Working Time and Road Transport Directive - 4th April 2005

SCLC Ltd: "Provide Impact Assessments and Counter-Measure Solutions for Transport Operators."

It's Official - the UK Government announced on the 1st Nov 2004 that 4th April 2005 is the implementation date for the new legislation, which will be known as "Road Transport (Working Time) Regulations 2005". This final change will bring the UK in line with the rest of Europe. Since the implementation of the Working Time Directive, HGV /LGV drivers have been exempt.

The final changes will implement The Road Transport Directive, which will for the first time regulate the hours mobile workers can work. (LGV Drivers).

Many employers in the logistics industry have employees working well outside the 48 hours maximum, with HGV / LGV drivers working 60 hours a week or more.

The costs of implementing this legislation will prove to be massive for the industry, so you need to start planning these changes now. There is already a large shortage of LGV drivers. When their hours are cut under the legislation the situation will become much worse.

The changes will have the same impact on small and large logistics & transport providers

Companies still working the old overtime cultures need to be considering the following compensating measures:.

Improved Customer Order management, revising delivery schedules.
Using shared user localised delivery depots, moving bulk deliveries onto night trunks.
Changing traffic planning routines and systems to maximise drive time.
Annualised hour's schemes which deliver flexible work hours.
Commitment Hours scheme to enable flexible working time.
Productivity Improvements to maximise daily drive times.
And finally preparing the case for a price increase from your customers, clearly showing that your business have done everything possible to reduce the impact of the legislation.

Supply Chain Logistics Consulting Ltd: have the experience of implementing alternative flexible working schemes and methods. We then couple these with productivity & transport planning improvements for vehicle fleets and drivers, thus minimising the full impact of legislation or your operations and margins.

Periods of Availability-The latest announcements are very complicated and is an area we specialise in for our clients. We carefully use & plan periods of availability, therefore we can bring your operations in line with the new legislation rules.

Ring us now or email us - To arrange a Legislation Impact Assessment of your business operations.

We have counter-measure solutions that will lessen the impact of this legislation on your operational costs and margins.

We will be able to help you.

New Service Offer

Road Transport Directive

Are your Transport Costs Rising:

We are currently undertaking transport and distribution reviews for companies who are preparing for the New Road Transport Directive legislation, which will be implemented 4th April 2005 .

These reviews are taking place on own account fleets and with 3rd Party Fleets.

The reviews consist of:

Mapping your routes & resources against your current costs.

Optimising these routes using the latest route planning and resources software.

Using the optimised routing data, we will recommend ways to improve the use of working time & total drive time.

This is the only way forward without increasing fleet sizes and employing more drivers.

Don't assume your present transport company or your own fleet is working in the most cost effective and efficient way.

Many times fleets costs wander away from the planned costs, and then increase month on month, year on year.

Imagine the impact of doing nothing when the 48hrs becomes compulsory 4th April 2005 .

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The Road Transport Directive March 2005

Are you Ready for this !!

Main Provisions of the Changes

Workers hours must not exceed an average of 48 hours over a minimum reference period of 17 weeks.
Individual work weeks must not exceed 60 hours, and employee hours must average 48 hours over or less the 17 week reference period.
There is no opt out on the hours rules.
Drivers accompanying vehicles or driver's mates- their time counts as working time under the new directive.
A collective employee agreement will enable the employer to extend the reference period to 26 weeks.
Where there is no collective agreement the 17 weeks reference period must apply.
Night Time workers must not work longer than 10 hrs of continuous work, in any 24 hours period and only work an average 48 hours over the agreed reference period.
Night Time is defined as 00:00 hrs to 04:00 hrs, any time worked between these times triggers the 10 hours limit.
Workers must have rest breaks of 30 mins when working 6-9 hours, and 45 mins when working over 9 hours. These breaks can be taken in 15 mins slots.
Rest Periods-same as the current E.U. Drivers rules.
Self Employed drivers are exempt until March 2009.
Employees must have 11 consecutive hours rest in any 24 hour period.
Young workers should not work more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week.
Weekly Rest periods- for each 7 day period employees must take 24 hours uninterrupted rest period plus the 11 hours daily rest.

Periods of availability- calculations must be used determine drive time against paid hours for each employee. This is very complicated and is an area we specialise in for our clients. We carefully use & plan periods of availability, therefore we can bring your operations in line with the new legislation rules.

Supply Chain Logistics Consulting Ltd - The Chimes, 1 Park Rd, Congleton, Cheshire. CW12-1DS -01260-276469

Mobile 0777-1973782

For more information Email Us @:-

info@supplychainlogistics-consulting.co.uk

or ask Questions via "Live Chat" with one of our Consultants