orce up costs
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The European Commission has decided to rethink the issue of drivers' hours and working time because of the many anomolies that exist throughout Europe. In Holland, for example, working time includes all the time a driver is not fit to use as he wishes, including breaks.
France considers working time to be the period between the start and finish of the working day, not including interruptions, mealtimes, maintenance and breaks.
In some countries working time is counted only as time ac tually spent driving, loading and unloading and carrying out administration. Waiting, travel on ferries, maintenance and repair is not included, but is classed as "on call" or "available" time, This may be weighted — in France it is calculated at 85% of normal working time.
International livestock haulier MFP of Swindon fears the forthcoming proposals could lead to a "tremendous hike in costs" if it became necessary to doubleman vehicles going abroad to meet new requirements on hours. "Overall, I am in favour of European harmonisation because it will make understanding a little easier," says MFP partner Jeremy Francis.
He reckons that the proposed regulations could be unworkable: "Although our drivers can sometimes get customers to load, it is much better if the driver does it because he then knows where the animals are."