Take it out. If you get stopped then I broke it earlier and am getting it sorted at the place in tipping etc etc. They won’t buy it for a minute but you’ll be fine. I think a lot of you listen to rdc bull and horror stories.
In my opinion you aren’t showing a white light to the rear unless you put the fog light on. No problem. Don’t use the fog light.
Our place runs a zero defect policy, that would require a fitter to fix that before you could take it out. The subbies though don’t seem to care though. I see them running with smashed up tail lights all the time, don’t think they report them as I’ve seen the same trailer with the same broken lenses on the rear.
So you were sent home no pay hmm don’t think they can legally do that. Grounds there for a unfair dismissal if you decide that your being penalised for not breaking the law…
are you more annoyed at the company response or being made to look silly as some one else was fine with it ?
i am at a similar company, where little issues are ignored, but, we have a fixed team of drivers if it aint safe we wont drive, it company has zero options, should it be like that no, should you have to risk fines no, but, if you had made a better repair and driven it would you not be better off, and in all seriousness was that fault dangerous? that is to say could you have simply made a better job of the repair and kept it road worthy ■■
Cried, Shouted, done a Dying swan dance then took it out!!! 
Something springs to mind 
0
1
But then on the other had whats the issue with the firm having a couple of spare lens covers knocking about, surely its not going to break the bank…
or perhaps■■?
Management strikes again. I don’t know how long the trailer was in the yard before it was needed again, but what I do know is how long it actually takes to move the hand across the desk to pick up the telephone. At the other end is someone able to fix the ■■■■ vehicle. - Too difficult unfortunately for today’s boy wonders.
Depends on the company, large or small. Large companies pull that crap, “if you get stopped say it happened on the road” that’s to cover their arses if you get stopped, if you do and get done for it and higher up management find out then you get screwed over for driving about with a defect and guys who told you to take it out know nothing of it. Small company maybe more willing to take it out, if its really gonna screw things up, but then again those lens always getting broken or stolen when your parked up somewhere, if company maybe kept some spares would be far simplier.
End of the day, yeah won’t loose your license, but prob will get a fine for it, but also VOSA like a dog with a bone find one thing will go right through everything. I dont get a huge bonus or share of the profits when the company is doing well, but i should pay the fines when things arent going well, go to work to make money not pay it out in fines. These days with fixed penalties, they can just chuck them at you, if you wanna fight it fork out for going to court.
Also this chances are won’t get stopped, remember thinking finished work but then got hit with an extra delivery, 15mins along the road, torrential rain, thinking could open this curtain get soaked do all the internal straps, or could just take it, won’t move anyway no chance of getting stopped. Driving along the road grumpy looking man standing in the street, hi-viz and peaked cap says VOSA on it, pointing for me to turn up the side street where they were checking vehicles. Felt really stupid thinking this is gonna cost me for being lazy, luckily checked lights and tyres and off i went.
Just as an aside in what is an amusing thread. Dont you hate drivers that bring back a damaged truck/trailer, and rather than sorting it out when they come back, leave it for the next driver to sort, or be shafted?
so no, I wont take out a piece of crap left by another lazy ■■■■ for me to sort out…
I would effect a similar repair to get home though. And report it, to get it fixed.
dieseldog999:
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.
top man well sed
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…
I’m conflicted. On one hand I want to “hear hear” your post. That’s the voice of balanced common sense of the old transport world. I try my best to be of that wave of thinking myself having dabbled in road haulage after a decade break but have given up. I yearn for that way of thinking. But the regulatory side of the road haulage world is on a mission to align itself with accountability levels you find in air and sea transport. And believe me, they’re not a world for fudging things. Fools should tread very wisely.
