Its no wonder the likes of Tesco come up with these ridculous ideas when you lot think its ok to accept them - you deserve it. 
Although i don’t do many RDC deliveries there are plenty of big company’s that remove the key’s from the driver’s.
OKI-Based in ■■■■■■■■■■■ when you reverse onto bay’s you remove red line,chock the wheel and then place your key’s on a little hook inside the office.Once this has been done the office lad’s double check that you have carried out their safety procedure,and they along with the driver sign a piece of paper stating that it has been done.Only then will loading/unloading begin.There are facilities which the driver’s are free to use and will be directed to on request.
Honeywell based at newhouse,Once your on a bay then the driver must exit the vehicle and watch the unloading/loading of vehicle.No key’s are removed,there are facilities if required by the driver.
Amazon.com based in Gourock.Once you reverse on the bay you return to their hatch type window and hand over your key’s,in return they will give you a FOB ( no idea what it means) with your bay number on it.There is a toilet in the room where the drivers have to stand around as only one seat supplied.There is no tea/coffee machine at all.Although i did ask the question to there warehouse staff and the teamleader put it to the management who just laughed at the suggestion.They have a canteen but you are/will be under ■■■■■■ there to buy your good’s and escorted back to eat your good’s in the driver’s area( standing).Personnelly i refuse to be escorted anywhere like your a criminal.( if i wanted to nick their goods,i have ample opportunity b4 reaching their premises)
Although it would be good to have access to canteen and other facilities at Tesco sites, this is really not the issue and I do not think it is helpful to respond to this post in this manner. 
The point is that Tesco are imposing rules that remove the driver’s freedom to spend his ( considerable ) waiting time as he chooses , whether it is to sleep in his cab ,to read, listen to radio,work on laptop , whatever. If a driver wants to socialise with his fellows by the coffee machine , that should be his choice not his obligation.
I would agree that a reasonable time could possibly be allowed to get trailer tipped without driver in cab,maybe 30 mins. Any time over that is unacceptable - as previously posted, drivers are allowed to benefit from Health and Safety legislation as well
kitkat:
Amazon.com based in Gourock.Once you reverse on the bay you return to their hatch type window and hand over your key’s,in return they will give you a FOB ( no idea what it means)
The relevant publication on Welfare matters in this situation, issued by the Health & Safety Executive is INDG244, which you can either download or request a free copy.
The following is an extract
W E L F A R E
Sanitary conveniences and washing facilities
Suitable and sufficient sanitary conveniences and washing
facilities should be provided at readily accessible places. They and
the rooms containing them should be kept clean and be
adequately ventilated and lit. Washing facilities should have
running hot and cold or warm water, soap and clean towels or
other means of cleaning or drying. If required by the type of work,
showers should also be provided. Men and women should have
separate facilities unless each facility is in a separate room with a
lockable door and is for use by only one person at a time.
Drinking water
An adequate supply of wholesome drinking water, with an upward
drinking jet or suitable cups, should be provided. Water should
15
re g u l a t i o n s
wo r k p l a c e
16
only be provided in refillable enclosed containers where it cannot
be obtained directly from a mains supply. The containers should
be refilled at least daily (unless they are chilled water dispensers
where the containers are returned to the supplier for refilling).
Bottled water/water dispensing systems may still be provided as a
secondary source of drinking water.
Accommodation for clothing and facilities for
c h a n g i n g
Adequate, suitable and secure space should be provided to store
workers’ own clothing and special clothing. As far as is reasonably
practicable the facilities should allow for drying clothing. Changing
facilities should also be provided for workers who change into
special work clothing. The facilities should be readily accessible
from workrooms and washing and eating facilities and should
ensure the privacy of the user.
Facilities for rest and to eat meals
Suitable and sufficient, readily accessible, rest facilities should be
provided. Rest areas or rooms should be large enough, and have
sufficient seats with backrests and tables, for the number of workers
likely to use them at any time. They should include suitable facilities
to eat meals where meals are regularly eaten in the workplace and
the food would otherwise be likely to become contaminated.
