It’s illegal to leave the mode switch on rest if you are working, but is it illegal to leave it on “other work” when you aren’t actually doing any work, for example because you had already taken 15 minutes and didn’t want to complete a 45 minute break until later?
What would constitute “other work”? Would “thinking about work related stuff” be plausibly considered to be other work?
Other work when doing nothing is legal - you could be thinking about work 
Harry Monk:
It’s illegal to leave the mode switch on rest if you are working, but is it illegal to leave it on “other work” when you aren’t actually doing any work, for example because you had already taken 15 minutes and didn’t want to complete a 45 minute break until later?What would constitute “other work”? Would “thinking about work related stuff” be plausibly considered to be other work?
Cleaning the truck ie cleaning your windows
Doing paperwork
supervising the loading
if you was on the phone taking to someone about a job for you that would constitute work
delboytwo:
Harry Monk:
Cleaning the truck ie cleaning your windows
Doing paperwork
supervising the loadingif you was on the phone taking to someone about a job for you that would constitute work
Yes, I was more wondering about the situation if VOSA came along and you weren’t actually appearing to be doing anything at all, or if you were, say, reading a newspaper, whether they could theoretically say that you were using the wrong mode, although I do tend to agree with ROG’s point.
A company might insist on you using poa in such circumstances to save on hours possibly. If I got an hour to kill and I don’t need a break then it stays on work whilst I’m on the bunk chucking out zzzzz’s.
There’s nothing illegal about having the tachograph on other work whilst you’re having a break, it’s when people do it the other way round that VOSA get a tad upset 
Would a sausage maker clock off while the sausage machine was being refilled? or would he simply wait until more meat came down the line?
Wheel Nut:
Would a sausage maker clock off while the sausage machine was being refilled? or would he simply wait until more meat came down the line?
He’d probably clock off. When it comes down the line and its not skinned they get someone to hit it with a mallet and call it ‘Scottish’
Wheel Nut:
Would a sausage maker clock off while the sausage machine was being refilled? or would he simply wait until more meat came down the line?
I suppose it would depend on whether the sausage maker would need to stop for 45 minutes on his way home or whether he thought he could get away with a 30.
Mike-C:
Wheel Nut:
Would a sausage maker clock off while the sausage machine was being refilled? or would he simply wait until more meat came down the line?He’d probably clock off. When it comes down the line and its not skinned they get someone to hit it with a mallet and call it ‘Scottish’
What is the difference between Lorne sausage and a Chipolata?
Just askin
Wheel Nut:
Mike-C:
Wheel Nut:
Would a sausage maker clock off while the sausage machine was being refilled? or would he simply wait until more meat came down the line?He’d probably clock off. When it comes down the line and its not skinned they get someone to hit it with a mallet and call it ‘Scottish’
What is the difference between Lorne sausage and a Chipolata?
Just askin
Lorne is a chipolata after it’s been hit with a mallet 
Harry
Can I ask why would you not want to put it on break,
If I am right your and ower/driver now so that make you the boss and as your responsible for your operator’s licence, and as long as you don’t break the law.
Is it because your so use to been told what to do , that it unfamiliar territory for you that you have to make those big choice to have a 15 minute cup of tea, or take 45 minutes and have a nap,
delboytwo:
Can I ask why would you not want to put it on break
Because sometimes it is possible to take too much break and make your day longer as a result.
For example:
Drive 2h
Break 45min
Drive 2h
Break 30min
Drive 4h
is illegal, as you have driven 6h without a 45min break, you would need to add another 15min to the second break to make it legal, making your day 15min longer. However, if you swapped the 45min break for 15min break and 30min other work, it would then become legal and that 15min saved might help you get home, or to a parking place of your preference, at the end of the day.
Paul
repton:
delboytwo:
Can I ask why would you not want to put it on breakBecause sometimes it is possible to take too much break and make your day longer as a result.
For example:
Drive 2h
Break 45min
Drive 2h
Break 30min
Drive 4his illegal, as you have driven 6h without a 45min break, you would need to add another 15min to the second break to make it legal, making your day 15min longer. However, if you swapped the 45min break for 15min break and 30min other work, it would then become legal and that 15min saved might help you get home, or to a parking place of your preference, at the end of the day.
Paul
Just a bit of fun I no why
repton:
delboytwo:
Can I ask why would you not want to put it on breakBecause sometimes it is possible to take too much break and make your day longer as a result.
Exactly that. By not completing a 45 minute break at, say, Exeter, then I only need to stop for 30 minutes on the way home instead of 45. On a Friday afternoon, hitting the M25 15 minutes later can easily mean getting back to my yard an hour later.