Road Haulage Regulations in the UK: What Every Logistics Manager Needs to Know

UK road haulage is one of the most regulated sectors in the country. Understanding the key regulations helps you make smarter logistics decisions and choose the right haulier.

Driver Hours Rules

UK law limits HGV drivers to a maximum of 9 hours of daily driving (extendable to 10 hours twice a week), with a mandatory 45-minute break after 4.5 hours. These rules exist to reduce driver fatigue and improve road safety.

HGV Licensing Requirements

Drivers of vehicles over 3.5 tonnes require a Category C or C+E licence, plus a valid Driver CPC requiring 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years. At Interscan, all drivers are fully licenced and CPC-trained.

Operator’s Licence

Any business operating commercial vehicles over 3.5 tonnes must hold an Operator’s Licence issued by the Traffic Commissioner. This confirms the operator maintains vehicles to DVSA standards.

Post-Brexit International Freight

Since the UK left the EU, road haulage to European destinations requires customs declarations, T1 transit documents and in some cases ECMT permits. Interscan handles all European customs documentation.

Vehicle Standards & DVSA Compliance

All UK HGVs must pass regular DVSA inspections and maintain up-to-date PMI records. When selecting a logistics partner, ask to see their OCRS (Operator Compliance Risk Score).