Seats should be provided for workers to use during breaks. These
should be in a place where personal protective equipment need
17
not be worn. Work areas can be counted as rest areas and as
eating facilities, provided they are adequately clean and there is a
suitable surface on which to place food. Where provided, eating
facilities should include a facility for preparing or obtaining a hot
drink. Where hot food cannot be obtained in, or reasonably near to
the workplace, workers may need to be provided with a means for
heating their own food.
Canteens or restaurants may be used as rest facilities provided
there is no obligation to purchase food.
Suitable rest facilities should be provided for pregnant women and
nursing mothers. They should be near to sanitary facilities and,
where necessary, include the facility to lie down.
Rest areas and rest rooms away from the workstation should
include suitable arrangements to protect non-smokers from
discomfort caused by tobacco smoke.
re g u l a t i o n s
The other relevant publication is INDG199 (Managing Vehicle Safety at the Workplace) which, on page 11, poses the question
Are the vehicles braked and/or stabilised, as appropriate, to prevent unsafe movements during loading and unloading operations?
Whilst I would applaud the procedures at OKI, I suggest that what REALLY gets up people’s noses is an over-emphasis on INDG199 whilst conveniently choosing to ignore the requirement of INDG244
One of my (many) pet hates is also catered for in INDG199 where, when pulling a trailer with a roller shutter door, you pull off the bay and then have limited means of climbing into it. A matter which falls into the category on page 5 of
Is there a danger of people falling from vehicles, for example whilst gaining access to or alighting from the vehicle or while involved in loading/unloading or other activities, and what is the cause?
Obviously, with trailers being, on average, on a ten year replacement cycle and ladders being a fairly recent innovation, the ‘cause’ is the numpty who can’t be arsed to pull the door down when he’s finished.
Both publications are only a few pages long and can easily be carried for reference purposes.
A few years ago I went to do a collection on the outskirts of Gloucester. It was something of a favour for someone who needed to get the vehicle loaded but had other appointments. Before I went, I was told what to expect. Hi-viz, safety footwear, hard hat, etc. When I arrived I introduced myself as not having been there before and was given the full safety briefing (and personal inspection ). However, this was done in a non-confrontation manner. Efficient, meaningful, but with a light hearted tone.
Inter-personal skills play a large part in the ability of a driver to do his job efficiently. Unfortunately, it is rare that we have to deal with people possessing similar skills.
Yes Krankee,i also applaude OKI in their procedure.As far as Amazon is concerned,i think that i’ll need to print that off some time and take it to them.Personnelly they would have a heart attack,not thinking that a mere driver has the brain’s to get info on their health & safety procedure’s and how they should be done properly.
As for ventilation,there is none 
AS for drinking water again there is none seperate toilets again no one toilet for all. ( Although it’s mainly male driver’s that tend to go to this company)That’s just an observation on my part,only ever saw one female driver in there and that was the postie.
What facilities they have for their own worker’s,i don’t know.But you can be rest assured they will be a dam site better than us driver’s get.
What gave me a good chuckle over the past few months is how quickly these places drop their “policies” when you turn up quite obviously heavily pregnant…one of the few times in a woman’s life when she can “out Health and Safety” anyone…
Ps. Apologies to the H&S bod at IKEA Thrapston (amongst others) for the public humiliation I earnt you…(Licking index finger and chalking up another point). 
Lucy:
What gave me a good chuckle over the past few months is how quickly these places drop their “policies” when you turn up quite obviously heavily pregnant…one of the few times in a woman’s life when she can “out Health and Safety” anyone…Ps. Apologies to the H&S bod at IKEA Thrapston (amongst others) for the public humiliation I earnt you…(Licking index finger and chalking up another point).
Please enlighten us, Lucy!!!
