Multi-drop delivery drivers are routinely being expected to work 12 to 15-hour days, putting their health and safety at risk, according to the GMB union.
Speaking at GMB Congress, the union called for an end to what it describes as the normalisation of excessive working hours across the logistics sector. GMB is proposing a maximum 10-hour working day for drivers, with no loss of pay.
Flaviu Andrea, an HGV driver and GMB delegate, said long working days increase fatigue, stress, injury risks and road danger.
He said a driver who has been awake for 17 hours faces twice the normal collision risk, arguing that fatigue is a predictable consequence of long hours, night work and insufficient recovery time.
According to GMB, the length of drivers' working days is often driven by inefficiencies rather than driving time. The union says drivers can spend hours waiting to load or unload, while unrealistic route plans can add further pressure to already lengthy shifts.
GMB says its proposed 10-hour maximum would put safety ahead of profit and place greater responsibility on employers to address inefficient working practices rather than relying on workers to absorb the pressure.
The union is calling for the proposal to be adopted across the multi-drop logistics sector.