well yes,i had some lovley motors when i was on agency.nft motors…for example.
however,they also use a number of hire trucks,which were usually filthy inside…one things for sure,if you refused to drive one…you would`nt be asked back
commonrail:
well yes,i had some lovley motors when i was on agency.nft motors…for example.
however,they also use a number of hire trucks,which were usually filthy inside…one things for sure,if you refused to drive one…you would`nt be asked back
Have refused one there for a genuine defect that the previous driver hadn’t put in, was changed unit and got asked back plenty of times. But will agree if it was just for a dirty cab, then expect never to be asked back again.
dle1uk:
shuttlespanker:
SYE-1:
Dafman:
Did he put a defect in, if not end of.Personly it it was me …
If I now had no work due to a crappy truck and felt like id wasted part of my day, why I do the company any favours and waste anther 5 minutes of my time filling out a defect report…
so that others in your position would not be wasting their time too
totally agree but the question as to be asked why the truck was in such a state to start with…
already explained here
shuttlespanker:
Kevwall:
It was an indicator storkif it was definitely an indicator stalk, as you have said a few times now, why have you removed the reference to the indicator stalk from your opening post?
have you now realised that you were in fact, wrong on this occasion, and have refused to drive a perfectly road legal vehicle?
if it smells, get a can of air freshener from the nearest shop
as for the gaffer tape all over the gaitor, i have seen newer vehicles than most of the fleet that you are referring to, with holes in them that have not been covered with anything
if the ‘indicator’ stalk (read, exhaust brake stalk) was indeed broken off, then how did it break off?
driver abuse!!!
not saying that you broke it, but they don’t just snap off themselves, a driver somewhere along the line has abused the vehicle and left it in the state that you saw it, but, the company has done everything required to keep it legal
as has already been asked, did you put your tacho disc in when you were doing your walk round checks?
christ you guys would cry at the stuff we VOR a unit for.
I don’t see it unreasonable expecting a truck with everything working as it left the factory.
George@ASDA driver:
christ you guys would cry at the stuff we VOR a unit for.I don’t see it unreasonable expecting a truck with everything working as it left the factory.
everything working or you wont take it out. very ott imho
if it’s something that doesn’t mean it’s unroadworthy, then report it so it gets fixed next time it’s in the garage, but to vor it is bonkers
George@ASDA driver:
christ you guys would cry at the stuff we VOR a unit for.I don’t see it unreasonable expecting a truck with everything working as it left the factory.
so, broken engine brake, you would refuse to drive it?
I always carry a big pack of wetwipes in my bag. Just in case I get a minger to drive.
After cleaning all the controls steering wheel etc etc at least the cab feels a bit cleaner.
Have some sympathy with OP but this isn’t and never will be a perfect world… 
shuttlespanker:
George@ASDA driver:
christ you guys would cry at the stuff we VOR a unit for.I don’t see it unreasonable expecting a truck with everything working as it left the factory.
so, broken engine brake, you would refuse to drive it?
