An HGV driver may not work more than 60 hours per week, including driving and other duties. Furthermore, they must not work more than 48 hours per week on average during a given reference period.
What Exactly is the Reference Period?
Should average an HGV driver's weekly hour over a continuous 17-week period, we can extend this reference period to 26 weeks if a relevant agreement exists. The reference period is a constant 17 to 26-week period used to calculate the average weekly working time.
In a week, How many 15-Hour Days can an HGV Driver Work?
An HGV driver can take no less than 9 hours of rest per day within 24 hours up to three times per week, which means that an HGV driver
can only work three 15-hour days per week.
What Constitutes working time as an HGV Driver?
Any time spent performing activities related to the transportation operation, which includes:
- Driving
- Loading and unloading of vehicles.
- CPC training for drivers, as well as other industry or job-specific training.
- Vehicle cleaning and maintenance.
- Loading and unloading monitoring.
- Vehicle defects are checked and reported daily.
- When the HGV driver cannot freely dispose of their time and must be in the vehicle ready to begin regular work.
- Administrative work related to regulatory obligations directly related to transportation operations.
Travelling between their home and their usual place of work does not count as working time, nor do rest or break periods.
Taking a Break in an HGV
A break is defined as a period during a working day when a driver does not drive or perform any other work. Breaks must be uninterrupted.
An HGV driver must keep in mind that they must adhere to EU driving hours regulations and take a 45-minute break after driving for 4.5 hours.
The confusion usually arises when a driver is also doing other work. For example, if a driver does another job before driving, they must factor this into their working time.
You must take a break after 4.5 hours of driving or 6 hours of work (including driving), whichever comes first.
Daily Rest for HGV Drivers
In summary, an HGV driver who begins work at 5.00 a.m. on day one must complete one of the following by 5.00 a.m. on day two:
A minimum of 11 continuous hours of rest per day daily.
A split daily rest duration of at least 12 hours.
With the first period lasting at least 3 hours and the second lasting at least 9 hours.
A driver can take their daily rest duration or reduced weekly rest periods in their vehicle if it has adequate sleeping facilities and is stationary during the rest period. Subsequently, drivers are not permitted to take their regular weekly rest periods in their vehicles.
How does an HGV Driver Keep Track of their Driving and Working Hours?
The tachograph records the amount of time spent driving. The employer must keep working time records and can also use tachograph records for this. If tachographs are not utilized to record working time, the driver's employer must keep another accurate record.
App for HGV Drivers' Hours
The app is designed explicitly for lorry drivers and helps monitor driving hours while alerting users to potential rule violations. The Freight Transport Association created the second drivers' hour app, which allows drivers to keep track of their driving hours and shows them how many watch hours they can do without violating the HGV driving hour rules.
Calculator for HGV Driver Hours
An online HGV drivers hour calculator to assist you in calculating rest periods and starting times, as well as maintaining an exact document of both driving and working hours.
Also Read: How much do HGV Drivers Earn Per Hour?
Courses you may like:
