A maximum of 10 hours night work in any 24 hour period.Statutory annual leave and any sick leave and/or maternity/paternity leave counts as working time.A maximum of 60 hours in any week - capped.An average 48-hour working week over a defined reference period (minimum 4 months).However, we are also aware that few (if any) operators have been the subject of any form of WTD investigation by the policing authority (DVSA), and we are also aware that it is possible that there are still operators of In-Scope vehicles who have done little or nothing to implement a WTD policy within their operations some fifteen years after the implementation date. We believe that many of these factors have transpired.
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) carried out a survey at the time and suggested that an average 48-hour working week - without utilising periods of availability (POA's) - could result in a 10% reduction in productivity, resulting in a requirement for an additional 12,900 extra drivers of regulated vehicles - approximately 5% of the then-current UK driver workforce.Ĭonsider also, with the national driver shortage at the time, and which we still have at the time of writing this in 2020, the problem would have become further compounded as existing drivers would be in considerable demand, possibly resulting in certain sectors within transport offering better pay and conditions to attract drivers away from their then-current employers. Consider thisĪt the time of introduction, the Department for Transport (Dft) had estimated that an additional 12,600 vehicles could be required with a compliance cost to the Road Transport Industry in excess of £1 billion per annum.
The implications of the WTD for road transport operations were expected to be significant and hard felt, and regardless of whether you are an operator of 'In Scope' vehicles within the manufacturing industry (or other), your company will feel the effects in the same way as operators within the general haulage sector. Prior to its introduction on the 4th April 2005, the Working Time Directive (WTD) for the road transport sector had been the subject of furious debate in Brussels and Westminster since its initial proposal in 1997.ĭo not be under any misapprehension on this, what applied in April 2005, applies today, if your company operates 'In Scope' vehicles (those vehicles subject to EU drivers hours and tachograph regulations) the Road Transport Working Time Directive applies to YOU and there is NO OPT-OUT.