tyler4164:
I have plenty to occupy my mind, sitting here laughing my head off at some of the replies from other drivers.
I bet your boss wasn’t laughing when he had to get a subby in to do your job. 
tyler4164:
dont support a footy team
Well you do live in Bristol! 
It’s intresting the amount of responses this is getting. It’s gone past the number plate issue and is more about ‘new breed’ vs ‘old school’ drivers! I’m only 31 so could be considered ‘new breed’ but please don’t. I sometimes think I was born too late and should have been driving in the 80’s. We seem to have this daft mentality in this country regarding the law. I think the people who seem to be paranoid about losing their licences for silly small offences have probably never really had much to do with VOSA/Police and therefore have a fear of being caught. As many of you know I work for an Irish company so have a lot of experience in this area and it’s fairly easy to blag your way out of most situations. As someone who has been nabbed for not producing plenty of times take it from me, it’s hard to lose your licence! If I pulled a stunt like refusing to drive with a blown headlight or missing number plate then I would be laughed out of a job. Safety does not come into these issues, if you cant drive a truck down a deserted motorway with 1 headlight then its time to give up on medical grounds! Common sense seems to have gone out of the window.
As an aside, how many of you can or would change a truck wheel? I have more that 1 truck driving friend who would not know where to start! Some companies I have worked for it’s part of the job if you get a flat off the motorway, including my current one, although they pay us a €70 bonus if we do.
All in all call me a cowboy if you want, but definitely don’t call me part of the new breed.
Oi harry you`ve depressed me now!
I owe the bank money
My wife is never happy (love you really dear honest 
)
I support the stags (mansfield town) who were relegated last season…
Need i say more!
Dazza:
tyler4164:
I have plenty to occupy my mind, sitting here laughing my head off at some of the replies from other drivers.I bet your boss wasn’t laughing when he had to get a subby in to do your job.
It was night supervisor who wasnt happy but when big boss found out he was fine & even offered to pay me some overtime for being messed about & for offering to use my own car to wip round & collect the new plate
tyler4164:
dont support a footy teamWell you do live in Bristol!
switchlogic:
It’s intresting the amount of responses this is getting. It’s gone past the number plate issue and is more about ‘new breed’ vs ‘old school’ drivers! I’m only 31 so could be considered ‘new breed’ but please don’t. I sometimes think I was born too late and should have been driving in the 80’s. We seem to have this daft mentality in this country regarding the law. I think the people who seem to be paranoid about losing their licences for silly small offences have probably never really had much to do with VOSA/Police and therefore have a fear of being caught. As many of you know I work for an Irish company so have a lot of experience in this area and it’s fairly easy to blag your way out of most situations. As someone who has been nabbed for not producing plenty of times take it from me, it’s hard to lose your licence! If I pulled a stunt like refusing to drive with a blown headlight or missing number plate then I would be laughed out of a job. Safety does not come into these issues, if you cant drive a truck down a deserted motorway with 1 headlight then its time to give up on medical grounds! Common sense seems to have gone out of the window.As an aside, how many of you can or would change a truck wheel? I have more that 1 truck driving friend who would not know where to start! Some companies I have worked for it’s part of the job if you get a flat off the motorway, including my current one, although they pay us a €70 bonus if we do.
All in all call me a cowboy if you want, but definitely don’t call me part of the new breed.
Thats an interesting point ur making. My company policy is we are not allowed to change bulbs, airlines, tyres ourselves. I was talking to the night driver not long ago & he was saying he had to wait for daf to come out to the rdc for 1.5hrs just to change a bulb.
I however was out on the run 1 morning & when i got to my first drop i noticed i had a headlight out. I changed it myself as its not rocket science. I did however make a note of it on the defect sheet & the next day they rang me up to say you have a blown headlight bulb on your truck & we need to get it sorted asap. When i told them i had done it myself they sounded shocked but i told them it was a waste of time & money calling daf out for such a stupid reason.
As i work from an outbase we only have the 1 truck available to use each day. I have repeatedly asked for spare bulbs as i have none at the mo along with spare susies etc as i certainly havnt got a problem with doing jobs like this myself.
By the way im only 32 but im not white behind the ears or frightened of hard work
tyler4164:
switchlogic:
It’s intresting the amount of responses this is getting. It’s gone past the number plate issue and is more about ‘new breed’ vs ‘old school’ drivers! I’m only 31 so could be considered ‘new breed’ but please don’t. I sometimes think I was born too late and should have been driving in the 80’s. We seem to have this daft mentality in this country regarding the law. I think the people who seem to be paranoid about losing their licences for silly small offences have probably never really had much to do with VOSA/Police and therefore have a fear of being caught. As many of you know I work for an Irish company so have a lot of experience in this area and it’s fairly easy to blag your way out of most situations. As someone who has been nabbed for not producing plenty of times take it from me, it’s hard to lose your licence! If I pulled a stunt like refusing to drive with a blown headlight or missing number plate then I would be laughed out of a job. Safety does not come into these issues, if you cant drive a truck down a deserted motorway with 1 headlight then its time to give up on medical grounds! Common sense seems to have gone out of the window.As an aside, how many of you can or would change a truck wheel? I have more that 1 truck driving friend who would not know where to start! Some companies I have worked for it’s part of the job if you get a flat off the motorway, including my current one, although they pay us a €70 bonus if we do.
