bobbya:
Doesn,t all working time have to be recorded?
Yes, but that’s nothing to do with showing a certain amount of time for vehicle checks, or showing much more than a minute or two before you start driving if you are starting after a night out.
I’ve got to agree with Wild Goose on this one.
I’m fortunate that I’m the only driver who uses my truck and as with Swithlogic I tend to give it the once over loads of times during the day as I get in and out. I cannot ever remember a time when suddenly something was a miss as its a fairly new and well maintained truck. If anything is wrong it sorted immediately.
In the mornings after having slept in it all night just a quick walk around is all I do just to check the obvious. Sometimes this is on the card and sometimes its not.
I’ve been stopped by VOSA on a few occasions and not ever once has this been an issue. Its seems like just another thing that has been blown out of proportion on the forum.
m4rky:
I’ve got to agree with Wild Goose on this one.I’m fortunate that I’m the only driver who uses my truck and as with Swithlogic I tend to give it the once over loads of times during the day as I get in and out. I cannot ever remember a time when suddenly something was a miss as its a fairly new and well maintained truck. If anything is wrong it sorted immediately.
In the mornings after having slept in it all night just a quick walk around is all I do just to check the obvious. Sometimes this is on the card and sometimes its not.
I’ve been stopped by VOSA on a few occasions and not ever once has this been an issue. Its seems like just another thing that has been blown out of proportion on the forum.
Same as you guys. The nature of my load means constant checking of straps etc so I’m always looking at things. I also still have the “post trip” habit of checking her over when I park up then if a problem is occuring it can be addressed and not left to surprise me in the morning. That said I usually chuck my card in as I’m having a coffee so some work will show on it before i do a quick lap of the motor and crack on. 
We have been duly informed that as of a while ago a 15 min other work must show on the card before any driving is done. This is to make sure we do all our checks, wonder how many of our drivers actually do it.
Coffeeholic:
starfighter:
First thing I do is card in and manual entries. Then adjust seat and mirrors, sort all my stuff out. Five mins. Walk round check, tailift, lights, tyres, etc, note all the damage. Five mins. Fill all dhl’s paperwork in and check load plan against delivery notes, five mins. Apparently DHL want 15 mins of work, our lot say half hour, Coffeeholic’s lot don’t seem botheredThey’re bothered, they’re just not excessively stupid about this sort of thing. We go in, get keys, we know what we are doing so no paperwork or notes to collect at that point. We go to the car park where the units are and stick digi cards in, manual entry for end of previous shift and start of current one. Quick check round of the vehicle, tyres, lights and drive along the road to the yard to get the trailer. Couple up and quick check of that, tyres, lights, then wait for the green light, one of us fills in the defect book while waiting but never mark down any defects until the end of the shift, unless we’ve just changed a bulb then we mark that as it looks as if we know what we are doing then.
Collect the one bit of paper that goes with the load, trailer sealed and bugger off.
That’s it, no hoops to jump through, no nonsense about showing a certain amount of minutes for checks or anything else, no dramas, no making a big issue out of little things, no hassle. We are trusted to do what we have to do with no one constantly on our case. I’ve seen my boss three times this year and spoken to him on the phone a couple of times plus a few text messages when I have been booking a day off. All the stuff I see on here about DHL regarding rules and stuff is not the DHL I know or am employed by.
The thing is our managers think we are all stupid so reduce everything down to the lowest common denominator. Fleet Compliance advise 15 minutes so they tell the drivers half hour to make sure the 15 gets done, thinking that If they say 15 the drivers can’t be trusted to do it. Anytime someone does something daft we get a sign off to say not to do it. We love red tape at our place.
Paul-H:
We have been duly informed that as of a while ago a 15 min other work must show on the card before any driving is done. This is to make sure we do all our checks, wonder how many of our drivers actually do it.
Duly informed by who ■■ and based upon what written law ■■
billybigrig:
Paul-H:
We have been duly informed that as of a while ago a 15 min other work must show on the card before any driving is done. This is to make sure we do all our checks, wonder how many of our drivers actually do it.Duly informed by who ■■ and based upon what written law ■■
Why did you mention ‘written law’? He didn’t. 
He was told to do something, that’s it, just do it, it’s not a hardship, is it? 
Why are people making this topic a big deal, it isn’t. You either check your vehicle first thing or not. If you do it’s either done on the card or not. No big deal really.
We had a memo a while ago that we must show 15 before setting off, and we must check the vehicle (out and back in), this is not a problem and spot checks are done via cctv, I did get a verbal once for missing half of mine after yakking with another driver 
.
I start at 6, by the time I get to my truck it’s usually about 5 past, stick card in do manual entries to close previous day and to cover time from 06:00, pour myself a brew, sort paperwork into a decent drop order, then get out and do my external checks including opening back doors, fill in defect book, WTD book and tacho envelope, and I’m out of the gate at about 20 past. Driving a 6 yr old truck requires that you do the checks as things do crop up overnight, bulbs/wiring/low tyres/leaks, I prefer to blame the shunter though rather than the damage fairies.
