How stringent are VOSA on Drivers' Hours?

[Horsepower27]

Just entering the daunting world of PSVs, operators licences, tachos and of course drivers hours. I had an interesting chat with the local Traffic Commisioner today asking for advice, I think his quote was "I'd rather prevent than prosecute" which seems like a good positive attitude.

A bit daunting though, I've set this all up myself and have had no experience with Tachos and Drivers hours. Just bought a minibus with a digital tacho and have read up carefully on all the rules etc...

Just wondering if anyone here has any expreience in this field? I'm interested to know how stringent VOSA are with drivers hours. I don't intend in any way to be taking the Michael but if little things happen like going half an hour over, driving a short distance without a driver's card, having a rest period a few minutes short will they kick up a big fuss or would it just be a gentle warning and advice.

I get the feeling from dealing with them so far that they are rather "anal"!

[GC8]

Very. If they come and look at your charts then theyll report you for every minute over.

[The Moose]

I have no first hand experience, but my understanding is they are extremely strict about it...

[Horsepower27]

Cheers. Suspected so. Will only be operating on weekends through the summer. How often or how likely is it that they'll look at my charts?

[GC8]

Horsepower27 said:

.....if little things happen like going half an hour over, driving a short distance without a driver's card, having a rest period a few minutes short will they kick up a big fuss or would it just be a gentle warning and advice.....

These arent 'little things'; these are sufficient to bring about an inquisition, the like of which would take the Spanish by surprise! If you do this then expect to find yourself far better aquainted with the commisioner; but probably not your licence.

[Horsepower27]

GC8 said:

Horsepower27 said:

.....if little things happen like going half an hour over, driving a short distance without a driver's card, having a rest period a few minutes short will they kick up a big fuss or would it just be a gentle warning and advice.....

These arent 'little things'; these are sufficient to bring about an inquisition, the like of which would take the Spanish by surprise! If you do this then expect to find yourself far better aquainted with the commisioner; but probably not your licence.

They are a lovely bunch aren't they! Cheers GC8 will take this on board

[gti tim]

I once worked a day at a VOSA site (Sleaford A17 if anyone knows it). They were pullign trucks, weighing, checking hours, tachos etc. If you were over weight, you lost the weight and didnt move until you did. If you were over hours, they put immediate stop on you - you arent driving anywhere until you have had however much rest they make you - be it 1hr, 6hrs or 96hrs. They can, and do, play GOD with HGVs, and quite frankly, having seen some of the results of badly loaded/overweight/ over hours drivers, they do a good job in my opinion. Jobsworth maybe, but its needed.

[Amused2death]

And don't forget that hours worked during the week also count towards your hours as far as drivers regs go, even if you weren't driving during the week.

So thats an average of 48hrs a week over a 17 or 26 week period, and no more than 60 hours in any one week. Its the drivers responsibility to know how long he can drive for to ensure he doesn't break these rules.

[Horsepower27]

Amused2death said:

And don't forget that hours worked during the week also count towards your hours as far as drivers regs go, even if you weren't driving during the week.

So thats an average of 48hrs a week over a 17 or 26 week period, and no more than 60 hours in any one week. Its the drivers responsibility to know how long he can drive for to ensure he doesn't break these rules.

Yes, I've seen it in the regs and been told. Bit of an issue there as my hours are random during the week, but I can easily keep them under the max, I'm just worried about having to prove it. Under what circumstances would I need to prove it and do you know how I would go about proving it?? I do private tuition on a freelance basis....

[Amused2death]

Horsepower27 said:

Yes, I've seen it in the regs and been told. Bit of an issue there as my hours are random during the week, but I can easily keep them under the max, I'm just worried about having to prove it. Under what circumstances would I need to prove it and do you know how I would go about proving it?? I do private tuition on a freelance basis....

Now I can't answer that....I'm only clever enough to be just an HGV driver

[Horsepower27]

Amused2death said:

Horsepower27 said:

Yes, I've seen it in the regs and been told. Bit of an issue there as my hours are random during the week, but I can easily keep them under the max, I'm just worried about having to prove it. Under what circumstances would I need to prove it and do you know how I would go about proving it?? I do private tuition on a freelance basis....

