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Learning curve
Page 40
Page 41
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To test the gaps in his knowledge, CM legal editor Patric
Cunnane spent a
day at an RHA training course on 0-licence compliance...
After spending a day at an RHA training course on 0-licence compliance CM came away with a new respect for the drivers and operators who have to make the regulations work. Just staying within the drivers' hours rules is a Herculean task in itself, surely designed to trip up even the most diligent operators, let alone those who couldn't care less in the first place.
RHA national training instructor Bob Auchterlonie, who ran the course in Leicester, says there are basic problems common to many operators: "Not everyone is aware that vehicles under 3.5 tonnes are covered by the domestic hours rules which stipulate a daily driving limit of 10 hours even though a tachograph is not required."
He cites a courier firm which allowed its drivers to work from 13 to 22 hours a day until everyone concerned was heavily fined. Many industry insiders are unaware that where a driver's duty includes a mixture of domestic hours vehicles and HGVs on the same day full tachograph records must be kept. Auchterlonie adds that the rest periods drivers must take are also commonly misunderstood: "The rest breaks must be within the 24hour duty time which begins when the driver reports for duty. lithe vehicle is not at its operating centre and the driver has to pick it up, duty time begins when he leaves home.
"However, if a driver travels to work and then picks up his vehicle, duty time begins when he arrives at the operating centre." Two operators on our course admitted they were not aware of this crucial distinction.
Defect reporting is also misunderstood. "Some operators don't realise that drivers must make a daily report and keep it hanging in the cab even if there's nothing wrong with the vehicle," says Auchterlonie, "And it's no good hanging it in the office."
The crowded agenda included drivers' hours and tachographs; 0-licences; vehicle maintenance; authorities and powers; and a drivers' hours questionnaire.
So what did the operators who attended get out of the course?
Tim Johnson is transport manager at International Forwarding in Coleshill near Coventry."I did my CPC 10 years ago, so I was brushing up on everything I learned then," he says. "The drivers' hours section was particularly useful much of the rest was just common sense. It was a very worthwhile day: it clarified a lot of things.
"Most manufacturers see transport as a necessary evil," says Steve Bird, distribution manager for Consort of Huthwaite. Nottinghamshire, which makes uPVC windows. -But I wanted to make sure 1 was up to speed on what's happening. I'm doing another RHA course next week on working time regulations.
Like Johnson, Bird says the drivers' hours section was the most useful part of the course: "It gave me the confidence that we are doing the right thing it was very informative for people without a background in transport.The trainer was a good communicator.
"We own-account operators have it a bit easier than general haulage," he adds. "We're not always worrying about being undercut!"
Knowledge is power
Claire Hart is a partner in the family haulage firm A AA Light Haulage of Kibworth. Leicestershire, which runs six vehicles. She is preparing to take on more responsibility: "My father Ted is retiring in January so! will be running the firm together with my brother Kevin who is coming off the road," she says, adding that the drivers' hours and tachograph regulations were most important for her.
At the other end of the scale, as operations manager of Midlands Co-operative Society Jim Wilkes is responsible for 500 vehicles. "The course was very good," he says, "I wanted to build up my knowledge base to keep the TC happy.The most useful section was tachographs. It highlighted a number of areas which I have now checked and found, to my great satisfaction, we are doing correctly."
Wilkes took on responsibility for transport less than six months ago and was impressed enough by the course to invite the RHA to run an in-house course for 10 Co-op staffers,including transport supervisors, district managers and transport managers. •