The Freight Transport Association has secured its three main requirements for the industry, such as a 12-hour night shift, following discussions with the government on how the EU regulations to reduce work-time will be applied in the UK. FTA chief executive Richard Turner said he welcomed the decisions made by transport minister David Jamieson last week, for acknowledging the problems imposed on the transport industry by the compulsory reductions in the working week. “FTA campaigned long and hard to ensure the regulations minimise the impact that this loss of manpower and productivity will have,” he said.

“The road transport directive is the most serious and expensive compliance legislation the industry has faced. The difficulties of reducing a current average working week of 55 hours down o a maximum of 45 hours - a loss of 15 per cent - cannot be over emphasised.

“Complying with this legislation will be a big challenge for the transport industry and its efforts to minimise the costs, imposed on its customers and consequently the consumer.”

The working time directive will be implemented i the UK from 23 March 2005.