Extended hours for HGV drivers -good idea?

[Agrismith]

Jeeeeez, the hours for HGV would be thought of as "a nice relaxing roster" for Pilots. I lost count of the number of times we were both asleep at the wheel.

That's only if you look at part of the picture, driving hours are only part of an hgv driver's day. Duty hours are far longer and you don't get pilots tipping their own cargo, refueling the plane washing it and all the other things the hgv driver's are expected to do between driving.
Pilots also get to sleep in a hotel at the end of the journey with a proper toilet and a shower, not a lay by on the side of a dual garage way and a bush for a toilet, it's not exactly a relaxing break period
I had to spend yesterday afternoon in a grab lorry. As the driver had to go home and I needed my site cleared of muck away.
Running the grab crane is just as much concentration as driving the lorry but is counted as other work.
And there are plenty of firms that would expect the driver's to set the tacho to break when they are loading.

 

[Richiew]

How to make an unattractive job more attractive?

Government: "Let's increase the working hours"

 

[KimB]

It should be up to the drivers if they want to do more hours however I'm sure the transport companies will make it compulsory !

Nail on the head, even ignoring this thread. Companies want everything out of drivers all the time.
When I was in drivers forums I constantly saw posts about companies forcing drivers to have a reduced daily rest period.

 

[gaz1]

Running the grab crane is just as much concentration as driving the lorry but is counted as other work.
And there are plenty of firms that would expect the driver's to set the tacho to break when they are loading.

Nail on the head, even ignoring this thread. Companies want everything out of drivers all the time.
When I was in drivers forums I constantly saw posts about companies forcing drivers to have a reduced daily rest period.

both comments spot on if it benefits the company stuff the drivers

its common knowledge that campanies advise you to switch to break when doing other jobs

i refused often so got the sack after a while as i was late returning to the yard when i should have been back 3/4hr earlier

 

[tom2207]

Not one of these gorgeous girls by any chance:

View attachment 299707
Almost identical to my old charge which had the legendary V8 coupled to a 5 over 5 range change transmission, 50 ton springs on the drive axle and a 5 axle custom built stepframe trailer behind her. Halcyon days indeed .

But getting back to the plot, my last post was aimed at the relaxation of driver's hours not making much difference to most drivers but I agree that the much talked about shortage of drivers is very real and is starting to impact everyday life now. My OH tells me that she's seeing bare shelves in the supermarkets and I'm even struggling to get hold of commonplace items such as wood screws.

My "bread and butter" work is construction materials such as bricks and blocks, sawn timber, fence posts and plywood sheets, and I'm pulled out with work. Nigh-on 2000 miles a week and very little empty mileage, I'm going from one end of the country to the other each week but I'm seeing more wagons parked up and more "drivers wanted" adverts than I've ever seen of late. For any experienced wagon drivers these really are the days when you can pick and choose your job.

nice old bus ,, actually a 112 with a hiab but just about the same era,,, give or take a couple of years ,, my friend has a 141 that still goes to work from time to time and two fh16s that certainly earn their living.

 

[fizzy]

Jeeeeez, the hours for HGV would be thought of as "a nice relaxing roster" for Pilots. I lost count of the number of times we were both asleep at the wheel.

Not much to bump into up there. Far safer than a tesla autopilot!

 

[8ob]

I don't think fatigue sets in as badly with a driver that's on local drops or plant/machine moving, there is plenty of variation and leg stretching in that type of work. My worry is extending hours for those trunking, some of those lads/lasses are on a motorway all day every day, that has to be a fatigue sandwich

Bob

 

[Windy Miller]

Not one of these gorgeous girls by any chance:

View attachment 299707
Almost identical to my old charge which had the legendary V8 coupled to a 5 over 5 range change transmission, 50 ton springs on the drive axle and a 5 axle custom built stepframe trailer behind her. Halcyon days indeed .

But getting back to the plot, my last post was aimed at the relaxation of driver's hours not making much difference to most drivers but I agree that the much talked about shortage of drivers is very real and is starting to impact everyday life now. My OH tells me that she's seeing bare shelves in the supermarkets and I'm even struggling to get hold of commonplace items such as wood screws.

My "bread and butter" work is construction materials such as bricks and blocks, sawn timber, fence posts and plywood sheets, and I'm pulled out with work. Nigh-on 2000 miles a week and very little empty mileage, I'm going from one end of the country to the other each week but I'm seeing more wagons parked up and more "drivers wanted" adverts than I've ever seen of late. For any experienced wagon drivers these really are the days when you can pick and choose your job.

