Man Caught Stealing Fuel as HGV Driver Slept

Twenty-four year-old Ramunas Bruzaitis has likely never taken an LGV class in his life. So why was the young man found at the side of the road, standing right next to a lorry at 4:40 AM? According to the Grantham Journal, he was stealing fuel from the vehicle while the driver slept.

The Journal reported on June 17 (2013) that police came upon Bruzaitis standing next to the lorry which was parked on the A1 at Colsterworth. During questioning, they noticed a strong odour of diesel fuel on his hands. Further investigation revealed three fuel receptacles at the side of the vehicle, with one still connected to a hose from the fuel tank.

Apparently, Bruzaitis was prompted to steal the fuel due to personal financial troubles. The Journal was told his ‘outgoings exceeded income’, and that the fuel was intended for his own personal use. One of the solicitors representing Bruzaitis told the court his client would have to control his lottery spending in order to get his finances back on track. In the meantime, Bruzaitis will pay a £75 fine along with £85 in court costs and a £20 surcharge.

A Driver’s Life

We can laugh at this story because everything turned out fine. The driver was not injured, nor was there any damage done to his lorry. However, that’s not always the case. This is one of the reasons the haulage industry took issue last week with the government’s assertion that there are plenty of parking spaces available for overnight rests.

The industry claims a shortage of parking spaces and, among those that do exist, serious safety concerns. The complaints seem legitimate in light of the fact that someone would attempt to steal diesel fuel knowing full well the driver was sleeping inside. Nevertheless, this is the life of an HGV driver.

To be fair, these types of incidents are few and far between. In most cases, commercial drivers complete their deliveries without incident. The biggest worry for most is meeting delivery schedules even in the midst of potential traffic jams and whether concerns.

Start Your Career as a Driver

If you are looking to begin a career as a commercial LGV driver then rest assured that it’s not difficult to do. However, you will need more than just a single LGV class. The process is as follows:

• go for medical exam; the doctor will fill out the required paperwork
• obtain a provisional entitlement
• study for, and pass, your theory exam
• complete your practical skills training
• sign up, and pass, your practical skills test.

The HGV Training Centre is the UK’s largest and most well known company offering training classes for vehicles of all types and sizes. We walk you through the licensing process every step of the way. What’s more, our 92% first-time pass rate for the theory exam is testament to the quality of our training. We invite you to get in touch with us today if you are ready to embark on a new career.