UK heavy hauliers free from hours regs
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• Drivers of notifiable abnormal loads are to be exempt from the drivers' hours law.
The European Commission has granted UK heavy hauliers exemption from the hours regs if a movement has to be notified to the police because of its size or weight.
This move is designed to give drivers flexibility in arranging breaks while carrying abnormal loads. Instead of having to follow the 4i-hour rule, police escorts will decide when the driver must rest.
The relaxation will apply when any of the following conditions apply: the vehicle is over 2.9m wide; over 18.65m long; has a combination length of over 25.9m; has a forward or rear projection of over 3.05m, or a total weight of 80 tonnes.
The date of implementation has yet to be announced; in the meantime the DTp advises hauliers to follow existing regs.