Thing is, I don't have a problem with the extra cost being passed on and you would fine more lorries running over night where they could.

Companies like the one i work for operate 24/7 let me explain to you some things:

customer rings to get a parcel collected, driver collects it in the afternoon and on the return to the depot after 6pm in the evening his vehicle is unloaded and parcels are sorted out to scotish and uk freight. scotish freight has to leave the depot by 8pm to make the scottish sortation at 10.30pm. the rest of the freight is loaded onto other trailers and sent to the hub around 9pm. the journey takes about 1.5-2 hours to the hub in birmingham where the vehicles are unloaded and the freight is sorted out to and put on to the vehicles that the depot is from that covers the area the parcel is going to.

2am the first set of vehicles will leave for their depots, ours will arrive back from 4am onwards and we will get quite a few trailers coming in now till about 6am. when they arrive at their depots they are sorted out and loaded onto 7.5t and vans for the areas each vehcile will now cover during the course of the day. the day drivers come in at 7am and start leavinbg by 7.30am to go into their delivery areas, this can take up to an hour depending on the round distance from the depot and then thats where the driver will then be for the day.

This is how your before 9am parcel gets from scotland to cornwall overnite, so your idea of getting them to move at night is a joke.

Scotish trailers have to leave scotland at about 3pm and their inbound returns to them at 8am giving them an hour in rush hour to get before 9am deliveries done too.

Also you will find many supermarkets racing (at 56mph max on cruise control) up and down the motorway at night moving food and other consumables to your supermarket. to stock up with what they can. some supermarkets cannot take night deliveries so this has to be done in the day, along with top ups to the supermarkets.

A lot of companies dont run 44t trailers but the next size down as this is cheaper to run on tax, insurance etc, but this also means more trailers are running. we subbie out 44t work to a local firm and have all our trailers running on the reduced Tonneage so we pay less on road tax etc. going over this limit is extremely naughty and can attract huge fines from VOSA not just for the driver but also for the O licence holder i.e. the company.

But they can only do 9 hour days?

. If they can't maintain that speed or are cruising at 40 then they shouldn't be on the motorway just as a 50cc bike shouldn't be.

Lorries above 7.5t have a 60mph limit on motorway, 50mph on dual carraigeways and 40 on single roads.

3.5t - 7.5t 70 on motorways, 60 on duals and 50 on singles.

panel vans have a 50mph limit on dual carriageways, not many know that.

However thanks to the EU lorries are getting slower and slower and of no fault of themselves, we dont want to be restricted to 56mph we rather it be rounded up to 60mph.

Driving regs say we are not allowed to drive more than 90 hours in a two week period, 9 hours aday which can be increased to 10 hours twice a week. We also have to have a 45 minute break after 4.5 hours of driving (driving not other work), but need to take 30 mins within 6 hours of clocking on (under the working time directive). we also can only take our break as either of the following: one 45 minute break or a 15 min followed by 30 minute but not the other way round.

... Yes we pay more for goods as the costs are passed on, but then we spend less time stuck in traffic and so have to spend less of our day making up lost time at work...

Personally I couldn't agree less with that comment and I should imagine many people wouldn't agree with goods increasing in price so they could 'potentially' save 5-10 minutes on their commute everyday. How much longer would you then have to work everyday to recover the extra money needed for the rise in prices? If you're being held up by slow lorries then leave earlier to counteract it or take it on the chin that you are going get home a bit later than you'd like.

I've been watching this thread with interest and I could see the appeal of the no overtaking ban. After spending nearly all my summer holidays sat up in my Dad's cab driving all over the UK I'm firmly in the truckers' camp on this. If you think you get annoyed getting stuck behind a truck for a couple of minutes then you should really try getting 19/20ths past a slower truck only for them to pick up speed, edge back past you at a geological pace leaving you high and dry for the next 3-4 minutes knowing full well at the next hill it's all going to happen again. And then repeat that senario multiple times in the knowledge that you've got to do it in a tight time frame or you're going to be stuck miles from home otherwise the "spy-in-the-cab" will provide irrefutable evidence at your court apperance. Not to mention some of the moves Grade A c*ck car drivers pull.

