dave:
of course you need a torch. how else are you supposed to see that your lights are all working at 4.00 am on a dark winters morning.
You are a seriously funny guy. 
VOStapO asked if I had a torch so I showed it to them, “Don’t forget some spare batteries Drive- just in case”
It was a wind up torch
I think it goes something like this:
VOSA bod: “we’ve found [insert defect here] drive. What do you have to say about that?”
Driver; “Oh, it must have happened whilst I was driving, I didn’t see it on my checks”
VOSA “Oh really, I see that you started your shift during the hours of darkness, can you show me the torch you used for your daily checks”
Driver “ummm…”
And a ticket for the defect gets given. So yes, I suppose not having a torch can get you a ticket. But not for not having it.
I’m just supposing. I’ve still never been stopped by VOSA.
Saaamon:
I think we’d know if we had to carry a working torch, try not to lose sleep over it.
Here here…if that was the case then my firm would be making very sure we had torches. As it happens I’m quite happy with the white stick…it’s less likely to be nicked 
Love previous comment about shining torch through VOSA bod’s ear-hole btw
Biscuits:
I think it goes something like this:VOSA bod: “we’ve found [insert defect here] drive. What do you have to say about that?”
Driver; “Oh, it must have happened whilst I was driving, I didn’t see it on my checks”
VOSA "Oh really, I see that you started your shift during the hours of darkness, can you show me the torch you used for your daily checks"
Driver “ummm…”And a ticket for the defect gets given. So yes, I suppose not having a torch can get you a ticket. But not for not having it.
I’m just supposing. I’ve still never been stopped by VOSA.
We have electricity and lighting in our yard, dunno if that craze has hit Kettering yet 
I cant believe there are drivers on here who DON’T carry a torch as part of their kit. Unless all driving is done during daylight hours…which I find hard to believe. During winter months how can vehicle checks be done properly without?,not all drivers start and end shifts in a well lit yard. If I was unlucky enough to lose a wheel after an early AM start I can safely hold my hand up and say to VOSA or a police officer I had checked clearly with a torch that everything was secure.I have over the years spotted many a defect that would have been missed without a torch.This is supposed to be the UK Professional Drivers Forum…or is it not?
Always carry a torch, how the ■■■■ can you see the state of your tyres in the dark 
I have a wind up torch, saves on having to fork out for batteries all the time
After all these years of putting batteries in my torch why didnt I think of a wind up torch ? …DOH !!!.Thanks Busby.
mick palmer:
After all these years of putting batteries in my torch why didnt I think of a wind up torch ? …DOH !!!.Thanks Busby.
Get one with LED lights, they are really bright and use less power than standard bulbs so less winding
Maybe we have another driver myth at work here.
For anybody to need to pay a fine of any kind, a law must have been broken and the alleged ‘offence’ detected.
When a fine is paid, a receipt is issued that says why the fine was imposed. It’s NOT sufficient for an enforcement officer to simply write “no torch,” because they would have to say which Act (and section) or which Regulation (and paragraph) is alleged to have been broken.
If somebody on a DCPC course hears the tutor mention something that they find difficult to believe, the normal thing to do is to ask for a reference to it, or ask the tutor to show it to them in a credible publication. If a tutor can’t reference what they’re talking about, it’s maybe time to consider a different training provider.
However, this is probably going to make a clash for some people, because they simply want the cheapest course possible, so it’s probably worth pointing out that you tend to get what you pay for.
As already mentioned by some posters above, if you’re doing ADR work, you will definitely need a torch on board your vehicle if you are stop-checked. Let’s say you are carrying a load which is subject to the full requirements of ADR and you don’t have a torch with you.
How would it be legal for the police/VOSA to fine you for that?
The Regs governing the carriage of dangerous goods by road and rail on a UK domestic journey (currently CDG 2009) say this:
Reg. 5.
No person is to carry dangerous goods, or cause or permit dangerous goods to be carried, where that carriage is prohibited by ADR or RID, including where that carriage does not comply with any applicable requirement of ADR or RID.
There are some exceptions to this, but none of them are relevant to the requirement to carry a torch.
So, we have CDG 2009 (made under the HSW Act 1974) and we’ve seen a reference to ADR.
ADR says this about equipment to be carried on board a vehicle when a job is subject to ADR:
ADR 8.1.5.2 The following equipment shall be carried on board the transport unit:
for each member of the vehicle crew
- A warning vest (e.g. as described in the EN 471 standard);
- Portable lighting apparatus conforming to the provisions of 8.3.4;
A pair of protective gloves; and
Eye protection (e.g. protective goggles).
ADR 8.3.4 is mentioned, so we’d have to comply with this too:
8.3.4 Portable lighting apparatus
The portable lighting apparatus used shall not exhibit any metal surface liable to produce sparks.
