Brexit Truck driving hours will they be changed?

Brexit Truck Driving Hours and EU Regulations will they be changed?

Now the Brexit decision has been made, truck drivers wait anxiously to see if any changes will be made to EU regulations as Britain separates from the EU Will Brexit truck driving hours Change?

Whether leaving the EU was the right or the wrong way to go is a matter of personal belief.

Truck drivers have mainly two common questions with regards to Brexit;

  • Will Brexit replace EU Drivers Hours Rules with UK Domestic Regulations?
  • Will the government scrap the Driver CPC examination?
British trucking brexit

Experts say that separating from the EU will take at least two years!

It could of course take much longer! Because the UK is obliged to obey the EU treaties during the course of the separation, it is predict that the answer to both questions above will be simply “No“.

Though the current legislation concerning operators and drivers come from EU laws, Britain is unlikely to focus its immediate attention on the transport sector.

Brexit is likely to create a shortfall of truck drivers so I believe they should focus on this issue sooner rather than later to help new drivers get into the industry with a better understanding of the UK’s position on driving hours.

The primary goal for the road haulage industry will revolve around the renegotiation of trade deals with the EU ensuring that trading barriers are kept to a minimum.

In reality, we traded with Europe long before the EU was spawned, and will continue to trade with Europe moving forward.

It would therefore make sense to keep our drivers’ hours rules aligned with the European standard, but to make the system less complex for our drivers to understand with just one set of rules.

Ever since the Driver CPC was implemented in law, campaigns to reform it have been widespread.

Currently, the Driver CPC qualification is required in two instances:

  • If you work for a transport company registered in an EU country
  • If you are a citizen of an EU country and will be driving in the EU

This implies that when Britain leaves the EU, for many drivers the qualification may be dropped.

However, there would need to be a very strong case to eliminate the qualification completely.

It is expected that the qualification will remain but with minor alterations.

Implications for truck drivers after Brexit

British truck drivers may need new licences and registration certificates to travel in Europe after Brexit under contingency plans being drawn up by the government, experts warn this would create “extremely labour-intensive” extra red tape to the haulage industry.

With the possibility of failing to reach a deal with the EU, Britain is signing up to a United Nations convention on road traffic, which theoretically also affects parking and zebra crossings.

The 1968 Vienna convention, which Britain previously avoided joining because it was too burdensome, has become a necessity because the EU will no longer recognise UK issued licences after Brexit and could ban all drivers and vehicles unless an alternative agreement is secured.

The Vienna convention requires drivers of certain trailer types to seek a separate vehicle registration when travelling abroad.

The government has said this will be mandatory for commercial drivers and larger non-commercial drivers, and voluntary for smaller caravans and horse boxes.

Finally the biggest long-term challenge for the UK freight industry is the lack of travel permits potentially available for British truck drivers if there is no other solution found through an EU trade deal.

Under existing international treaties there are between 100 and 1,225 permits a year available to deal with more than 300,000 journeys by 75,000 British trucks.

The Government believes a deal will be reached as it is in the interests of both Britain and the EU to find a common ground but hauliers need answers to these questions to ensure they can implement changes as and when required.

British transport secretary Chris Grayling

The transport secretary, Chris Grayling, said: “We believe reaching an agreement to continue the liberal access enjoyed by both sides is in everyone’s interests and remain confident we will do so.

“But I also understand that hauliers are planning for the years ahead and want to have certainty that any future deal can be implemented smoothly – so this bill ensures we have plans in place if the deal requires a permitting system.”


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Brexit Truck driving hours will they be changed article British Trucking