Susie Jones
Nyheder og opdateringer • 3 min læsning

Fem myter om lastbilkørsel aflivet

Oprettet: 19.08.2024

Opdateret: 19.08.2024

Lastbilkørsel har været rygraden i den globale handel i århundreder - med levering af varer og fornødenheder over hele verden. Men på trods af sin vigtige rolle har lastbilkørsel længe været omgærdet af myter og misforståelser.

Selv om nogle af disse myter tages med et gran salt, kan nogle skade lastbilindustrien og dem, der arbejder i den. Derfor er det vigtigt at aflive disse misforståelser for at sikre, at lastbilkørsel forbliver et attraktivt karrierevalg for fremtidige generationer. Vi spurgte vores fællesskab af chauffører på Facebook om nogle af de største myter, de har hørt i løbet af deres karriere.

1. Lastbilchauffører sidder ned hele dagen

"Alt, hvad lastbilchauffører gør, er at sidde ned hele dagen." En sætning, der ofte høres af lastbilchaufføren Luke.

Lastbilverdenen er mere end bare at køre. Lastbilchauffører arbejder ofte sammen med andre på terminaler, kajer og lagre for at af- og pålæsse gods. Bag rattet er det heller ikke altid lige let. Lastbilchauffører skal koncentrere sig om at manøvrere deres køretøjer og skal overholde strenge regler for fartskrivere. Det er vigtigt at have et godt kendskab til, hvilke områder de må og ikke må køre i, og at være opmærksom på potentielle farer.

2. Alle lastbilchauffører er mænd

Det er en forældet stereotyp, som ikke afspejler den moderne virkelighed i lastbilbranchen. På det seneste er der sket et markant skift i forholdet mellem mandlige og kvindelige lastbilchauffører. I 2021 udgjorde kvindelige chauffører kun [1 %] (https://britishtrucking.co.uk/female-truckers-in-the-uk-percentages-in-the-haulage-industry-2021/#:~:text=There%20are%20currently%20315%2C000%20registered,job%20than%20their%20male%20counterparts.) af de 315.000 lastbilchauffører i Storbritannien. Dette tal stiger dog år for år i takt med, at branchen udvikler sig og bliver mere rummelig. Chauffører som Jodi Smith er uvurderlige fortalere for kvinder i branchen. Jodi dokumenterer sine erfaringer med lastbilkørsel online og inspirerer andre til at sætte sig bag rattet.

3. Alle kan køre lastbil

Mange antager, at hvis de kan køre bil, så kan de også køre lastbil. Men lastbilkørsel kræver unikke færdigheder, som måske ikke passer til alle. At køre lastbil kræver et chaufføruddannelsesbevis (CPC). For at få et CPC skal chauffører gennemgå fem tests:

  • Teori

  • Casestudie

  • Off-road øvelser

  • Kørsel på vej

  • Praktiske demonstrationer

Derudover kræver lastbilkørsel en livsstil, der ikke er for alle - med lange isolerede timer på vejen, der ofte giver uventede udfordringer.

4. Bremselængde

"Bilister tror, at bremselængden for en lastbil er den samme som for en bil" er noget, som lastbilchaufføren Paul har hørt alt for mange gange.

Bremselængden for en lastbil er markant anderledes end for en bil på grund af flere faktorer: - Vægt: Den samlede vægt af en lastet lastbil vejer mere end en typisk bil, hvilket betyder, at den skal bruge mere kraft til at bremse og standse.

  • Mekanik: En lastbils bremsesystem er skræddersyet til tunge laster, hvilket betyder, at de har større og mere robuste aksler og bremsekomponenter - hvilket resulterer i længere reaktionstider og større bremselængder.

Ved 100 km/t skal en lastbil bruge 132 m til at bremse sammenlignet med 73 m for en personbil - hvilket understreger vigtigheden af at have nok plads mellem sig selv og en lastbil, når man bremser kraftigt.

5. Lastbilchauffører er beskidte

I årenes løb har lastbilchauffører fået det stereotype indtryk, at de er beskidte og dovne - en uretfærdig generalisering. Mange langturschauffører tilbringer meget tid væk hjemmefra og i deres førerhuse - hvilket betyder, at deres hygiejne og renligheden af deres førerhuse er en prioritet.

