Hi all as it says, in the course of your day do you use POA, and as you transport manager asked you to use it, or do you consider it a waste of time.
on a stockton run i arrive approximately 2 1/2 hours before i get tipped. i get there around 19.30, take my break and i know the staff dont turn up til 22.00 so why waste all that time on crossed hammers when i can use POA to keep my working time down? you use it to your own advantage whether that is actually using it or deliberately not using it. your tacho, your choice!
Yes but never when at work only when sat at home today I am just driving to Edinburgh so no need to start until 10 so that’s two hours poa.
I would also ask the other related question - why use poa when break will achieve the same result in regards to working time ?
I never use POA and have never been asked to use it.
If I’m waiting for any length of time my tachograph goes on break and it’s never been questioned at any of the companies I’ve worked at.
ROG:
I would also ask the other related question - why use poa when break will achieve the same result in regards to working time ?
You get to your last drop, it’s 5 hours driving back to the yard, you’ve already had a 15 minute break, you’re gonna be an hour waiting at the drop. Sticking it on break would mean a 45 on the way back, sticking it on poa will mean a 30 min break on the way back, if you’re short on hours or just want to get home it’s 15 minutes saved.
I put it on break , not had anyone query it.
stevieboy308:
ROG:
I would also ask the other related question - why use poa when break will achieve the same result in regards to working time ?You get to your last drop, it’s 5 hours driving back to the yard, you’ve already had a 15 minute break, you’re gonna be an hour waiting at the drop. Sticking it on break would mean a 45 on the way back, sticking it on poa will mean a 30 min break on the way back, if you’re short on hours or just want to get home it’s 15 minutes saved.
I thought that might be the case in a few instances but I suspect not the majority
I use POA, regularly clock a couple of hours a day.
For example. I run into Knowhow at Newark. I know that I am going to be on a bay for about two hours so I bung it on POA. On the way back to base, I stop for 45 break.
Its all to do with the definitions of the different modes.
On the bay at KH in Newark, I could be there for the full two hours, or I could be tipped in 30 minutes. I have to be available to return to working when the Goods In office says its time to motor off. I can’t say to them, sod that, Im still needing another 20 minutes, Ill just block up your bay, can I?
The other thing is, on break, I should be free to dispose of my time in any way I choose. That could be sat on the bunk reading a book, or in the nearest KFC ordering a Big Fat Box Meal. On a bay at an RDC, I don’t have that freedom. At most RDC’s I cant even go for a ■■■!
Finally, there is the other reason why POA is usefull.
The other day, I did Milton Keynes to Bedford. Back to MK and then reload for a trunk to Birmingham. If I had put it on break at Bedford, where I waited for over an hour, I would have needed to stop for a break either before I got to Birmingham, or in the yard at the ND depot there. Instead, I put it on POA and had my break at Corley instead. That way, I had only had to take one break, and as an Agency driver I dont get paid while on break but do on POA.
Yes I hammer it, 
and we’re breaking the law, 
and yes it’s a waste of time! 
Never use it, I have been asked to use but will put it on break instead.
yes, by choice, and every possible occasion 
nsmith1180:
The other thing is, on break, I should be free to dispose of my time in any way I choose.
I assume that is a person view and not a legal view ?
as an Agency driver I dont get paid while on break but do on POA.
That is a VERY good reason not to use break instead of POA 
ROG:
nsmith1180:
The other thing is, on break, I should be free to dispose of my time in any way I choose.I assume that is a person view and not a legal view ?
as an Agency driver I dont get paid while on break but do on POA.
That is a VERY good reason not to use break instead of POA
But how many people get knocked off the actual amount of break time recorded as opposed to 45 minutes regardless what the tacho says?
Just the 45 is how it’s always been for me, but I know of one local firm who apparently knocks off a second 45 on how I was told, if you do a 15. Sorry it’s all gone a bit mmtm!!
I would only use it in the very rare (in my case unlikely) occasion when it would mean I could get home without losing money. In my line of work it is of no use, but I can appreciate it can be for some drivers.
ROG:
stevieboy308:
ROG:
I would also ask the other related question - why use poa when break will achieve the same result in regards to working time ?You get to your last drop, it’s 5 hours driving back to the yard, you’ve already had a 15 minute break, you’re gonna be an hour waiting at the drop. Sticking it on break would mean a 45 on the way back, sticking it on poa will mean a 30 min break on the way back, if you’re short on hours or just want to get home it’s 15 minutes saved.
I thought that might be the case in a few instances but I suspect not the majority
thats one reason but some companies dont like you taking a longer than legally required break. its easier to use POA and keep them happy. i am responsible for my own tacho and hours so i suit myself which usually means keeping my working hours down so i have more duty time available. 50 hours working time every week takes me above the 48 hour average. 45 hours is below so it reduces the risks of falling foul of the law
ROG:
I would also ask the other related question - why use poa when break will achieve the same result in regards to working time ?
I start at 9pm and as the load is never ready for a couple of hours and the truck is always on the bay when I get in, I can’t use ‘break’ as i’ve done no driving (correct?) so I just hide out in the cab on poa after i’ve done my checks and a bit of ‘admin’.
Actrosman:
ROG:
I would also ask the other related question - why use poa when break will achieve the same result in regards to working time ?I start at 9pm and as the load is never ready for a couple of hours and the truck is always on the bay when I get in, I can’t use ‘break’ as i’ve done no driving (correct?) so I just hide out in the cab on poa after i’ve done my checks and a bit of ‘admin’.
Not quite correct I’m afraid.
You could use break in those circumstances if you wanted to, if the break is at the immediate start of the shift it won’t count for anything but you can still use break.
If you’ve done a few minutes work booking in ec’t before going onto break the break would count for the WTD.
I’m not saying you should I’m just saying you could 
yes use it all the time POA for waiting around not working cross hammers for working and break is my time its so simple and let that digi box do the work for you its all there
Never have used POA, never will. It’s nothing but a cop out invented by politicians who realised how much crap was gonna hit the fan with the implementation of the WTD.
I always use break when I have the option. Waiting in a queue to load; break. On a bay being tipped; break. Stuck on a closed motorway; break. As long as I’m not physically involved in any work; break.
I get 30 mins per day knocked off my pay for breaks, sometimes I can show as much as 7 hours break time depending on how long I’m sat in queues for. That’s not a problem as I get paid for all this break time. The added benefit is that because I show so much break if I throw a sneaky hour bunk time in it’s not picked up. Result.