Driving and rest time regulations

Driving and 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, as a starting point, subject to the driving and rest time rules.

Understand the driving and rest time rules

What are the rules within driving and rest time?
Below, we have gathered an overview of the most common rules in the 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, where the first break must last at least 15 minutes, while the last part must last 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:

Two days a week, driving time can be extended by one hour, up to a maximum of 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 rests, a daily rest of 9 hours (reduced rest) is sufficient.

With a regular daily rest, your time at disposal will be 13 hours.

With a reduced daily rest (9 hours), your time at disposal will be 15 hours.

The weekly rest:

A regular weekly rest period is 45 hours of continuous rest.

Exception: Every other week, the weekly rest period can be reduced to a minimum of 24 hours.
The remaining hours of rest must be compensated in extension of a daily rest or weekly rest, within the next 3 weeks.

NOTE: A driver engaged in international transport is permitted to take two reduced weekly rest periods consecutively, provided that at least two regular weekly rest periods are taken within a four-week period. The two reduced weekly rest periods must commence outside the member state of the establishment and the driver’s country of residence.

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 been driven onto the ferry.

Two-man operation:

The following rules apply for 2-person operation:

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, for the first hour, only one driver is allowed in the vehicle.

Deviations from the current driving and rest time regulations, e.g. in case of delays, must be noted on a printout from the tachograph.

Rules for reading driving and rest time data:

The Danish authorities require that driving and rest time data from driver cards is read out:

Minimum every 21 calendar days and also:
When a driver card has expired before being destroyed.
After the last drive, when a driver has to stop in the company.

The Danish authorities require that driving and 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 and rest time data must be stored for 12 months on two independent servers or hard drives.

It must also be analyzed, as the law stipulates that you must 'perform self-monitoring'.
This can be done in a system such as TachoManagement.

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FAQ about drive and rest time periods

Regular weekly rest time is 45 consecutive hours.

Exemption from the driving and rest time rules applies if the vehicle weighs less than 3500 kg.
In addition, there are a number of exceptions, for example, if you are repairing a road, providing roadside assistance, or salting (winter driving).
See exceptions: https://tachografservice.dk/vaerktoejskassen/undtagelser-til-koere-hviletidsreglerne/

Drive and rest periods apply to drivers who drive vehicles over 3.5 tons.

For two-man operations, a 9-hour rest period must be taken within a 30-hour period instead of 24 hours for one-man operations

Fortwo-man operations, a 9-hour rest period must be taken within a 30-hour period instead of 24 hours for one-man operations.

A driver may drive 4.5 hours before taking a break. The driver may drive 9 or 10 hours in total in 24 hours.

A driver can drive 56 hours in one week and a maximum of 90 hours in two weeks combined.

In Denmark, we have a de minimis threshold of 5%. Violations below 5% are not sanctioned. (Unless you have over 10 in a 30-day period)

In Denmark, we have a de minimis threshold of 5%. Violations below 5% are not sanctioned.

You are subject to drive and rest periods when driving a vehicle weighing more than 3500 kg.

The first drive and rest time regulations came in 1969 and from 1978 it became mandatory to install a tachograph.

You can drive without a driver card if the driving you are doing is not subject to the drive and rest time rules.

You must use your driver card when driving a vehicle with a tachograph.

The vehicle must have a tachograph if it weighs more than 3500 kg.

You can drive a truck without a driver card if it is exempt driving (OUT).