Det er vigtigt at aflive de myter og misforståelser, der omgiver lastbilkørsel, for bedre at kunne forstå erhvervet. Hvis man afliver nogle af de almindelige myter, vil det skabe en mere attraktiv branche for fremtidige generationer og øge bevidstheden om lastbilkørsel som et højt kvalificeret erhverv, der spiller en vigtig rolle i vores økonomi.

Bliver lastbilkørsel ensom?

Før man overvejer en karriere som lastbilchauffør, er det vigtigt at forstå, hvad jobbet indebærer. Et problem for mange lastbilchauffører er at håndtere ensomhed - lange timer på vejen med lidt eller ingen kommunikation er svært for nogle, men en drøm for andre.

Derudover kan tid væk fra dem, man holder af, tage hårdt på mange. Men det er blevet lettere for chauffører at kommunikere med venner og familie via telefon eller videoopkald. Der er også masser af [fora] (https://epicvue.com/6-ways-you-can-handle-loneliness-as-a-truck-driver/#:~:text=Loneliness%20is%20a%20huge%20issue,the%20isolation%20on%20the%20road.) og nyttige tips til rådighed for lastbilchauffører for at lindre ensomheden.

Kan en lastbilchauffør have et ekstra job?

I takt med at Storbritannien gennemgår en leveomkostningskrise, overvejer flere chauffører at tage et ekstra job. Men bibeskæftigelse giver problemer og risici, især i lastbilverdenen. Chauffører skal overveje, om der er en politik for bibeskæftigelse i deres virksomhed, før de går videre.

Når virksomheder og operatører udarbejder en politik for sekundær beskæftigelse, bør de overveje konsekvenserne for chaufførernes præstationer, fremmøde og træthed. For ikke at nævne overholdelse af chaufførernes arbejdstid og arbejdstidsregler.

Del til

Andre læser også...

Header Image

onsdag 16 april 2025 • Nyheder og opdateringer

HVAD ER KONSEKVENSERNE AF HASTIGHEDSGRÆNSER PÅ 20 KM/T FOR FLÅDER?

Susie Jones

In 2023, HGVs were involved in collisions that resulted in fatalities, a decline from 2022 but a concerning statistic nonetheless. These accidents could have resulted from several factors, such as driver fatigue, poor vehicle maintenance, weather conditions, or the actions of other road users. However, data from road safety charity Brake suggests that of road-related deaths had speed reported as a road safety factor. In this blog, we'll explore how the implementation of 20mph speed limits could impact fleet operations and lower fatality numbers. According to , only 10% of HGV collisions occurred on a motorway the other 90% were more likely to happen on an urban or rural road. Rural roads present truck drivers with narrow spaces, sharp turns, and interactions with vulnerable road users like cyclists and pedestrians, increasing the likelihood of accidents. Urban areas pose a greater risk for truck drivers due to higher-density traffic, frequent stops, pedestrian activity, and complex road layouts combined with the unpredictability of urban roads makes them more of a hazard for truck drivers. Figures published by the have shown 100 fewer casualties on urban roads in 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 before the 20mph speed limit was enforced in urban areas.The scheme is supported by organisations such as Brake and Cycling UK, and now fleet management specialists are encouraging haulage companies to get behind the scheme. They argue that the shift from 30mph to 20mph will have minimal impact on fleet efficiency and strongly reinforce the idea that it would save lives each year. According to FleetCheck, haulage operators had mixed feelings towards the initiative. Some saw the changes as a hindrance to efficiency arguing that lower speed limits may force some fleets into reducing the number of deliveries they can make in any given period. Drivers on SNAP's social media pages had strong feelings toward the suggestion. One driver commented:"Who is going to back more 20mph zones? The whole standard of driving is the problem. Ever since we came out of lockdown, the standard of driving has been diabolical, that's including cars, vans, and trucks."The sentiment remained the same on socials, with many not supporting the change. Reduced speed zones offer several benefits for truck drivers. • Lower speeds improve reaction times and reduce stopping distances, making it easier to avoid collisions particularly in urban areas.• Trucks are more likely to have less vehicle wear and tear with reduced speed limits. As mentioned, some fleet companies are concerned that lower speed limits could reduce the number of deliveries they could make in any given period. Fleets could also face the following challenges:• affecting time-sensitive deliveries, impacting scheduling and customer expectations.• companies may have to adjust routes to account for slower speeds.• investing in additional driver training to ensure compliance with new speed limits will be crucial. Although these issues can pose additional challenges for fleet companies, many can be managed proactively. Many would argue the long-term safety benefits outweigh the obstacles. In a revisited campaign titled , SNAP identified the most hazardous GB locations. We delve deeper to discover which roads could benefit from a reduced speed limit. SNAP discovered the South East had the most hazardous roads. Kent has the most dangerous roads in Britain and is on the Kent Highway Network by 2050. Which roads are the most concerning?• A short road running for just four miles but was named Britain's highest-risk route in 2018. The report singled out a stretch of the A254 between the junction of the A28 at Margate and the junction with the A255 near Ramsgate. The speed limit on this stretch varies between 30mph and 40mph built-up areas and a heavy traffic flow from the port of Dover make this road particularly dangerous for cyclists, pedestrians, and other road users. Could this stretch of road benefit from slower speed limits?• Notorious for its high accident rates, the A252 runs for 8.7 miles. In 2020, work commenced to reduce the number and severity of accidents, among the changes, a decrease from 60mph to 50mph on this stretch, except where lower limits are in force. However, is this enough to shake off the road's reputation as one of Britain's worst?Surrey and Essex were also at the top of the list and had a combined total of accidents over the last five years. High accident rates in Surrey can be attributed to its mix of populated towns and rural roads. Its closeness to London and major motorways has resulted in more collisions.• Also known as the London Orbital Motorway, the M25 is one of Britain's busiest roads while also being the second-longest ring road in Europe. Between 2007 and 2016, 7,673 accidents and 80 fatalities were reported. As a crucial motorway, speed adjustments as low as 20mph would be ludicrous. However, would the M25 benefit from restricted speed zones?• Running for 67 miles, the A3 can be a challenging road to drive on due to its high traffic volume, speed limits, and sections with poor road conditions. Truck drivers must adhere to strict speed regulations. These restrictions are in place to account for the size, weight, and braking capacity of a truck. • A truck over 7.5 tonnes is limited to a maximum speed of 50mph.• 60mph is the maximum speed limit for a truck over 7.5 tonnes. • Truck drivers must not exceed 60mph on a motorway. In the UK, speed limiter devices must be installed into any truck to cap the maximum speed the vehicle can travel. • All trucks over 3.5 tonnes must have a speed limiter set to 56 mph. • Speed limiters limit the fuel supplied to the engine once the vehicle reaches a preset speed ensuring drivers cannot exceed the limit.A private truck does not require a speed limiter unless it is being used for commercial purposes. You must declare if your vehicle is exempt from needing a speed limiter when you take it for its MOT by filling in a

