I was a garage foreman and qualified mechanic, I have parts 1 2 & 3 city & guilds in motor vehicle technology, with the same company I transferred on to driving, I was then not allowed to change a bulb, company policy said I was a driver or a mechanic not both 
dieseldog999:
so if you were a smallish company owner…which of the following would you employ.
1…drivers who would be able to get out off trouble up the road, possibly get to nearest workshop or back to the yard, thus save expensive call out charges …or
2 some Tosco type beancounting useless jobsworth that wouldn’t change a bulb etc??
Let’s just say that even if you’re an owner driver ‘mechanical aptitude’,servicing,and/or a certificate in motor repair’ is going to be totally irrelevant in satisfying the conditions of maintenance for O licence purposes.The question by the TC will ( rightly ) go along the lines of provide exact details of garage facilities intended to be used to maintain the vehicle.It seems obvious that any attempt top carry out any type of maintenance that could be seen as going outside of those details could wipe out the terms of granting the O licence. 
Carryfast:
dieseldog999:
so if you were a smallish company owner…which of the following would you employ.
1…drivers who would be able to get out off trouble up the road, possibly get to nearest workshop or back to the yard, thus save expensive call out charges …or
2 some Tosco type beancounting useless jobsworth that wouldn’t change a bulb etc??Let’s just say that even if you’re an owner driver ‘mechanical aptitude’,servicing,and/or a certificate in motor repair’ is going to be totally irrelevant in satisfying the conditions of maintenance for O licence purposes.The question by the TC will ( rightly ) go along the lines of provide exact details of garage facilities intended to be used to maintain the vehicle.It seems obvious that any attempt top carry out any type of maintenance that could be seen as going outside of those details could wipe out the terms of granting the O licence.
Yes CF, this seems to mirror what this O/D told Me, it was just easier to “out source” what He had already been doing for years, just to keep the TC happy 
Cant fault any thing you’ve said
eddie snax:
An O/D I know, used to do all his own servicing and inspections, but started sending His truck to a Commercial workshop to make it easier to comply with the inspection criteria, even though He is more than capable off doing all the work himself, and had done for many years previous. Though He might just be getting idle
.
Yes you cant import some polish “wannabe” who does not even know what a brake chamber is,never mind how the bloody thing works,Then after 6 months this dik is trying to tell me my job.
Who gives a ■■■■ anymore,been in the job a long time but I watch these clowns who along with"office staff" bring the industry down every day.
When some child gets obliterated by some truck that has been “repaired” by one of these jokers then who cares.
Maybe you if its your son or daughter,but that will never happen will it.
Or will it.
dieseldog999:
so if you were a smallish company owner…which of the following would you employ.
1…drivers who would be able to get out off trouble up the road, possibly get to nearest workshop or back to the yard, thus save expensive call out charges …or
2 some Tosco type beancounting useless jobsworth that wouldn’t change a bulb etc??
Change a bulb!! these ■■■■■■■■ expect me to top up their washer bottle.
Like many ‘old skool’ drivers I have always walked round the vehicle, kicked the inner tyres on twin axles to ensure inner one not deflated, made sure all the lights are working and replaced any blown bulbs, checked the fluids and topped up if necessary, as well as checking the security of the load, etc.
However I’m NOT a truck mechanic, nor have ever claimed to be one. By the same token I wouldn’t want to drive a truck that had been serviced, or had been repaired by a driver rather than a mechanic, or at least someone that had received proper training to fix them. Last thing I’d want is something falling off at 50mph, or the DVSA guys ordering cakes if I got pulled on a routine stop. 
There was a debate on a thread a few months ago on here regarding changing bulbs. I said it was reasonable to change one if you can but someone else said “Your a driver. Its someone elses job to change the bulb”. He then went on to say he would sit all day if that is what it took. If its a “get you home” quick repair you can do and its safe then I guess its up to your own attitude etc. Me personally I just want finished and home (Dont carry a sleeping bag you see! 