No! I went with out one on my fh for 6 months, And no working heater for 3 months. I’m a noob and a never once complained about the two problems, just asked when they will be fixed
I have a truck with no heater motor,no night heater and no heated mirrors,its off to scotland next week for a two week contract up there, i guess he wouldnt want to be driving that truck then. Also i shall be up there in a transit van and im sleeping in the back of the van, no night heater in there either…
shuttlespanker:
Kevwall:
My “story” hasn’t changed, I came on to ask advice and that was that. Like I said the indicator stork was broken off, but weather it had of been exhaust , indicator or wiper wouldn’t of made a difference in what action I would of took, so if you think taking it out the road with a broken exhaust brake stork or wiper stork is fine then that’s your decision, my decision was that I personally didn’t think it was worth the risk taking it out and that’s upto myself and my own judgment , weather it be different to anyone else’s or not, I couldn’t carequoting this so that you can’t change it later
serious point now though, indicators and wipers are a major defect if they are not working, and as such, the vehicle should be fixed before going out on the road, but the exhaust/engine brake is not, and will not be a problem for the driver or the company IF the vehicle is pulled by VOSA
the main thing that VOSA are looking for when doing roadside inspections are MoT items, and the engine/exhaust brake is NOT part of the MoT
just another quick note, as it seems that you may need a little more ‘advice’
if there are no rear light units on the tractor unit, but are driving with a trailer which does have rear lights, this IS LEGAL, and VOSA can’t give you a prohibition for it
Since Jan 2012 Item 58 Additional braking devices includes Exhaust brakes and any sort of Secondary retarding system sadly 
Steve
I take trucks to test on a weekly basis,i have never had an exhaust brake tested so sorrry but thats ■■■■■■■■
richmond:
I take trucks to test on a weekly basis,i have never had an exhaust brake tested so sorrry but thats ■■■■■■■■
Try reading the VOSA test manual then - It was added the same time as Item 1 Number plates - Our local test station never check the limiter operation doesn’t mean they aren’t suppossed too
Steve
I have some sympathy for the OP, as it is difficult to judge what is acceptable to take on the road and not, some companies are ■■■■ hot on damage & defects whilst others can be a bit blase. My decision whether to take it or not would mainly rest on it being legal, if not sure get someone else’s opinion (workshop TM etc and get them to sign the defect sheet), if it’s just filthy I could put up with most things for a shift but if it involved a night out I would be a bit picky. At my last firm (employed driver) I refused to take the spare motor out (mine in workshop again) as it was in a worse state than the canteen bin, I got some stick but when the branch manager came in and saw it he agreed guess what he suggested to remedy the situation? … 3 virtual points for anyone who guesses the right answer.
Limiters get checked without fail,exhaust brake never.
richmond:
Limiters get checked without fail,exhaust brake never.
Do you do MOT Inspections then 
What’s Item 58 mean then
Just because your test station doesn’t check it doesn’t mean they aren’t suppossed too
Steve
richmond:
I have a truck with no heater motor,no night heater and no heated mirrors,its off to scotland next week for a two week contract up there, i guess he wouldnt want to be driving that truck then. Also i shall be up there in a transit van and im sleeping in the back of the van, no night heater in there either…
A truck with no functioning heater, in cold weather, isn’t leaving the yard.
A truck with no functioning night heater, isn’t getting used for nights out.
I couldn’t give a ■■■■ what people put up with 50, 30, or even 20 yrs ago. This is today, and as such, drivers have a right to expect some basic things like a functioning heater.
Any driver who boasts about driving these sort of vehicles, in an attempt to prove how “old school” they are, is actually revealing what an utter prat they are.
Just because it “used to be that way” doesn’t mean it is right or proper or even to be aspired to.
neversweat1:
richmond:
Limiters get checked without fail,exhaust brake never.Do you do MOT Inspections then
Just because your test station doesn’t check it doesn’t mean they aren’t suppossed too
Steve
so, you are saying that the VOSA examiners at your local test station are not doing their job properly?
Ha ha, and thats why you wont be earning £175 a day. He will and i will be on more.
shuttlespanker:
neversweat1:
richmond:
Limiters get checked without fail,exhaust brake never.Do you do MOT Inspections then
Just because your test station doesn’t check it doesn’t mean they aren’t suppossed too
Steve
so, you are saying that the VOSA examiners at your local test station are not doing their job properly?
Let’s just say with the difficulty getting a test at our local station and having to use a number of other ones it’s opened our eyes to how the test is done depending where you go 
Steve
neversweat1:
richmond:
Limiters get checked without fail,exhaust brake never.Do you do MOT Inspections then
Just because your test station doesn’t check it doesn’t mean they aren’t suppossed too
Steve
I have to say I’ve never seen it checked and not sure if they could fail it on a missing stalk (assuming this made the stalk inoperative) if it was a model of truck that just still automatically applies it under heavy braking any way over-riding whatever’s selected on the stalk. I’ve never heard of a prohibition for it at a roadside pull.
If VOSA were bothered about it as a road safety issue they could always ask you to apply it when the drive axle’s on the rollers and see if it registers a bind, so they obviously aren’t really.
Regarding the OP though there’s a difference between broken stalk and inoperative I would expect there was a metal stub left that could operate it if required. How ever you cut it though all that needed doing was a defect sheet filling in not a refusal to drive.