How pathetic!
I carry bulbs, lenses, ABS cables, spare suzies, gaffer tape, electrical connectors and super glue!
Pretty much anything needed to bodge up a repair to keep me legal till I get back to the yard.
Harry Monk:
martinviking:
Harry Monk:
martinviking:
So in future should I call him out at 04.00 in the morning (not going happen !) just to put a 30p bulb in my trailer ?Yes, if that’s what they want you to do, then that’s what you should do.
Trouble is- They are so Wishy Washy & won’t give us a clear instruction as to what we should do, if we ring the fitter, his phone wont be switched on, the management don’t seem to care less, their getting their Zzzzz’s at 04.00 in the morning, the traffic office are a complete waste of space at 05.00 in the morning, there’s no spare bulbs in the office & the fitter wont give me any.
I know, it’s just crazy. I carry all the spare bulbs I need and when one needs changing, I just change it, I have a front sidelight bulb to change tomorrow.
Big firms seem to want something different but they can’t quite work out what it is they want. I suppose they just want you to go back to bed and phone at a time when normal people are at work.
But again, if that’s what they want you to do, then just go along with it.
I’m at that point now Harry, been there a year & it’s bloody hard work early in the morning when other drivers havn’t done their end of shift checks, then they load (say)trailer ‘25’ overnight, for me the next morning & it’s got blown bulbs , mudguards hanging off or even a soft tyre (that’s going to be even more soft by the morning). 
No good to me at 04.00 in the morning & I’ve got an 08.00 tip in Liverpool.
We’ve got a new TM now & I’ve been putting a few points across to him, they’re also proposing a drivers forum with a few of us meeting with management monthly. I’ll give it up to the end of November & see if there’s any improvements, if not, then I’m afraid that it will just sit in the yard until the fitter gets in & fixes the problem. 
Bacon Sandwich:
How pathetic!I carry bulbs, lenses, ABS cables, spare suzies, gaffer tape, electrical connectors and super glue!
Pretty much anything needed to bodge up a repair to keep me legal till I get back to the yard.
Cable Ties ! don’t forget the Cable Ties ! 
martinviking:
Bacon Sandwich:
How pathetic!I carry bulbs, lenses, ABS cables, spare suzies, gaffer tape, electrical connectors and super glue!
Pretty much anything needed to bodge up a repair to keep me legal till I get back to the yard.
Cable Ties ! don’t forget the Cable Ties !
You only need two things and to follow two pieces of advice.
If it moves and shouldn’t, gaffer tape it
If it should move but doesn’t, use WD40
I was pulled by vosa heading down towards Winchester about a year ago, reason was for a blown headlight.
They had no problem with me changing the bulb. Then when it still wouldn’t work and we agreed it was more than a bulb fault they didn’t care that I was elbows deep in the fuse board trying to fix it.
LR18-8:
I was pulled by vosa heading down towards Winchester about a year ago, reason was for a blown headlight.They had no problem with me changing the bulb. Then when it still wouldn’t work and we agreed it was more than a bulb fault they didn’t care that I was elbows deep in the fuse board trying to fix it.
That’s my point !
I’m sure it’s just our fitter trying to take the Pee & creating more work for himself !
Most of the drivers at my place won’t change bulbs so it gets left to me as the gaffer knows I’m a trained mechanic. At the last place I worked one of the drivers went into volvo for a bulb fitting without permission from the office. He wasn’t very impressed when the gaffer deducted the labour cost of almost £50 from his wage!
It must be a big company culture thing. My attitude is the opposite - I expect my drivers to be able to change a bulb or fuse, use an airline or replace a mud wing - I give them the time and the tools to do it. It’s not rocket science. I always ask at interview - “what would you do if…?” If the answer is ‘Call someone’ then that’s the last I see of them.
My firm have crash bags in all their trucks that include bulbs. As they all use separate single filament bulbs for indicators, tail and brake lights, non of them have double filament stop/tail bulbs in the pack…shame some of the trailers use them!!!
Nezza:
My firm have crash bags in all their trucks that include bulbs. As they all use separate single filament bulbs for indicators, tail and brake lights, non of them have double filament stop/tail bulbs in the pack…shame some of the trailers use them!!!
That bit has always tickled me about motorway services and fancy truck garages, they do stock bulbs, but the prices are exorbitant and are generally 12 volt 
In the past, I have found double contact bulbs in single holders and vice versa, 5w bulbs in indicator and brake light holders, often with the wrong number of contacts as well.
Also headlamp bulbs upside down, jammed in with matchsticks or just lying on the holder.
One had managed to confuse a fixing screw with an adjusting screw and although the headlight was working, it was pointing 45 degrees upwards.
While there are plenty of us who can and are willing to do these small jobs, it seems that in between us and those who think that looking after the lorry is “not their job” are those who will but can’t.
I found an old invoice the other day which showed £45.50 to change a 30 p bulb and that didn’t include the cost of driving the vehicle the fourteen miles or so there and back.
It’s been the same for a long while now. Depends on sooo many factors: type of vehicle/combination, company policy, driver competence (some driver’s don’t do even basic maintenance, whilst some are engineers), dreaded Health & Safety - think top marker lamps.
As I see it you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t - some serious damage can be done to modern trucks/trailers electrical systems, for instance if a fuse blows, then replaced with higher rated fuse, then a wiring short-circuit, then■■?
