Lorry driver hours relaxed

Prompted by the industry, the Department for Transport has relaxed the enforcement of EU drivers’ hours rules in England, Scotland and Wales for the drivers of “vehicles involved in the delivery of food, non-food (personal care and household paper and cleaning) and over the counter pharmaceuticals when undertaking the following journeys:

1. Distribution centre to stores (or fulfilment centre)
2. From manufacturer or supplier to distribution centre (including backhaul collections)
3. From manufacturer or supplier to store (or fulfilment centre)
4. Between distribution centres and transport hub trunking
5. Transport hub deliveries to stores

This temporary relaxation pursuant to Article 14(2) of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 applies from 00:01 on Wednesday 18 March 2020 and will run until 23:59 on Thursday 16 April 2020 to the specified areas only. This exemption does not apply to drivers undertaking deliveries directly to consumers.

News of the relaxation of retail delivery driver hours follows the relaxation of LPG drivers hours on 6 March 2020 and therefore other delivery drivers may also find themselves included in the days and weeks to come. However, in the meantime, complete details of the current relaxation can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/temporary-relaxation-of-the-enforcement-of-eu-drivers-hours-rules 

General advice to the transport industry can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-staff-in-the-transport-sector/covid-19-guidance-for-staff-in-the-transport-sector