Logistics Drivers Hours

Everything you need to know.

For heavy goods vehicle (HGV) and logistics drivers, there's no room for trying to break world speed records. Legal regulations set out by the EU and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) require HGV drivers (and other drivers within the logistics sector) to conform to a strict set of safety rules and regulations whilst working. These include mandatory rest periods (both weekly rest and daily rest periods) and maximum driving hour rules per 24 hour period and week. These rules are made to ensure not only the driver's own safety but the safety of others around them.

What is The Logistics Drivers Hours Skills Test?

Our logistics drivers hours test is designed to assess an individual’s knowledge of the rules and regulations involved in meeting EU rules and goods vehicle safe operation requirements. It is fundamental for drivers in the logistics industry to have a thorough awareness and understanding of the rules associated with this sector.

As part of the test, candidates are required to answer 11 randomised multiple-choice questions within 7 minutes. Their responses to each question are automatically marked; receiving one point per correctly answered question. Skipped questions or those answered incorrectly will result in no points being awarded for that question.

An example question would be:

What is the longest you can drive before you have to take a break?

5 hours
2 hours
3.5 hours
4.5 hours

Practice test available
Randomised presentation
5 minutes available

4 minutes average completion time
11 questions presented
11 questions in pool

Who is The Logistics Drivers Hours Skills Test Aimed At?

The questions on this test are aimed at anyone working in logistics; whether that be those who manage logistics drivers or the drivers themselves.

An employer would find it useful to incorporate this skills test into their pre-employment candidate screening stage in order to streamline their recruitment process, find highly skilled, competent and reliable drivers and ultimately optimise their supply chain.

Logistics managers may also wish to utilise this test as part of their driver management strategy. For example, adding this skills test into regular mandatory training in order to maintain and enhance the knowledge and expertise of their fleet.

Skills Measured

01 Awareness of Current Legislation: There is a huge selection of rules to be aware of as an HGV driver in order to be compliant with EU regulations and a safe, skilful and reliable driver. From knowing how many hours you can drive within one 24 hour period or week, to understanding the vital importance of meeting weekly rest and daily rest period requirements during your driving hours. All of the questions on our logistics driving hours skill test are designed to target one's knowledge of these rules. As such, your candidate's final score will provide an accurate indication of your candidate's awareness of the current legislation within this industry.
02 Lawful Practice: As each question assesses your driver's knowledge of the legal rules and regulations required of them, this skills test provides a reliable indication of their ability to practice legally within the logistics sector.
03 Good Practice: Spending hours alone at the wheel each day, logistics drivers need to be adept at self-management. Part of this is maintaining good practice whilst driving and operating the vehicle. From ensuring rest periods, conforming to maximum driving hours rules and fitting in their essential 45-minute breaks; an awareness of the rules and regulations for this industry ensures that your drivers manage to provide best practice at all times.

Why Use a Logistics Drivers Hours Skills Test?

Stay Safe

Any mode of transport comes with risk; whether you're driving a miniature electric car or a 20 tonne HGV. However, operating a heavy goods vehicle is renowned for being dangerous and requiring high levels of skill, especially considering the number of hours and miles that HGV drivers are working for at a time. It's no wonder then that HGV training courses can take up to 16 weeks to complete!

In order to maintain the safety of your HGV drivers, transport, fleet, supply chain and the general public, training in this sector is a vital and life-saving requirement. By ensuring that your current or prospective drivers know the rules and regulations involved in operating their vehicle safely, you could avoid catastrophic collisions and accidents that injure innocent people as well as your logistics company.

Legal Obligation

To ensure compliance with EU driving rules, logistics drivers have tachograph devices fitted into their vehicles. Tachographs automatically log the driver's speed and distance over a set period thus can be used to calculate the number of hours a driver has spent driving the vehicle.

However, the logistics sector cannot rely on tachographs alone to conduct driver management - it is down to both the driver and their employer and/or management to ensure compliance with DVSA and EU regulations. As part of this, it is mandatory for an employer to provide industry-specific training to logistics and HGV drivers.

Avoid Penalties and Enforcements

Breaching the legal rules set by the EU and DVSA can result in hefty fines and/or imprisonment depending on the severity of the breach. As an employer, these penalties can be costly to your reputation as well as your wallet. Limit your risk of suffering penalties and enforcements by employing a fleet of informed, reliable drivers who thoroughly understand the rules they must abide by whilst working in logistics.

Improve Driver Onboarding & Retention

Not only do pre-employment skills tests help you to streamline your recruitment process and find highly skilled and competent drivers to add to your supply chain, but they also help you to avoid high turnover and improve staff retention. This is through employing the best candidates for the job who are reliable, efficient and more likely to stand the test of time in this notoriously stressful industry.