Also where do you draw the line? As for fitting rear lamp units, surely this is too much out on the roadside? Especially with the 100’s of different versions on the market? But then again in some scenarios (Small haulage firm) it may still be done and indeed expected of drivers.
No single answer or solution - so many variables. If in doubt - call the fitter out. Even if it takes hours!!!
ncooper:
I found an old invoice the other day which showed £45.50 to change a 30 p bulb and that didn’t include the cost of driving the vehicle the fourteen miles or so there and back.
That seems a bit extreme, that would be 45 minutes labour charge at my workshop, and that’s a main dealer. I haven’t ever come across a bulb that takes more than 15 minutes to change, even doing it myself. What bulb/truck was it?
I can understand that sometimes a driver simply can’t change a bulb though, mine needs a Torx screwdriver to get at the bulbs in the front light assemblies. I do carry those but I imagine that most drivers don’t.
martinviking:
Bacon Sandwich:
How pathetic!I carry bulbs, lenses, ABS cables, spare suzies, gaffer tape, electrical connectors and super glue!
Pretty much anything needed to bodge up a repair to keep me legal till I get back to the yard.
Cable Ties ! don’t forget the Cable Ties !
Well done Martin. I was wondering who would be the first to spot my deliberate mistake!
Note to self: Buy more cable ties. 
Yawn yawn at nearside nick
I change bulbs if I need to. I’m never happier than when I’m tinkering with vehicles, so changing a headlight bulb is not an issue. I usually carry a length of wire, some insulation tape, pliers and a penknife so that if I need to (and I’ve done this quite a lot) I can chop into and resplice the trailer wiring if, say, all the marker lights down one side are out. That’s got me out of a hole more than once and saved the company calling anyone out to me.
Our vehicles each have a repair box in with a selection of bulbs, length of wire, fuses/relays, cable ties, tape, splice connectors as well as a leather man and screwdrivers etc.
There’s also a selection of parts like air hose repair joints, susies and tyre inflator kit.
Enough to get you out of most holes that are fixable by the road. If you can fix it- and are comfortable to make the repair then why sit around? Although I don’t think people should be expected to partake in bodgery if they haven’t a clue!
First post but a subject close to my heart.
I have been on the receiving end of several trailers/units in the past, where far from it being Company policy not to allow drivers to change bulbs/correct light problems, but its purely been down to drivers not being bothered to get a bulb from the Office, unscrew a lens, replace said bulb then lens and fix the problem. I can accept it if its Company policy not to touch lens/bulbs/wiring or where someone is not profficient/capable or confident in replacing bulbs or fittings.
I am not a trained mechanic but being ex-Army, where fitters weren’t always readily available at the end of a phone, I quickly learned how to use masking tape, bits of wires and bulbs to their max…and these days with the tinternet theres info galore on how to do basic fault finding, where changing a bulb doesnt solve the problem.
These days anyone driving wth a faulty light, be it head, side, tail or marker, is just an invitation for VOSA to take our hard earned.
Dont get me wrong there are occasions where only a fitter…sorry vehicle electrician, can solve the problem but with smaller companies getting squeezed more and more on costs, I wouldnt think it unreasonable for some bosses to expect not to receive a bill for a replacement bulb.
I actually went direct to my boss, told him i was prepared to repair any basic lighting problems and got him to cough up a few quid for tools and basics, sufficient to repair most lighting problems and it was money well spent…unless it was a top corner marker beyond my reach then if i was in one of the depots then he didnt need to call out an electrician as I carry everything neccessary to effect a repair and if it is just a temp repair then I make sure its seen by a qualified person and repaired accordingley.
I dont do it for fun though…as i said mainly its been because I’ve ended up with a trailer/unit that another driver simply left for to be picked up…after all once its been dropped its not his/her problem anymore and if the next driver wants to drive it illegally then so be it.
My tool box also includes heat shrink and heat gun as I only ever repair things once and dont want to suffer the wrath of the electricians lol but seriously I’d rather keep all my lights working and my hard earned in my pocket.
As winter is upon us no doubt there will be more lighting/wiring problems as the weather starts getting into old wiring and dodgy connections but if im ever parked near a vehicle that does have a problem I will offer a helping bulb:)
Wheel Nut:
Every lorry I have ever driven has had spare bulbs in it, there are at least 4 side light bulbs in the unit, 2 spare brake light bulbs in the reversing lamps and spare fuses in the cab, from the radio, interior lights and night heater.A blown bulb is no excuse for sitting in the yard or in a layby. Everyone should have a screwdriver and a pair of pliers in their bag, even it is only used to open a can of beans
Aint those “4 spare side light bulbs in the unit” ment to be there to be legal if you remove to use elsewhere then surely you’re still illegal.
I do agree that a driver should have no excuse to have spare bulbs and be able to change them, but if the firm wants to waste its money thats theyre lookout. I know sometimes it can be like getting blood out of a stone to get a bulb, I usually see the night guy, He’s more genreous
why hasn’t anyone realised that if you’ve got a blown bulb that vosa CANNOT stop you from changing it.
they can ask you not to and to call a mechanic but to stop you from changing it can equate to assault if they touch you.
once you’ve changed your bulb there is no prohibition so they have to let you go on your merry way.
and if they don’t then just simply dial 101 and ask for police assistance and tell them you are being held against your will.