Q I have just started driving a C licensed
Page 73
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
heavy goods lorry for an engineering firm. They say that I have to do a 14-hour spreadover every day for five days and a Saturday morning.
The spreadover consists of 11 hours driving time and three hours rest time of which two hours is paid for-1 say this is a 13-hour working day if you are getting paid for it. I also say that a C-licensee cannot do a 14-hour spreadover. What do you say?
AWe believe what your employer is asking
you to do is quite legal subject to two points. The question of whether or not you are paid for the rest is irrelevant here. The main point is that during the three hours rest period you must not do any work in connection with the vehicle or its load. If, during part of the three hours, you are doing anything that could be counted as loading, unloading, preparing loads, cleaning your vehicle, or similar jobs. then this is counted as working time, in which case you would be breaking the law. Also the periods of 14 hours must be worked in such a way that you have 10 consecutive hou rs of rest between each.
The driver of a C-licensed vehicle is allowed to make use of the 14-hour spreadover, but not the 12-hour driving day which applies to A-licensed drivers.