EXPRESS HOURS
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• I do express delivery work with a 3.5 tonne van to East European countries. Do any hours restrictions apply to me while driving the van? Does having a second driver on board make any difference? Do I have to keep records of any kind ?
• A goods vehicle not over 3.5 tonnes permissible maximum weight (including any trailer it draws) is exempt from the EC hours and tachograph law. Rut in Great Britain it is subject to the British hours law in Section 96 of the Transport Act 1968, as modified.
In a working day a driver must not drive for more than 10 hours and the working day must not exceed 11 hours. A working day is clef ned as (a) a working period which does not have to be added to another period leg a straight-through shift) or (b) where a working period is followed by one or more working periods in the 24 hours beginning with the start of the first working period leg a split shift), the total of the work periods falling within that 24 hours.
There is no requirement under the British domestic hours' law for a driver to take breaks from driving or daily or weekly rest periods. Having a second driver an the vehicle makes no difference.
Being exempt from the EC
tachograph law the vehicle is subject to the British records law but, as long as the only goods vehicle you drive in a working day is one exempt from operator licensing (such as the 3.5-tonne van), you will be exempt from the British records rules also.
Note it might be that some of the countries you drive through have hours laws which apply to your vehicle.