Driver ran truck out of fuel & rang to say it’s all sorted & only cost company €400. 
Got bill in last week & it’s actually double (got to love the French) 
Well the driver is away the most & probably earns me the most in the long run but has cost me the most (damage etc) 
Decisions decisions 
Recoup costs from his wages. Sounds like a good driver apart from mistake so he should be cool.
My prefered option as a driver is pay for damage better than black mark/the sack always.
Get him to pay half in instalments along with a stern raised eyebrow.
if he’s your best driver. then i’d hate to meet the worst.
tell him he has one last chance. i wouldn’t bill him, he will only do something to recoup the money that you take off him.
He wouldnt be working with me if he ran out of fuel, do you have fuel cards ■■ there is no excuse in this day and age to run out of fuel even if the guage isnt working, plenty of good drivers out there
It is one thing i say to a driver… you run out of fuel you wont work here any longer
globby 480:
He wouldnt be working with me if he ran out of fuel, do you have fuel cards ■■ there is no excuse in this day and age to run out of fuel even if the guage isnt working, plenty of good drivers out there
It is one thing i say to a driver… you run out of fuel you wont work here any longer
Yep euroshell & visa for EMERGENCIES
We know he was trying to get over the border for cheaper fuel but it didn’t happen did it 
If it was my decision only it would be half paid back over a period of time at least that way it makes them think about the consequences, rather than ■■■■ it it ain’t my money
The driver would only take back more than what you would make him pay!!! at the end of the day, sack him that will make him think more than deducting/making him pay, even if you set him back on in a weeks time!!! still thats just me a Big pet hate is some one running out of diesel even for him trying to get a little cheaper squirt over the border, still could have put 50~100 lts in to be sure after all it wasnt cheap derv in the end was it… P45 the only way
truckertang:
Yep euroshell & visa for EMERGENCIESWe know he was trying to get over the border for cheaper fuel but it didn’t happen did it
Had he made it across the border and got that cheaper fuel, would you have given him a share of the saving as bonus?
Interesting question to pose on this site,if your not capable of making a decision yourself why don’t you sack the driver and go and join him at the job centre.
The guy made a mistake trying to save you money. If he’s a good and loyal driver I’d show mercy and just give him a stern bollocking. Upsetting good workers because you can will cost you more in the long run.
It would be illegal to deduct the cost from his wages in any event, Employment Rights Act 1996.
Decision has already been made, so NO I’m not incapable of making a decision
it was a question to the masses gauging opinion on running out of fuel as personally I’m of the opinion it shouldn’t happen but if it did it should be sorted & live with the embarrassment 
Well, no, it shouldn’t happen, I agree.
Can I just ask how the situation, once it had happened, was dealt with? Did the Police arrange it, or Volvo etc?
800 euros seems a lot of money for a jerry can of diesel and 20 minutes bleeding the fuel system.
Harry Monk:
truckertang:
Yep euroshell & visa for EMERGENCIESWe know he was trying to get over the border for cheaper fuel but it didn’t happen did it
Had he made it across the border and got that cheaper fuel, would you have given him a share of the saving as bonus?
spot on there harry. if he made it he would of bin the hero not the villain .
I think if it was me I’d be more worried about the damage than a one off, running out of fuel. It’s easy to say with hindsight put 50-100 ltrs in, but maybe he was sure he could get it over the border, and to stop even for a splash and dash takes time, especially if you’re up against it on the tacho.
Harry Monk:
truckertang:
Yep euroshell & visa for EMERGENCIESWe know he was trying to get over the border for cheaper fuel but it didn’t happen did it
Had he made it across the border and got that cheaper fuel, would you have given him a share of the saving as bonus?
I’m sure like the driver you’re up to date with the current fuel prices across europe 
hence why the trucks get fuelled up wherever it’s needed
A hero I very much doubt would be the description used
Mr B:
The guy made a mistake trying to save you money. If he’s a good and loyal driver I’d show mercy and just give him a stern bollocking. Upsetting good workers because you can will cost you more in the long run.
^This
I’m shocked that people want to deduct his wages! Apart from being illegal it’s stupid! And even asking him to pay it back is going to upset him and only result in lost respect and probably a loss of money in the long run, and doing all this to your best driver “apparently”.
This ■■■■ does happen time to time and if it’s not sackable then you give him a good telling off and end on a good note and carry on.
If the driver thinks he’s losing a battle or under your thumb then they loose respect and you loose money. This is just my opinion and we employ around 30 people, not solely trucks although we do have a few heavies that I run.
truckertang:
I’m sure like the driver you’re up to date with the current fuel prices across europe
As a potential operator I’m up to date with current fuel prices across Europe, but I wouldn’t expect an employed driver to be, so I would issue regular instructions as to where I wanted the trucks re-fuelling, and on which fuel card etc.
If somebody wilfully disobeyed those instructions then I would have a case for initiating disciplinary proceedings although I wouldn’t deduct the cost of any expenses incurred from his wages because that would be illegal.