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[Crazydad]

Several years ago there was a big push in Europe about the reduction in hours in the working week, is it just me or does everybody seem to be putting in more hours than ever, my free time seems to evaporated and I feel that time away from work is less than ever :-/

That is exactly the problem thes days the Euro MP`s are alway talking about work time reduction, but as long as the firms use their employees to bump up there profits ie more work with less people, there is no way in a million years that they will employ more workers to to the same job as one person can.  

I suppose if i were in ther position i would do the same. but the European Directives should really be employed more vigorously, to stop abuse.  

 So thats my opinion

[bertiecbx550]

what about when the digital tachos come into effect? do you think that will be better or worse? i`ve just applied for mine so i can carry on working at comet till i get this other job sorted out...

[Crazydad]

what about when the digital tachos come into effect? do you think that will be better or worse? i`ve just applied for mine so i can carry on working at comet till i get this other job sorted out...

Now that is a different matter, when it comes down to actual Driving Hours the Police will jump at you with everything they have, there is no mucking about with Driving times 4,5 Hours and then 30 Minutes break
Max 9 Hours per day with only one day per week at 10 Hours. 45 Hour week with the Double week at 90 Hours The following week is to be cut short so the Driver then has a CONTINUOUS break of 45 Hours
Tachographs are to be kept for at least 6 Months i think that this is European Directive EG 85/20

No doubt about it if you are self employed  it is the Downfall of many Drivers

Although due to the fact that many East European lorry drivers are behind the wheel for up to 36 Hours at one go i feel that this Law should be strictly adhered to.

I hope i have`nt bored you too much

[Baron Von Spongebob]

I agree with the need for strict driving hours after having been done in Germany.. Just crossed in to Germany from Remich near Luxembourg about 5 years ago, pulled over by B.A.G or something like that..

Good morning and welcome to Germany he said.. Licence, Tachograph and passport please to which i give him...Yesterdays tacho, again yesterdays tacho...Cut a long story short frog marched to bank to withdraw £114 pounds.. Told to go to next Shell garage and take 8 hour break, but i had to be in Stuttgart before they closed..I made Stuttgart and out of Germany all within 14 hours of being stopped, took the chance,,Naughty boy..Didnt go back for 3 months.. Finished with the company i was working with when i got back..I was not going to play that game again..

[Crazydad]

I agree with the need for strict driving hours after having been done in Germany.. Just crossed in to Germany from Remich near Luxembourg about 5 years ago, pulled over by B.A.G or something like that..

Good morning and welcome to Germany he said.. Licence, Tachograph and passport please to which i give him...Yesterdays tacho, again yesterdays tacho...Cut a long story short frog marched to bank to withdraw £114 pounds.. Told to go to next Shell garage and take 8 hour break, but i had to be in Stuttgart before they closed..I made Stuttgart and out of Germany all within 14 hours of being stopped, took the chance,,Naughty boy..Didnt go back for 3 months.. Finished with the company i was working with when i got back..I was not going to play that game again..

HI Spongebob, Sorry to hear this sort of thng happened to you too

Now this is the unfortunate side to the job, Drivers are forced due to Time Freight, to give it their all
 by their Firms. the Boses are not Interested in the fines that are enforced or the endorcements on your license
Just as long as the Freight is there on time and the Money is in the Bank. THEIR Bank

[Baron Von Spongebob]

Yes my fault for doing it. Was told get to Daimler asap we will sort out the fine when you get back..Did they hell as like..Threw the keys at the transport manager very hard wishing he would make more of it, he didnt,,Only good thing was no points just the cash..

[bertiecbx550]

what would your opinion be then if told you that i`ve seen fellow colleagues work from 7am(offical start time) an still be out delivering goods at 10 pm or even midnight just to avoid failed deliveries an keep the first time delivery success up above 98% an keep the hdp an general manager happy an then be back in the next morning at 7am an do another full day an do this for 5 days a week...illegal or wot?

[Baron Von Spongebob]

Been there and done it..

However i wont work for a company that wants to break the law these days..