Header Image

mandag 07 april 2025 • Nyheder og opdateringer

HVAD FLÅDECHEFER SKAL VIDE OM EU'S TRANSPORTREGLER

Josh Cousens

We know fleet managers are juggling driver shortages, rising fuel costs and the considerable task of keeping trucks compliant. Now toss in a complex web of EU transport regulations that evolve faster than your fleet's mileage. Does this sound familiar?Welcome to the European haulage frontline.From hours of service rules to emissions targets, the EU's regulatory landscape is a challenge and a half but also a roadmap for more innovative, safer, and sustainable haulage. Whether running a family-owned firm in Poland or overseeing pan-European operations from the UK, staying ahead of the rules isn't optional. It's survival.EU transport regulations affect nearly every aspect of your operation: driver hours, vehicle emissions, border controls, parking, and digital compliance. Falling behind could mean fines, delays, or contract losses.The good news is that if you understand the system, you can use it to your advantage. Knowing the rules makes it easier to make your business stand out from the competition. The European Union has strict rules on how long drivers can operate on the road. Fleet managers must ensure their drivers:Drive no more than 9 hours a day (extendable to 10 hours twice a week) Don't exceed 56 hours of driving in a week Take a 45-minute break after 4.5 hours of driving.Digital tachographs must be fitted to all relevant vehicles to track compliance. Failure to do so is one of the most common reasons for penalties.Find out more about . This sweeping set of reforms is transforming haulage across borders. Key changes include:Regular return of vehicles to their home country every 8 weeks Equal pay for drivers operating in host EU countries New rules on cabotage and posting of drivers.It's a game-changer for fleet managers overseeing international transport.Discover more about the. Low-emission zones (LEZs), CO2 targets for new trucks, and incentives for electric vehicles are just the beginning. Fleet managers need to adhere to Euro 7 emission standards. These include:Know where low-emission zones are located (especially in cities like Paris, Berlin, and Milan) Invest in cleaner technology or retrofit older vehicles Track emissions data for reporting requirements.The European Union is pushing towards automated enforcement:Smart tachographs are mandatory in all new vehicles These devices transmit GPS data and can be scanned remotely by authorities Digital fleet management tools are no longer a luxury – they're your legal safety net.Fleet managers must plan parking and resting spots in compliance with driver welfare rules:Drivers must spend weekly rest periods outside the cab Secure truck parking is becoming mandatory in some regions.Fleet managers must ensure drivers follow the EU-regulated limits: 9 hours per day (with flexibility), proper breaks, and max weekly/monthly driving caps.The Mobility Package reform ensures fair competition, driver welfare, and proper oversight in international haulage and road transport – with stricter rules on cabotage, pay, and returns.Drivers who break tachograph rules can expect fines, potential bans, and a damaged reputation for the firm. Non-compliance isn't just a risk – it's expensive.Yes. Most major European countries and cities have strict policies and emissions targets to reduce vehicle air pollution, so fleet operators need to plan ahead. Fleet managers don't just manage trucks; they also manage risk, compliance, and reputation for their business. Understanding EU transport regulations is the difference between thriving in modern haulage and falling behind. makes that job more manageable. From digital payments to truck parking and compliance solutions, we support the people who keep Europe moving.Regulations are tightening, but competent fleet managers? They're tightening their game, too.Ready to get compliant, stay competitive and drive the future of freight? .