It’s not rocket science, It’s about arse covering because you can be sure that management WILL not cover your arse, only their own should the need ever arise. We’ve had the odd agy driver who jumps in and drives off, they’re never asked back! What happens if you get a tug? If you’ve got bulb that’s blown en route and you aint got those 10/15 minutes showing you can’t prove anything, but Mr VOSA can prove you got a defect, kerching.
MADBAZ:
spot checks are done via cctv, I did get a verbal once for missing half of mine
And this is why I’ve never worked for a large and/or British company full time. I admire you chaps for putting up with it.
The best job I ever had for this was Ontime Automotive, they paid you 1 hour per day extra to do daily checks, 30mins in the morning and 30 when you parked up. The thirty when parking up was to check straps on all the vehicles, set the alarms and remove keys. The thirty in the morning was the reverse of that process.
We even got that when we were parked in our secure yard which was a nice bonus, it was just long enough to cook breakfast and wash up, if the straps are secure at night, they are not going to fall off during the night 
I fill in my defect book and tacho for the next day when I park up for the night. The only things I always check in the morning is that noone has ■■■■■■ about with the kingpin thingy or the tailgate on my tipper trailer. I never ever put my card in until I’m ready to drive off… It’s a waste of precious working time according to my OD boss who’s “jus tryin t’meck sum mone”.
Vosa has never raised an eyebrow (but on one occasion batted her eyelashes smiling as she stood on my top step, leaning in talking to me, the dirty cow) the handful of times I’ve been pulled…
Wheel Nut:
if the straps are secure at night, they are not going to fall off during the night
I wouldn’t be so sure, all sorts of things happen to Dinos lorry of a night while he’s sleeping so let that be a warning
switchlogic:
Wheel Nut:
if the straps are secure at night, they are not going to fall off during the nightI wouldn’t be so sure, all sorts of things happen to Dinos lorry of a night while he’s sleeping so let that be a warning
Now where did I say that Ditchlogic?
Although saying that, I did have some straps nicked one night, empty Tautliner with a door open and the straps on one side ready for next mornings collection. 4 straps, strange. Wasn’t you ditch by any chance? I know you are a bit odd, talking to yourself all day and having a big yellow plastic phallic symbol for company 
dinosteveus1:
billybigrig:
Paul-H:
We have been duly informed that as of a while ago a 15 min other work must show on the card before any driving is done. This is to make sure we do all our checks, wonder how many of our drivers actually do it.Duly informed by who ■■ and based upon what written law ■■
Why did you mention ‘written law’? He didn’t.
He was told to do something, that’s it, just do it, it’s not a hardship, is it?
Why are people making this topic a big deal, it isn’t. You either check your vehicle first thing or not. If you do it’s either done on the card or not. No big deal really.
I was merely asking a simple question because often when folk are “duly informed” they take it as gospel and splash it around as gospel/law and you end up with threads like this that you yourself were concerned enough to start. It was barely a few weeks ago I posted an “official” memo from some dimwitted manager at the large yellow company spouting how it’s the law to wind up legs fully and the possible vosa fines for not doing so. Therefore I simply asked a pertinent question
dinosteveus1:
switchlogic:
Wheel Nut:
if the straps are secure at night, they are not going to fall off during the nightI wouldn’t be so sure, all sorts of things happen to Dinos lorry of a night while he’s sleeping so let that be a warning
Now where did I say that Ditchlogic?
Although saying that, I did have some straps nicked one night, empty Tautliner with a door open and the straps on one side ready for next mornings collection. 4 straps, strange. Wasn’t you ditch by any chance? I know you are a bit odd, talking to yourself all day and having a big yellow plastic phallic symbol for company
Oh get over yourself you silly man.
You do know the meaning of phallic don’t you? Rather inappropriate calling a kids toy phallic wouldn’t you say?
Bertie…Phallic? That’s some girth he has! 
bigvern1:
Bertie…Phallic? That’s some girth he has!
Ummmmm, but just look at the a hole talking to it. 
Saddo.
Once parked up in lay by on A689 at Rushyford Co Durham, Thought i would have a quick look round before leaving in morning, pleased i did someone had taken all wheelnuts off one axle on nearside of trailor. They either got disturbed trying to nick my wheel or there jack did not have the power to lift the axle. Very lucky that i done my checks that morning.
Mate of mine is a stickler for his checks.
Checked his unit & trailer, got in, put his
card in & 50 miles later got pulled, 2 marker
lights out, hes got spares so changes em straight away.
No period of time(no hard or fast period listed by VOSA)
showing at start of shift so even though he had spare
bulbs he was still £60 lighter.
ALL of us now tell the TM we ARE doing a FULL check
even if the Unit has just come back from 6 weekly
By doing your walk round checks you are no longer on rest so legally your card has to be in the truck you are checking on ‘work’ and although you will get different vosa officers some cruel some kind you need to show at least 5 mins working before driving, even though on a vosa check you may not get done for it if heaven forbid an accident accrues and you as a driver ends up in court that 5 or 10 min work time on your digi card to show vehicles checks were done could just save your bacon. !!