Drivers’ hours, records and tachographs

This chapter outlines EU hours rules, tachographs, domestic hours rules, written records and mixed driving rules and records.

Updates for 2021:

• Non commercial carriage of goods defined.

• Further clarification regarding the horticultural exemption.

• Further information on ‘animal waste’ under EU driving exemptions.

• Definition of ‘Crafts’ under EU exemptions.

• Further information on specialist vehicles used under the circus and funfair exemption.

• Changes to ferry and train, interruptions to weekly/daily rest requirements.

• New section on drivers requirements for the ‘returning home’ rule.

• Inclusion of a new provision for drivers exceeding driving time to return home.

• Additional requirements to record other work. 

Download the Drivers' hours, records and tachographs chapter of the Yearbook of Road Transport Law

Contents:

• Which rules apply.
  • International journeys
• EU hours rules
  • Goods vehicles covered.
  • Exemptions.
  • The rules.
  • Driving limits.
  • Breaks from driving.
  • Daily driving.
  • Weekly and fortnightly driving.
  • Minimum rest.
  • Daily rest.
  • Multi-manning daily rest concession.
  • Ferry/train daily rest concession.
  • Weekly rest.
  • Military reservists weekly rest concession.
  • International passenger operations weekly rest derogation.
  • Occasional drivers.
  • Emergencies.
  • Travelling to or from a vehicle.
  • Private driving of an in-scope vehicle.
  • Drivers and work for other driving employers.
  • Key obligations for transport undertakings.
  • Consignor, freight forwarder, agency, etc liability.
  • Training.
  • Bonus payments.
  • Penalties.
  • Jurisdiction and evidence of penalties.
• Tachographs.
  • Vehicles covered.
  • Who keeps a tachograph record.
  • Type of tachograph required.
  • Smart tachographs.
    • Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).
    • Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC).
    • Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) interface.
    • New pictograms events and faults.
    • New look printouts.
    • Cards.
    • Download equipment.
  • Digital tachographs vehicle unit (VU).
    • Tachograph itself.
    • Vehicle unit.
    • Output of data.
    • Smart cards.
      • Driver card.
      • Workshop card.
      • Company card.
      • Control card.
    • Drivers’ responsibilities – digital tachograph.
    • Operators’ responsibilities – digital tachograph.
      • Centrefield data.
      • UTC.
      • Printer rolls.
      • Mode selection and data input manual entries.
      • Pictograms.
      • Specific conditions.
      • Printouts.
      • Downloading data.
    • Additional security for the digital tachograph unit.
  • Analogue tachographs.
    • Voluntary fitting.
    • Operators’ responsibilities – analogue tachograph.
    • Drivers’ responsibilities – analogue tachograph.
    • Selection of charts.
  • Recording other work.
  • Agency drivers.
  • Enforcement and calibration.
    • Enforcement and inspection.
    • Penalties.
    • Admissibility of the record in evidence.
    • Calibration, sealing and inspection.
    • Digital tachograph/vehicle unit (VU)
    • Repairs.
    • Calibration procedure.
    • Periodic inspection and recalibration.
    • Fees.
    • The two-yearly inspection due dates.
    • The six-yearly recalibration, in the case of analogue tachographs.
    • Breakdown of equipment.
    • Statutory defences.
• Domestic hours rules.
  • Legal obligations and penalties.
  • Exemptions.
  • Main provisions.
  • Emergencies.
• Written records.
  • Format of the record book.
  • Issue, use and retention of books.
  • Enforcement and inspection.
• Mixed driving – rules and records.
  • Mixed driving rules.
  • Mixed driving records.