My mate used to take a little terrier with him in a Leyland Roadtrain.
It used to bounce around the cab and lock him out by knocking the door buttons if he didn’t take his keys with him. 
DickyNick:
I believe that If you were to follow the rules strictly then you shouldn’t be taking breaks in RDCs as much as many drivers do, because the time is free for you to dispose of as you wish. Your waiting where your told you have to wait. Obviously try telling a lot of planners and tm’s That…
That was my point, that’s exactly what you are (or should be) doing…‘‘following the rules strictly’’
‘They’ make the rules, and by you taking a break away from being cooped up in some waiting room you are playing by them…it aint ■■■■ rocket science.
As for ‘‘try telling the planners’’ ■■■■ em, and if the TMs don’t like it, THEY should be taking it up with those preventing us from resting in our cabs and getting all this unneccesary crap sorted.
It’s called playing by the rules and using those rules to your benefit. 
As said if on salary/job and knock, that’s a different ball game, and some drivers do it for that reason. Where as other drivers are either stupid enough, pushed enough (or both) to do it as a matter of course, but I’m on hourly rate with breaks unpaid, so why tf should I not take a ‘‘proper’’ break.
robroy:
DickyNick:
I believe that If you were to follow the rules strictly then you shouldn’t be taking breaks in RDCs as much as many drivers do, because the time is free for you to dispose of as you wish. Your waiting where your told you have to wait. Obviously try telling a lot of planners and tm’s That…That was my point, that’s exactly what you are (or should be) doing…‘‘following the rules strictly’’
‘They’ make the rules, and by you taking a break away from being cooped up in some waiting room you are playing by them…it aint [zb] rocket science.
As for ‘‘try telling the planners’’ [zb] em, and if the TMs don’t like it, THEY should be taking it up with those preventing us from resting in our cabs and getting all this unneccesary crap sorted.
It’s called playing by the rules and using those rules to your benefit.
As said if on salary/job and knock, that’s a different ball game, and some drivers do it for that reason. Where as other drivers are either stupid enough, pushed enough (or both) to do it as a matter of course, but I’m on hourly rate with breaks unpaid, so why tf should I not take a ‘‘proper’’ break.
I agree with you robroy. I will take a break elsewhere when appropriate. Today I was sent to the canteen whilst tipped. Aircon, comfy chairs, tea and coffee and a tv. Felt well rested no problem. Why cant they all be like that.
I will often bang it on break but then if I want to I’ll still take a break after I’ve tipped at a services, just maybe not for a full 45. By taking the break in the RDC it can potentially benefit me because it may give me enough time to get to where I wanted to park for example, whereas if I had to pull out and find somewhere to park for another 45 I may not. If I’ve covered myself on the tacho in the RDC I can play it whichever way I choose when I come out. Often the LAST thing I’d want to do after playing on my phone for 2 hours is to pull out to then have to take another 45 minutes sat about.
robroy:
DickyNick:
I believe that If you were to follow the rules strictly then you shouldn’t be taking breaks in RDCs as much as many drivers do, because the time is free for you to dispose of as you wish. Your waiting where your told you have to wait. Obviously try telling a lot of planners and tm’s That…That was my point, that’s exactly what you are (or should be) doing…‘‘following the rules strictly’’
‘They’ make the rules, and by you taking a break away from being cooped up in some waiting room you are playing by them…it aint [zb] rocket science.
As for ‘‘try telling the planners’’ [zb] em, and if the TMs don’t like it, THEY should be taking it up with those preventing us from resting in our cabs and getting all this unneccesary crap sorted.
It’s called playing by the rules and using those rules to your benefit.
As said if on salary/job and knock, that’s a different ball game, and some drivers do it for that reason. Where as other drivers are either stupid enough, pushed enough (or both) to do it as a matter of course, but I’m on hourly rate with breaks unpaid, so why tf should I not take a ‘‘proper’’ break.
