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MT driving hours

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smith2001

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Morning all. Just a quick one regarding driving hours. When posted back to the UK and awaiting my MT (europcar) hire car to take me my new base. I've been told it won't be released until the following day due to driving/being awake hours. Does anyone know of a way to waiver this and get the car earlier? I've been told there is a way but MT here isn't being helpful/don't know

I'm not far away from Brize when I go get the car so I won't be driving for hours and hours.

Thanks in advance.
 
I think they work on total-duty hours - ie from the time you wake up, spend sitting in the terminal, then flying, then queueing for your bags, then transit to the car pick-up point. If they add that time together, and your projected travelling time in the hire car, they get your total-duty hours (or something like that). Anyway, if that total is over something like 10 or 12 hours, they'll stop you taking the car.

A flight from Aki, plus waiting time either end, is usually around 8 hours at least. Sleeping on the flight doesn't count because it's not 'undisturbed rest'. You might be able to cuff it if you're flying from Gib or Germany, but I doubt it - and if you have an accident (even if you're not to blame), they're likely to look at your rest hours / work hours very closely.
 
You get 2 x 13 hour work periods twice a week, which have to be made up by the end of the week. Authority of the MTO or similar. If it exceeds that, there's no waiver.
 
Phone the Europcar depot direct and see if they have any issues about you getting the car when you need it. I picked up a hire car from there (self funded) when I was posted back. Drove to the NW without issue.
 
Isn't it because people were coming back from MPA, then jumping in a hire car to drive to RAF North of England and subsequently falling asleep at the wheel....
 
Europcar wont be the ones hauled over the coals by the courts when someone smashes head on into a concrete barrier because they have fallen asleep at the wheel as they are tired and out of driving hours.

I know its frustrating as I have been in similar situations and the last thing any of us want to do is spend more time at an RAF Unit upon return from an OOA or having spent a day travelling, but there is a huge duty of care issue here.
 
Sniffer said:
Europcar wont be the ones hauled over the coals by the courts when someone smashes head on into a concrete barrier because they have fallen asleep at the wheel as they are tired and out of driving hours.

I know its frustrating as I have been in similar situations and the last thing any of us want to do is spend more time at an RAF Unit upon return from an OOA or having spent a day travelling, but there is a huge duty of care issue here.
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If there was a "huge duty of care issue" the RAF would provide a vehicle with driver !!
 
Nor is there one if you return and jump back in your own wagon in the LT car park, which rather leads one to the question: "who cares about whom....and why?"
 
People leave their cars at airports up and down the country, often driving upon return from places much further afield than Cyprus and with a decent dose of jetlag. I don't see the govt banning these car parks or enforcing rest time.
 
Stevienics said:
Nor is there one if you return and jump back in your own wagon in the LT car park, which rather leads one to the question: "who cares about whom....and why?"
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Just goes to show that the CoC are protecting themselves rather than the individual !!
 
I agree with you all but at the end of the day it's how a judge would view it, not what's right or fair or convenient for us.

Personally I think a driver should be provided but it's easier for them to inconvenience you by making you wait until the next day.

Bottom line is if you drive in your own car or hire for yourself it's your own choice and not something your employer can been seen to condone.



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Regardless of what you think of it, those are the rules. If you don't want to wait the 8 hours then book transport home by other means.
 
Personally I think a driver should be provided but it's easier for them to inconvenience you by making you wait until the next day.
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Civilianisation has rendered this an additional cost, which is a totally unacceptable reason not to provide operationally required transport as and when it is needed within reasonable bounds. I would urge anyone and everyone to submit an in-form whenever you are declined transport for internal reasons. This will not change unless the collective volume is loud enough.

It's a nonsense and is a widespread practice
 
unruly1986 said:
People leave their cars at airports up and down the country, often driving upon return from places much further afield than Cyprus and with a decent dose of jetlag. I don't see the govt banning these car parks or enforcing rest time.
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I don't see the Govt having a duty of care over civilian drivers. However if a service person does a 18 hr flight from MPA, jumps into a hire car / MT and smashes into a car carrying kids to school, where do you think the MOD stands?
 
Perhaps the OP may book the hire car themselves and claim back via JPA.

If he'd done that, the next day would have been a freebie day, as technically he was supposed to be travelling from brize to his new base until that day.

Sometimes it's worth putting a value on your time as time is something that you can never get back.
 
Interesting thought on time not getting back. (plenty of time to reflect in hospital....)

The "policy" was brought in towards the end of Herrick as a lad was killed on his way home from BZN. I agree with the sentiment that "duty of care = covering ones corporate ass" but thats the world we are now in. Anything service provided/publicly funded comes with a catch!

I have always manged to get a colleague or relative to collect me, as there is nothing more fun than a miserable Civvy MT driver for 4+ hours!!!
 
We are talking about a flight back from Cyprus, not a 30hr journey from Afghanistan.

Just get an early night the night before your flight.
 
smith2001 said:
Morning all. Just a quick one regarding driving hours. When posted back to the UK and awaiting my MT (europcar) hire car to take me my new base. I've been told it won't be released until the following day due to driving/being awake hours. Does anyone know of a way to waiver this and get the car earlier? I've been told there is a way but MT here isn't being helpful/don't know

I'm not far away from Brize when I go get the car so I won't be driving for hours and hours.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

If we can just skip back to the OP for a minute - can you clarify why you have to have a hire car and can't get MT? Surely your new unit should provide this, ie an MT with a driver? How would you be expected to make the journey if you didn't have a driving licence?
 
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