Status Quo for Working Time Rules will Save Millions for Construction
QPA, the principal trade body for the quarry products sector,
has welcomed the DfT's decision to leave the UK interpretation
of the European Road Transport Working Time Directive (WTD) unchanged
following a recent review. The quarrying industry had harboured
concerns that potential revisions to the Directive would bring
about the abolition of Periods of Availability for drivers.
Periods of Availability (PoAs) relate to circumstances where
drivers spend time waiting to receive or deliver loads. In certain
circumstances (PoAs) this waiting time can be discounted from
the 48 hour working week limit. With deliveries of aggregates
being characterised by short delivery distances and frequent waiting
periods for drivers, PoAs are critical in allowing drivers flexibility
within the working time rules.
QPA research showed that an abolition of PoAs would effectively
reduce driver productivity by 10%, potentially amounting to a
bill of over £100m for the aggregates sector and its clients
to plug the haulage gap - assuming sufficient additional haulage
capacity could be sourced. In practice, the quarrying industry
would have faced a difficult task in finding additional drivers,
in turn threatening the progress of construction contracts through
a lack of delivery transport.
In its evidence, QPA demonstrated that the sector is committed
to improving driver Health and Safety and transport efficiency
through a variety of means, including the implementation of driver
training programmes, and investment in alternative transport modes
such as rail. As such, correct adoption of PoAs does not pose
a health and safety challenge to the sector. However, QPA has
supported moves to tighten enforcement of PoA rules and improve
clarity to ensure any concerns over potential misunderstanding
of the system is effectively addressed in the interests of driver
safety.
QPA Director General Simon van der Byl commented that the preservation
of existing drivers hours' rules "effectively protects the
quarrying industry's ability to deliver what our construction
clients need to complete their projects on time and within budget.
Our evidence submitted to the review has indicated that when executed
correctly, Periods of Availability play an important role in our
Drivers' working patterns without compromising their wellbeing.
Coupled with QPA-led initiatives to improve general driver health
and safety practice and the industry's well-documented adoption
of alternative transport methods, we are already demonstrating
commitment to the most sustainable delivery of vital materials
ENDS
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