Shunting rules and regulations are crucial for maintaining a safe and regulatory environment in your HGV depot or yard. In this post we’ll take a brief look at HGV shunting rules and legal requirements, and explore how meeting best practice guidelines will help you and your drivers stay safe while avoiding fines and other expenses.
For more information on how we can help you and your fleet, get in touch with us on 020 8290 9099 or email us at commercial.motor@anthonyjones.com.
What is Shunting?
“Shunting” means moving a vehicle for business or logistical purposes on private property, rather than on public roads. HGV shunting involves manoeuvring heavy goods vehicles around yards, depots, and off-road parking areas.
Do You Need a CPC For HGV Shunting?
You need a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) to drive an HGV on public roads. You will only need a CPC for shunting an HGV if any part of the journey takes place on a public road. If all of the shunting takes place “off-road” – that is, in a yard, depot, or other private premises – then a CPC may not be necessary.
However, fleet managers will still have a legal responsibility to ensure that any shunter drivers are qualified to safely handle HGVs on their premises. As a result, many fleet managers choose to provide either standard CPC training, or dedicated HGV shunting training, to any driver who operates vehicles onsite.
Shunting Legal Requirements for Employers
The following legislation outlines your essential responsibilities as an employer regarding shunting operations on your premises:
The essential legal requirements are as follows:
- Employers provide thorough training for any driver who operates HGVs on their premises, even if it does not involve any driving on public roads.
- All employees must receive clear operational protocols on the safe operation of HGVs in yards or depots. This should involve checklists for key operations including coupling, uncoupling, and vehicle manoeuvres.
- Shunter drivers must carry our regular inspections of all vehicles, trailers, and braking systems. They should immediately report any defects, and you should work to address any issues as soon as possible.
Shunting Safety Rules To Implement
Your operational protocols, along with your ongoing training, should clearly outline all of your shunting safety rules, so that everyone knows exactly what is expected of them, and exactly what steps they need to take to keep themselves and others safe.
Your safety rules should include:
- Strict speed limits for all shunting operations. There should be no need for drivers to exceed 5-10 mph while shunting HGVs.
- Drivers should behave as if they are on public roads. For example, they should continue to signal before manoeuvres, even if there does not seem to be anyone around.
- Clear signage throughout your premises, to reinforce your safety rules and to designate pedestrian areas, loading areas, and so on.
- Avoiding any particularly hazardous actions. For example, people should refrain from walking behind reversing vehicles, from walking underneath trailers, and from placing their fingers in fifth-wheel jaws etc.
- There should be adequate lighting wherever shunting takes place, and anyone not currently in a vehicle should wear hi-vis vests and other safety equipment.
Tachograph Rules For HGV Shunting
Any onsite staff who drive vehicles exclusively for shunting purposes probably will not require a tachograph card to record their driving hours – unless they take the vehicle onto public roads.
However, any driver who drives on both public roads and around yards or depots will likely be required to use their tachograph to record their shunting work. It’s up to you to determine whether shunting should count as general driving time, or as “other work”.
In any case, you should clearly outline the tachograph rules for HGV shunting as part of your operational protocols. This way you can ensure that all drivers continue to accurately record their driving hours, which will help you and your drivers stay compliant.
Don’t Take Shunting Rules For Granted!
Steve Blackmore, Director at Anthony Jones says:
“Not all accidents take place on public roads, and even experienced drivers can make mistakes. In fact, when it comes to shunting, experienced drivers may become overconfident, or even complacent, which can make accidents much more likely.
“This is why it’s vital to set strict safety rules for all onsite and off-road driving. And you should also ensure that all drivers receive adequate training for safe shunting, regardless of their skill level, and their job title.”
At Anthony Jones, we can help you ensure that your commercial fleet insurance covers you for off-road incidents, along with the risks associated with driving on public roads. For more information on how we can help you and your fleet, get in touch with us on 020 8290 9099 or email us at commercial.motor@anthonyjones.com.
