Hello, I work for a small company and at the minute work nights on a 4 on - 4 off, 12hr shift doing 4 loads of spring water to a bottling plant 60km away.
Now the water company want us (the subbie) to go on a 24/7 basis.
My boss only wants to use 3 drivers not 4, and wants us to sort the shift out how we want to do it.
Last year we did this for a while with 3 drivers on a 6 on- 3 off, but one stayed on days, one stayed on nights and one had a split 3 days, 3 nights shift to relieve the other 2 drivers.
We want to do this sort of shift again but without 1 driver having to do a split shift, days/nights and we’re willing to revolve around the clock, ie. nights or days.
Can somebody with a knowledge of shift patterns give us some options on how to work this please ?
Don’t worry about driving time or working hrs.
Thanks.
neilg14:
Hello, I work for a small company and at the minute work nights on a 4 on - 4 off, 12hr shift doing 4 loads of spring water to a bottling plant 60km away.
Now the water company want us (the subbie) to go on a 24/7 basis.
My boss only wants to use 3 drivers not 4, and wants us to sort the shift out how we want to do it.
Last year we did this for a while with 3 drivers on a 6 on- 3 off, but one stayed on days, one stayed on nights and one had a split 3 days, 3 nights shift to relieve the other 2 drivers.
We want to do this sort of shift again but without 1 driver having to do a split shift, days/nights and we’re willing to revolve around the clock, ie. nights or days.
Can somebody with a knowledge of shift patterns give us some options on how to work this please ?
Don’t worry about driving time or working hrs.
Thanks.
It’s impossible to cover 24hr periods with only 3 drivers if you want each one to stay on either days or nights. Unless one of you works 7 shifts per week every week you will need 4 drivers or one of you will have to do days and nights as previously.
Left hand down!:
It’s impossible to cover 24hr periods with only 3 drivers if you want each one to stay on either days or nights.
True, but nobody wants to stay on either days or night. Is not the problem one poor sod having to do both in the same week? 
Here’s my understanding of the situation…
neilg14:
Don’t worry about driving time or working hrs.
I take it your talking Canadian rules from your location? I’ll leave it to your local knowledge (as I’ve had a quick gander, but my mind isn’t up to speed with them)
neilg14:
Last year we did this for a while with 3 drivers on a 6 on- 3 off, but one stayed on days, one stayed on nights and one had a split 3 days, 3 nights shift to relieve the other 2 drivers.
I take it the 9 day pattern below was the long and short of it? Driver C got the ■■■■ end of the stick…
Driver A - 132h on (72h work days/60h rest), then 84h off = 216h
Driver B - 132h on (72h work nights/60h rest), then 84h off = 216h
Driver C - 144h on (72h work/72h rest), then 72h off = 216h (the PITA being the double 12h rest after three days to flip over to do 3 nights)
neilg14:
We want to do this sort of shift again but without 1 driver having to do a split shift, days/nights and we’re willing to revolve around the clock, ie. nights or days.
How about something like this 18 day pattern? Could it comply with your hours regs? At least everyone has a fair crack of the whip.
Driver A, B & C - 132h on (72h work days/60h rest), then 96h off. 132 on (72h work nights/60h rest), then 72h off = 432h
Left hand down!:
neilg14:
Hello, I work for a small company and at the minute work nights on a 4 on - 4 off, 12hr shift doing 4 loads of spring water to a bottling plant 60km away.
Now the water company want us (the subbie) to go on a 24/7 basis.
My boss only wants to use 3 drivers not 4, and wants us to sort the shift out how we want to do it.
Last year we did this for a while with 3 drivers on a 6 on- 3 off, but one stayed on days, one stayed on nights and one had a split 3 days, 3 nights shift to relieve the other 2 drivers.
We want to do this sort of shift again but without 1 driver having to do a split shift, days/nights and we’re willing to revolve around the clock, ie. nights or days.
Can somebody with a knowledge of shift patterns give us some options on how to work this please ?
Don’t worry about driving time or working hrs.
Thanks.It’s impossible to cover 24hr periods with only 3 drivers if you want each one to stay on either days or nights. Unless one of you works 7 shifts per week every week you will need 4 drivers or one of you will have to do days and nights as previously.
Sorry, didn’t explain very well, we are all willing to do days or nights as long as it’s not in the same period between time off.
macplaxton:
Left hand down!:
It’s impossible to cover 24hr periods with only 3 drivers if you want each one to stay on either days or nights.True, but nobody wants to stay on either days or night. Is not the problem one poor sod having to do both in the same week?
Here’s my understanding of the situation…
neilg14:
Don’t worry about driving time or working hrs.I take it your talking Canadian rules from your location? I’ll leave it to your local knowledge (as I’ve had a quick gander, but my mind isn’t up to speed with them)
neilg14:
Last year we did this for a while with 3 drivers on a 6 on- 3 off, but one stayed on days, one stayed on nights and one had a split 3 days, 3 nights shift to relieve the other 2 drivers.I take it the 9 day pattern below was the long and short of it? Driver C got the [zb] end of the stick…
Driver A - 132h on (72h work days/60h rest), then 84h off = 216h
Driver B - 132h on (72h work nights/60h rest), then 84h off = 216h
Driver C - 144h on (72h work/72h rest), then 72h off = 216h (the PITA being the double 12h rest after three days to flip over to do 3 nights)
neilg14:
We want to do this sort of shift again but without 1 driver having to do a split shift, days/nights and we’re willing to revolve around the clock, ie. nights or days.How about something like this 18 day pattern? Could it comply with your hours regs? At least everyone has a fair crack of the whip.
Driver A, B & C - 132h on (72h work days/60h rest), then 96h off. 132 on (72h work nights/60h rest), then 72h off = 432h
Thanks for this, I’ll have a good look at it.
Yes I’m talking Canada but come under the 160km radius so no logbooks etc.
We can drive up to 13 hrs a day and up to 70hrs in 7 days.
In these 12hr shifts we only drive for about 4:30hrs