Useful Driver CPC Informations

EU Tachograph rules on breaks

  • What is the maximum time you can drive for?

    You can not driver for longer than 4.5 hours without taking a break of at least 45 minutes.

  • What’s wiping the slate clean?

    After 4.5 hours of driving a 45 minute break will reset your driving time, allowing you to drive for a further 4.5 hours.

  • Can I split my 45 minutes break?

    Yes, you may split you this break with the 1st break being at least 15 minutes and the 2nd break being at least 30 minutes this will wipe the slate clean allowing you to drive for a further 4.5 hours.

  • What is a break ?

    A break is a period which a driver must not carry out any driving or other work and is used exclusively for recuperation.

  • What is the daily driving limit?

    You may drive up to 9 hours in a day, this can be increased from 9 hours to 10 hours twice in a fixed week.

  • What is the weekly driving limit ?

    The maximum weekly driving limit is 56 hours in a fixed week.

  • What is the two-weekly driving limit?

    In a fortnight a driver must not exceed 90 hours of driving time, for example, if a driver drives for 56 hours in week one then in week two the driver is not to exceed 34 hours of driving.

    A fixed week starts from 00.00 on Monday and ends at 23:59 on the following Sunday.

DAILY REST PERIODS

  • What counts towards a rest period?

    A rest period is an uninterrupted period where a driver may freely dispose of their time.

    A regular daily rest periods is when you take more than 11 hours rest within a 24 hour period.

    A reduced daily rest period is when you take more than 9 hours but less than 11 hours rest within a 24 hour period.

  • How many times can I reduce my daily rest periods in between weekly rest periods?

    A driver may reduce the daily rest periods to 9 hours no more than three times between weekly rest periods.

WEEKLY REST PERIODS

  • The weekly rest period must be taken after no more that 6x24 hour periods from the end of the last weekly rest.

  • A regular weekly rest is a period of at least 45 hours.

  • A reduced weekly is a period of at least 24 hours.

  • In any two-week period, the rests must be at least one 45-hour rest and one 24-hour rest. Rests that stretch across two one-week periods may be counted to one of these two weeks, but not both.

General Road Transport

Working Time Regulations Rules

  • Besides specific tachograph rules, drivers also have to follow working time rules, these rules can differ from one country to another.

  • The regulations affect drivers and other ‘mobile workers’ who are subject to EU Drivers Hours Rules (EC561/2006) and not to be confused with the Working Time Directive (EC15/2002).

  • The maximum working time in a week is 60 hours, and the average maximum working time in a reference period cannot exceed 48 hours.

  • All breaks must take place after at least 6 hours with the following times:

    30 minutes break if working between 6 and 9 hours in total.

    45 minutes break if working more than 9 hours in total.

    All breaks are to be taken in increments of at least 15 minutes.

  • An employer must keep working time records for 2 years.

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