Driving & rest time rules
Driving & rest time rules apply to trucks and buses
You are subject to driving and rest periods and should have a tachograph installed when:
- The permissible total weight of the vehicle (incl. trailer/trailer/semi-trailer) exceeds 3500 kg (GOODS)
- When the vehicle is designed to carry more than 9 persons including the driver. (PASSENGER TRANSPORT)
Therefore, all buses and trucks are generally subject to driving and resting time regulations.
Understand driving & rest time rules
What are the rules on driving and rest periods?
Below we have compiled an overview of the most common rules in this area.
The break rule:
- A maximum of 4.5 hours of driving without a break.
- There must be a minimum 45-minute break.
- The break can be divided into two periods, with the first break lasting at least 15 minutes and the second lasting at least 30 minutes.
You can only start a new driving period once you have taken a total of at least 45 minutes break.
The daily driving time:
- The maximum daily driving time is 9 hours per day, i.e. 2 driving periods of 4.5 hours each.
Exception:
- 2 days a week you can drive one hour more, max. 10 hours.
- A week is defined as Monday 00:00 - Sunday 24:00.
Driving periods:
- After a maximum of 6 x 24 hours, a weekly rest period must be taken.
NOTE: A 24-hour period starts at the first drive after a daily or weekly rest. The total driving time per week must not exceed 56 hours and a total of 90 hours over 2 consecutive weeks.
The daily rest:
- Take at least 11 hours of daily rest (Regular Rest).
Exception: 3 times between two weekly rest periods, you can take 9 hours of daily rest (reduced rest).
With a regular daily rest, your availability time will be 13 hours.
With a reduced daily rest (9 hours), your availability time will be 15 hours.
The weekly rest:
- A regular weekly rest period is 45 hours of continuous rest.
Exception: Every two weeks you can reduce the weekly rest to a minimum of 24 hours.
The remaining hours of rest must be compensated by a daily or weekly rest within the next 3 weeks.
NOTE: A driver driving internationally has the possibility to take 2 reduced weekly rests in a row, provided that at least 2 regular weekly rests are taken in a 4-week period. The two reduced weekly breaks must start outside the company's and the driver's home country.
The ferry rule:
- Drivers may interrupt their regular daily rest period (11 hours) twice when driving to and from a ferry or train.
- The two interruptions together must not exceed 1 hour.
- The driving time included in the interruptions does not count towards the daily driving time of 9 or 10 hours.
- The ferry symbol is activated when the vehicle has pulled onto the ferry.
Two-man operation:
For 2-man operation, the following rules apply:
- With crew driving, drivers have 30 hours instead of 24 hours to fulfill the work and rest.
- The availability time for multi-manning is up to 21 hours if a reduced rest of 9 hours is taken.
- The condition is that both drivers are in the truck from start to finish.
- However, during the first hour, only one driver is allowed in the vehicle.
Deviations from the applicable rules on driving rest periods, such as delays, must be noted on a printout from the tachograph.
Rules for reading driving & rest time data:
The Danish authorities require that driving & rest time data from driver cards be read out:
- Minimum every 21 calendar days and also:
- When a driver card has expired before shredding.
- After the last drive, when a driver has to stop in the company.
The Danish authorities require that driving & rest time data from the tachograph is read out:
- Minimum every 60 calendar days. and in addition:
- In case of breakdown or replacement.
- When a vehicle is unsubscribed or sold.
The read-out driving & rest time data must be stored for 12 months on two independent servers or hard drives.
It also needs to be analyzed, as the law requires you to 'self-monitor'.
This can be done in a system like TachoManagement.
