EC hours plan set
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• Proposals to harmonise drivers' working hours across the European Community could lead to a sharp rise in hauliers' costs as the regulations could reduce drivers' hours.
Proposals on hours are expected from the European Commission within a year. They are expected to include time spent on loading and other non-driving tasks as part of permitted working time.
The Road Haulage Association says it will lobby parliament to resist any changes to the current EC regulations, which allow for a total daily driving time of nine hours with breaks after every 4i hours and do not regulate other duties.
"The current regulations have stood the test of time," says RHA operations director Tim Inman. "There's enough flexibility and enough safeguards for the drivers — further restrictions will put up costs and make it difficult for owner-drivers to survive."
Inman believes the only justification for changing the current regulations would be on health and safety grounds, "but the UK has not got a problem with safety", he says.
The Freight Transport Association is also opposed to the possible changes: "We thought the industry had a derogation from the 4 8-hour maximum working week, but this seems to be a similar thing."
However, the new restrictions have been pressed for by transport unions through out Europe: "It would seem reasonable that loading and unloading is included in the waiting time — we would support the proposals for reasons of health and safety," says the Transport and General Workers' Union.