Always good to hear these [zb] taken down a peg or two
While I am at it, I have made two deliveries today… the first to Tescos Harlow. It is under redevelopment round the back where the +3 Office used to be. I went to the new Office and noticed there was no coffee machine. I asked about this at the window and was directed to the Canteen 
. Then I sat there for four hours!!! I left there and reloaded at W. Thurrock for Tesco’s, Southampton. Pulled in there at 0139 and pulled back out 0206!! A full load tipped. I do know that at the Doncaster Tesco’s, drivers are allowed to use the Canteen facilites.
Small snip. L.
This has been posted on onlinetruckers Have a look or copy onto here and get on there and lets prove our case. 
This could have potential to change things for the better
Have just spotted the direct link, and had to take it out - sorry, but rules is rules! L.
My e/mail to Tesco has now been acknowledged and passed on.
Letter also in post.
I will keep you informed.
“Krankee”
Thanks for finding that paragraph I am sure it will come in handy.
I delivered to Twyfords at Alsager last week and they have a system where you are given a bay then hang your keys up and they will tip you. If you refuse to hand in your keys in some misguided fear that they will steal your truck then you must stand by the rear of your truck with hiviz and safety boots. This instruction is written in every language in the EU.
Some places I deliver to in France have a hook on the loading ramp door, so when you back ontop the bay you hang your keys up, open the door and lower the ramp. When it is empty the forkie does his stuff by lowering the door and lifting the ramp and then brings the key to the truck. That is fine as long as you have given him the correct keys
Another thing I do to annoy people is if I walk into an office and they have a cold water machine and I dont have access, is that I keep asking them for water when I leave I am normally busting but at least I have kept them on their toes
What if we all refuse to leave our cabs? Not much they can do then is there?
It really is about time we stopped letting ourselves be treated this way.
Rob K:
COME ON FOLKS, get fingers to keyboards and let Barrie know if you are allowed to use the canteen at your local Tesco RDC
Trev, you do a lot, you can start the ball rolling
Tesco Magor and Asda Chepstow allow you to use the canteen. Well they did about 3 months ago, not been there since changing jobs.
Morrisons Cribbs Causeway will also allow you to use the canteen and is good food if you get there when it first opens.
Argos Marsh Leys will also allow you to use the canteen.
Wayne.
There is one possible “excuse” for them refusing to allow you to use the canteen - AIUI, if you are not an employee, then they are supposed to charge VAT on the cost of your food, whereas they don’t have to charge it for internal employees. Keeping track of that would require extra admin work.
I Think you’ll find that its not a dim wit idea just plucked out of thin air, it relates to an incident in Scotland which resulted in Christian Salvesen being fined something like £160,000 after they did not contest the case, one of their drivers I think, released the handbrake and as a result the vehicle moved forward, one of the loaders was seriously injured.
Salvesen accepted responsibility immediately and H&S Executive prosecuted accordingly, I cannot remember the full facts but the story was in one of the Association Press newspapers not so long back, I briefly read it last week as the article was on the canteen wall, the same day we recieved a letter informing us of the Tesco Policy at RDC’s.
The way I interpret it, it’s simply to stop anything like that happening again.
That wouln’t have happened if the trailer brake was on and or red line was off and maybe a locking device put into the red connector to prevent it being reattached. Or one or two other methods, chocks, bumper grabbers.
Davey Driver:
I Think you’ll find that its not a dim wit idea just plucked out of thin air, it relates to an incident in Scotland which resulted in Christian Salvesen being fined something like £160,000 after they did not contest the case, one of their drivers I think, released the handbrake and as a result the vehicle moved forward, one of the loaders was seriously injured.Salvesen accepted responsibility immediately and H&S Executive prosecuted accordingly, I cannot remember the full facts but the story was in one of the Association Press newspapers not so long back, I briefly read it last week as the article was on the canteen wall, the same day we recieved a letter informing us of the Tesco Policy at RDC’s.