That reminds me of the Scania 142 I used to drive - 14L V8 with tag axle. Not sure what he gearbox was though, it certainly had a range change but I don't remember if it had a splitter. C383TLP, so that would have made it of 1985 vintage. We used to use the trailer brake as often as possible to save wear on our own brakes!

I used to LOVE sleeping in the bunk behind while my mate Richard was driving. The throb of that big old V8 was so soothing!

As you rightly say @4String. halcyon days indeed!

 

[Agrismith]

I don't think fatigue sets in as badly with a driver that's on local drops or plant/machine moving, there is plenty of variation and leg stretching in that type of work. My worry is extending hours for those trunking, some of those lads/lasses are on a motorway all day every day, that has to be a fatigue sandwich

Bob

But equally driving grain bulkers round a rural setting all day must be far less mentally exhausting than pallet drops round central London.
The most built up area I've driven a lorry round is Croydon and I came out with neck ache from being so tense.

 

[gaz1]

I don't think fatigue sets in as badly with a driver that's on local drops or plant/machine moving, there is plenty of variation and leg stretching in that type of work. My worry is extending hours for those trunking, some of those lads/lasses are on a motorway all day every day, that has to be a fatigue sandwich

Bob

Ive only had it once in a long time of driving its recognising it and doing something about it but tachos are the pain as it shows on there but not why

getting a little groggy while returning from last delivery long trip back id had enough pulled over to take a cold walk to clear my head and wake up no jumper no coat just plain cold fresh air

15mins later refreshed got back into cab and carried on

I was also questioned on why id stopped on the return as it showed a break as I slotted the tacho onto break

what was cause of it agency driving been called up at last minute can you go in other driver failed to show up id been on days before that call so sleep paterns was different

its not too bad if your on set paterens slip out of them and its deadly

agency dont care if you refuse you get no more work from them as youve refused there offer of work and it does happen

i was in office when someone else did refuse the talk between the staff was dont ring them again unless there the last oppertunity they have to use them

 

[Lewis_RX8]

Saw this reminded me of the thread

 

[brightspark]

Jeeeeez, the hours for HGV would be thought of as "a nice relaxing roster" for Pilots. I lost count of the number of times we were both asleep at the wheel.

the wheel on a plane

 

[bigegg]

the wheel on a plane

boat pilot? or "autopilot"?

 

[bigegg]

So... relax licence restrictions to allow 3.5T +3.5T transit/box trailer combos to be driven by "untrained" drivers, then "extend driving hours".

I can see this working well.

 

[atomant48]

the wheel on a plane

Control wheel is a perfectly acceptable term

As for the HGV changes i can see a perfect storm brewing.

 

[fizzy]

Apparently lorry drivers aren't essential and they won't allow them in from Eastern Europe. This pain will last years.
Meanwhile they are talking of burning 100,000 pigs as there are not enough abattoir workers.
Meanwhile 2.5 million continue to claim dole

 

[MattF]

But equally driving grain bulkers round a rural setting all day must be far less mentally exhausting than pallet drops round central London.

Rural driving has its own set of problems.

 

[fizzy]

Rural driving has its own set of problems.

Tractors and caravans

 

[PhillipM]

Apparently lorry drivers aren't essential and they won't allow them in from Eastern Europe. This pain will last years.
Meanwhile they are talking of burning 100,000 pigs as there are not enough abattoir workers.
Meanwhile 2.5 million continue to claim dole

Welcome to the fun of 'They're taking our jobs' being a good brexit excuse when the reality is - most people don't want to do those jobs for the paltry earnings and training they need.
Lets face it even a HGV job is not good for anyone that wants a decent home life, you get a pittance really for overnight work compared to the hours you lose away. I know some are fine with that if they don't have a family or they're trying to save till later in life to spend time instead - but I've seen a whole lot of friends and family do the 'save for later and enjoy my time then' - that didn't make it and died with just with a lot of money in the bank they never got to enjoy...

 

[fizzy]

I was in one of the main Tescos in Swansea earlier. The night manager told me there were 10 vacancies for night shelf stackers and 15 for van drivers. Can't get anyone to do it. They had a few sent by the local job centre. None lasted more than a week!