Hi guys, I’ve searched the forum and found a few bits and peices regarding this, i’ve also been on the Gov’t websites but it’s not all that clear. Ideally I could use some advice from people who have run this setup before.
The situation:
I will be working 48 hours a week in a primary non-driving job on the following rotation: Two days, two nights, four off. I would like to to fit some HGV work in to stay current, earn a few bob on the side and because, well, lorries are cool. So i’d maybe do one or two days of HGV work if I can get it at the end of the four day shift.
First problem, EU drivers rules:
The fact i’m on 4 on 4 off should mean I can maintain daily and weekly rest but the EU driving regulations will also come into play as the following:
Time spent working in other employment regardless of the occupation type or volunteering when there is an obligation to undertake duties, cannot count as rest and must be counted as duty.
Duty is all periods of work activities such as driving and other work.
Breaks and rest periods do not count as duty.
So i’d have to treat the 48 hours in the primary job as ‘consumed’, that means I couldn’t work driving at all because i’d exceed the 90 hour two week limit as 48+48 = 96. I’ve thought about it being possible to work the spare 8 hours one week to make that weeks max of 56hours, skip the next week entirely and as i’m not driving in that week, EU rules don’t apply to the second week’s 48 hours primary job so they wouldn’t bust the 56+48 = 104hours but having another careful read of the rules I don’t think that’s legal. It certainly sounds like it would be taking the ■■■■ anyway.
Second problem, WTD:
48 hours max averaged over 17 weeks. So the primary job uses all 48 hours and apperently. Now, as I understand it the WTD has to be shared between the two jobs. I can’t opt out of the HGV side as it’s not allowed, so i’m not sure if that means I can’t opt out of the other job either?
As holidays count towards this I can’t take a week’s holiday (or similar, you get the idea) every four months to reduce the average.
As an additional, there’s also some voluntary work i’ll be involved in for yet another role for a couple of hours a week. I understand this will actually count towards my duty hours on EU driving rules so i’ll have to keep tabs on that.
Is this all correct? Is there any modifications to get around it etc? Ideally i’d just like to keep current but it is starting to sound a bit too complicated.
Just checking if ROG’s answer has put all your concerns to rest?
Your 1st point you seem to be considering other work as using up your driving time? Is that what you thought? This is not the case.
Your 2nd point, every time this question is raised on here the answer is always the same, that the 2 systems are not added together.
So you would easily work 2 per 8 or even 2 then 3 days per 16 days.
Peg:
So i’d have to treat the 48 hours in the primary job as ‘consumed’, that means I couldn’t work driving at all because i’d exceed the 90 hour two week limit as 48+48 = 96. I’ve thought about it being possible to work the spare 8 hours one week to make that weeks max of 56hours, skip the next week entirely and as i’m not driving in that week, EU rules don’t apply to the second week’s 48 hours primary job so they wouldn’t bust the 56+48 = 104hours but having another careful read of the rules I don’t think that’s legal. It certainly sounds like it would be taking the ■■■■ anyway.
You’re confusing working time (WTD/RTD) and driving time (EU hours)
90 hours per fortnight is EU DH, 48 average per week is WTD/RTD
Second problem, WTD:
48 hours max averaged over 17 weeks.
FYI Can also be 26 week reference period in some companies
So the primary job uses all 48 hours and apperently. Now, as I understand it the WTD has to be shared between the two jobs. I can’t opt out of the HGV side as it’s not allowed, so i’m not sure if that means I can’t opt out of the other job either?
As holidays count towards this I can’t take a week’s holiday (or similar, you get the idea) every four months to reduce the average.
48 hour average over reference period, 60 hours max work in a week
As an additional, there’s also some voluntary work i’ll be involved in for yet another role for a couple of hours a week. I understand this will actually count towards my duty hours on EU driving rules so i’ll have to keep tabs on that.
Yes that needs to be taken into account - if it’s work, it can’t be rest
Is this all correct? Is there any modifications to get around it etc? Ideally i’d just like to keep current but it is starting to sound a bit too complicated.
Thanks for the veteran of the industry replies.
That’s good, I’m looking forwards to using my licence then. This was a plan set in motion during a very different set of circumstances and i’ve since been offered a job for that’s on a path to somthing i’ve been intersted in for a long time, although still vehicle related. With covid and schools booked up it took so long to get (I submitted the D4 in March 2021 and recieved my final updated licence card back a few weeks ago) that it would be a shame to now not to use it.
