HGV Drivers' Hours Regulations

There are two types of Drivers' Hours Regulations to adhere to - EU regulations covering most operations and Domestic regulations covering limited driving operations such as bulk milk collection haulage.

EU Drivers' Hours Regulations

EU Driver Hours Regulations were updated in April 2007. Please see the new regulations.

• Maximum daily driving of 9 hours but can be extended to 10 hours 2 days a week.
• Maximum of 6 consecutive daily driving periods
• Maximum fortnightly driving of 90 hours
• Maximum of 4.5 hours driving before having a break of at least 45 minutes*
• Minimum daily rest of at least 11 hours

* 45 minutes can be segmented into a minimum of 15 minute sections so long as 45 minutes has been taken once 4.5 hours driving has been achieved.

Examples of legal combinations:

1 hour driving | 15 minutes break | 3.5 hours driving | 30 minutes break | 1 hour driving | 15 minutes break | 3.5 hours driving | commence daily rest period

or

1 hour driving | 15 minutes break | 1 hour driving | 15 minutes break | 2.5 hour driving | 15 minutes break | 2 hours driving | 30 minutes break | 2.5 hours driving | commence daily rest period

or

3 hours driving | 15 minutes break | 1.5 hours driving | 30 minutes break | 3 hours driving | 15 minutes break | 1.5 hours driving | commence daily rest period

These regulations exclude drivers whose activity falls into one of the following categories (under EU exceptions and British derogations):

• Vehicles less than 3.5 tonnes gross weight including the weight of any trailer drawn
• Passenger vehicles with a capacity of less than 17
• Vehicles on passenger service routes that travel less than 50 kilometres
• Vehicles with a maximum speed of 30 kilometres per hour (approx 18.6 miles per hour)
• Vehicles used by:
  • Armed services
  • Civil defence
  • Fire services
  • Police force
  • Vehicles used in connection with:
    • Sewerage
    • Flood protection
    • Water service
    • Gas services
    • Electricity services
    • Highway maintenance
    • Refuse collection/disposal
    • Telephone services
    • Carriage of postal items (couriers)
    • Radio and television broadcasting
    • RNLI when hauling lifeboats
    • HM Coastguard
  • Local authorities providing it is not to provide a service in competition with professional road hauliers
• Vehicles used in emergencies
• Specialised vehicles used for medical purposes
• Funfair/circus transporting vehicles
• Specialised breakdown vehicles
• Vehicles undergoing road tests for development, repair or maintenance purposes
• New/rebuilt vehicles not yet in service
• Vehicles used for milk products intended for animal feed
• Vehicles used by agricultural, horticultural, forestry or fishery bodies that travel within a 50 kilometre radius from the vehcile base
• Vehicles used for carrying animal waste or carcasses not intended for human consumption
• Vehicles specially designed for:
  • Door-to-door selling
  • Mobile banking
  • Worship
  • Lending of books, records or cassettes
  • For cultural events / exhibitions
• Vehicles used for driving instruction
• Vehicles less than 7.5 tonnes that are powered by gas or electricity
• Vehicles manufactured before 1947

Domestic Drivers' Hours Regulations

The Domestic Drivers' Hours Regulations (contained and amended within the Transport Act 1968) came into force on 29th September 1986.

The regulations state the following:

• Maximum daily driving of 10 hours
• Maximum daily duty time of 11 hours
• Minimum daily rest of 13 hours to adhere to the maximum daily duty of 11 hours
• There is no weekly limit specified nor is there a limit on the amount of continuous duty. For example, a HGV driver could legally drive for a constant 10 hours if covered under the regulations without the need for any breaks.