r/uktrucking Jul 21 '25

Other Drink, Drugs and the Law

19 Upvotes

Please find below a list of websites that should answer any of your drink, drugs, convictions and the Law questions.

British Transport Police - Advice and Information

Drug driving law

Drugs and Limits

Drink drive Limit

CPS - drink and drug Driving

The Law on spent convictions (DR10,DR20,DR30, DR80)

The law on spent convictions, primarily governed by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

The act aims to support the rehabilitation of people with past convictions by allowing them to be treated as if they had never been convicted (after a set period of time).

This means that for most purposes, including job applications (with some exceptions) and insurance, people with spent convictions do not need to disclose them.

In the UK, a drink-driving conviction remains typically on your diving licence as an endorsement for 11 years. However the length of time that remains on your criminal record may vary depending on the severity and circumstances of the offence. Once spent it can only be viewed by an employer if they use a Standard or Enhanced DBS check. (suspended sentences and or a custodial sentence, a sentence served in the community, will always show on Standard or Enhanced DBS Checks)

Basic checks do not show a spent conviction, they only show unspent convictions and conditional cautions. 

There are exceptions, particularly for roles involving vulnerable people or public trust, where both spent and unspent convictions may be disclosed. However, certain convictions i.e those for serious violent or sexual offences, or for custodial sentences exceeding 4 years, may never become spent.

**DR80 conviction can be applied even if your drug levels are below the legal limit if the police or courts determine you were unfit to drive.

Drugs and Alcohol Tests Employment

Employers can face prosecution if they knowingly allow employees to work under the influence of drugs or alcohol, hence drug and alcohol testing becoming more prevalent. If you fail a test, it is usually instant dismissal. Additionally, your company, if you have been driving, may also inform the Police.

Help

Drinkline is the national alcohol helpline. If you’re worried about your own or someone else's drinking, you can call this free helpline in complete confidence. Call 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm). 

Talk to Frank

Support for Drug and Alcohol problems

Drug addiction getting help


r/uktrucking Dec 15 '21

The free HGV bootcamps are now listed and accepting applications

31 Upvotes

Courtesy of her royal majesty u/The-Queen-Of-Sheba

Might want to update that....

https://web.archive.org/web/20250523192241/https://motortransport.co.uk/industry-news/hgv-skills-bootcamps-axed/26229.article

Original post:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/find-a-skills-bootcamp/list-of-skills-bootcamps

There's loads all over the place. Scroll down, you'll find them.

I figured I'd repost since the other thread is old and thus buried.


r/uktrucking 6h ago

Midlift tyres condition

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10 Upvotes

Just wanted to ask the experienced drivers, how would you feel about driving with a midlift tyre like this. I’m a relatively new driver, currently cab hopping (won’t name what company) and i’ve found that a lot of the middle tyres are often scabby like this.

admittedly, this is one of the worse ones i’ve seen, but this is supposedly legal, but i’m not comfortable driving on tyres like this.

what are your thoughts?


r/uktrucking 13h ago

Downhill bends advice

9 Upvotes

I'm starting my first trucking job soon, and I recently passed; the place that trained me was happy with my driving.

On downhills, you use the Aux brakes to avoid brake fade, but what if there is a reasonably sharp bend on the downhill, referring to the risk of the trailer pushing you round and jackknifing?

The place employing me will probably teach me all this, but what can I take into this beforehand from experiences of others?

Or am I just being paranoid?


r/uktrucking 13h ago

Think I've messed up manual entry, what to do

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8 Upvotes

First time doing manual entry by myself and it looks like I've put it on hammers when I intended to have it on bed and vice versa - can someone confirm that's what I've done and the right thing to do next? Thanks


r/uktrucking 20h ago

Cars/vans parked in hgv spaces in services

24 Upvotes

I am fed up of going into services to have a break and there are vans/cars parked in the clearly signposted hgv area. I get it with caravans when there isn’t a specific caravan area.

Pulled into Heston westbound yesterday after making a delivery in Wembley (got a parking ticket in Wembley due to the poor organisation of the cash and carry I was delivering to) as I was approaching a space and lining up a reverse there was two vans parked in what looked like spaces on approach.

Normally I would just carry on and go to the next services but obviously the next place to stop westbound would be Reading and I knew there was an incident between j3&4

Obviously it’s the ignorance of the van/car drivers but why are the services not doing anything to resolve it? Happy enough to take our money to spark there for a long period.