On the other hand I find myself asking. Why? Why take it? For the good of customers? Letting them down? Giving yourself a feeling of being a “driver”? Why these days put yourself on the line? You’re not at war. The old transport dream is over. If the ■■■■ company who actually own the £100k vehicle can’t be doing with fixing it before dispatching it and offer their employee “you either gamble on the rubbish legal hearsay we offer that you"ll be alright you won’t get caught or you go home unpaid” then that immediately dissolves any magnanimous thoughts of doing the risky thing in my mind. What’s the point of fighting a one man righteous battle if the damned army you’re in isn’t behind you?
The idea that the back slapping of old and good on ya sentiment may have existed a while ago. It may well do in certain firms but sadly to say a lot of what I’ve seen comes down to square selfishness. The planner wants you out to tick his box. If you go out carrying the can, you’re not a driver as opposed to a screw driver these days. In fact if the senior managers at large transport firms heard that such fudges were taking place they most likely wouldn’t be all too happy given the corporate risks. No one will be arranging a beers at the local eve if you get a little fine yet get the Job done. It just carries on and on and on, the next blogs in the seat etc. Maybe smallish firms this goes some way but with most large firms the only person you’re doing any favours for is the guy on duty in the office. And he’ll be right behind you when one day it does go wrong. As black adder said. About 30 miles behind you, in Paris!
24v red and orange bulbs, got me out the ■■■■ a few times
Conor:
Lots of these companies doing night trunks are the same. They seem to think you can get away with it because its night time and VOSA aren’t out. Well yes they bloody well are as a guy at a pallet network firm I used to do work for until this week found out when he got a tug up near Carlisle at 11pm and was asked to open his curtains on his double decker to show the load strapped down.
Interesting that, as one of my agencies customers got a spot inspection last week by VOSA, and a driver asked the question about strapping loads on curtains to one of the VOSA guys, and was told that they didn’t need to as the load was effectively strapped in by the curtain buckles!!!
Strange but true, although I would have asked for it in writing.
Back to the op.
Broken fog light, broken lens showing white to the rear at the sides, means no going out as far as I am concerened until repaired.
Ken.
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…
It is ■■■■■ like you that has resulted in companies like that thinking its OK to send any old crap out on the road as long as the wheels turn.
Thanks for nothing, ■■■■■■. I see the usual band of cowboys have jumped in to support you. When you get the support of that Irish ■■■■■■ its like a confirmation of what a prick you are.
Top marks for ingenuity!!
Conor:
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…It is [zb] like you that has resulted in companies like that thinking its OK to send any old crap out on the road as long as the wheels turn.
Thanks for nothing, ■■■■■■. I see the usual band of cowboys have jumped in to support you. When you get the support of that Irish ■■■■■■ its like a confirmation of what a prick you are.
Which Irish ■■■■■■ would that be then? As far as I am aware Switchlogic is English and Dieseldog is Scottish, disagree with people by all means but if you have to resort to using racist language then you have well and truly lost the arguement
i`d run with it.
To me it all depends on the company your working for and its all about if’s. Do they help the driver? Do they take the ■■■■ all the time? How quickly do they get the repairs done?
First I would try and get it repaired, either by stealing them from another company trailer or spares in the workshop or to get someone out to repair it before leaving. Then, only if its not showing a white light to the rear and if it WILL get repaired when it arrives back in the morning then I would take it but I sure as hell wouldnt take it the following night.
However, if the company dont do me any favours I wont do them any favours and wouldnt take it out. There are too many people that will just take lorries/trailers out regardless of condition. I used to work with a guy who would regularly take a trailer out with only the rear clusters working.
We are all human when faced with this sort of thing, we quickly think is that right or wrong to take it, whats happened in past.
Well to all those “Best there is… past, present and future! Ohhhhh yeahhhh!” i would have taken it.
Four weeks before this, said day driver complained to TM about state of some of the trailers coming back from Manchester cos i do a trailer swap everynight, he was complaining some of the curtain sider poles were bent in the middle so not in slot properly and so on, so TM gives me a talking to make sure trailers are prefect or refuse to take them, Ta Dah.
I rest my case.
