- Tractors used for agricultural purposes;
- Vehicles used by agricultural undertakings for the carriage of goods as part of their own entrepreneurial activity within a radius of 100 km of base;
- Vehicles used to transport livestock to market/slaughter house where the distance from farm to market or market to slaughter house does not exceed 100 km.
The Commission is considering whether change to the rules is needed including whether the scope of the rules should be extended to include small goods vehicles less than 3.5 tonnes.
Our initial thoughts
The NFU considers that the existing rules are already sufficiently wide and that no change to bring small goods vehicles less than 3.5 tonnes into scope is required because:
- Although EU rules do not apply to vehicles less than 3.5 tonnes GB domestic rules do apply. GB rules govern the number of hours drivers are permitted to drive. Breaches of GB rules can carry a penalty of up to £2,500 per offence.
- An extension of EU rules will be a restrictive measure on business imposing additional administrative burdens and considerable costs disproportionate to any benefit gained
We want to hear from you and your views as to whether:
- The current rules which exclude vehicles less than 3.5 tonnes should be changed;
- The impact that any change could have on your business activities.
Please respond by emailing us, here, no later than 28 October 2016.
Further information for members (login required)
Business guide114 covers Driver’s Hours and Tachograph rules in more detail, here.
The full EC consultation is available here