For any professional HGV driver, understanding the rules around driving hours and rest periods is fundamental to road safety and personal wellbeing. The regulations, primarily governed by assimilated EU drivers' hours rules in the UK, are designed to prevent driver fatigue, which is a major cause of accidents.

At Lanes Group, we prioritise the safety of our team and the public. That's why we ensure all our driver-operators are fully versed in the HGV driver hours regulations. Whether you're a seasoned lorry driver or new to the industry, this guide will answer the crucial question: how much weekly rest does a HGV driver need?

We'll break down the essentials of weekly rest periods, daily rest, driving limits, and the HGV working time directive to give you a clear picture of your responsibilities on the road.

What is the HGV Working Time Directive?

The Working Time Directive for HGV drivers sets the maximum working hours and defines the necessary rest periods. It's crucial to distinguish between 'driving hours' and 'working hours'.

• Working time: includes all work-related tasks, such as driving, loading, unloading, vehicle checks and admin.
• Driving time: refers specifically to the time spent driving the vehicle.

Under the working time directive rules, a driver's average working time must not exceed 48 hours per week, calculated over a reference period (typically 17-26 weeks). However, in any single week, your working hours can go up to 60 hours, as long as the average is maintained.

Weekly rest periods explained

An HGV driver must take a weekly rest period after no more than six consecutive 24-hour periods from the end of their last weekly rest period. This means you cannot work seven days in a row. The weekly rest itself can be taken in two ways: as a regular weekly rest or a reduced weekly rest.

What is a regular weekly rest period?

A regular weekly rest period is a continuous, uninterrupted period of rest that lasts for at least 45 hours. This is the standard, full weekly rest that HGV drivers must plan for.

What is a reduced weekly rest period?

Drivers can opt to take a reduced weekly rest period, which must be a minimum of 24 consecutive hours. However, there are strict rules on how and when you can do this:

• You can only take one reduced weekly rest period between any two regular weekly rest periods.
• In any two-week period, you must take at least one regular 45-hour weekly rest and one reduced 24-hour weekly rest.

Compensation for reduced weekly rest

If you take a reduced weekly rest, the 'lost' rest time must be compensated. For example, if you take a 30-hour weekly rest (a reduction of 15 hours from the 45-hour standard), you must add those 15 hours back onto another rest period.

Key rules for compensation include:

• The compensatory rest must be taken in one block.
• It must be attached to another rest period of at least 9 hours (e.g., a daily rest period or another weekly rest).
• This compensation must be taken before the end of the third week following the week of the reduction.

Daily driving and rest requirements for HGV drivers

Your weekly rest is just one part of the puzzle. To fully understand HGV driver hours, you must also be clear on the daily regulations for driving, breaks and rest periods.

Daily driving limit

The daily driving limit for an HGV driver is nine hours. This can be extended to 10 hours twice a week. These extensions do not need to be compensated.

Fortnightly driving limit

Your driving hours are also capped over longer periods:

• Weekly driving limit: you must not exceed 56 hours of driving in a single week.
• Fortnightly driving limit: your total driving hours over any two consecutive weeks must not exceed 90 hours.

Breaks from driving

After 4.5 hours of driving, you are legally required to take an uninterrupted break of at least 45 minutes. It is illegal to continue driving after 4.5 hours without taking the required break.

Can you split your break?

Yes, you can use split breaks. You can split your 45-minute break into two periods:

1. The first period must be at least 15 minutes.
2. The second period must be at least 30 minutes.

This split must be taken in this order. Taking a 30-minute break followed by a 15-minute one does not count. The full 45 minutes of break must be completed within the 4.5 hours of driving.

Daily rest period rules

Within every 24-hour period after the end of your last daily or weekly rest period, you must take a new daily rest period.

Regular daily rest period

A regular daily rest period is a continuous rest period of at least 11 hours.