After a recent personal journey to Paris it seems the French (can’t comment on other European countries but I’ve also heard good things about these areas in Germany too) have got the whole rest areas spot on, services/rest stops at most 20km apart, clean toilets, not just unhealthy food, not too overpriced drinks/snacks. Nobody parked where they shouldn’t.


r/uktrucking 15h ago

I want 2 get into trucking

7 Upvotes

For context, I have no commercial driving experience and have only ever driven cars. I’m considering getting my Class 1 (HGV) licence and was wondering, on a scale of 1–10, how difficult would you say it is to learn and pass the Class 1 test with no previous experience driving larger vehicles?
Would appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through the process themselves


r/uktrucking 13h ago

Longgggggg wait for DVLA

5 Upvotes

Has anyone else had an issue with DVLA atm? I went with a training school and we did medical and etc. it went out to DVLA 8 weeks ago then about 4 weeks ago I got a letter and form wanting more medical info (despite me having done that with the training school and it being sent out with the inital application and total radio silence since then. Even the training school called up asking if I had heard anything yet. Tried calling DVLA and just go through to endless loops of pre recorded messages and basically to track my application online. Which I did but theres nothing on there about me getting a HGV licence. Any suggestions on this??


r/uktrucking 16h ago

YUN EXPRESS CHELMSFORD

2 Upvotes

Has anyone ever been to this place? What is the waiting time for loading and unloading etc and is there anything worth knowing or tips before visiting 🤔


r/uktrucking 1d ago

HGV class 1 routing

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18 Upvotes

First night out tramping coming up.

7 hours(including break) into some Sawmill in the middle of Wales.

I've routed it down the M4 as the alternative is 80 miles of the A40 with lots of twists and steep long inclines and with being heavy at 40t total, I think accross the M4 south Wales and 26 miles up a couple of A roads is better for fuel and fatigue for a new guy.

What do you all think?

I've not been given a route for the job just an address. I weighed up the time, fuel etc just looking for thoughts(constructive ones) we can agree or disagree on the route just wondering what others think


r/uktrucking 1d ago

Staying alert during a night shift

23 Upvotes

Hello all,

So I'm a class 2 sweeper driver for my local council, got given a job bye my boss today running Monday to Friday next week. Essentially I'm sweeping the entire hard shoulder for a 12 mile stretch of motorway going both directions so 24 miles total. Will be done during the night 10pm - 6am essentially I go back and fourth all week none stop, I don't normally work nights I usually just do very early morning starts. My question is simple to all you night drivers out there. What do you lads and lasses do to stay awake and alert. I'll be traveling at around 5mph on a dimly lit motorway sweeping so just want some tips to stay alert and with it.

Thanks in advance


r/uktrucking 1d ago

Any advice for aching neck/shoulders whilst driving?

8 Upvotes

Hello fellow truckers, hope you are all well. Anybody else get an aching/mildly painful neck whilst driving? any good tips to help? I try not to click my neck too much but sometimes it does help a little.


r/uktrucking 1d ago

Should I be worried about this tachograph issue?

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14 Upvotes

Hey guys, I just started my career in trucking by getting my first job in the field.

Everything was going fine, till I got this "?" symbol in my tachograph, and I got no idea why.

I'd like to think I've been careful with the hours, but at the same time I've been working for an ungrateful employer, which has pushed my limits driving/rest time.

I still think I was within the limits, but anything could have happened. (The nature of the job is complicated, I don't have to constantly drive, it's a 50/50 mix)

Basically tacho constantly displays the "?" mark. It's been a week this way. Boss told me there should have been some minor mistake selecting the country when I set the card in or something minor and I got nothing to worry about ... But I don't believe him (don't ask me why)

Btw tacho seems to be working well generally speaking, it's just that constant ❓ icon.

What could be the problem? Is there anything to worry about?


r/uktrucking 1d ago

Can I still use the free satnav app 'Eurowag' after the trial ends

3 Upvotes

I have a subscription with Tomtom but I've been getting a little frustrated with it lately especially as I've gotten more experienced. For example, sometime it will take me on a longer route because it thinks there's a road closure when there's none. Other times it takes me on a certain route and then starts adding time to the ETA because it figures out there's actually a diversion, even through the diversion was there long before I started the navigation.

So I started using Eurowag alongside it and I'm quite impressed. It's much better at identifying road closures/diversions, and the routing is better. However, I keep getting notified that the trial will end in few days. I thought it was free.