[Crazydad]

what would your opinion be then if told you that i`ve seen fellow colleagues work from 7am(offical start time) an still be out delivering goods at 10 pm or even midnight just to avoid failed deliveries an keep the first time delivery success up above 98% an keep the hdp an general manager happy an then be back in the next morning at 7am an do another full day an do this for 5 days a week...illegal or wot?

 I know that this sort of thing happens all the time i really feel sorry for the guys that are forced to do this sort of thing.
The trouble is if the appropriate Authorities were to be informed then the poor drivers would be in for it too.

The only problem is Where do you start

[Crazydad]

Been there and done it..

However i wont work for a company that wants to break the law these days..

Here Here  

 Congratulations, not many people think the same nine times out of ten they are allured by the Money not taking into concideration fines like the one you had to pay.

[bertiecbx550]

well for a start i found a little comet rule thats being ignored every day by the the management...No comet home delivery crew is to be delivering b4 8am or after 6pm all vehicles are to be in the hdp platform by no later than 8pm.. i told this to my new hdp manager the other day an she said"ah but that is only a guideline..." so why when i enquired with our head office about this they told me"its never been a guideline..its a rule we have to stick too,otherwise our vehicle insurance will be null and void across the fleet the only exemption is to rdc vehicles i.e. hgv delivering to platforms and stores at night to restock.." so with this in my mind i talked to all the other drivers and mates at my hdp an some of us now refuse to deliver after 6pm even if we still have loads of drops to do its the only way we feel that we can bring this matter to the attention of senior management because one of these days someone is gonna get seriously hurt either a comet driver or mate or a member of the public....

[CaptainZok]

well for a start i found a little comet rule thats being ignored every day by the the management...No comet home delivery crew is to be delivering b4 8am or after 6pm all vehicles are to be in the hdp platform by no later than 8pm.. i told this to my new hdp manager the other day an she said"ah but that is only a guideline..." so why when i enquired with our head office about this they told me"its never been a guideline..its a rule we have to stick too,otherwise our vehicle insurance will be null and void across the fleet the only exemption is to rdc vehicles i.e. hgv delivering to platforms and stores at night to restock.." so with this in my mind i talked to all the other drivers and mates at my hdp an some of us now refuse to deliver after 6pm even if we still have loads of drops to do its the only way we feel that we can bring this matter to the attention of senior management because one of these days someone is gonna get seriously hurt either a comet driver or mate or a member of the public....

Keep a list of vehicles used outside hours for a week or two and let head office know about it, if they aren't interested I'm sure their insurance company will be.

[Crazydad]

well for a start i found a little comet rule thats being ignored every day by the the management...No comet home delivery crew is to be delivering b4 8am or after 6pm all vehicles are to be in the hdp platform by no later than 8pm.. i told this to my new hdp manager the other day an she said"ah but that is only a guideline..." so why when i enquired with our head office about this they told me"its never been a guideline..its a rule we have to stick too,otherwise our vehicle insurance will be null and void across the fleet the only exemption is to rdc vehicles i.e. hgv delivering to platforms and stores at night to restock.." so with this in my mind i talked to all the other drivers and mates at my hdp an some of us now refuse to deliver after 6pm even if we still have loads of drops to do its the only way we feel that we can bring this matter to the attention of senior management because one of these days someone is gonna get seriously hurt either a comet driver or mate or a member of the public....

 Now that is a very brave thing to do lets hope that the "Manegement" sticks to the rules of the firm and not try to get rid of you for being a "spanner in the works"
I know in the long run if you were to take the firm to court because of this then you would most definatley win, but the Hassle and the Money that would be involved would be beyond belief.
That is the unfortunate thing about some lines of work.

[CaptainZok]

Do you have a union in your depot Bertie?

[bertiecbx550]

well there is always that but i have never been afraid to walk where angels fear to tread... i believe that some one should stand up for sumat that thay believe in and thats the one thing my dad taught me whilst growing up i may have a big gob and get into trouble somtimes for telling people what i really think but you live one life no rehearsals no second chances so just go for it....you only have to be true to your self and your family and friends...