This thread struck a chord with me as I’m running round with what I consider a minor fault that can be repaired at the next trailer check. Defect has been reported and second opinion sort.
However unlike the OP I have fully functioning light set and no damaged lenses in fact the bungee secured lens cover is probably more secure than the 4 clips holding the normal one on.
What the OP appears to be faced with is defective lights and such a dodgy repair tnat it is unlikely to stand much hammering and no protection from water on the bulbs.
But in the end it really doesn’t matter what I think the true test is what Mr Vosa thinks, all we can do is either take a chance or stand our ground and refuse to do the job till a full repair is completed. Im with the op on this, when faced with a bodge of this magnitude its only acceptable to get her back for repair, not start a shift with as it would fail my walkround check.
I sincerely hope you will be fighting the no pay side of things. They have no case if the reason was withholding payment for that reason alone.
Having said that, it takes a strong person to fight it and I don’t mean that disrespectfully. You would have to weight up the days pay against the future relationship with your management but if you did go down the civil route it would be found in your favour.
You did the right thing though it ain’t much comfort.
That looks like sellotape. A bit of rain may well have washed it away.I also wonder if the heat of the bulb would have softened the glue.
It just asking for a tug from VOSA.
On a side note, I work for a green light co.its value was proven to me recently when I got a routine pull for a VOSA spot check. When you been ? Where you going ? Can I see your cpc card ? A quick wonder round the wagon to see nothing was hanging off.
Ok thanks driver off you go. He actually said because your a green light co. They only give a brief check.
By contrast there was a artic in front of me which they were going over with a fine tooth comb.
■■■ sticks as they say, no more so than in the haulage game.
Fine as a bodge to get you back, but I wouldn’t take it for a shift like that. As someone mentioned you can see white light. That means it’s unlikely to be water tight, that means it could blow quickly if it rained.
You did the right thing OP.
I have driven plenty of things that have had “a bit of spit and love” holding something together. The difference is I have done the bodge, and then deemed it safe to drive. If I found that like that, then the bodge, would have to have been vastly improved!
I too hope you fight the no pay. It’s up to them to give you a legal trailer, or the bits and time to make it legal.
I once got into work at 6pm and found the van I was supposed to be taking out on a night trunk had a big pool of oil beneath it, evidently dripping down from the engine bay. Upon popping the bonnet there was oil everywhere. I reported it to one of the lads in the office who said ‘Oh yes, I noticed there was oil underneath it in the yard, but never thought to mention it to get it repaired.’ I was sent home as there was no alternative work and never received any pay. Obviously I was extremely miffed at losing a day’s pay because someone had not had the brains to report a van leaking oil, but I work for a Company where ‘rocking the boat’ would likely go against you in the future so I just swallowed it. There’s been a few instances too where the weather has been deemed too ropey to venture out and I’ve lost a day’s pay through no fault on my own. I have a 45 hour contract but it doesn’t mention anything about what should happen in the event of being unable to work due to circumstances which aren’t my fault, I was just wondering if anyone knew legally what the situation is exactly because if it happens again in the future I won’t be just accepting it as I’m sick of being taken for a mug.
109LWB:
rocketsquadron:
What would you do then when out on the road yourself and your light gets broken like the picture. Park up there and then in some grotty Ind estate, RDC, ETC and wait for a fitter. Seems the night trunk lad has improvised.No mention about him running around illegal. Each to there own. If its suits you fine, if not don t.
but I guess you are the sort of hero mentioned in the op.
That’s a bit harsh 
He is being practical, the day lad has had a go. If they’re double shifting then they should have basic spares for occasions like this.
I have a small roll of red plastic, that I got out of a skip somewhere, for emergencies, still in my side locker, still unused 
Good lord people, its showing red which would be good enough for me. You all worry too much, fines, ‘its my licence’ etc. You’re unlikely to get stopped let alone fined, and were aren’t at the point where we lose or licences for a broken light with a stop hai repair. You should have taken it imo. It wouldn’t hurt. And of next day it’s still not fixed then make a fuss. I would have attached it a bit more securely tho. Cue the condescending ‘hero’ posts…
They are the rubbolite ‘pork pie’ lens… £6.00 (ish) to buy and seconds to fit!!! If your company run these lights on all their trailers why don’t they keep some in the traffic office for times like this? Good idea by the night man for the ‘get you home’ scenario but definitely NOT to go back out on the road before being repaired.
I assume you are going in for your trunk tonight ? Can you please let us know how you get on ? We seldom get to know the outcome of these posts . For what it’s worth I think you did the right thing.
Regards. John.
I wonder if you removed entirely the fog lamp unit from the back of a trailer in perfect order how many of the drama queens on the thread would even notice on a walk round and go merrily on their way?
switchlogic:
Good lord people, its showing red which would be good enough for me. You all worry too much, fines, ‘its my licence’ etc. You’re unlikely to get stopped let alone fined, and were aren’t at the point where we lose or licences for a broken light with a stop hai repair. You should have taken it imo. It wouldn’t hurt. And of next day it’s still not fixed then make a fuss. I would have attached it a bit more securely tho. Cue the condescending ‘hero’ posts…
My view is the issue is the missing fog lamp I think the brake light would satisfy the test condition of ‘effective repair’ generally there should be no white light showing through the face of the lens, which there isn’t
Unless, there was fog forecast I would also take it out rather than a customer be let down if, for what ever reason, a replacement lens was not readily available but would expect it to be sorted as soon as a part was available.
