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 2023:

  • Smart Tachographs 2 (ST2).

  • Recording of activity away from the vehicle.

 

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.

    • International weekly rest concession.

    • ‘Return home’ rule.

    • Military reservists weekly rest concession.

    • International passenger operations weekly rest derogation.

    • Occasional drivers.

    • Emergencies.

    • Exceeding driving time to reach home.

    • 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.

  • Analogue tachographs.

    • Voluntary fitting.

    • Operators’ responsibilities – analogue tachograph.

    • Drivers’ responsibilities – analogue tachograph.

    • Selection of charts.

    • Analogue tachographs.

  • Digital tachographs.

    • ​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.
  • Smart tachographs.

    • Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).

    • Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC).

    • Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) interface.

    • New pictograms events and faults.

    • Smart Tachograph 2 (ST2).

    • Printouts.

    • Cards.

    • Download equipment.

  • Recording other work.

  • International journeys and attestation forms.

  • Agency drivers.

  • Enforcement and calibration.

    • Enforcement and inspection.

    • Penalties.

    • Admissibility of the record in evidence.

    • Calibration, sealing and inspection.

    • Repairs.

    • Calibration procedure.

    • Periodic recalibration - digital/smart tachographs.

    • Periodic inspetion and recalibration - analogue tachographs.

    • The two-yearly inspection due dates.

    • Fees.

    • 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.

 

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

More information

View the Tachograph decision-making tree for drivers

Rules on Drivers’ Hours and Tachographs

Members: Refuse collection derogation briefing note

Our Driver Daily/Weekly Analysis and Driver Agency Overview reports will have a new sign-off section on the last page.

View the new-style report