Oh yeah totally. ■■■■ em. If they say anything to me I’ll happily show them the rules. Fortunately my company aren’t like that and any issue I’d say go and ask the training department who would have to back me up and they do back drivers up and put the planners in their place on any issue like that. I know many companies aren’t like this though…
DickyNick:
no1dieselman:
This week I have dropped at a few RDCs for the first time and been subjected to imprisonment in their drivers rooms whilst being tipped. As you know these places are uncomfortable, smelly and recently too hot for comfort.
Normally when I tip I log it as a break. Sitting in the comfort of my cab with a cuppa and a wad I think this is reasonable. However the inhuman rdc wait I have logged as other work as it cerainly isnt restful. I am now getting a bit of stick for taking a break on top of this wait. Do the learned ones on here feel that I am correct in my position, or should I tow the line. Should not a break be restful?I believe that If you were to follow the rules strictly then you shouldn’t be taking breaks in RDCs as much as many drivers do, because the time is free for you to dispose of as you wish. Your waiting where your told you have to wait. Obviously try telling a lot of planners and tm’s That…
No, because as has been pointed out earlier, on a break your time does not have to be free to dispose of as you wish. It’s a rest period where you can do that, and rest and breaks are not the same thing.
Easy solution is to accidentally forget to switch it to “break” on the tacho when you get out. Since they’ve usually got your keys, you can’t get back and switch it back to break so will have to have the break afterwards. Or if you’ve got one of those annoying tachos that switches to “other work” when you turn the ignition then even better.
DickyNick:
no1dieselman:
This week I have dropped at a few RDCs for the first time and been subjected to imprisonment in their drivers rooms whilst being tipped. As you know these places are uncomfortable, smelly and recently too hot for comfort.
Normally when I tip I log it as a break. Sitting in the comfort of my cab with a cuppa and a wad I think this is reasonable. However the inhuman rdc wait I have logged as other work as it cerainly isnt restful. I am now getting a bit of stick for taking a break on top of this wait. Do the learned ones on here feel that I am correct in my position, or should I tow the line. Should not a break be restful?I believe that If you were to follow the rules strictly then you shouldn’t be taking breaks in RDCs as much as many drivers do, because the time is free for you to dispose of as you wish. Your waiting where your told you have to wait. Obviously try telling a lot of planners and tm’s That…
If you were following the rules strictly, you’d be well aware that there is no mention of being “free to dispose of your time” where Breaks are concerned. That phrase only crops up with Daily Rest periods…
trevHCS:
Easy solution is to accidentally forget to switch it to “break” on the tacho when you get out. Since they’ve usually got your keys, you can’t get back and switch it back to break so will have to have the break afterwards. Or if you’ve got one of those annoying tachos that switches to “other work” when you turn the ignition then even better.
I would refer you to the concept of manual records (i.e. writing on the back of a printout). I’m sure it will have been covered in a DCPC training session…
I’d enjoy work more with the dog for company. A lot of the time I only meet people that I don’t think I like.
Roymondo:
DickyNick:
no1dieselman:
This week I have dropped at a few RDCs for the first time and been subjected to imprisonment in their drivers rooms whilst being tipped. As you know these places are uncomfortable, smelly and recently too hot for comfort.
Normally when I tip I log it as a break. Sitting in the comfort of my cab with a cuppa and a wad I think this is reasonable. However the inhuman rdc wait I have logged as other work as it cerainly isnt restful. I am now getting a bit of stick for taking a break on top of this wait. Do the learned ones on here feel that I am correct in my position, or should I tow the line. Should not a break be restful?I believe that If you were to follow the rules strictly then you shouldn’t be taking breaks in RDCs as much as many drivers do, because the time is free for you to dispose of as you wish. Your waiting where your told you have to wait. Obviously try telling a lot of planners and tm’s That…
If you were following the rules strictly, you’d be well aware that there is no mention of being “free to dispose of your time” where Breaks are concerned. That phrase only crops up with Daily Rest periods…
Silly me. Well I agree with OP anyway. No one should be expecting you to have a rest or break in some horrible sweaty rdc room.
robroy:
DickyNick:
I believe that If you were to follow the rules strictly then you shouldn’t be taking breaks in RDCs as much as many drivers do, because the time is free for you to dispose of as you wish. Your waiting where your told you have to wait. Obviously try telling a lot of planners and tm’s That…That was my point, that’s exactly what you are (or should be) doing…‘‘following the rules strictly’’
‘They’ make the rules, and by you taking a break away from being cooped up in some waiting room you are playing by them…it aint [zb] rocket science.
