Burman Plant, the volumetric concrete and plant hire specialists, have ‘embraced with ease’ the recently introduced DfT regulations which now require certain categories of vehicles to fall under HGV Operator licencing regulations.

Since 1st September 2018, as with most volumetric concrete operators (mobile concrete batching plants) Burman Plant are required to comply with EU driver’s hours and working time (WTD) rules.

“It was a bit daunting at first” concedes Director and founder Matt Burman, “but TruTac quickly got us started with the new onboard hardware – which took less time to fit than a radio – and very soon we were able to tick all the right boxes to fall in line with compliance stipulations.”

On 20th May 2018 the Department for Transport (DfT) revised the rules regarding vehicle testing exemptions. Consequently, they say that around 29,500 HGVs including breakdown, road construction and engineering plant vehicles will be subject to the existing operator licencing regime and must therefore comply with the relevant compliance rules.

There is however, a phased implementation between 20th May 2018 and 20th May 2019, depending on the vehicle category.

For Burman Plant, it meant a complete change of approach and several new compliance disciplines – where before there had been virtually none.

“Luckily, this was all packaged up for us by TruTac” continues Matt. “We are using a range of software modules – TruControl; TruView; TruChecks; TruDriver and TruLocation –  which make it easy for drivers and admin’ staff to implement and control. All the data comes straight from the vehicles via remote download to the computer – with no time wasting at the end of each shift. This of course saves time, keeps things accurate and provides us with all the key info we need, including drivers’ hours, infringements and general housekeeping.”

Each element of the system was explained to Burman Plant employees onsite, by a TruTac technician. Furthermore, TruTac created templates based on Burman Plant’s existing work patterns in order that the new software would exactly match their specific operational requirements.

For example, using TruChecks, the mobile app software was based on Burman’s current vehicle daily check sheets, making logging in, walk-round checks and reporting, easier, faster and paperless.

“Knowing that all the info required by law is being properly monitored and recorded” concludes Matt, “gives us great peace of mind. We may have been 12 years without tachographs etc., but already it feels like we are compliance experts!”

The DfT has published the categories to which the rule changes apply:

Mobile cranes
Breakdown vehicles
Motor tractors previously exempt under the Road Traffic Act 1988
Engineering plant and movable plant or equipment, which is a motor vehicle or trailer
Trailers, which are drying or mixing plant, that produce asphalt, bituminous or tarmacadam
Road construction vehicles (excluding road rollers and other specialised equipment not based on an HGV chassis)
Electrically propelled motor vehicles first registered on or after 1 March 2015
Any operator affected can contact TruTac for guidance regarding how to determine whether a duty is domestic or EU and how to manage Working Time Directive rules (including for vehicles not requiring tachographs) and above all, says TruTac, how to stay compliant.

TruTac

About the Author: John Loughran