News

Operators may have to employ up to 10% more drivers due to detailed restrictions in the EU drivers' hours regulations.

Motor Transport reveals this week that the new rules in force from April 11 are much tougher than first thought. The implications covering weekly rest periods are particularly serious for operators running six to seven days a week.

Under current regulations, drivers are required to take a weekly rest of 45 hours, which can be reduced by nine hours provided  rest time is made up by the third following week.

The new rules mean a driver has to show two weekly rests in any two rolling weeks - but one of these must be at least 45 hours long. That puts an end to regular six-day working and drivers will no longer be able to work regular Monday to Saturday patterns.

Operators have told Motor Transport they will have to increase driving staff by between 7% and 10% to cover the burden of changing shift patterns, with implications on payroll costs.

Steve Williams, public affairs manager at the Road Haulage Association, says operators need to sit down and carefully check what they are doing. "People have still not grasped that these changes could be major".

New drivers may have to be sent out to take over from drivers on the road and a new driver "rescue" operation has been set up to cover such requirements.

LGV Rescue Services is based in Brixworth, Northamptonshire,  and provides rescue crews to recover stranded drivers and their trucks when they run out of hours or duty time.

• Under the new rules, drivers can reduce a weekly rest in a two-week rolling period to a minimum of 24 hours and add the time to another rest period of nine hours or more by the end of the third following week.