Coffeeholic:
The WTD is pretty simple really when it comes to breaks.
Have a break, minimum 15 minutes, before exceeding 6 hours of work (driving and other work -POA is neither work nor break) Next break is due before exceeding another 6 hours work from the end of that break or before the end of the shift, whichever comes first. If you do between 6 and 9 hours work in the shift make sure to have a total of 30 minutes break minimum. If you do more than 9 hours work in the shift make sure to have a total of 45 minutes break minimum.
That’s it, 4 sentences covers everything you need to know and it’s not complicated at all.
What complicates it is people, and by people I mostly mean DCPC Trainers or RDC Lawyers, adding in stuff that isn’t in the regulations such as; “must have 30 minutes before 6 hours” or “must have a second break before 9 hours” and so on.
Put like that coffeeholic it makes perfect sense. I think ROG summed it up “The law and common sense don’t always go together”.
it’s because it’s flexible that it creates anomalies like this, so you could work a number of hours without needing a break, but can’t go home unless you take one
sometimes that flexibility will go against you, but it’ll probably work for you most of the time
LASHHGV:
You are right just get it right my total shift inc break was 6hr 22 min. Was tired last night.
Yep, should’ve had half an hour mate.
I got caught out one day this week. I spent 3.5 hours on a loading bay but forgot to put it on break. I managed to get to my next drop before my 6 hours and managed to squeeze a 15 in as it was a quick tip.
I was back at base 9.5 hours after I started and had only had a 15 minute break. I then had to take a 30 minute break, fuel up and go home. Paid by the hour and usually do plenty over time anyway so I didn’t care. Had I been salary paid I’d have taken the infringement.
lefkasman:
On a loading bay and tacho on break? Why?
What would you put it on for 3.5 hours?
Unless I was allowed access to their canteen facilities it would be on other work until I could get a proper break.
The problem with that is if you have a company strict on the RTD and you want as many hours as poss then you will be screwing yourself out of extra dosh
And the problem with your view is if I’ve say drove 3 hours to the drop and then sat for 3 and a half waiting to tip chances are I will be thirsty and hungry. I never did work all day without a proper meal inside me. Sorry but a mars bar and a cheese sandwich out of a machine ain’t my idea of a proper break.
lefkasman:
And the problem with your view is if I’ve say drove 3 hours to the drop and then sat for 3 and a half waiting to tip chances are I will be thirsty and hungry. I never did work all day without a proper meal inside me. Sorry but a mars bar and a cheese sandwich out of a machine ain’t my idea of a proper break.
just stop when and where you want to have a proper meal, sticking it on break will give you more options to where you get that meal too!
And if vosa happen to pay a visit while you’ve got it on break but not really having a break what then? I know the chances of getting caught are slim but it happens and there were signs at some places I used to go to telling you not to put it on break while you were on a bay.
I know I was in a minority by doing the job by the book. Ever wondered why the job is ■■■■? Most blokes who stick it on break whilst tipping as the op said he did for 15 mins at his next drop usually work all day and grab a sandwich while they are driving. Or worst still nothing at all. How long do you go without food and water? Its bad for your health.
like i said fella, i stop when i want and where, i won’t go hungry.
and who told you you can’t have it on break whilst on a bay? so long as you’re not actually working vosa won’t have a problem with it, why would they?!!
any signs telling you not to put it on break will because if they tip someone in 20 minutes, then the drive says sorry unloader dude, i’m on a break, can’t move for another 25 minutes, eu rules you see fella - then their bay is out of action, so they say right this is no good, from now on drivers can’t takes breaks on our bays. but no one gives a ■■■■ if you go when you’re done
lefkasman:
And if vosa happen to pay a visit while you’ve got it on break but not really having a break what then? I know the chances of getting caught are slim but it happens and there were signs at some places I used to go to telling you not to put it on break while you were on a bay.
I know I was in a minority by doing the job by the book. Ever wondered why the job is [zb]? Most blokes who stick it on break whilst tipping as the op said he did for 15 mins at his next drop usually work all day and grab a sandwich while they are driving. Or worst still nothing at all. How long do you go without food and water? Its bad for your health.
It’s perfectly legal to have a break while on a bay as long as you’re not working, all those blokes you see putting the tachograph on break while they sit in the cab are doing nothing wrong even if they are backed onto a bay.
Glad you don’t go hungry but I’ve seen it so often on break at every drop they go to. Well may as well go back to the yard no was I don’t need to stop anymore. Oh the boss has given me another job what a surprise.
Worst thing is the drivers that deny they do it.
Anyway bed time for me early start pruning my olive trees.
Coffeeholic:
The WTD is pretty simple really when it comes to breaks.
Have a break, minimum 15 minutes, before exceeding 6 hours of work (driving and other work -POA is neither work nor break) Next break is due before exceeding another 6 hours work from the end of that break or before the end of the shift, whichever comes first. If you do between 6 and 9 hours work in the shift make sure to have a total of 30 minutes break minimum. If you do more than 9 hours work in the shift make sure to have a total of 45 minutes break minimum..
you must have 15mins before exceeding 6hrs work, you need another 15 before exceeding 9 hrs work, not ‘another’ 6 hrs from last 15 min break.
Eg: 06:00-11:45 work, (5hr 45m work)
11:45-12:00 break
12:00-15:10 work, (3h work, 8h 45m total)
15:10-15:25 break
15:25-15:30 work and finish shift, total 9h shift
That’s a random example how I see the rules on a 9h shift.
