News

Scottish livestock hauliers are upset that the Department for Transport has again turned down their request to relax drivers hours regulations to help them tackle the backlog of animals that need to be moved. The request had been made by the Scottish Government and was backed by the Road  Haulage Association, NFU Scotland and others affected. The RHA had claimed that Scottish livestock hauliers had been hit especially hard as they were still coping with the backlog caused by the August outbreak.

Phil Flanders, director of the Road Haulage Association in Scotland says: "The whole industry is united with the hauliers we wouldn't ask if we didn't believe we need this. Many in the supply chain may not survive and it will take a very long time for industry to recover, if at all."

A DfT spokesman says: "Drivers' hours rules help protect HGV drivers and other road users from the real dangers associated with driver fatigue. After careful consideration the DfT has decided that a relaxation of the drivers' hours rules is not justified on the basis of the evidence submitted."

No movements of cattle, sheep, pigs and other ruminants are allowed, except  under licence.