All in all call me a cowboy if you want, but definitely don’t call me part of the new breed.
Thats an interesting point ur making. My company policy is we are not allowed to change bulbs, airlines, tyres ourselves. I was talking to the night driver not long ago & he was saying he had to wait for daf to come out to the rdc for 1.5hrs just to change a bulb.
I however was out on the run 1 morning & when i got to my first drop i noticed i had a headlight out. I changed it myself as its not rocket science. I did however make a note of it on the defect sheet & the next day they rang me up to say you have a blown headlight bulb on your truck & we need to get it sorted asap. When i told them i had done it myself they sounded shocked but i told them it was a waste of time & money calling daf out for such a stupid reason.
As i work from an outbase we only have the 1 truck available to use each day. I have repeatedly asked for spare bulbs as i have none at the mo along with spare susies etc as i certainly havnt got a problem with doing jobs like this myself.
By the way im only 32 but im not white behind the ears or frightened of hard work
An amazing about turn if im not mistaken… Will be one of ‘us’ soon…
Coddy:
tyler4164:
switchlogic:
It’s intresting the amount of responses this is getting. It’s gone past the number plate issue and is more about ‘new breed’ vs ‘old school’ drivers! I’m only 31 so could be considered ‘new breed’ but please don’t. I sometimes think I was born too late and should have been driving in the 80’s. We seem to have this daft mentality in this country regarding the law. I think the people who seem to be paranoid about losing their licences for silly small offences have probably never really had much to do with VOSA/Police and therefore have a fear of being caught. As many of you know I work for an Irish company so have a lot of experience in this area and it’s fairly easy to blag your way out of most situations. As someone who has been nabbed for not producing plenty of times take it from me, it’s hard to lose your licence! If I pulled a stunt like refusing to drive with a blown headlight or missing number plate then I would be laughed out of a job. Safety does not come into these issues, if you cant drive a truck down a deserted motorway with 1 headlight then its time to give up on medical grounds! Common sense seems to have gone out of the window.As an aside, how many of you can or would change a truck wheel? I have more that 1 truck driving friend who would not know where to start! Some companies I have worked for it’s part of the job if you get a flat off the motorway, including my current one, although they pay us a €70 bonus if we do.
All in all call me a cowboy if you want, but definitely don’t call me part of the new breed.
Thats an interesting point ur making. My company policy is we are not allowed to change bulbs, airlines, tyres ourselves. I was talking to the night driver not long ago & he was saying he had to wait for daf to come out to the rdc for 1.5hrs just to change a bulb.
I however was out on the run 1 morning & when i got to my first drop i noticed i had a headlight out. I changed it myself as its not rocket science. I did however make a note of it on the defect sheet & the next day they rang me up to say you have a blown headlight bulb on your truck & we need to get it sorted asap. When i told them i had done it myself they sounded shocked but i told them it was a waste of time & money calling daf out for such a stupid reason.
As i work from an outbase we only have the 1 truck available to use each day. I have repeatedly asked for spare bulbs as i have none at the mo along with spare susies etc as i certainly havnt got a problem with doing jobs like this myself.
By the way im only 32 but im not white behind the ears or frightened of hard work
An amazing about turn if im not mistaken… Will be one of ‘us’ soon…
I do try
No. plates cost about £6. WTF don’t co’s keep a spare on site? Hardly rocket science is it? 
Last time i had to take a unit into Roadrange, i made sure i got a spare h/lamp bulb. As i don’t have an allocated unit, i keep it in my bag.
When I owned my own unit, i also used to carry a spare airline, electrical suzie & mirror glass.
It’s amazing, the number of responses there have been in the 12 hours or so since I last read this thread!
For me, it’s pretty simple: I’m more than willing to go out of my way to get a job done to the best of my ability, but if a company can’t be bothered to provide simple things such as a spare trailer plate and a bulb kit (and, if necessary, training for drivers on how to use said bulb kit), I’m certainly not going to be breaking the law to help them out.
Having just read this i am ashamed by the amonut of so called professional drivers that think it’s ok to take lorry out that is not in the eyes of the law is not legal!!! Yes it could be said it’s a minor thing but it’s not legal and the ones that say if pulled in that it fell off!!! Have a look at the top of this forum what does it say…UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS if your happy to take a trl ont with no number plate then why risk your licenese for a company that if your pulled by the police/vosa will say you broke compay policey!!! I have worked and payed to get my class 1 &2 licenese i will not risk getting points to keep some desk jockey who most cant drive a truck happy.
