Snow respite for Scots
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by Gail Ashton • EC and domestic drivers' hours regulations have been suspended in Scotland to allow hauliers to make up for delays caused by the recent storms.
The Department of Transport relaxed the rules from midnight on Monday. The suspension will last for a maximum of 14 days but will be revoked before then if conditions improve sufficiently. Hauliers in Scotland say their operations have been devastated, first by heavy snow, then by widespread floods.
The application for a suspension of the regulations was made by the Freight Transport Association.
Gavin Scott, regional secretary of the Scottish FTA, says: "I don't think anyone is suggesting that people start driving excessive hours, but it will allow more flexibility in transporting urgent loads. The bad weather has caused a tremendous backlog of work."
Gordon Rae, assistant transport manager at Marshalls Food Group, estimates that the company has lost tens of thousands of pounds because of the weather. Now the Newbridge, Edinburgh-based poultry processing company is counting the cost of trucks sitting in garages, extra payments to drivers, long detours and the deaths of some poultry stocks.
"Sticking within the law at the best of times is a hard job," he says. "When these situations come along it is nice to have the option of more flexibility."
The EC regulation requiring breaks after 41/2 hours driving will stay in force throughout the suspension, as will the rules governing tachographs and record keeping.