Coffeeholic:
The WTD is pretty simple really when it comes to breaks.
Have a break, minimum 15 minutes, before exceeding 6 hours of work (driving and other work -POA is neither work nor break) Next break is due before exceeding another 6 hours work from the end of that break or before the end of the shift, whichever comes first. If you do between 6 and 9 hours work in the shift make sure to have a total of 30 minutes break minimum. If you do more than 9 hours work in the shift make sure to have a total of 45 minutes break minimum..
you must have 15mins before exceeding 6hrs work, you need another 15 before exceeding 9 hrs work, not ‘another’ 6 hrs from last 15 min break.
Eg: 06:00-11:45 work, (5hr 45m work)
11:45-12:00 break
12:00-15:10 work, (3h work, 8h 45m total)
15:10-15:25 break
15:25-15:30 work and finish shift, total 9h shift
That’s a random example how I see the rules on a 9h shift.
less than 6 hours = no break
between 6 - 9 = 30 minute break
over 9 hours = 45 minute break
over 9 is not between 6 - 9, so that doesn’t apply!
Coffeeholic:
The WTD is pretty simple really when it comes to breaks.
Have a break, minimum 15 minutes, before exceeding 6 hours of work (driving and other work -POA is neither work nor break) Next break is due before exceeding another 6 hours work from the end of that break or before the end of the shift, whichever comes first. If you do between 6 and 9 hours work in the shift make sure to have a total of 30 minutes break minimum. If you do more than 9 hours work in the shift make sure to have a total of 45 minutes break minimum..
you must have 15mins before exceeding 6hrs work, you need another 15 before exceeding 9 hrs work, not ‘another’ 6 hrs from last 15 min break.
If your total working time is more than nine hours you do not need to have a total of 30 minutes break before reaching nine hours working time.
As Coffeeholic said you need to have a 15 minute break before exceeding six hours working time, and another break of at-least 15 minutes no later than six hours working time from the end of the last break or before the end of the shift depending on which comes first.
Coffeeholic:
The WTD is pretty simple really when it comes to breaks.
Have a break, minimum 15 minutes, before exceeding 6 hours of work (driving and other work -POA is neither work nor break) Next break is due before exceeding another 6 hours work from the end of that break or before the end of the shift, whichever comes first. If you do between 6 and 9 hours work in the shift make sure to have a total of 30 minutes break minimum. If you do more than 9 hours work in the shift make sure to have a total of 45 minutes break minimum..
you must have 15mins before exceeding 6hrs work, you need another 15 before exceeding 9 hrs work, not ‘another’ 6 hrs from last 15 min break.
How can I put this in a way which won’t cause offence?
Oh I know. You’re talking complete and utter ■■■■■■■■ mate.
Show me in the regulations where it states a break is required before exceeding 9 hours work?
Don’t look too long because it doesn’t say that.
The regulations define the amount of work before a break is required, 6 hours.
They further define the total amount of break required depending on the amount of work done in a shift.
Less than 6 hours = no break. Ignore this requirement if you do more than 6 hours work.
Or.
Between 6 and 9 hours of work = 30 minutes. Ignore this requirement if you do less than 6 or more than 9 hours work.
Or.
Over 9 hours work = 45 minutes. Ignore this requirement if you do 9 hours or less work.
What you are doing is applying two requirements to one shift when what you actually do is select which ONE of those three requirements applies to your shift and ONLY apply that one. When you do that you realise there is no need to have a break before 9 hours when you are have more than 9 hours work in the shift and the next break would be 6 hours after the end of the previous break or before the end of the shift, whichever comes first.
ROG:
I think member wheelyb was only referring only to a 9 hour work shift when he said -
you must have 15mins before exceeding 6hrs work, you need another 15 before exceeding 9 hrs work
Could be wrong …
the rest of his sentence that you’ve not quoted says you’re wrong to give him the benefit of doubt!
I looked at it differently …
If the total work in the shift was 9 hours then that statement would be correct because you would need at least 15 before going over 6 hours work and another 15 before completing the 9 hours of work = yes?
I put completing and he put exceeding so perhaps the word could have been chosen better
I sort of read between the lines and assumed that’s what he was getting at
lefkasman:
And if vosa happen to pay a visit while you’ve got it on break but not really having a break what then? I know the chances of getting caught are slim but it happens and there were signs at some places I used to go to telling you not to put it on break while you were on a bay.
I know I was in a minority by doing the job by the book. Ever wondered why the job is [zb]? Most blokes who stick it on break whilst tipping as the op said he did for 15 mins at his next drop usually work all day and grab a sandwich while they are driving. Or worst still nothing at all. How long do you go without food and water? Its bad for your health.
Not really on break ?
I was sitting in my cab either watching a DVD (several hours) or asleep (about 30 mins). That’s not exactly other work is it. I was free to leave the cab and do as I pleased too, not like I was forced to stay in there or in some cage like an animal at a zoo. I hadn’t long started work either so wasn’t in the slightest bit hungry and new the exact truck stop I’d be stopping at half an hour later.
Access to hot food is not a pre-requisite to booking a break.
adding in stuff that isn’t in the regulations such as; “must have 30 minutes before 6 hours” or “must have a second break before 9 hours” and so on.
