Working Time Regulations

Working Time Regulations for Drivers: What You Need to Know 

As a professional driver in the UK, understanding the Working Time Regulations (WTR) is essential. These rules are designed to safeguard your health, ensure adequate rest, and promote road safety by preventing excessive working hours. 

At The Best Connection, we are committed to supporting our drivers by promoting safe working practices and providing the information needed to stay compliant. We work closely with both our clients and workforce to ensure every placement meets legal standards and prioritises driver wellbeing. 

Who Do the Regulations Apply To? 

The WTR apply to “mobile workers,” which include drivers and crew members of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and public service vehicles (PSVs) operating under the assimilated (formerly EU) drivers’ hours rules.  

This includes most drivers of goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and passenger vehicles with more than nine seats. Self-employed drivers have been included under these regulations since 1st May 2012. 

Key Working Time Limits 

1. Average Weekly Working Time: You must not exceed an average of 48 hours of work per week, calculated over a reference period (typically 17 weeks, which can be extended to 26 weeks under a collective or workforce agreement). 
2. Maximum Weekly Working Time: In any single week, you may work up to 60 hours, provided the 48-hour average is maintained over the reference period. 
3. Night Work: If you perform night work (any work between midnight and 4 am for goods vehicles, or between 1 am and 5 am for passenger vehicles), your working time must not exceed 10 hours in any 24 hour period, unless there is a collective or workforce agreement in place. 

Break Requirements 

1. Working Between 6 and 9 Hours: You must take breaks totalling at least 30 minutes. 
2. Working More Than 9 Hours: Breaks must total at least 45 minutes. 

Breaks should be of at least 15 minutes duration and can be split into periods of no less than 15 minutes each. It’s important to note that these breaks are separate from those required under drivers’ hours rules, which mandate a 45 minute break after 4.5 hours of driving. 

Working time includes all activities related to the transport operation, such as: 

• Driving 

• Loading and unloading 

• Vehicle cleaning and maintenance 

• Safety checks 

• Waiting periods when the driver is not free to dispose of their time 

Periods of availability (POAs), where you are waiting but not required to remain at your workstation, do not count as working time. 

Compliance and Enforcement 

Employers are responsible for keeping records of working time, which must be retained for at least two years. As a driver, you should also keep personal records to ensure compliance and to protect yourself in case of disputes. 

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) also enforces compliance with the WTR. Failure to adhere to these regulations can result in penalties, including fines and prohibitions. 

Why Compliance Matters 

Adhering to the Working Time Regulations is not just about meeting legal requirements, it’s about protecting your health and safety as a driver, as well as that of others on the road. Fatigue is one of the leading causes of accidents in the transport industry, and ensuring proper rest and fair working hours plays a vital role in reducing risk and keeping everyone safe. 

For more detailed information on Working Time Regulations, please refer to the official UK Government guidance.

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