Whats the maximum number of hours an employee can drive in a company vehicle?

Question

Hi
I have been told that there are strict laws governing the amount of hours people are allowed to do when driving company vehicles is involved. 7.5 tonnes vehicles are incredibly strict - is this true?

Also staff are only allowed to drive 4 hrs in total in any 24 hour period - how true is this

Answer 1

If you drive a commercial vehicle for over 4 hours in a 24 hour period you are classed as a full time driver you must,

Have a 45 rest period every 4.5 hours of driving.

Must not exceed 11 hours on duty ( 9 hours driving max) in 24 hours.

Driving hours may be extended to 10 hours in a 24 hour period twice in a 7 day period.

Must have a minimum of 10 hours rest in a 24 hour period.

Must have a 24 hour rest period in a 7 day period.

Must not exceed 48 hours on duty in a 7 day period.

Answer 2

right here's more or less the correct answer
first of all in a small vehicle i.e car or a van under the weight restriction and have no tachograph restrictions you can for the mininum of a normal 8 hours that your employer states in your contract , however accidents do happen no-one can foresee that
if in a vehicle with a tachcograph then the maximum number of hours one can drive is 4.5 hours continueously driving is permited but then you must take a 45 minute break ,
there is a small way round this doing multi-dropping driving one can drive not quite continueosly all the time as you are making drops , but at some of the drops you maybe there for say 20 minutes or so this will count as a break in the pattern of continuesly driving
now a tachograph can be in for 15 hours per day , reason is to allow loading and unloading of the vehicle but as soon as 15 hours have approached one must stop for 9 hours rest
however you can increased the number of hours of driving only twice in a week
any excess hours must be taken off before the end of the month .

Answer 3

The maximum permitted under EU regulations for HGV's is 4:5 hrs after which a break of no less than 45 minutes must be taken. The TOTAL daily driving must exceed 9 hours, although this may be increased to 10 hours (twice a week & can be back to back). The Fortnightly driving hours must exceed 90hrs, (As a rough guide this equates to one week 56 and the second week @ 34 hrs. I have not inc any 24hrs or 6 or 7 day periods?
Any further info for driver training please contact me?

Answer 4

Define 'company vehicle.' If you mean a company car then I don't think there are any restrictions in place. If however you mean PCVs or goods vehicles above 7.5 tonnes then you would be governed by tachograph legislation, which is very complicated and quite strict.
Depending on which tacho rules you come under (PCV is different from HGV/LGV) then you would be able to drive for 8 or 9 hours in a 24 hour period, but you would have to adhere to strict rest periods.

Answer 5

Up to and including the large box trucks, I don't think there's a limit, though 10 or more is frowned on.
The driver for the company I used to work for drove a Mid-size box truck and he'd be out all day. From 6 AM until some times 6 or 8 PM. Tractor trailer drivers are limited to 10 hours a day, then they're supposed to sleep for 8 before driving again.
LOL Like that really happens!!

Answer 6

any commercial vehicle even a cab has driving restrictions 10 hrs total driving with 15 total on duty thats on a 7 day schedule(60 hrs on duty) a 8 day schedule is the same on duty schedule but total on duty hours is 70 to answer your ques. on 7.5 tons it is over 10,000 lbs which is class A but all vehicles making money is considered commecial, all laws apply. (this is in u.s.) staff is driving? interesting no union eh? they should not be allowed to drive at all !

Answer 7

Where my dad works they drive tankers and I think they can drive for 10 hours but then they must rest for 8. Drivers must take a 45 minute (minimum) break every 4.5 hours of constant driving.

There are loads of exceptions though so you should probably check here: http://www.transportoffice.gov.uk/crt/vehicledrivers/drivershoursandtachographs/drivershoursandtachographrules/drivershoursandtachographrules.htm

Answer 8

For company cars there is no restriction. I am sure there is no restriction up to 7.5 tons. Beyond that you probably need a tachograph in the cab as there are strict rules which are applied.