) but others are happy to sit and wait to get fixed. Each to their own but if they expect me to do oil change and engine repairs then I think thats a job for someone who knows what their doing. If you know what your doing and can do it,fine. If not,dont
eddie snax:
Carryfast:
Yes CF, this seems to mirror what this O/D told Me, it was just easier to “out source” what He had already been doing for years, just to keep the TC happy
If you look at it from the public interest point of view an in house maintenance operation would need to show the TC a very high standard of investment in garage facilities before it would be passed as acceptable.In which case there is no way that a small owner driver operation could sort that.An example of what it takes is contained in some of Bewick’s posts and photos concerning his in house garage facilities.Most of my own old employers also had very similar type of facilities in the case of both the council and later night trunking job.
When I was going to set up as an owner driver I was planning to use an approved contract garage operation that my ex council employers had used for jobs when they ran out of in house garage capacity.I’d guess that O licence requirements have been made even more strict in that regard more recently.In which case the idea of a driver ‘who knows a bit about looking after wagons’ working on a truck in the yard on a Saturday morning with a cheap tool kit is realistically a thing of the distant past.Probably with good reason.
LIBERTY_GUY:
Maybe its just me, but I didn’t think standing under the raised cab on a busy motorway, without the benefit of a breakdown vehicle with all its flashing beacons parked behind, was a place I would ever want to be. Needless to say I declined his job offer.
A lot of them have changed and the fuel filter is now very accessible. The new DAF CF tractor units have it at the passenger side of the cab above the fuel tank next to the adblue tank. You can change it in 2 minutes and no jacking up of anything, it is literally there right in front of you at waist height. Primer pump is on the top of it.
This thread is full of so much that’s just not right regarding vehicle repair and safety inspection requirements that it’s too big a job to correct it all but the short answer is no.
What’s the ‘professionals’ in any case?
The main dealers or large hire companies full maintenance package that involves absolutely nothing resembling a proper brake test, at any safety inspection, apart from once a year at MOT?
if you can do the repairs in a way you know is safe then do it. if you’re uncertain, then leave it up to the pros. who sometimes happen to have the same attitude as some drivers - screw it, I’ll just do a quick fix here to get me home sooner, rather than spend an hour and do it well 
I would think its more if a change bulbs/ air lines and jumpstart the truck if needed which isn’t a shouldn’t be a problem for most drivers. Or maybe a trailer light cluster if needed all not exactly rocket science. Could even be carrying an air line to inflate the tyres so you can get it home or wind off a brake chamber to get it off the road
alix776:
I would think its more if a change bulbs/ air lines and jumpstart the truck if needed which isn’t a shouldn’t be a problem for most drivers.
Yep, that’s about the limit I take it to. I’ve even cut off and re-attached split air suzies in the past.
I am a qualified time served mechanic and can, health issues aside, do pretty much everything on a truck but I am buggered if I am going to do anything more than bulbs, suzies and jumpstarting a truck for the pay rate of a lorry driver. If they want me to start doing things like safety checks, changing fuel filters, brakes etc and doing things like winding brake pots off to get me home then yeah I’ll do it but it’ll be for a lot more money than you’re paying me to drive the thing.
That should be about all a driver can do in reality tbh
Some companies, especially the type that are likely to employ our Irish friend, want you to do a lot more.
In my early career when I was stupid I’ve changed springs, wheel bearings, brake shoes, kingpins, cab pins, heater matrixes, repaired gear linkages on the trucks I’ve driven for small family firms. Never got anything extra for doing it other than grief off the missus for being at work fixing my truck instead of being at home.
Own Account Driver:
This thread is full of so much that’s just not right regarding vehicle repair and safety inspection requirements that it’s too big a job to correct it all but the short answer is no.What’s the ‘professionals’ in any case?
?
You cant just say No, expand to enlighten us. All I’ve said is that an O/D I know and respect, has now, after many years off trouble free(from the authorities) operation, told Me that’s its easier for Him to out source to a Commercial (independent) workshop his vehicle 6 weekly inspections and routine servicing, though He still does some off the unexpected maintenance/breakdowns. This was partly driven for his O license renewal
I would not argue with you, as I don’t claim to be an expert on this part off Vehicle operations.
Own Account Driver:
The main dealers or large hire companies full maintenance package that involves absolutely nothing resembling a proper brake test, at any safety inspection, apart from once a year at MOT?
