EU: Controversy over lorry drivers' hours

The adoption of a revised EU Directive limiting lorry drivers' working time has been delayed by disagreement over whether or not self-employed drivers should be covered, with a European Parliament committee in late September 2009 unable to agree on their inclusion.

Directive 2002/15/EC on the organisation of the working time of persons performing mobile road transport activities was adopted in March 2002 and had to be implemented by the member states by March 2005. The Directive adapted the Working Time Directive (2003/88/EC) to the circumstances of the road transport industry, providing that drivers' weekly working time may not exceed 48 hours but may be extended to 60 hours if, over four months, the 48-hour weekly average is not exceeded.