Fleet operators prepare for new EU legislation
The number of calls made to the Freight Transport Association (FTA) concerning the new EU drivers’ hours legislation, and how the hours will be recorded, has more than tripled in the last six months. The FTA says that this reflects the extent of concern by road haulage operators that they need to properly prepare for the new legislation.
Sally Thornley, the compliance information services manager for the FTA’s Member Advice Centre, said: ‘Members are obviously making plans for the forthcoming changes.We are being asked more than three times as many questions on drivers’ hours and tachograph rules than on any other subject.
‘The number of calls remains high because transport operators are faced with understanding and managing the new rules and technology.We expect a further upsurge in demand for information in the first quarter of 2007, during the lead-up to the new EU rules, which take effect from April.’
The top five questions being asked by lorry operators, said the FTA, are:
www.digitaltachograph.fta.co.uk — which provides comprehensive information, advice, guidance and details of services to support commercial vehicle operators in managing their responsibilities for drivers’ hours and digital tachographs.
The interactive site explains and demonstrates products and services using moving icons and video clips, providing operators with a detailed step-by-step process in preparing for the switch from analogue to digital tachographs.
To keep road haulage operators up to date with the new EU drivers’ hours rules, FTA has also published a new 94-page book —‘Guide to Managing Drivers’ — which contains useful information about the hiring and retention of drivers, legal compliance with drivers’ hours rules, managing drivers’ time and getting the best out of drivers.
To purchase a copy of the book, call Shopfta on tel: (08717) 111111.
Sally Thornley, the compliance information services manager for the FTA’s Member Advice Centre, said: ‘Members are obviously making plans for the forthcoming changes.We are being asked more than three times as many questions on drivers’ hours and tachograph rules than on any other subject.
‘The number of calls remains high because transport operators are faced with understanding and managing the new rules and technology.We expect a further upsurge in demand for information in the first quarter of 2007, during the lead-up to the new EU rules, which take effect from April.’
The top five questions being asked by lorry operators, said the FTA, are:
- We have unexpectedly had to hire a vehicle fitted with a digital tachograph. What is the minimum we need to do to comply with our legal obligations?
- How will we need to amend our shift patterns to comply with the new weekly rest requirements in April?
- We run a mixed fleet with all drivers using both analogue and digital tachographs. Do drivers need to produce printouts for each day they use the digital equipment?
- Will our vehicles lose exemption from the EU drivers’ hours rules next year?
- How can we manage the vehicle unit data when we hire a vehicle for short periods?
www.digitaltachograph.fta.co.uk — which provides comprehensive information, advice, guidance and details of services to support commercial vehicle operators in managing their responsibilities for drivers’ hours and digital tachographs.
The interactive site explains and demonstrates products and services using moving icons and video clips, providing operators with a detailed step-by-step process in preparing for the switch from analogue to digital tachographs.
To keep road haulage operators up to date with the new EU drivers’ hours rules, FTA has also published a new 94-page book —‘Guide to Managing Drivers’ — which contains useful information about the hiring and retention of drivers, legal compliance with drivers’ hours rules, managing drivers’ time and getting the best out of drivers.
To purchase a copy of the book, call Shopfta on tel: (08717) 111111.
