
The load compartment of closed vehicles carrying liquids having a flash-point of not
more than 60 °C or flammable substances or articles of Class 2, shall not be entered by
persons carrying portable lighting apparatus other than those so designed and
constructed that they cannot ignite any flammable vapours or gases which may have
penetrated into the interior of the vehicle.
So if a vehicle doesn’t have a closed load compartment (Eg a flatty) or if you’re carrying an ADR Class other than 2.1 or 3, then you can legally get away with a cheaper type of torch.
Of course, if you carry Classes 2.1 or 3 and you don’t need to enter the load compartment of a closed vehicle, then you’re still ok if you only have just the cheaper type of torch.
Malc… 3.2.1 col 19 tells you whether S2 applies.
You can download an app for your smartphone that turns the flash on your phone into a torch a bright one it is too.
Bah I’m disappointed with this thread.
By “Torch in Cab” I thought you meant like this:
Just use some lighted rolled up newspaper to do your checks on those dark mornings, then sling it in the bushes. Mind you, don’t set fire to your diesel soaked dungarees though… I did, and got done by VOSA for having a firearm.
dieseldave:
This is quite a common ADR myth…chicane:
ADR needs to be ‘Intrinsically Safe’, …Sorry chicane, that’s not quite correct mate.
Malc has this spot-on:
8.1.5.2 The following equipment shall be carried on the transport unit:
(snip) Portable lighting apparatus conforming to 8.3.4
8.3.4 The portable lighting apparatus used shall not exhibit any metal surface liable to produce sparks.
This is what ADR has to say about intrinsically safe torches:
ADR 8.5 S2(1)S2: Additional requirements concerning the carriage of flammable liquids or gases
(1) Portable lighting apparatus
The load compartment of closed vehicles carrying liquids having a flash-point of not
more than 60 °C or flammable substances or articles of Class 2, shall not be entered by
persons carrying portable lighting apparatus other than those so designed and
constructed that they cannot ignite any flammable vapours or gases which may have
penetrated into the interior of the vehicle.So if a vehicle doesn’t have a load compartment (Eg a flatty) or if you’re carrying an ADR Class other than 2.1 or 3, then you can legally get away with a cheaper type of torch.
Of course, if you carry Classes 2.1 or 3 and you don’t need to enter the load compartment of a closed vehicle, then you’re still ok if you only have just the cheaper type of torch.Malc… 3.2.1 col 19 tells you whether S2 applies.
thanks, got a IS torch but spends its time at home, not had any ADR work, still the course counted towards my CPC
Its true, I once got pulled by the cops for no torch, I said thats stupid it would not help me anyway, because I am registered legally blind, the cop just said thats ok then and I went on my merry way…on a tall story journey
chicane:
thanks, got a IS torch but spends its time at home, not had any ADR work, still the course counted towards my CPC
Hi chicane,
Your ADR course should have taught you that the person who owns the vehicle (the carrier) is required to supply your ADR kit and equipment, which includes a torch exactly as quoted by Malc.
I just thought I’d bust a common ADR myth that an I.S. torch is required for general ADR work.
TBF though mate, a lot of police and VOSA officers think the same, but there are circumstances in which a driver CAN contest a penalty (wrongly) issued for not having an I.S. torch on board an ADR regulated vehicle.
That knowledge might save someone a few bob one day.
I got asked for a sparkproof shovel one day. I said listen mate, if I have to use a shovel, there definitely wont be any sparks from it
cieranc:
Bah I’m disappointed with this thread.By “Torch in Cab” I thought you meant like this:
Is that a stobbys motor
