The current COVID-19 rules for international LGV drivers

If you are an international HGV driver, we understand the pandemic hasn’t been too kind to you. Your day-to-day work has been thrown into disarray, and with the changing rules, it’s not easy to know what you have to do and when. The team here at Health & Safety Training are hopefully going to remedy that this month, by providing a list of the current rules and requirements of HGV drivers who are leaving or returning to the UK.

COVID testing

For hauliers arriving in England after a long trip, a COVID test is still mandatory if you are staying for longer than two days. For every three days that you stay following this, you will need to take a further test. You are exempt from this, however, if you are a) covered by the green list rules, or b) covered by the amber list rules and have been fully vaccinated (this can be under the UK, Swiss or EU programmes).

When you arrive in the UK, the date and time of your arrival will be logged in a passenger locator form – this is something that you have to fill out.

Note that these testing rules apply to both UK and non-UK drivers, and they also apply to van drivers and drivers of other light goods vehicles.

What’s the penalty for not taking a test?

If you choose not to take a test, or if you cannot produce proof of a negative COVID test when asked by a customs officer, you could receive a fine of up to £2000.

But remember, you don’t need to take a test if you are staying for less than two days, and you don’t need to take a test if you are arriving in England from the CTA (Common Travel Area). The CTA covers the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

However, if you are coming from the CTA, you must have been in the CTA for at least 10 days prior to your arrival in England if you are to be exempt from taking a test. So bear this in mind.

Green and amber list rules

As we mentioned earlier, you don’t need to continue to take COVID tests every three days if you are covered by the green list rules or the amber list rules. In the case of the latter, you must be fully vaccinated as well, and you must have received your final dose of the vaccine at least 14 days before coming back to the UK.

Red list rules

Keep in mind here that you are only covered by these rules if you haven’t been to a red list country 10 days prior to your arrival in England. So, even if you are arriving from a green list country, you will not be covered if you have been somewhere on the red list a week before.

If you have been somewhere on the red list in the past 10 days, then you will need to take COVID tests every three days after your initial COVID test, and you will also need to self-isolate in your cab.

Health & Safety Training is a leading provider of LGV training courses throughout the North East and beyond. We truly care about the industry and ensuring new drivers get the best start possible, so if you would like to learn more from us, get in contact today.