If there was fog forecast I would take the light off the back of the unit and either bodge the red lens part over the exposed fog light or tie wrap the whole lot on and temporarily connect up.
Depends what time of day it is tbh, it’s all well and good when you work for one company but when you are agency and you are in a different truck with a different company every single day you would probably never do a day’s work if you refused to take a truck out based on it having a single defect (from a cracked lens showing white light to a missing marker light). Major defects sure, it’s not going anywhere but so many trailers have marker lights out, usually the top ones, if it is one I will probably take it, especially if i’ll be driving it in the day, if it’s more than one marker light out it’s not moving, this is kinda because you can argue one blew on your journey, two is far fetched and it also shows the company is likely not fixing defects or drivers aren’t reporting them.
That particular repair is poor, it’s something to get your home, it’s not something to start a shift with, especially a night shift where lights will be used, I probably wouldn’t take it and would attempt to get a new lense from another trailer. I’ve turned up to companies before and found both drive tyres totally bald on one side, clearly been totally bald for well over a month, it’s the full time drivers, they just never check the trucks they just tick all the boxes on the defect sheet (if there even is one) and drive off, management never checks them unless it’s vehicle inspection week. Some companies thank you, others just cuss while you sit there for 3hrs waiting for the tyre guy to come out and swap them, what makes them think anyone should drive a truck with bald tyres is beyond me, even if I was getting paid £2600 a day (£100 more than the potential fine per tyre) i’d still not consider it because nobody is going to take the points, then there’s the fact that maybe the missed booking slot will teach them a lesson.
switchlogic:
Good lord people, its showing red which would be good enough for me. You all worry too much, fines, ‘its my licence’ etc. You’re unlikely to get stopped let alone fined, and were aren’t at the point where we lose or licences for a broken light with a stop hai repair. You should have taken it imo. It wouldn’t hurt. And of next day it’s still not fixed then make a fuss. I would have attached it a bit more securely tho. Cue the condescending ‘hero’ posts…
+1 for a normal perspective for once…beancounting sweetie wifes.though a roll of red tape to cover the 6 miles of sellotape that’s already holding it on wouldn’t go amiss.no doubt thousands of pounds worh of goods,or unsatisfied customers because of the flapping fanny attitude.you should have taken a hammer to the fog light and nobody would know its meant to be there as well and anyone would just thnk it was part of the stoplight.i just love it when I hear of companies that run like that go down the pan,with the corresponding workers laid off and onto the dole.then they wonder why,attidudes like that is why.by the book legal or otherwise then just beancounters if that’s the way you work.you would hardly be in front of a vosa firing squad in the unlikely event of not having a foglight.best stick to agency work if that’s the best you can do for your employer.no surprise your sent home with no wages…il go and make a coffee before I come back to read the holymoly and zero hours contracts brigade predictable replies. 
switchlogic:
Good lord people, its showing red which would be good enough for me. You all worry too much, fines, ‘its my licence’ etc. You’re unlikely to get stopped let alone fined, and were aren’t at the point where we lose or licences for a broken light with a stop hai repair. You should have taken it imo. It wouldn’t hurt. And of next day it’s still not fixed then make a fuss. I would have attached it a bit more securely tho. Cue the condescending ‘hero’ posts…
Drivers and screwdrivers! You sir are the former. The type who wouldn’t be made redundant in hard times. The type who wouldn’t be on the ■■■■ list for the next few weeks on the rubbish work. The type that gets shifts when there’s not much work about. The fine would only be £60 anyway yet op lost out on a full shift wage
Dipper Dave-my boss is fuming with you. He has just asked me why I have smashed my rear clusters with a ratchet strap.
I told him “Dipper Dave says you get a dry ■■■■■■■” for a smashed lens.
I don’t think he has ever seen me so hopeful and excited.
eagerbeaver:
Dipper Dave-my boss is fuming with you. He has just asked me why I have smashed my rear clusters with a ratchet strap.
I told him “Dipper Dave says you get a dry ■■■■■■■” for a smashed lens.
I don’t think he has ever seen me so hopeful and excited.
Surely it would be easier to PM me your address…
switchlogic:
Cue the condescending ‘hero’ posts…
I’m confused. Aren’t you being the ‘hero’ here?
Night-and-day:
switchlogic:
Good lord people, its showing red which would be good enough for me. You all worry too much, fines, ‘its my licence’ etc. You’re unlikely to get stopped let alone fined, and were aren’t at the point where we lose or licences for a broken light with a stop hai repair. You should have taken it imo. It wouldn’t hurt. And of next day it’s still not fixed then make a fuss. I would have attached it a bit more securely tho. Cue the condescending ‘hero’ posts…
Drivers and screwdrivers! You sir are the former. The type who wouldn’t be made redundant in hard times. The type who wouldn’t be on the [zb] list for the next few weeks on the rubbish work. The type that gets shifts when there’s not much work about. The fine would only be £60 anyway yet op lost out on a full shift wage
nice perspective viewpoint there…more common sense at last… 
an operators licence is given to " a lawful abiding citizen with lots of upstanding in the community! " 
many pennies in the bank 
and they’re scrimping on repairs! 
get a new job OP