Lorry Driver of the Year competitors exempt from drivers' hours rules
Page 25
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• Time spent driving to and from a LDoY competition and time spent at the competition will not count as driving or on duty time, according to a spokesman for the Ministry of Transport. Provided the driver is free to choose whether to compete or not and provided he does not combine the competition with some other work for his employer, then it will not interfere with his normal worldng week. In these circumstances, he will not be requited to complete a journey record sheet.
While the Ministry has not granted specific exemption for LDoY competitors, it is understood that it considers that as the driver is competing in his own time, he will not be governed by the hours rules despite the fact that he is using his employer's vehicle, fuel and receiving expenses to assist him to compete.
It now seems likely that the national executive committee of the LDoY competition will need to inform centres that loaded vehicles should not be accepted at events. There have been occasions in the past when drivers competed at an eliminating centre and there after proceeded with the vehicle to discharge a load. This will not now be possible if it is desired to claim the LDoY contest period as "off duty."