A common assumption by a lot of those entering the LGV industry is that they can do driving all weekend (or on their days off) to gain experience if they have a Monday to Friday job that does not come under EU regs.
If someone has a Monday to Friday job then they will only, in most circumstances, be able to drive under EU regs for one shift every other weekend in order to conform to the weekly rest periods.
Few rules when doing two jobs and one of them comes under EU regs -
A ‘week’ is mon 0000 to sun 2400
You must have a 45 hour unbroken rest in every other week
You must have a 24 hour unbroken rest in every week
In any week where you come under EU regs your work in the other job must be recorded
That other work can be recorded on a digi tacho, written on seperate digi printouts or on seperate analogue charts - one for each day worked
Each recorded work day must contain your name, date, start & finish time.
You do not need to record anything if you do not come under EU regs in that week
All this is so that the authorities can check that you have had the correct weekly rest for the EU regs
The WEEKLY REST PERIODS are the key factor in determining whether you can drive on any days off from the regular job.
The DAILY REST PERIODS must also be taken into consideration.
None of the above is included in the present theory and I believe should be to prevent breaches of the EU regs/law.
The forthcoming INITIAL LGV driver CPC does not seem to address this issue either as there does not seem to be a compulsory section on these type of regulations. Perhaps there should be …
More information on LGV drivers hours etc can be found by clicking this SAFETY, LAW AND WORKING TIME DIRECTIVE FORUM (INTERACTIVE) link.