Domestic Driving Hours - Today I was informed by my manager, who had been glancing at the DVLA website, that my driving time doesn’t start until I actually drive the vehicle (our vehicles are fitted with trackers). My contention is that once I insert the key in the ignition and start the engine, and am therefore in control of the vehicle, the clock legally begins to tick. On my vehicle, I need to start the engine anyway in order to perform certain vehicle checks. So who is right, me or the ‘office wallah’?
Sad to say…the office wallah!
Time spent doing vehicle checks is “other work”.
Domestic Driving Hours - I have recently been speaking with my office manager about driving hours. He contends that my actual driving time does not begin until I move the vehicle and drive it. However, I contend that once I have placed the keys in the ignition and started the engine, which I must do on my vehicle to do all the vehicle checks, I am in legal control of the vehicle which counts as driving time, Who is correct? Bear in mind this is domestic regs and I don’t have a tacho fitted, but the vehicle is fitted with a tracker.
‘Driving time’ starts when you set off on the road, you can have keys in the ignition, engine running for other reasons then driving, even driving around on private property or company site are not classed as driving.
Your boss is correct.
Ragnarok:
Domestic Driving Hours - Today I was informed by my manager, who had been glancing at the DVLA website, that my driving time doesn’t start until I actually drive the vehicle (our vehicles are fitted with trackers). My contention is that once I insert the key in the ignition and start the engine, and am therefore in control of the vehicle, the clock legally begins to tick. On my vehicle, I need to start the engine anyway in order to perform certain vehicle checks. So who is right, me or the ‘office wallah’?
I’d say you’re absolutely right, for domestic rules “Driving is defined as being at the controls of a vehicle for the purposes of controlling its movement, whether it is moving or stationary with the engine running, even for a short period of time”.
Vehicle checks etc are Other Work
Only Driving is driving, surprisingly
tachograph:
Ragnarok:
Domestic Driving Hours - Today I was informed by my manager, who had been glancing at the DVLA website, that my driving time doesn’t start until I actually drive the vehicle (our vehicles are fitted with trackers). My contention is that once I insert the key in the ignition and start the engine, and am therefore in control of the vehicle, the clock legally begins to tick. On my vehicle, I need to start the engine anyway in order to perform certain vehicle checks. So who is right, me or the ‘office wallah’?I’d say you’re absolutely right, for domestic rules “Driving is defined as being at the controls of a vehicle for the purposes of controlling its movement, whether it is moving or stationary with the engine running, even for a short period of time”.
But if he is out of the cab doing checks with the engine running he isn’t at the controls so that bit wouldn’t be driving time. 
Sitting in the cab with the engine running ready to leave or queuing to get out of the gate that bit would be driving time.
I would say they are both partially right so the only way to settle this is with a fight to the death, or until one of them bleeds whichever comes first. 
Pat Hasler:
‘Driving time’ starts when you set off on the road, you can have keys in the ignition, engine running for other reasons then driving, even driving around on private property or company site are not classed as driving.
None of that is correct, you didn’t read all of the question, he asked about domestic rules. And this bit isn’t correct for the tacho rules either. Things have changed with the regulations since you became an immigrant.
claretmatt:
Only Driving is driving, surprisingly
You missed the bit about domestic rules. The definition of driving is different for Domestic and EU rules.
Coffeeholic:
tachograph:
Ragnarok:
Domestic Driving Hours - Today I was informed by my manager, who had been glancing at the DVLA website, that my driving time doesn’t start until I actually drive the vehicle (our vehicles are fitted with trackers). My contention is that once I insert the key in the ignition and start the engine, and am therefore in control of the vehicle, the clock legally begins to tick. On my vehicle, I need to start the engine anyway in order to perform certain vehicle checks. So who is right, me or the ‘office wallah’?I’d say you’re absolutely right, for domestic rules “Driving is defined as being at the controls of a vehicle for the purposes of controlling its movement, whether it is moving or stationary with the engine running, even for a short period of time”.
But if he is out of the cab doing checks with the engine running he isn’t at the controls so that bit wouldn’t be driving time.
I would say they are both partially right so the only way to settle this is with a fight to the death, or until one of them bleeds whichever comes first.
The OP hasn’t said anything about being out of the cab, depending on the type of vehicle some vehicle checks are done on the on-board computer these days
tachograph:
Ragnarok:
Domestic Driving Hours - Today I was informed by my manager, who had been glancing at the DVLA website, that my driving time doesn’t start until I actually drive the vehicle (our vehicles are fitted with trackers). My contention is that once I insert the key in the ignition and start the engine, and am therefore in control of the vehicle, the clock legally begins to tick. On my vehicle, I need to start the engine anyway in order to perform certain vehicle checks. So who is right, me or the ‘office wallah’?I’d say you’re absolutely right, for domestic rules “Driving is defined as being at the controls of a vehicle for the purposes of controlling its movement, whether it is moving or stationary with the engine running, even for a short period of time”.
or
An employee is not on duty:
during breaks for rest and refreshment if during those breaks the driver has no specific duties/responsibilities to carry out for his employer. if carrying out duties for an employer for whom no driving is undertaken.