If you get correctly busted for not having a torch on ADR work on a UK domestic journey, the legal reference for the offence would be:
CDG 2009 Reg.5 and ADR 2011 8.1.5.2
Also as mentioned by posters above, it really does seem to be common sense to carry (and use) a torch for walk around daily checks.
As for not having said torch actually being a legally punishable offence, I have my doubts unless anybody can point me towards an actual Act or Regulation, in which case I’ll stand to be corrected and I’ll have learned something. 
Some of these answeres had me in stitches!!! I drive ADR and it is a requirement to carry a working torch. On ADR only that is.
lee mc67:
Some of these answeres had me in stitches!!! I drive ADR and it is a requirement to carry a working torch. On ADR only that is.
Yes but common sense would tell you to carry a torch anyways, i cant see the majority of truckers being a fan of carrots
bubsy06:
lee mc67:
Some of these answeres had me in stitches!!! I drive ADR and it is a requirement to carry a working torch. On ADR only that is.Yes but common sense would tell you to carry a torch anyways, i cant see the majority of truckers being a fan of carrots
Agreed, it makes sense, i had a job one winter with demountable wagon and drags, i could have used one then but we learn by our mistakes! haha
lee mc67:
bubsy06:
lee mc67:
Some of these answeres had me in stitches!!! I drive ADR and it is a requirement to carry a working torch. On ADR only that is.Yes but common sense would tell you to carry a torch anyways, i cant see the majority of truckers being a fan of carrots
Agreed, it makes sense, i had a job one winter with demountable wagon and drags, i could have used one then but we learn by our mistakes! haha
maglite would be the best as you could knock out a potential thief, but as its now legal to stab them i now leave a flat head screwdriver in my door pocket and a 4" cutting knife in my grub box which is on my driver seat when i am kipping
I was talking to a Plant Operator friend of mine today.
He got a prohibiton for a bald tyre on a rented trailer this week. He explained that it was dark when he collected the trailer.
Do you know what the penalty for this crime was? They made him wait until the trailer company replaced the tyre. Thats it, Nada, Zilch,Zero,Nowt… No further action.
My pal was free to drive away and nobody even mentioned him having a torch (although even he thought he could of used one in the first place).
DCPC FAIL yet again…
bubsy06:
lee mc67:
bubsy06:
lee mc67:
Some of these answeres had me in stitches!!! I drive ADR and it is a requirement to carry a working torch. On ADR only that is.Yes but common sense would tell you to carry a torch anyways, i cant see the majority of truckers being a fan of carrots
Agreed, it makes sense, i had a job one winter with demountable wagon and drags, i could have used one then but we learn by our mistakes! haha
maglite would be the best as you could knock out a potential thief, but as its now legal to stab them i now leave a flat head screwdriver in my door pocket and a 4" cutting knife in my grub box which is on my driver seat when i am kipping
Hehe agreed i can honestly say that when im sleeping i have hold of my tool too.!
I work nights. Permanently. Sometimes it goes dark at night. I don’t know why, it just does. I can’t see very well when it is dark. I got myself a torch. It is a very clever thingy; it only cost me £1 in the £1 shop and it makes the dark go away. I keep it in my work bag now in case it goes dark when I am at work again.
When I was born I only had a few brain cells, but I’ve still got them and I try to put them to good use
At last a PROFESSIONAL DRIVER talking sense, you can have a job on our place mick.
mick palmer:
I cant believe there are drivers on here who DON’T carry a torch as part of their kit. Unless all driving is done during daylight hours…which I find hard to believe. During winter months how can vehicle checks be done properly without?,not all drivers start and end shifts in a well lit yard. If I was unlucky enough to lose a wheel after an early AM start I can safely hold my hand up and say to VOSA or a police officer I had checked clearly with a torch that everything was secure.I have over the years spotted many a defect that would have been missed without a torch.This is supposed to be the UK Professional Drivers Forum…or is it not?
Biscuits:
I think it goes something like this:VOSA bod: “we’ve found [insert defect here] drive. What do you have to say about that?”
Driver; “Oh, it must have happened whilst I was driving, I didn’t see it on my checks”
VOSA “Oh really, I see that you started your shift during the hours of darkness, can you show me the torch you used for your daily checks”
Driver “ummm…”And a ticket for the defect gets given. So yes, I suppose not having a torch can get you a ticket. But not for not having it.
I’m just supposing. I’ve still never been stopped by VOSA.
Whose a lucky little trucker
I’m a london bus driver.
We get issued a torch for our walk round checks.
I have always carried a torch when driving, currently use a surefire G2.
I think nowadays its about covering yourself in the event of an incident.
In my dealings with VOSA/DOT/nuts and bolts over the years, ive found that if your polite and respectful with them, they are ok with you.
Sometimes drivers can be thier own worst enimies.