The way I interpret it, it’s simply to stop anything like that happening again.
It may not be a dim wit idea,but it is certainly the cheapest way to deal with a potential problem.
I would imagine that a Risk Assessment would show that the chances of a similar accident recurring at any particular RDC are minimal The investment needed for a trailer immobilising system would not be justified when a much simpler solution is to ban the poor long suffering driver from his cab.
Tesco are aware that the drivers on their own won t show enough solidarity to stand up to them , and that the drivers’ employers won t say anything because they are too scared of having their vehicles banned from the site.
The policy of not allowing drivers to stay in vehicles whilst being tipped may well stop drive away accidents happening again, but at what to cost to the Health and Safety rights of the drivers ■■ The point is that there are other ways of dealing with the problem, all costing money that the supermarkets are unwilling to spend.
I deliver to Tesco Didcot where they have this rule about handing keys in & not returning to cabs, now I’m ok with that BUT what I’m against is that nobody checks to see if drivers have left the cabs because I noticed today a couple of drivers still in the cabs while on a red light. When this first started at Didcot I said I dont mind leaving the cab when the red light comes on & they start tipping you. From what I gather at Snodland, Harlow, Southampton & Chepstow you are still allowed in your cabs. Another place they do the same as Tesco is the traywashes.
So is it Tesco numpties or Exel numpties ? I wouldn’t be surprised if it is Exel, they really have no idea how to treat anyone.
Tell me why didn’t you mind having to leave the cab ? How does that make it safe ■■
Rob K:
On the other side of the coin though, a lot of companies share this practice of holding on to your keys until you’re tipped and although I think there are definitely better measures of making sure the trailer doesn’t move whilst they’re loading/unloading, you can’t blame them for doing it when you read tales of drivers pulling off the bay on a red light.Furthermore, I suspect the reason why Tesco are now dictating that drivers are not allowed to stay in their cabs whilst unloading is probably because so many drivers hand in their house/car keys instead of the wagon keys and after tipping, pull off the bay and close the trailer doors before going in to collect the supposed wagon keys and paperwork. Someone above mentioned doing it and if I’m honest I’ve done it once myself too
.
I don’t think they’d go for the dropping the trailer idea as then they’d have the warehouse boys going on strike refusing to unload the trailers in case they tipped up, but on the other hand, they load their own trailers in that way without anything supporting the front of them so maybe that could be done?
Just taking the red line off or applying the trailer brake or chocking the trailer wheels would be too time-consuming for them to check before commencing offloading which is why it’s easier for them to take your keys off you and now, make the driver wait away from his wagon to be doubly sure.
Perhaps if they allowed the drivers to use the canteen facilities like Asda do, then they would have little to worry about in respect of drivers pulling off bays because they’d all be in the canteen drinking tea and eating £1.70 full breakfasts …
If these companies were really interested in safety they would pay to have trailer bay wheel locks fitted.
This would negate the need to hand in keys/laeve cab etc etc
But dosn’t answere the question as to why they cant tip a load they have pre-arranged to arrive at their conveinience within 4 hours!
Commercial Motor have picked up on this thread …they ve got a response from Tesco and I quote ,
“There are rest areas for drivers at all our distribution centres ; we hope that drivers will recognize how important ensuring the safety of our staff and the drivers is to us and the importance of having safeguarding measures in place.”
Are Tesco just blatantly lying about the rest areas and hoping they’ll get away with it , or have I been missing something 
Maybe they’ve set up the rest areas in the last few days ?
If they feel safety is so important, why are they not investing in trailer immobilising systems ? And while we re on subject of safety, how safe is it for drivers to walk from truck to goods in office dodging vehicles reversing onto bays ( unsupervised , no banksman ) and speeding lunatic shunter drivers .( Also apparently unsupervised and out of control ). Maybe Tesco’s Health and Safety experts assume that the obligatory hi viz jacket will keep us safe.