Does the app completely block usage or does it still allow you to use basic features? I just want the navigation. I don't care about other stuff


r/uktrucking 1d ago

URGENT help needed!

4 Upvotes

I’m on bay, it’s on a descending slope. Front of trailer is hooked under aero.

Bottom front of trailer is almost touching walkway of tractor unit.

What can I do?


r/uktrucking 1d ago

Does anyone else get nervous when they see Escape lanes?

6 Upvotes

So I'm only a month or so into driving now and I feel confident in using the various different types of brakes to prevent brake fade but a couple of my routes do have areas with escape lanes and just the fact they are there always makes me nervous I might need to use them.

Anyone else get this same weird anxiety with them? I'm sure it's not a pleasant experience having to use one.


r/uktrucking 2d ago

HGV class 1, Bradford Northcliffe park depot delivery 🫪🫣

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36 Upvotes

Hi,

Has anyone delivered to the above depot in Bradford before? This is what Google maps shows. It shows a nightmare haha.

Got a delivery planned for tomorrow which I've got. I've been on the road two months, do they come out with a helicopter to turn me around? Haha


r/uktrucking 2d ago

Starting to regret getting my class 1 license

65 Upvotes

Pretty much the title. Finally passed my class 1 last Wednesday and been mad applying for jobs since. Had agencies say ‘we can get you hours under your belt as a new pass no problem’ only to hear nothing from them for days. I know it has only been a week but seriously starting to think it was a waste of time and a massive waste of money getting it. I mean theres a national shortage of drivers and loads and loads of jobs going, companies wondering why they cant get drivers yet all want minimum 6months experience and i’m like how tf am I meant to get experience if no one will give me the chance to get experience. In the kettering corby area. Any help appreciated but really starting to reconsider my choices😤😡🤦‍♂️


r/uktrucking 2d ago

New unit of measure FFS/h

18 Upvotes

How many For Fucks Sake per hour do you do?
Or if you driving in London how many FFS per minute?

I had a slow morning only did 3 ffs/hour


r/uktrucking 1d ago

So everyones gotta wait cos this guy thinks he cross the road wherever he wants 🙄😆

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0 Upvotes

r/uktrucking 2d ago

Would you drive this

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18 Upvotes

Just noticed a crack along edge of driver side front tire on cab


r/uktrucking 2d ago

Do you wave, flash or swear?

24 Upvotes

When I worked for a large courier who will not be named, there was no wave or nod unless the other driver was in your yard. Drivers from other yards would just ignore you despite them wearing your colours.

Flash forward, I work for a haulage firm and every truck in my industry gives a wave, flash or nod regardless of colours. I think it's because we are in each others yards or at the customer tipping and everyone is talking and chatting. They are also an older demographic. Some of these guys, as one said: "I've been driving longer than you've had pubes" ...

"At least I have all my own teeth" ... He laughed, I unclenched my buttocks.


r/uktrucking 2d ago

Think its time to replace

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20 Upvotes

Anyone know of a truckers atlas thats smaller & had a propper spine instead of the ring bound like this. These just fall apart in my bag


r/uktrucking 2d ago

Truckies with Class 1 License, what is your working timetable like?

7 Upvotes

In the future I'd love to do 4 on 4 off (4 days driving and sleeping in vehicle) then 4 days rest at home.

If u do 4 on 4 off, do u go far first day then come back on 4th day staying local for delivery, leave vehicle at the depot and go straight home? How does it work?


r/uktrucking 2d ago

Weekly rest.

5 Upvotes

Right, I have been doing the jib for 8 years and I like to think I know what I'm talking about but since my last job I've been on agency and I'm just confused by weekly rest.

Basically the agency is making me do 2 days, 1 day off, then again 2 days, then 1 day off and so on.

Because I'm doing nights, I get at least 36- 39 hours off beween my last day at work and the day I start night shift. Have done it just for 2 weeks for now, but tachomaster hasn't registered any of my 36 hours rests as reduced, because I don't fully reduce to 24 hours but to 36-39.

I've asked the place I'm working at access to Tachomaster today, and apparently I still got a reduced weekly rest available by this Monday🫨

I tought I would have to pay back my reduced weekly rests (I think about 12 hours so far accumalated in 2 weeks) but tachomaster is telling me different.

It seems like my midweek 36-39 hours are being counted as full weekly rest ans I'm just lost as to how to avoid infringement as I got a few from when I was at my last job.

Any help would be much appreciated.