What does the industry thin .
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Charles Burke Haulier/truck dealer TRS Engineering Pentre, Mid-Glamorgan Burke's solution to the 48-hour week has been simple: he's banned overtime for his five drivers. That makes compliance straightforward and avoids any complications thrown up by having to average out hours over a 17-week or 26-week period.
"It's not been a popular move," he admits. "Drivers don't earn as much as they did in the past.
"It's had more effect on workers than employers. People who want to work overtime are now legally prevented from doing so.
"When I was young and wanted to raise the money for a deposit on a house, I could work what hours I wanted. You can't do that now."
Burke fears many hauliers are simply ignoring the rules by paying drivers cash-inhand for overtime.
That way, the payroll shows they are on a 48-hour week and as long as they do not exceed their drivers' hours on their tachograph, there is little chance of being found out.
"I've never had my records inspected and never even heard of anyone else being challenged either" He adds: "As for road safety, the regulations have had no effect whatsoever. Ws been a complete nonsense. Nobody will persuade me that a driver immediately becomes unsafe when they work 49 hours instead of 48."