Split daily rest period

Alternatively, you can take a split daily rest period. This is taken in two separate periods:

1. The first period must be an uninterrupted period of at least 3 hours.
2. The second period must be an uninterrupted period of at least 9 hours.

This totals 12 hours of rest but provides more flexibility.

Reduced daily rest period

You can also take a reduced daily rest period. This is a continuous rest period of at least 9 hours, but less than 11 hours. There is a limit on how often you can do this: you can only take up to three reduced daily rest periods between any two weekly rest periods. There is no requirement to compensate for this reduction.

Special considerations for HGV drivers

The EU drivers' hours rules, which are retained in UK law, include specific clauses for certain situations that every HGV driver should know.

Where can you take your rest?

While daily rest periods and reduced weekly rest periods can be taken in a vehicle's cab (provided it has suitable sleeping facilities), regular 45-hour weekly rest periods cannot be taken in your vehicle. Drivers and employers must arrange for proper accommodation for these longer rest periods, and authorities like the DVSA can issue significant fines for violations.

What is a period of availability?

A Period of Availability (POA) is time spent waiting, where you are not required to work but must be available to start. Examples include waiting for loading/unloading or at border crossings. POA does not count as working time or as a break/rest period. You must know in advance how long the waiting period will be.

Rules for night work

Night work is defined as work done during a specific night time period (typically midnight to 4 am for goods vehicles). If you perform any work during this period, your total working time in any 24-hour period is limited to 10 hours. This limit can only be exceeded if a collective or workforce agreement is in place.

Why are these drivers' hours rules so important?

These complex regulations exist for one simple reason: to prevent driver fatigue. Tired drivers have slower reaction times and are more likely to make errors, endangering themselves and others. Adhering to the rules on HGV driving hours and rest periods means our roads are safer for everyone.

For employers like Lanes Group, ensuring compliance is a top priority. We provide our driver-operators with the support and scheduling needed to meet all legal requirements, protecting their licence and their wellbeing.

HGV Driver Hours: frequently asked questions

Here are quick answers to some of the most common questions about HGV driver hours and rest periods.

Q: Can an HGV driver work 7 days in a row?

A: You must start a weekly rest period no later than the end of six 24-hour periods from your last weekly rest period. This effectively prevents working seven full days consecutively.

Q: How much rest do HGV drivers need?

A: An HGV driver needs a daily rest period of at least 11 hours (or a reduced period of 9 hours) and a weekly rest period of at least 45 hours (or a reduced period of 24 hours).

Q: Can I reduce my weekly rest twice in a row?

A: In any two consecutive weeks, you must take at least one regular (45-hour) weekly rest period and one reduced (24-hour) weekly rest period. You cannot take two reduced weekly rests back-to-back.

Q: What is the maximum number of hours you can drive in a week?

A: The weekly driving limit is 56 hours. Additionally, your driving hours must not exceed 90 hours over any two consecutive weeks.

Q: Can I work 60 hours a week as an HGV driver?

A: You can work up to 60 hours in a single week. However, your average working time must not exceed 48 hours per week over the designated reference period.

Q: How many hours can a lorry driver drive in 24 hours?

A: A lorry driver has a daily driving limit of 9 hours, which can be extended to 10 hours twice a week.

Q: What happens if I break the drivers' hours rules?

A: Penalties can be severe, ranging from fines of up to £300 per offence to prosecution and potential suspension of your operator's license. The DVSA can issue fines for up to five offences at once.

Join a team that puts safety first

At Lanes Group, our drivers are skilled driver-operators. This role goes far beyond simply driving; you will be trained to operate our advanced drainage equipment on-site and act as a key point of contact for customers, delivering crucial services directly. We are committed to upholding the highest safety standards, which include strict adherence to the working time directive rules and enabling our team to get their required rest periods.

If you are a qualified HGV driver looking for a hands-on driver-operator role where your safety and professionalism are valued, explore our opportunities today. Find out more about driving careers at Lanes Group.

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