Truck Driver Shifts: What You Really Need to Know About Hours, Rest, and Schedules

When you think about being a truck driver, you probably picture long roads and big loads—but what you don’t see is the strict clock that runs your day. Truck driver shifts, the scheduled periods during which a commercial driver operates a heavy goods vehicle. Also known as HGV driving hours, these aren’t just about how long you drive—they’re about safety, law, and survival on the job. In the UK, these shifts are tightly controlled by EU and UK regulations, and ignoring them isn’t just risky—it’s illegal.

There’s a big difference between what you can do and what you should do. You might think driving 10 hours straight is fine if you’re not tired, but the rules don’t care how you feel. Daily driving limits, the maximum hours a driver can operate a vehicle in a single day are capped at 9 hours, with a 4.5-hour break required after 4.5 hours of driving. And that’s not optional. Rest periods, mandatory breaks that reset driver fatigue and ensure legal compliance come in two forms: daily (11 hours) and weekly (45 hours). Skip them, and you risk fines, points on your licence, or even losing your job. These aren’t suggestions—they’re enforced by tachograph records and roadside checks.

What about night shifts? Or weekend work? Many drivers assume flexibility means freedom, but the rules are clear: you can’t drive more than 56 hours in a single week, and 90 hours over two weeks. That’s not a suggestion—it’s a hard cap. And if you’re driving a Class 1 HGV, you’re held to the same standards as every other commercial driver. There’s no special treatment for experienced drivers, no exceptions for tight deadlines. The system is built to protect you, not punish you. The best drivers aren’t the ones who push the hardest—they’re the ones who plan their rest, stick to their schedule, and know when to say no.

And here’s the truth most new drivers don’t realize: your shift doesn’t end when you turn off the engine. Time spent loading, unloading, paperwork, or waiting at a depot counts as working time. That means your 9-hour driving limit could be hit long before you’ve hit the road again. That’s why smart drivers plan their day around rest, not just driving. They know that a 20-minute nap after lunch isn’t a luxury—it’s part of the job.

What you’ll find below are real stories and hard facts from drivers who’ve been there. You’ll see how shift patterns affect pay, how rest rules change on different routes, and what happens when you ignore the clock. Some posts break down the exact legal limits. Others share how drivers manage fatigue on long hauls. A few even explain how to spot when your body is begging for rest—even if your dispatcher isn’t listening.