My Dad's a calm man but I learnt some choice words and phrases sat in that cab that I was sworn never to repeat in front of my Mum

Edited 16 September, 200817 yr by mattandy

2 trucks leave point A for a nominal 4hour 20min, 240 miles driving period.

Truck F travels at 56mph, and Truck S at 55mph. Presuming neither of them is held up, and they both maintain speed for the full period, how much sooner does Truck F arrive?

About 5 minutes!

55mph is one of the most economic speeds for your car, .

No its just a more economical tested speed for the brochure. Each car will have an entirely different most economical speed, and 56 mph wont be it

2 trucks leave point A for a nominal 4hour 20min, 240 miles driving period.

Truck F travels at 56mph, and Truck S at 55mph. Presuming neither of them is held up, and they both maintain speed for the full period, how much sooner does Truck F arrive?

About 5 minutes!

Quite, but then in the real world the truck that travels at 55mph is fully freighted to 44T, but the one traveling at 56mph is returning empty (so 15 - 18T) this done in the UK, but using Germany's 'wonderful' overtaking ban.

So the 44T truck cannot maintain anywhere near full speed up the hills, (this will be more likely to be 30 - 40 mph on the big hills) the empty truck is now stuck behind the 44T truck, along with an ever growing convoy of trucks that are banned from overtaking, making it near impossible for cars to get into lane 1 so they can get on and off the motorway.

So the car driver can overtake them all on the way to work, great, but he can't get into lane 1 to get off the motorway, so now has to go to the next exit and turn round costing him another 15 mins, result? NO.

Can you spot a flaw with the overtaking ban yet?

The trip in the truck will also take longer as everything will move at the slowest trucks speed, which means that the trucks are on the road longer making even more congestion not less.

Some of you guys are lucky, our trucks are limited to 50mph, when you got an 80mile trip to your delivery area, to start work it's not good.

As for overtaking, just cant be done.

As has already been said, it would be good if car drivers had the oppertunity to have a go in a C+E with split shift box, on an open space (not on the road).

We have a family day ever now and again at work, when family members can try driving the trucks, always good fun.

Car drivers just need to know what its like, Always makes me smile when a car driver says that they dont want a particular make of car because its to big, to drive.

Quite, but then in the real world the truck that travels at 55mph is fully freighted to 44T, but the one traveling at 56mph is returning empty (so 15 - 18T) this done in the UK, but using Germany's 'wonderful' overtaking ban.

The trip in the truck will also take longer as everything will move at the slowest trucks speed, which means that the trucks are on the road longer making even more congestion not less.

You're putting a lot of words into my mouth that contradict the earlier parts of this thread. My actual assumptions are flatish road and/or both trucks are part freighted, and one has just had new tyres, when the other's been regroved and needs new ones soonish.

So I can't get off the motorway because of "how close together the trucks are"? To me that means that you're confessing to tailgating!

Some of you guys are lucky, our trucks are limited to 50mph, when you got an 80mile trip to your delivery area, to start work it's not good.

As for overtaking, just cant be done.

As has already been said, it would be good if car drivers had the oppertunity to have a go in a C+E with split shift box, on an open space (not on the road).

We have a family day ever now and again at work, when family members can try driving the trucks, always good fun.

Car drivers just need to know what its like, Always makes me smile when a car driver says that they dont want a particular make of car because its to big, to drive.

I'd be up for that. I've already had a decker out on the public road, as a test for a bus driving job (passed driving assessment, failed medical).

Lots of people saying there should be limits on overtakes during peak times, areas, and no overtaking on bank holidays [because the good lord said so?] - however, will those same people be the ones bursting at the seems to write off to the Daily Mail when they have to wait another hour or two for their pie to be delivered to the supermarket because the lorry was late in a 'down with this sort of thing' way?

I bet those same people will be even more of a tis when their pie has gone up by 30p because the lorries are taxed even more so the supermarkets put the pie's price up.