I’m led to believe that these R & M contract aren’t all they’re cracked up to be, that sometimes a job maybe pushed onto the next month, and wear limits are pushed to the limits, when sometimes an operator running they’re own maintenance would get it done to avoid the potential breakdown. But that’s only hear say
Conor:
alix776:
I would think its more if a change bulbs/ air lines and jumpstart the truck if needed which isn’t a shouldn’t be a problem for most drivers.Yep, that’s about the limit I take it to. I’ve even cut off and re-attached split air suzies in the past.
I am a qualified time served mechanic and can, health issues aside, do pretty much everything on a truck but I am buggered if I am going to do anything more than bulbs, suzies and jumpstarting a truck.
Jumpstarting, that’s a joke, a lot of our truck have a notice on the back of the cab telling you not to jump start it, so if you were to and something goes wrong, who’s arse is getting a kicking
That’s because many driversdomt know how to jumpstart alot of trucks and blow the ecu up
alix776:
That’s because many driversdomt know how to jumpstart alot of trucks and blow the ecu up
ergo…employ a driver with a brain and a bit of hands on gumption whos adaptable and hands on for some simple tasks when things go wrong.or…employ jobsworths and pay for everything as a callout. I know who id be employing,and it wouldn’t be the beancounter. fair enough if its a big company and your a Tosco type,or agency wallah where your just a bum on a seat working from day to day,otherwise,you would expect your drivers to be helpful to limp a truck home or into a garage.
eddie snax:
Own Account Driver:
This thread is full of so much that’s just not right regarding vehicle repair and safety inspection requirements that it’s too big a job to correct it all but the short answer is no.What’s the ‘professionals’ in any case?
?
You cant just say No, expand to enlighten us. All I’ve said is that an O/D I know and respect, has now, after many years off trouble free(from the authorities) operation, told Me that’s its easier for Him to out source to a Commercial (independent) workshop his vehicle 6 weekly inspections and routine servicing, though He still does some off the unexpected maintenance/breakdowns. This was partly driven for his O license renewal
I would not argue with you, as I don’t claim to be an expert on this part off Vehicle operations.
Own Account Driver:
The main dealers or large hire companies full maintenance package that involves absolutely nothing resembling a proper brake test, at any safety inspection, apart from once a year at MOT?I’m led to believe that these R & M contract aren’t all they’re cracked up to be, that sometimes a job maybe pushed onto the next month, and wear limits are pushed to the limits, when sometimes an operator running they’re own maintenance would get it done to avoid the potential breakdown. But that’s only hear say
Conor:
alix776:
I would think its more if a change bulbs/ air lines and jumpstart the truck if needed which isn’t a shouldn’t be a problem for most drivers.Yep, that’s about the limit I take it to. I’ve even cut off and re-attached split air suzies in the past.
I am a qualified time served mechanic and can, health issues aside, do pretty much everything on a truck but I am buggered if I am going to do anything more than bulbs, suzies and jumpstarting a truck.
Jumpstarting, that’s a joke, a lot of our truck have a notice on the back of the cab telling you not to jump start it, so if you were to and something goes wrong, who’s arse is getting a kicking
It seems obvious that the average driver isn’t going to fit the description of ‘‘staff’’ carrying out inspections and/or maintenance operations must be ‘competent’ ( IE qualified ) to assess the significance of and/or fix significant defects or carry out significant maintenance operations to an approved standard.At least one which would be recognised by a professional organisation like IRTE.
Nor is the average small operating centre going to fit the description of ‘adequate facilities’ and tools being available.Nor have access to brake efficiency measuring or emissions measurement.All of which being a requirement of O licence maintenance conditions.
Let alone then getting into the issues of signing off maintenance operations thereby taking equal responsibility together with the O licence holder for any defective work or anything subsequently found to have contributed to a maintenance issue.
IE putting drivers to work on a truck in most cases would be an unrealistic let alone stupid idea.Unless we’re talking about the operator’s approved in house garage operation and the ‘driver’ in question is also a qualified truck fitter/technician who is willing to take on equal responsibility for the truck’s condition as that of the operator.
Which is why any outsourced maintenance operation has to first be subject of contract regards responsibility for the work carried out and approved by the TC in just the same way as an in house maintenance operation does.
Thats why good mechanics are worth 5 times what drivers are paid.
And I mean good mechanics not some main agent ■■■■■■■■
You roll up at a main agent with a trailer and the SOBs go into bloody meltdown