Working hours law to raise transport costs and demand for drivers

Transport costs and demand for truck drivers in many European countries were set to rise after the introduction on 4 April 2005 of legislation on working hours, according to industry observers. The legislation was expected to have a strong effect in the UK, where hours had been less heavily regulated, and because of a shortage of drivers. The new steps were to extend to drivers the EU working hours rules, restricting an average working week of drivers to 48 hours and a maximum week to 60 hours.