As yes the word Professional…Of course, sums it all up…
I know the one place I wouldnt have gone to get a new plate made up, and yes I would’ve sent the receipt into work and claimed expenses off them for it, and that is Halfords. They want to see the V5 for the vehicle in question before they will make a plate up for you. Luckily on the firm I now work for each cab has 3 trailer plates in it, one of which is made up so that you can clip it on the doors if need be.
As I said I’d have got one made at a local garage and then claimed for it, if the office refused to pay I would’ve taken it off and gone home with it. Seeing as I had paid for it, it would be mine to do with as I please. 
As for people not willing to change bulbs, had one of them at my old firm, if it involved a screwdriver then it was a fitters job. If everyone had that attitude then nothing would get delivered in this country, everyone knows how to change the bulb in his/her car, changing one in a truck is no different. Get off your high horse and change it for gods sake, it takes 3 minutes and you dont even get your hands dirty doing it. The firm I work for now we even carry spare suzi’s in the cab and we are expected to know how to change one if we happen to rip one off.
Something that should be added to the driving test and thats how to do basic mechanics, if you cant change a suzi or a bulb you have no right in driving a large vehicle IMHO (Tin hat on)
Mixerman:
Having just read this i am ashamed by the amonut of so called professional drivers that think it’s ok to take lorry out that is not in the eyes of the law is not legal!!! Yes it could be said it’s a minor thing but it’s not legal and the ones that say if pulled in that it fell off!!! Have a look at the top of this forum what does it say…UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS if your happy to take a trl ont with no number plate then why risk your licenese for a company that if your pulled by the police/vosa will say you broke compay policey!!! I have worked and payed to get my class 1 &2 licenese i will not risk getting points to keep some desk jockey who most cant drive a truck happy.
I too am astounded.
It’s like the SS on here. Newbies all over the place insisting “Ve haff all got to follow ze orderz!”
Now STOP SHOUTING, use a spell checker, stop repeating old arguments and move the debate on.
Coddy, you’re right, that is an amazing about-turn from Tyler.
Switchlogic, A lot of firms won’t let a driver change a wheel because of H&S, training and the fact that you could cause carnage if you made a hash of it, but I take your and S Wraith’s point about basic maintenance, suzies, bulbs, etc.
Tin hat off - I’m out to win hearts & minds!!
Mixerman:
Having just read this i am ashamed by the amonut of so called professional drivers that think it’s ok to take lorry out that is not in the eyes of the law is not legal!!! Yes it could be said it’s a minor thing but it’s not legal and the ones that say if pulled in that it fell off!!! Have a look at the top of this forum what does it say…UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS if your happy to take a trl ont with no number plate then why risk your licenese for a company that if your pulled by the police/vosa will say you broke compay policey!!! I have worked and payed to get my class 1 &2 licenese i will not risk getting points to keep some desk jockey who most cant drive a truck happy.
refer to my previous posts in this thread for the SAME answer.oh and by the way i am a proffesional!.
Dazza:
It’s like the SS on here. Newbies all over the place insisting “Ve haff all got to follow ze orderz!”
Thats one of the funniest things I’ve read on here all year! All we need now is a salute followed by HEIL VOSA!
Glad I made you giggle.
I never had you down as a newbie Switch, you’re only a few years behind me.
Dazza:
Glad I made you giggle.I never had you down as a newbie Switch, you’re only a few years behind me.
just for the record im only 36.im not an old "shap"hand but do recognise stupidity when i see it.lol.
The only thing that really gets to me is just one word, it is used much too often by people who have not got much of a clue to cover up their own lack of ability.
This word is used before you are allowed to drive a truck with a digital tachograph, if the truck has a different gearbox or is a different make to the usual. I have seen people wanting to use this word before using a ratchet strap or a twistlock.
Companies use it so they can pay a lesser rate to a man until he has completed it, the agencies use it to refuse a man work or expect him to pay for it himself.
At the end of the day, fitting a light bulb, making a number plate, fastening a container door doesn’t take much ability. Drivers refusing to do simple tasks without it, Senior management refusing to let you get on with our jobs without it.
Common sense is not so common is an oft heard phrase. But the little word that causes the biggest problems in any industry is the one we use with 18 month old babies. Even they can work out what the little word is.
As they sit on their potty contemplating
TRAINING
I am not condoning the bomb disposal technician or fire fighter going into a situation blind, or a hostage negotiator being sent over to have a chat with that bloke, or even the Samaritans telling the bloke hanging from the bridge parapet to pull himself together and go home to his unfaithful wife.
Sorry about that was a bit drunk and in a bad mood 
yawn yawn