h.g.v. driving

**steve bird** · 29-09-2009, 04:47

hello chaps and chapess i know there are a lot of knowledgable members and i hope one or more of you might anserwer this question for me after driveing a hgv at work you reatch your maximum hours for the day you parkup in a safe area but you boss needs the load you have back at the veh depot is it legal for him and you if he sends out 2 drivers one to take charge of the veh you are driveing the other to drive you back to the depot?

**Keith Jones 989** · 29-09-2009, 10:23

Hi Stephen,

Thinking back to our days of travelling by coach to and from bases in Germany it comes to mind that we would usually have two drivers taking turn and turn about so as not to break the law over driver hours. Surely there is no restriction on the amount of time a vehicle may be 'on the road' (assuming it is legally sound etc etc) because the law covers the number of hours a 'driver' may spend behind the wheel and not the number of hours a vehicle is in use. Common sense would dictate that the owner of the vehicle can do what he likes over recovering the load as long as he doesn't ask the driver to exceed his legal hours - which would be breaking the law!

Paul Hinge · 29-09-2009, 11:38

Stephen, as Keith has so correctly stated anyone with a hgv who has available hours and can legally drive the vehicle for the owner can take that vehicle back to the depot or its destination. I'm impressed that your owner was prepared to send someone to bring you back also. Having worked in the industry (sometime ago) we never had that luxury!

Hingey

**jeffdj** · 29-09-2009, 13:07

Hi steve
Im a coach driver not hgv but rules the same one for you to watch for on that one is that your working day did not exceed 15 hours as you know normal days driving 9 hours can be exstended to 10 couple of times per week if its single driver max working day 15 hours if doubled maned 22 hours however doubled man has to be within 1 hour of start of work period if that makes any sense to you basicly, travelling as a passenger in another company vehicle is still classed as working, if he sent a car or van you could drive that back 15 hour working day is the one to watch

**Gwyn Nicholas** · 29-09-2009, 13:08

If I were the transport manager, I would send a HGV driver out to you in a non-HGV vehicle. That way he would not start his time until he climbs on board the HGV and you could continue to drive the non-HGV back to the Depot. I believe he would still have to pay you at the HGV rate for continuing your journey. Only you however, can decide whether or not you are too tired to continue driving any oher vehicle.

**jungle1810** · 29-09-2009, 20:44

Hello,
I have never come across this problem, and I was a long distance (HGV) lorry driver in the Isle of Wight for quite some time.
Regards RBD

**steve bird** · 29-09-2009, 23:28

hi jungle,gwyn,jeffdj,and keith,thank you all for your resonses this little problem is a first to me and i have no intention of breaking any driveing regs the double maned cab i had forgotten about, the 15 hour work could be the thing again thank you all reguards steve bird

**Fortyfive** · 30-09-2009, 21:21

Do you mean Max driving hours or max duty spread over ??? I am a HGV driver. If you mean driving hours they can send a veh with 2 drivers, but if its max duty spread over No Way as thats classed as been on duty by being in a company car, but if they sent a car & you could take it home thats ok

**jeffdj** · 30-09-2009, 23:23

Originally Posted by Fortyfive

Do you mean Max driving hours or max duty spread over ??? I am a HGV driver. If you mean driving hours they can send a veh with 2 drivers, but if its max duty spread over No Way as thats classed as been on duty by being in a company car, but if they sent a car & you could take it home thats ok

selwyn thats what i was pointing out to steve max working day 15 hours

led9750 · 01-10-2009, 16:21

hi ,

i drive a removal wagon { 7 1/2 ton and HGV } , on a taco , Best advise stick someone else's name on the taco and drive it back yourself LOL

The ministry are to lazy to work at night , and as long as you don't have a bump , the chances of being caught are nil .

In an ideal world this would not have to be done , but being a member of the working class and self employed , to make ends meet , some days you just have to chance it .

cheers

led