As for ‘‘try telling the planners’’ [zb] em, and if the TMs don’t like it, THEY should be taking it up with those preventing us from resting in our cabs and getting all this unneccesary crap sorted.
It’s called playing by the rules and using those rules to your benefit.
As said if on salary/job and knock, that’s a different ball game, and some drivers do it for that reason. Where as other drivers are either stupid enough, pushed enough (or both) to do it as a matter of course, but I’m on hourly rate with breaks unpaid, so why tf should I not take a ‘‘proper’’ break.
To play the rules game, you need to really know the rules! Cos you look stupid quoting wrong rules why you can’t do something that you actually can!
I’ve seen you taking the ■■■■ out of people that know what they’re on about… but they ain’t gonna be the ones with egg on their face!
I always used to bang it on break on a bay, that wouldn’t stop me having a break later on at my choosing that may or may not have been required. Go down the militant route of needing a 45 10 mins after escaping the RDC you’d been sat at for 3 hours is gonna just put you on the radar, a bit of common sense, we both have our 45, I’ll have more options where I take it, you’ll end up on the radar, then ■■■■■ that others don’t get watched like you do, you’ve been in the job long enough to work all that out? haven’t you?!!
stevieboy308:
robroy:
DickyNick:
I believe that If you were to follow the rules strictly then you shouldn’t be taking breaks in RDCs as much as many drivers do, because the time is free for you to dispose of as you wish. Your waiting where your told you have to wait. Obviously try telling a lot of planners and tm’s That…That was my point, that’s exactly what you are (or should be) doing…‘‘following the rules strictly’’
‘They’ make the rules, and by you taking a break away from being cooped up in some waiting room you are playing by them…it aint [zb] rocket science.
As for ‘‘try telling the planners’’ [zb] em, and if the TMs don’t like it, THEY should be taking it up with those preventing us from resting in our cabs and getting all this unneccesary crap sorted.
It’s called playing by the rules and using those rules to your benefit.
As said if on salary/job and knock, that’s a different ball game, and some drivers do it for that reason. Where as other drivers are either stupid enough, pushed enough (or both) to do it as a matter of course, but I’m on hourly rate with breaks unpaid, so why tf should I not take a ‘‘proper’’ break.To play the rules game, you need to really know the rules! Cos you look stupid quoting wrong rules why you can’t do something that you actually can!
I’ve seen you taking the ■■■■ out of people that know what they’re on about… but they ain’t gonna be the ones with egg on their face!
I always used to bang it on break on a bay, that wouldn’t stop me having a break later on at my choosing that may or may not have been required. Go down the militant route of needing a 45 10 mins after escaping the RDC you’d been sat at for 3 hours is gonna just put you on the radar, a bit of common sense, we both have our 45, I’ll have more options where I take it, you’ll end up on the radar, then ■■■■■ that others don’t get watched like you do, you’ve been in the job long enough to work all that out? haven’t you?!!
Ok then how can you refute that sat in an unsuitable waiting room is not other work, being that it is their rules for their procedure for getting tipped ?
II aint bothered about ‘getting on the radar’ mate, as you put iit, I look upon a break as a necessity for my benefit, not something that you need to ‘‘get in’’ as some do.
I just get slightly stressed out about being in a place against my will in order to get tipped, so how am I going to feel as refreshed as having a proper break?
I did not say btw that I book a 45 right after leaving these ■■■■ holes, nor did I say I would not also ‘bang it on break’ if it was an advantage for me in some way.
If and when it suits me it makes sense, it is the ones who actually book it as a break and then carry on for another 4 and a half + or whatever, aka not having a proper rest, if not in regulation terms, then in reality, that I was having a pop at.
The way I look at it is…as a tramper
Everything the office staff do…I do.