I drive a lot, and on big roads, too. I see lots of trucks. I like trucks, so that makes me happy. They do overtake each other [even on a Sunday, when not even John Lewis will open] and I may lose minutes of my precious time. However, given the amount of time you've spent reading this thread from start to here, or indeed have spent on Briskoda forums today/week/life, it really isn't great deal to get in a fluster. There's an awful lot of things you can re-adjust in life to spend 'more time with the kids' than get lorrys to sit inline.

i still reckon those who dont understand lorries should find a lorry driver to go out with for the day and experience it from above. if not go hire out a 7.5t and take it for a drive in rush hour along a dual carriageway, a motorway and then through a busy congested town. Watch as drivers will drive up the pavement to try and squeeze past you thinking it be quicker to do that than sit behind you in the same jam. Perhaps then you will see the stress, the dangers and all the other things we have to put up with. it will also show you what sort of weight you are pulling and stopping and how much space you really need to stop one of these vehicles (which in future would stop you pulling out on lorries like you currently do).

So come on then the challenge is here for anyone who wants to moan about lorries, i give you the challenge to spend a day in one and then come back here and tell us what you then think.

You're putting a lot of words into my mouth that contradict the earlier parts of this thread. My actual assumptions are flatish road and/or both trucks are part freighted, and one has just had new tyres, when the other's been regroved and needs new ones soonish.

Nowhere in your reply did it say it was a flattish road, or they were carrying the same weight, what i put forward was the real word situation not a load of hypothetical assumptions.

2 trucks leave point A for a nominal 4hour 20min, 240 miles driving period.

Truck F travels at 56mph, and Truck S at 55mph. Presuming neither of them is held up, and they both maintain speed for the full period, how much sooner does Truck F arrive?

About 5 minutes!

Another thing to consider is it may only be 5 mins, but that would mean the truck would be over 10 mins behind at the end of a 9hr driving period, that can and does make the difference of getting there legally or having to go over your driving hours to get back.

You could of course go into a 10 hour driving day, but in order to do that you have to take another 45 mins break, so now because you traveled 1mph slower all day the trip takes an extra hour to complete (10 mins driving plus 45 mins break*)

So I can't get off the motorway because of "how close together the trucks are"? To me that means that you're confessing to tailgating!

What do you expect its a traffic jam (moving slowly) thats what happens, be it cars vans or trucks involved.

*i know it is actually 55 mins but to be 100% sure that 45 mins is recorded onto a tacho this needs to be a minimum of a 47 mins break.

get a cooking timer ideal for driving time and breaks.

Timing the break is not the problem, if you start a break at say 12:00:1s the tacho reads 12:01 (gone into the next min), you now finish said break and start driving at 12:45:59s, the tacho will record movement from 12:45.

So although you have actually taken a 45min 59 sec break the tacho will only show a 44min break!

This is why most people take between 50 - 60mins break (if you are stopped an hrs pay for your break, it makes even more sense)

C

3.5t - 7.5t 70 on motorways, 60 on duals and 50 on singles.

I used to drive LWB transits, sprinters and the like and Minibuses for a charity, so yes I know your limits are generally lower.

I still think that something needs to give.

.....

No I detest the daily mail. I can cope with my veg turning up a bit later and I'd rather use local smaller shops anyway. Farms stores are great.

i still reckon those who dont understand lorries should find a lorry driver to go out with for the day and experience it from above. if not go hire out a 7.5t and take it for a drive in rush hour along a dual carriageway, a motorway and then through a busy congested town. Watch as drivers will drive up the pavement to try and squeeze past you thinking it be quicker to do that than sit behind you in the same jam. Perhaps then you will see the stress, the dangers and all the other things we have to put up with. it will also show you what sort of weight you are pulling and stopping and how much space you really need to stop one of these vehicles (which in future would stop you pulling out on lorries like you currently do).

So come on then the challenge is here for anyone who wants to moan about lorries, i give you the challenge to spend a day in one and then come back here and tell us what you then think.

If I have a day off work I have no problem. I've spent plenty of time in fully loaded coaches going across Europe so I have at least some idea if not quite 44Tonne worth.

Timing the break is not the problem, if you start a break at say 12:00:1s the tacho reads 12:01 (gone into the next min), you now finish said break and start driving at 12:45:59s, the tacho will record movement from 12:45.

So although you have actually taken a 45min 59 sec break the tacho will only show a 44min break!

This is why most people take between 50 - 60mins break (if you are stopped an hrs pay for your break, it makes even more sense)

So how come tipper men are reporting that some of them are losing a trip a day (say 10 down to 9) when using a vehicle with a digitach? (due to rounding on of seconds.) If your figures are correct and on analogue, that shouldn't be an issue!