Now I can't answer that....I'm only clever enough to be just an HGV driver

Well I guess I am now a bus driver Who would win in a battle of the wits?!!

[stackmonkey]

Horsepower27 said:

Bit of an issue there as my hours are random during the week, but I can easily keep them under the max, I'm just worried about having to prove it. Under what circumstances would I need to prove it and do you know how I would go about proving it?? I do private tuition on a freelance basis....

I'm assuming you record your hours for your various clients during the week (for invoicing and scheduling, if nothing else?)
Surely all you would need to do is tot these up and record on a separate form?

[GC8]

Re 'battle of wits': never a bus driver, sorry.

[heebeegeetee]

Horsepower27 said:

Cheers. Suspected so. Will only be operating on weekends through the summer. How often or how likely is it that they'll look at my charts?

Very very rarely, almost never. But if they do get their hooks into you, they can take your livelihood away.

You could always register as a foreign vehicle, then you'll be practically immune from prosecution.

[Horsepower27]

heebeegeetee said:

Horsepower27 said:

Cheers. Suspected so. Will only be operating on weekends through the summer. How often or how likely is it that they'll look at my charts?

Very very rarely, almost never. But if they do get their hooks into you, they can take your livelihood away.

You could always register as a foreign vehicle, then you'll be practically immune from prosecution.

Interesting HeeBee. And how are they most likely to get their mits on me. Roadside check or random data request?

[heebeegeetee]

Horsepower27 said:

heebeegeetee said:

Horsepower27 said:

Cheers. Suspected so. Will only be operating on weekends through the summer. How often or how likely is it that they'll look at my charts?

Very very rarely, almost never. But if they do get their hooks into you, they can take your livelihood away.

You could always register as a foreign vehicle, then you'll be practically immune from prosecution.

Interesting HeeBee. And how are they most likely to get their mits on me. Roadside check or random data request?

Not absolutely sure tbh, but roadside check i would have thought. Or if you've been involved in a shunt, etc. If they don't like what they find though, it results in a visit to your premises.

[TonyRec]

Frequent infringements will result in an appearance in front of the Traffic Commissioner. He/she will have the power to either curtail or remove your licence to operate.

You have to stay within the guidelines, if you do then VOSA are a very friendly bunch, not forgetting Trafpols.

Edited by TonyRec on Saturday 9th May 07:36

[porkifer]

you are more likely to be checked roadside and as already said if you are more than 10 mins over anywhere you will pay the price , prob twice , once thru the courts then a visit by your local vosa bas errh person
as for proving your weekly hours you need to fill in tachos for the week or have some way of showing hrs worked , these people are so anal they will make your eyes water, they can tell you all about the job but not do it themselves.
if you have no records for the week they will take it at 9 hrs per day and dont forget you now come under working time directive so count up your average for the next 26 weeks !!
oh and just to add you will now prob need to take 35 hrs training every 5 yrs to keep your licence .



re battle of wits , bus driver ??????? only just above taxi driver , i.e very low

Edited by porkifer on Saturday 9th May 15:01

[GC8]

Re looking: at roadside VOSA inspections that youll get flagged down for and greeted by a friendly man with a litte hammer and another with a keen interest in tachographs: by roving VOSA patrol vans wholl overtake you and take you to the next layby where a man with a little hammer will get out, followed by another man who is particularly interested in tachographs. Lastly when stopped by a traffic police man who will have a VOSA officer with him wholl also have a little hammer with him: there wont be a second VOSA man but the police officer will be interested enough in your tachograph to make up for that. Traffic officers will look if they stop you too, but they dont have a little hammer, so theyll be principally interested in your charts unless you vehicle is hanging: then theyll call a man from VOSA wholl come out with a little hammer.

[Mr_annie_vxr]

Please register as foreign then we get to take 300 of you in cash and immobilise your vehicle until you pay / complete a mandatory break.

Foreign drivers now face enforcement just as much as uk drivers infact more as a lot of officers have twenty years worth of catching up to do.

Vosa are hot on it as are most traffic officers. We do twenty random stops a shift as a minimum.