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, weekly rest can be reduced to a minimum of 24 hours.
The remaining hours of rest must be compensated by a daily rest or weekly rest within the next 3 weeks.

 

Deviations from the applicable rules on drive and rest periods, such as delays, must be noted on a tachograph printout.

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

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.

Company control driving and rest time

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FAQ about drive and rest time periods

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