Header Image

onsdag 26 februar 2025 • Nyheder og opdateringer

FLÅDESTYRINGENS ROLLE I LASTBILKØRSEL: HVORFOR DET ER VIGTIGT

Josh Cousens

In the fast-moving world of mobility and road transport, effective is essential for keeping trucks moving, reducing costs, and improving efficiency.Whether you operate a small fleet or manage a large trucking company, the right fleet management software can transform how companies manage their vehicles, drivers, and operational expenses.Fleet management is crucial to ensuring trucks arrive where they need to be, on time, and cost-effectively.Truck fleet management minimises delays and reduces unnecessary spending by tracking vehicle performance, fuel consumption, and driver activity.Without a structured approach, fleets risk performance issues that can lead to higher operational expenses and reduced profitability.Fleet operators are greatly concerned about driver wellbeing. But, a well-managed fleet ensures correctly maintained vehicles, optimises routes to reduce fatigue, and adheres to compliance regulations.Fleet management software helps businesses monitor driver behaviour, enforce safety policies, and reduce the risk of accidents or penalties for non-compliance.Some of the most significant costs in the haulage industry are fuel expenses, vehicle maintenance, and downtime.Implementing truck fleet management solutions helps operators track fuel usage, plan effective routes, and ensure vehicles are serviced at the right time preventing costly breakdowns and unplanned repairs.With the correct data, fleet managers can make informed decisions that cut unnecessary expenses and improve profitability.Sustainability is becoming an increasing priority across the transport industry. Fleet management systems allow operators to track emissions, monitor fuel efficiency, and introduce eco-friendly driving practices that lower environmental impact.Fleets can use data-driven solutions to make strategic adjustments that align with industry regulations and corporate sustainability goals.Upscaling a truck fleet presents challenges, such as managing increased logistics complexity and maintaining productivity. Here are some challenges that fleets may encounter when scaling their fleet.• As fleets grow, advanced scheduling, route optimisation, and maintenance planning become essential to prevent delays and downtime. • Additionally, ensuring consistent safety standards and regulations becomes more difficult as the fleet expands, increasing the risk of issues and penalties. • Scaling also requires significant investment in infrastructure, such as hiring and training more drivers and upgrading fleet management software.At SNAP, we understand the challenges fleet operators face. Our network of digital solutions for the mobility industry helps businesses streamline their operations and improve driver safety and convenience.We provide access to a growing network of parking and washing locations across Europe, helping fleets reduce unplanned stops, enhance route productivity, and keep trucks moving without delays.As fleet management technology evolves, we are committed to providing innovative solutions that support the industry's changing needs.Fleet management software and data-driven insights help haulage managers streamline operations, reduce spending, and ensure their fleets operate at their full potential.Fleet management is more than tracking vehicles. It's about making strategic decisions to upgrade efficiency, reduce risks, and support long-term business growth.With the right truck fleet management approach, operators can overcome industry challenges and ensure their fleets run smoothly.Looking for more innovative fleet management solutions? Discover how SNAP's services can optimise your operations. .