Drivers may be require' to count collection tim
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• by Mike Jewell
Truck drivers could be forced to record journeys to pick up a truck, even if they are on a train, if a ruling by the European Court goes against a Nottingham. based coach company.
Later this year the court will rule on whether drivers who are travelling to a place other than where a vehicle is based as part of their work will have to record that as time spent working. Truck and coach drivers do not currently record time spent getting to the vehicle.
The matter will be clarified when the European Court rules on the case involving coach company Skills Motor Coaches. Its drivers were not recording time spent driving in their cars to meet a coach which they then drove as part of their work—turning on their tachographs accordingly.
The company had argued that the drivers were not under any obligation to record (as driving time and other periods of work) periods of time spent travelling from their homes to the point where they were to take over a vehicle. However, the Eun Court could now rule a this interpretation.
The court's advocate eral is on record as sayir vers should record time travelling to take over ve located at places other where they live or their er ers' operating centres—ft less of how they get there.
While the European Ct not obliged to follow the ( of the advocate general, i erally does so. The nil expected at the end of thii or early next year.