A union has called for the end to the “normalisation” of 12- to 15-hour working days and the introduction of a maximum 10-hour shift to reduce dangers on the road.
The GMB said multi-drop delivery drivers were consistently expected to work excessive hours and they were putting their health and safety at risk.
It said its proposal put safety before profit and passed accountability onto employers rather than exploiting labour.
The union pointed to research by the British Safety Council (BSC) which found that a driver who has been awake for 17 hours has twice the normal collision risk.
The research showed that driver fatigue may be a contributory factor in up to 20% of road incidents, and up to one-quarter of fatal and serious incidents.
The BSC said middle-aged overweight men – who are significantly over-represented in the HGV driver sector – were also most at risk of sleep disorders such as sleep apnoea.
Flaviu Andrea, HGV driver and GMB delegate, said: “Excessive working days of 12 to 15 hours are dangerous, yet they have become normalised across multi-drop logistics.
“These long days increase fatigue, injury risk, stress, and road danger.
“Fatigue is not a choice or an individual failing.
“It is a predictable outcome of long hours, night work, and inadequate recovery time.”
He added: “The length of the working day is determined less by driving time and more by inefficiency, as drivers routinely lose hours waiting to load or tip and dealing with unrealistic route plans.
“GMB is calling for the adoption of a maximum 10-hour working day with no loss of pay.”
