Delivery van drivers have to comply with the same requirements as car drivers. For driving a truck the requirements are different, however: obtaining a C-, C1-, CE- or CE1 licence, refresher training for professional drivers (Code 95) every five years, and strict rules about driving time and rest periods. The requirements for driving a truck are briefly explained below.
Licence for driving a truck
The Dutch Driving Test Organisation provides the following overview of the requirements of the driving licence for truck drivers [35].
|
Driving licence |
Professional transport |
Minimum age |
Maximum mass allowed |
Maximum trailer mass exceeding 750 kg? |
|
C1 |
No |
18 |
3500 - 7500 kg |
No |
|
C |
21 |
> 3500 kg |
No |
|
|
C1E |
18 |
3500 - 7500 kg |
Yes, to a combined maximum of 12,000 kg |
|
|
CE |
21 |
> 3500 kg |
Yes |
|
|
C1 with code 95 |
Yes |
18 |
3500 - 7500 kg |
No |
|
C with code 95 |
> 3500 kg |
No |
||
|
C1E with code 95 |
3500 - 7500 kg |
Yes, to a combined maximum of 12,000 kg |
||
|
CE with code 95 |
> 3500 kg |
Yes |
Table 4. Licence types as a function of professionalism, age and mass. Licences CE and CE with code 95 contain no restrictions concerning maximum combined mass.
There are four licence types for truck drivers: C, C1, CE and C1E. To these licences, code 95 may be added. The difference between the C1 and C licence is that a C1 licence only allows the driver to drive lighter trucks (up to 7,500 kg). Adding E to the licence implies that the driver is also allowed to drive with a (semi)trailer of more than 7500 kg. A truck driver earns Code 95 after he has obtained the initial qualification; this code on the driving licence allows a truck driver to drive professionally. The truck driver needs to renew the code every five years by doing a refresher training (of at least 35 hours). An 18-year-old truck driver is only allowed to drive lighter trucks provided he has obtained the correct licence. If said driver has obtained the initial qualification (code 95), he is also allowed to drive heavier trucks (> 3500 kg). Without initial qualification this is only allowed for truck drivers aged 21 or over.
For driving a Longer and Heavier Truck (LHT) the driver needs to obtain a special certificate. This entails an exam with a theoretical and practical component. When taking the exam, the driver needs to have a valid CE driving licence with code 95, and five years of experience in driving CE-combinations, and his licence must not have been suspended in the previous three years.
Refresher training
As described above, a professional driver needs to undergo refresher training every five years, for a minimum of 35 hours. The driver may choose the training course at certified institutions himself, as long as the minimum number is guaranteed. In the Netherlands, examples of training courses to choose from are: energy-efficient driving, manoeuvring, and driving optimisation [36] .
Driving time and rest periods
EU regulation 561/2006 [37] lays down the legal driving time and rest period requirements for truck drivers. The regulation says that the uninterrupted driving time may not exceed 4.5 hours, after which a 45-minute break is obligatory. The daily and weekly driving time may not exceed 9 and 56 hours respectively. Once a week, truck drivers are obliged to take a rest of 45 uninterrupted hours. Spending this rest period inside the truck cabin is illegal. The exact rules are published in [38]. In the Netherlands, the EU rules have been included in article 2.5:3 of the road carriage working hours decree (Arbeidstijden besluit vervoer) [39].
There are, however, doubts about the effectiveness of driving time and rest period legislation. In 2012, the Dutch Safety Board concluded that employers fail to take legal responsibility for scheduling the truck drivers’ work in such a way that they can comply with the mandatory driving time and rest period regulations [22]. For more information, see the question What vehicle measures were taken and how effective were they? .