The only difference is,I’m on the clock.
No radar,no games
Always makes me laugh when drivers moan about spending £2 on a shower.
Takes half an hour…you’ve made money on what most people do for free ffs
robroy:
Ok then how can you refute that sat in an unsuitable waiting room is not other work, being that it is their rules for their procedure for getting tipped ?
I think you may have lost yourself in a sea of double negatives of your own making…
commonrail:
Always makes me laugh when drivers moan about spending £2 on a shower.
Takes half an hour…you’ve made money on what most people do for free ffs
Ah - the logical extension of the “living in a tin box/unpaid security guard” discussion…
It is what it is
robroy:
Ok then how can you refute that sat in an unsuitable waiting room is not other work, being that it is their rules for their procedure for getting tipped ?
II aint bothered about ‘getting on the radar’ mate, as you put iit, I look upon a break as a necessity for my benefit, not something that you need to ‘‘get in’’ as some do.I just get slightly stressed out about being in a place against my will in order to get tipped, so how am I going to feel as refreshed as having a proper break?
I did not say btw that I book a 45 right after leaving these [zb] holes, nor did I say I would not also ‘bang it on break’ if it was an advantage for me in some way.
If and when it suits me it makes sense, it is the ones who actually book it as a break and then carry on for another 4 and a half + or whatever, aka not having a proper rest, if not in regulation terms, then in reality, that I was having a pop at.
Easy, are you doing any work? Nope = break, sat on my phone on facey or watching a program with me earphones in, I used to take me lappy in and plug it in, no one ever said owt! Kinda the same stuff I might do on a … Break!!
I think you’re going a bit far fetched with the artist licence about being there against your will, come on dude, you drove the ■■■■■■ there! It’s just sat in a room with a load of moaners! With jezza on the Tele for entertainment
If you feel fresh why not drive a 4.5 after? If you don’t stop, simple ■■■■, I’ve stopped for a kip after less than an hour loads of times and there’s loads of times I could of carried on fine loads after 4.5 as I’m sure we all have
You never ■■■■■ about being checked up on, tracked etc?
stevieboy308:
robroy:
Ok then how can you refute that sat in an unsuitable waiting room is not other work, being that it is their rules for their procedure for getting tipped ?
II aint bothered about ‘getting on the radar’ mate, as you put iit, I look upon a break as a necessity for my benefit, not something that you need to ‘‘get in’’ as some do.I just get slightly stressed out about being in a place against my will in order to get tipped, so how am I going to feel as refreshed as having a proper break?
I did not say btw that I book a 45 right after leaving these [zb] holes, nor did I say I would not also ‘bang it on break’ if it was an advantage for me in some way.
If and when it suits me it makes sense, it is the ones who actually book it as a break and then carry on for another 4 and a half + or whatever, aka not having a proper rest, if not in regulation terms, then in reality, that I was having a pop at.Easy, are you doing any work? Nope = break, sat on my phone on facey or watching a program with me earphones in, I used to take me lappy in and plug it in, no one ever said owt! Kinda the same stuff I might do on a … Break!!
I think you’re going a bit far fetched with the artist licence about being there against your will, come on dude, you drove the [zb] there! It’s just sat in a room with a load of moaners! With jezza on the Tele for entertainment
If you feel fresh why not drive a 4.5 after? If you don’t stop, simple [zb], I’ve stopped for a kip after less than an hour loads of times and there’s loads of times I could of carried on fine loads after 4.5 as I’m sure we all have
You never ■■■■■ about being checked up on, tracked etc?
Like Mr RobRoy I also don’t get paid for my 45 min break. So I take the same view as him.
Therefore in my own free time (which I’m not being paid for!) there is zero chance I’d be sitting in that room. Or sitting in a truck for that matter. So it wouldn’t go on break.
I only ever put it on a break where I can go for a walk and get some decent food outside the cab. If challenged I’ll tell them I’ll stick it on break if they are happy for me to walk off-site and do my own thing in my free time. Unless it was going to be a short day and I’d be done well before my 8 hours.