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 2020:

Changes to weekly rest periods in vehicles.
Addition of smart tachographs.
New company card online service.

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

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.