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If you’re thinking of hiring a van for commercial purposes, you’re probably familiar with the licences you’ll need. But are you aware of the legal driving hours for van drivers that the UK government has in place? You will be after reading this post.
Knowing your daily duty limit behind the wheel and the mandatory daily or weekly rest is essential for any professional van driver. It’s one of the key measures that the government has established to ensure safety on the road. No matter if you’re delivering goods, transporting passengers, or using your van for other commercial purposes, this guide will be useful for you.
Table Of Contents
Daily Legal Driving Hours For Van Drivers
Most van driving is covered by domestic rules since they apply to up to 3.5-tonne vehicles, and that’s the gross vehicle weight of most vans. These rules have just two main limits. According to them, you can’t spend more than 10 hours a day driving.
When it comes to the EU rules, which apply to vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, driving time is limited to nine hours. You can, however, increase your driving time to 10 hours twice a week.
There are some things to note, though. If you’re driving a van for just four hours a day, then none of the above rules apply. Van driving hours are important, but when you’re behind the wheel, being aware of the UK van speed limit is just as important.
The limits can be exceeded when immediate action is needed to deal with life-or-death emergencies.
Weekly Legal Driving Hours For Van Drivers
Drivers of goods vehicles have 56 hours of maximum drive time for a whole week. You have a maximum of 90 hours of fortnightly driving. This is the total time you have to spend driving over a two-week period. A week is considered the fixed period from 00:00 Monday to 24:00 the following Sunday.
No matter if your business requires a small van hire or you’re actually in need of large vans for hire, reach out to SDVH. We have a diverse range of vehicles for different tasks.
Break And Rest Periods
Humans can’t be machines, and to ensure everyone’s safety, drivers’ hours rules also include minimum daily rest and weekly rest periods, whether you’re driving a Luton or any other commercial vehicle.
A minimum of 11 hours of daily rest is required, to be taken every 24-hour period following the conclusion of the last daily or last weekly rest. You can reduce this rest to nine hours, but only three times between weekly rests.
Weekly driving also requires a weekly rest. You must take a minimum of 45 hours of rest at the end of six 24-hour periods. Similar to the daily rest, you can reduce this amount as well, by a maximum of 21 hours. This brings it down to a minimum of 24 hours.
In any rolling two-week period, a driver is obligated to have a minimum of two weekly rests or a combination of one weekly rest and one reduced weekly rest.
Legal Working Hours
Van drivers are prohibited from being on duty for more than 11 hours on any given working day. If you have working days when you’re not actively driving, this restriction doesn’t apply. You’re also exempt from the rule if you have to drive a van for medical or inspection purposes.
It’s also mandatory to document your working hours either on a weekly record sheet or by using a tachograph. This will also help you keep things organised and ensure that there is proof you’re doing everything according to the rules.
If you’re using a vehicle for non-commercial purposes, you’re not obligated to record your hours.
Exceptions To Domestic Rules On Van Driving Hours
There are some special situations when these driving limit obligations don’t apply. If you’re handling an emergency or driving less than four hours a day during a given week, you’re also exempt from sticking to this driving limit. Domestic rules also don’t apply if the vehicle is used by police, fire services or armed forces police.
You also don’t have to abide by the daily duty limit if you’re driving a vehicle that weighs less than 3.5 tonnes and you’re working as a doctor, dentist, nurse, midwife or vet, or in inspection, cleaning or maintenance.
Exceeding the UK daily driving hours limit could result in a £300 fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Hours Can You Drive A 3.5-Tonne Van In A Day?
You can drive 10 hours a day in a 3.5-tonne van in one day. This period includes time behind the wheel with the engine running without serious interruptions or potential pauses. The daily duty limit is 11 hours, which means you must not exceed a total work time of 11 hours in a day. If you don’t need to drive a vehicle for more than four hours a day, you’re exempt from the rules.
What’s The Penalty For Breaking Driving Hours Rules In The UK?
The penalty for breaking driving hours rules in the UK is a fine of up to £300. Other penalties can include a prohibition notice, points on your licence or your vehicle being immobilised. These penalties are enforced to ensure safety on the roads and prevent any accidents. It’s crucial for drivers and other road users to adhere to these regulations to avoid legal consequences.
Does Gross Weight Determine Van Driving Hours Limit?
Yes, gross weight determines the van driving hours limit. If you drive a van that has a gross weight of under 3.5 tonnes, then you’re allowed 10 hours of continuous or accumulated driving. Drivers of vehicles over 3.5 t have to adhere to the EU rules, and they can drive up to nine hours a day. Thus, these driving rules apply to van drivers towing trailers.
What’s The Weekly Rest Period For Van Drivers?
The weekly rest period for van drivers is 45 hours. You can track your rest hours on a weekly record sheet or a tachograph. You can reduce this period to a minimum of 24 hours. During a two-week period, the driver is obligated to take at least 2 week rest periods.
Do All Van Drivers Have To Use Tachographs?
No, not all van drivers have to use tachographs. These devices are used to track how many hours drivers have spent driving. Gross weight limits play a role here as well. If you drive commercial vehicles weighing over 3.5 tonnes, you’re obligated to use a tachograph. If you drive a van under 3.5 tonnes for private driving, you don’t have to use it.
Conclusion
Now you know the legal driving hours for van drivers in the UK. These rules apply to drivers in most commercial businesses and it’s important to be aware of them to avoid any kind of accidents or penalties. Things like daily driving limits and daily or weekly rest will not only make your drivers more productive but will also keep everyone safe when your commercial vehicle heads off the road.
How many hours can a 3.5T vehicle drive for when it is double manned ?
Does the duty time supersede double manned vehicles under GB regs ?