According to VATA, with the highest goal of ensuring safety for drivers as well as other road users, Article 64 of the Law on Road Traffic Safety stipulates that drivers of automobiles for transport business are not allowed to drive vehicles continuously for more than 4 hours, no more than 10 hours/day and no more than 48 hours/week. Thus, compared to before, the new law effective from January 1, 2025 has stipulated the maximum driving time per week for drivers.
However, in order to facilitate business conditions for businesses, the Vietnam Automobile Transport Association has proposed adjusting the driving time of automobile drivers for transport business to up to 70 hours/week like some countries in the world.
According to Mr. Nguyen Duc Ta (a driver on the Hanoi - Dak Lak route), if driving a long distance for exactly 4 hours, stopping at a rest, while the road and the bus are very good, it may affect passengers and the driver's income because the 4-hour driving time is too short, increasing the waiting costs for the driver, bus assistants and passengers.
A representative of Dat Cang Transport, Trade and Service Joint Stock Company (Hai Phong) said that there is currently a shortage of long-distance drivers, according to regulations, businesses must add more workers to meet the regulation that drivers are not allowed to drive continuously for more than 4 hours, no more than 10 hours/day and 48 hours/week. However, in reality, difficulties arose.
According to VATA, with the current status of the road transport system, the total number of hours for car drivers is about 60 - 65 hours/week for short-distance transport (under 300 km) and over 65 hours/week for long-distance transport (over 300 km). Compared in reality with the provisions of the Law on Road Traffic Safety and Order of 48 hours/week, the number of working hours of drivers is reduced by about 20 - 30% for short-distance transport and over 30% for long-distance transport. This regulation causes drivers to have their income reduced by 20 - 30% due to reduced working hours.
Speaking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Khuc Huu Thanh Hai, Vice Chairman of Hai Phong Transport Association, said that businesses and drivers basically support this proposal because the current traffic infrastructure is good, the routes are shortened and the vehicles are modern, helping drivers to be able to drive for longer while still ensuring health.
According to Mr. Khuc Huu Thanh Hai, compared to other countries and territories, the regulation that car drivers do not have to drive for more than 48 hours/week in Vietnam is currently the lowest. While the road infrastructure has improved compared to before, the VATA recommendation is based on the provisions of the Labor Law, workers are allowed to work no more than 300 hours/year. "If it is agreed to be applied up to 70 hours, corresponding to advanced countries, it will create more conditions for workers," said Mr. Hai.