You are allowed to do 'off road' driving (quarry's etc) that does not get included in to the drivers hours, with an analogue tacho that is by writing on the rear of the tacho, not sure on the digital ones as it does not affect the driving i do so i haven't looked into it.

One thing it may be is it is pretty standard practice is to load the truck first thing in the morning (or last thing at night) without a disc inserted in the tacho head. This cant be done with a digital tacho as any movement in the vehicle without a card inserted gets recorded on the next card that is inserted!

It could even be as simple that they were underestimating their hrs as i described earlier?

I wouldnt mind riding in a lorry for a day.

Ken - Tipper drivers moan about everything. They are also the worst drivers.

The digital tacho is a PITA to be honest. You would think with the technology involved it would at least be able to time your driving to the second. If you are in traffic, stop start, everytime you start moving it adds a minute to your driving time. This further reduces your driving time when caught up in traffic. :thumbdwn:

I said on page one I think that all you lorry haters should spend a day in a truck and see what its like out here in the real world. Most of you drive an office chair - I can just tell

Its not just other motorists that want to hate us, at VOSA checkpoints you can not only find members of the DOT in white coats carrying "toffee" hammers, but the CSA, TV licensing, DWP, Police - they all want a chat with you. Not happy just checking the truck is road worthy ( which I dont have an issue with) they want nearly every Govt agency to interview you too. Do you know how long that takes? Can you believe they want to make sure you have a TV license for the small tv most truckers have?

Then they go through your tacho with a fine tooth comb. So - some uneducated/misinformed/brainwashed people on a car forum quite frankly is the least of my worries.

You carry on oblivious to the real world in your office chairs, and I'll carry on keeping the country running - despite the obstacles in my way - despite the haters, and despite the fact you all cried during the fuel shortage and trucker blockades when you couldnt get to work or have your cornflakes while you read the Daily Mail.

I'll carry on along with the thousands of other hard working ( not including tipper drivers, or container drivers ) truck drivers in the country keeping the UK in business, and keeping food on YOUR table. Next time you go for a dump - think how did this bog roll get here. While you are sat in your house, wonder how the chair got there, the wood to make the chair got to the furniture factory. In fact, how have you got a ****ing house round you?

TRUCKS got it all there!

If I hold someone up for a minute while I overtake someone - tough ****. I have a speed limiter. You have an accelerator. Its like these morons who sit side by side with me while they try and join a motorway. They sit there looking up waiting for me to swerve all over the road to let them onto a road they are supposed to give way to.... and if I do move, they always undertake me and leave me in the middle lane looking a **** anyway.

Dont get me started on the trials and tribulations of being in charge of potentially a 44 ton truck all day everyday!

And you say tipper drivers can whinge

Its not just other motorists that want to hate us, at VOSA checkpoints you can not only find members of the DOT in white coats carrying "toffee" hammers, but the CSA, TV licensing, DWP, Police - they all want a chat with you. Not happy just checking the truck is road worthy ( which I dont have an issue with) they want nearly every Govt agency to interview you too. Do you know how long that takes? Can you believe they want to make sure you have a TV license for the small tv most truckers have?

Then they go through your tacho with a fine tooth comb. So - some uneducated/misinformed/brainwashed people on a car forum quite frankly is the least of my worries.

Have you not had the lovely guy from HM C&E stick his pipe into your fuel tank to take a sample of diesel to see what hue it is? for some reason they never seem to put it back, i reckon as the fuel prices are so high he pours it into his own tank later and saves him filling his own up later

Shifty, the only reason I'm not reporting post #95 as abusive is that I think the moderators would regard a complaint about being called a Daily Snail reader as frivolous!

Quite a few things have been said, I don't object to truckers trying to get on with their jobs, if the middle lane hoggers ( not such a problem in Scotland) would learn the rules it would be a lot better.

Also if people read the highway code on how to enter a motorway things would also flow better.

all along the M25 last night the wombles are in the inside doing 50mph forcing trucks to overtake, everyone else in lanes 3 and 4 panic breaking. lane 2 is empty apart from the trucks overtaking the wombles, but everywhere else you got the idiot in the middle making a 4 or 5 lane motorway effectively a 2 to 3 lane motorway, why dont these wombles flash these people over and educate them?