Best method for keeping VOSA happy

S

Shag

Active member
Joined
Jun 25, 2012
Messages
31
Reaction score
0
Had our usual pull by VOSA today, (seem to target scaffold lorries), now on about boarding the rear of the lorry to stop any thing sliding off. Is this actually law now? i see plenty of lorries without it. Also any ideas on what to use especially when most of our lorries are 20' and therefore 1' of a long un, sticks out.
Winds me up the new things they think of, just to justify the importance of their own jobs.
 
This is a contradiction of their own rules,there is no legal requirement to put a tailgate on as you are allowed a overhang of about a metre,they can however nick you for an unsecured load if your ratchet strap does not bite down on your tube,i think i'm going to weld a hook on either side on the back of the wagons just above the tail lights so I can put a little ratchet strap over the overhang and tighten it up thus securing the overhanging tube,they also class your fittings as unsecured even though the wagons all have quarter sides ffs,and they reckon we should have a cargo net over them and the fives,t*ssers:mad:again I have a solution,build a 18'' frame out scrap boards on end that will form a box that will contain your fittings on one side and your five's on the other,then using u,nails tack one end of a plastic brickguard along one side thus forming a hinge,so a box with a brickguard lid which can be opened when working for ease of use,obviously you'd have to strap it up when in transit,now that brings us to handrails around the deck ffs,anyone would think they had nothing better to do than stop scaffolders from servicing the buildings of this once great country,when they get a hole in their roof we charge them double lol..................
 
Cheers Big Fish, i see your as happy about it as i am.
 
FFS BF, are you not getting any at the mo?:laugh:

We are probably lucky and don't get a lot of grief from vosa about our loads.

Hey BF, when you build your new fandangled scaff body from scrap boards, plastic boards and brick guard, will you get a design done?:laugh:
 
aom said:
FFS BF, are you not getting any at the mo?:laugh:

We are probably lucky and don't get a lot of grief from vosa about our loads.

Hey BF, when you build your new fandangled scaff body from scrap boards, plastic boards and brick guard, will you get a design done?:laugh:
Click to expand...

I'm going to patent the idea Alistair lol,i wont do anything until prompted by a nicking,the poor old wagons will have that many straps on them they'll look like their on the way to a sado masochist party haha,hope the keywords don't pick up on that last comment or I definitely wont be getting any:eek:
 
BF you could just buy a Big box lorry and pull the shutters down at the back when your driving , that would keep the nosy bas tartds from looking
 
I was told dy traffic police when I got done to get a roll of netting and lay it over tubes on back of lorry then put ratchet strap over netting to fill any gaps between tubes and straps,he recons that's ok
 
If we consider Newtons laws of motion - when you break the equipment wants to move forward so I guess the cab prevents that.

When you accelerate it wants to go backwards - so as long as you prevent your fully laden scaffold wagon from accelerating at 0-60 in less than 2.3 seconds I reckon you'll be alright.
 
philliosmaximus said:
BF you could just buy a Big box lorry and pull the shutters down at the back when your driving , that would keep the nosy bas tartds from looking
Click to expand...

I toyed with the idea of getting a horsebox & building a rack inside of it cos everdently they dont need tacho certsb& can go into the lez without charge lolo:D
 
IDH said:
If we consider Newtons laws of motion - when you break the equipment wants to move forward so I guess the cab prevents that.

When you accelerate it wants to go backwards - so as long as you prevent your fully laden scaffold wagon from accelerating at 0-60 in less than 2.3 seconds I reckon you'll be alright.
Click to expand...

I know this was never your intended point IDH, but the cab would stop nothing. Men have lost their life because the gaffer was too miserable to make sure the trucks have a proper headboard or baulk head.
 
southernpoofter said:
I toyed with the idea of getting a horsebox & building a rack inside of it cos everdently they dont need tacho certsb& can go into the lez without charge lolo:D
Click to expand...

You could go the whole way and wear the front end of a pantomime horse while driving it:laugh::laugh:
 
Solved it - you should drive everywhere in reverse and disconnect the breaks.

Good point Aom about headboards - but I for one would love to see a wagon pull away and dump its load in a cloud of tyre smoke!
 
IDH said:
Solved it - you should drive everywhere in reverse and disconnect the breaks.

Good point Aom about headboards - but I for one would love to see a wagon pull away and dump its load in a cloud of tyre smoke!
Click to expand...

Sounds Good :cool:

Vosa or the police cannot Do Zap if you have a safe , Secure Load on your maintained and insured wagon. Just make sure its safe and secure .
 
You try and prove your load is secure when old bill say different .i was once told there was a track where you can tAke lorry and drive it for some time to see if any thing falls of at our cost.has any one else heard of this place
D
 
I have seen a housing insulation company which employs scaffs and they operate 7.5 ton curtain sides. They are newish wagons but unmarked. Only give away is that they are dragging themselves along they are that overloaded.
 
The only problem with keeping a well maintened lorry is the fact that you are relying on the drivers to record any failings, which is a problem in itself as they cannot be bothered to do it, especially if they have caused the particular failing or damage. We are now making them do a checklist every night, which will identify any problems and hopefully ensure the lorries are looked after better.
I know one thing for certain, if i went into smuggling i wouldnt use a scaffold lorry, definite pull.
 
dont do this

Traffic Commissioner revokes Lichfield scaffolding firm's licence - Transport engineer article.

Mark McDermott, who traded as Four Oaks Scaffolding, was called to a public inquiry, when his business was reported for unsatisfactory vehicle maintenance standards.

An examiner from VOSA (the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) told West Midlands Traffic Commissioner Nick Jones that McDermott did not have any procedures in place to keep his vehicles maintained and in a roadworthy condition.

The regulator heard he was unable to produce routine safety inspection records and the examiner also reported that vehicles had been issued with prohibitions, including for defective brakes and loose wheel nuts.

At the hearing, the operator produced evidence to show that he had addressed some of the problems. However, he failed to submit satisfactory financial evidence.

As a result, the Traffic Commissioner made an order to revoke the authority from 23:59 on 05 April 2013.

"I also expect him to both pay for and attend a specialist operator licence awareness course, and additionally, to attend any new operator licence awareness course offered by VOSA," said Jones.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom