HGV Driving Hours: HR Advice Guide

As it stands under EU Rules, there are specific requirements on how many hours your workers can legally operate Heavy Goods Vehicles.

HGV driving hours

Drivers of HGVs, defined as vehicles with a weight capacity of over 3.5 tonnes, are not allowed to drive more than nine hours on any individual day (or 10 hours twice a week.)

Furthermore, they shouldn’t drive over 56 hours in a week or 90 hours in a fortnight.

HGV rest breaks

Currently EU rules also state that drivers must take at least 11 hours of rest every day. However, this can be reduced to nine hours rest three times in a single week.

Furthermore, they are required to take:

• 45 hours of unbroken rest a week which can be reduced to 24 hours every other week
• A week of rest after six weeks driving
• A 45-minute break(s) after a maximum of 4.5 hours driving
  

EU driving hour rule exceptions

Drivers working in Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Moldova, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or Uzbekistan aren’t subject to EU rules, but to AETR rules instead.

Even with the above-mentioned exemptions, it’s crucial that business owners navigate HGV rules, as they can be complicated.

For detailed advice and help in creating compliance standards when it comes to HGV driving hours, Neathouse Partners are here to help.

Our employment law and HR specialists can ensure that your business is compliant, protected, and as productive as possible.