Updated 30.07.21
Driver’s hours
The Government has temporarily extended drivers’ hours rules from July 12 until August 8 to allow HGV drivers to make slightly longer journeys where necessary. They are also consulting on further relaxations of drivers’ hours and rest periods for the period from August 9 to October 3 2021.
The relaxations are:
- the permitted increase to the daily driving limit from 9 hours to 10 hours with one of 11 hours (al-
lowed up to two times in a week); OR
- the requirement to take a regular weekly rest period of 45 hours in a two-week period with an alter-
native pattern of weekly rest periods as specified below, and an increase to the fortnightly driving limit from 90 hours to 99 hours. This enables two consecutive reduced weekly rest periods to be taken.
The alternative pattern of weekly rest periods for drivers using the relaxation related to weekly rest periods
is:
-
- The regular weekly rest period in a two-week period can be replaced by two reduced weekly rest
periods of at least 24 hours.
- Following this, two regular weekly rest periods must be taken. However, any reduction in weekly
rest shall be compensated for in the normal way by an equivalent period of rest taken before the end of the third week following the week in question.
- The regular weekly rest period in a two-week period can be replaced by two reduced weekly rest
In addition, any rest taken as compensation for a reduced weekly rest period shall be attached to a regu- lar weekly rest period of at least 45 hours (which can be split over 2 regular weekly rest periods).
Delivery curfew relaxation
Delivery curfews have been relaxed so local councils can be flexible around delivery times to retailers, al- lowing drivers to make deliveries earlier in the morning or later in the evening where necessary. This only applies to suppliers to supermarkets/food stores so will be of benefit to wholesalers supplying to retail.
Further measures
The Government has issued a letter to the haulage sector detailing measures to support the industry. These include:
• Maximising testing capacity through overtime and allocating additional staff into testing
• Consulting about the delegation of the off-road manoevres as part of the Heavy Goods Vehicle
driving test
• Issuing provisional licence entitlements to drive articulated lorries at the same time as issuing pro-
visional licence entitlements to drive rigid lorries
• Relaxing financial support in overcoming barriers to people wishing to join the sector • Further relaxation to drivers’ hours rules
Red Diesel:
The 2021 Budget has confirmed that temperature-controlled hauliers will not be entitled to use red diesel in fridges from April 2022. FWD argued for a delay in the implementation of this measure to 2025, and we continue to press for support for businesses that have to absorb these costs and fund transition to more expensive equipment. Government consulted on the possibility of further exemptions from the ban on use of red diesel which meant there was a possibility TRUs could be exempted. However, the HM Treasury say “the case for continued entitlement was not compelling enough to outweigh the Government’s long-term environmental objectives and the need for the tax system to incentivise the development of greener alter- natives to polluting fuels”, and no exemption will be granted.
Tyre ban
The Government has announced a ban on tyres over 10 years old on all HGVs and heavy trailers, which will apply to tyres fitted to the front axle of HGVs. Re-treaded tyres will be subject to the same restrictions as first-life tyres, where the date of re-treading will be used to determine the age of the tyre. The policy will come into force after a 3-month implementation period, at the end of which vehicles will be expected to be fully compliant.
BACK
Clean Air Strategy:
January 14: The Government published its Clean Air Strategy, a cross-departmental frameworks which sets out actions to improve air quality by reducing pollution from a wide range of sources. The report reiterated the Government’s pledge to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2040.
The Clean Air Strategy has the following implications for FWD wholesalers:
Transport:
- The Transport Secretary will have the powers, from new legislation, to force manufactures to recall vehicles and non-road mobile machinery for any failures in their emissions control system, and to take effective action against tampering with vehicle emissions control systems.
- The Government will attempt to develop a new standard for tyres and breaks to address toxic non-exhaust particulate emissions from vehicles which include micro plastics and can pollute air and water.
- The Government will aim to encourage the use of the cleanest modes of transport for freight and passengers, including active travel.
- The cost of Red diesel is being reviewed by the Government and the Treasury to ensure that its lower price is not disincentivising the transition to cleaner alternatives.
The strategy notes that analysis shows that the actions set out in this strategy can meet the Government’s ambitious emissions reduction targets, if they are implemented with the necessary pace and determination. The Government also claims that these improve on current EU rules.