Working Time Directive

Working Time Directive: The Road Transport (Working Time) Regulations 2005 (SI 2005 No. 639 – “the Regulations”), came into force on 4 April 2005. The Regulations implement European Directive 2002/15/EC and apply to “mobile workers” (basically drivers, crew and other travelling staff) who operate on vehicles which are subject to Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 (“the European drivers’ hours rules”) or, in some cases, the AETR. Mobile workers are required to comply with the Regulations as well as the existing European drivers’ hours’ rules. There is no opt-out from the Regulations.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Drivers’ working hours is the commonly used term for regulations that govern the activities of the drivers of commercial goods vehicles and passenger carrying vehicles.

Within the European Union, EU Regulation 561/2006 is the current regulation concerning the driving times, breaks and rest periods required to be taken by drivers of goods or passenger vehicles who drive in the EU. In certain circumstances, drivers may be exempt from EU Regulation 561/2006 throughout the EU, or there may be a derogation for the driver on a national journey within a particular country.

If the vehicle has passed through an AETR signatory country during the course of its journey then it will fall within scope of AETR rules for the whole of that journey.

Since September 2010, AETR rules have been amended to align closely with EU Regulation 561/2006.

Under certain circumstances, drivers may instead fall within scope of the domestic rules of that country.

In addition to the above requirements, drivers in the EU must also abide with the European Working Time Directive 2003/88/EC.

Advice and Solutions

Below is a brief summary of products available and their specific Working Time Directive applications: » Available here: Working Time Directive (UK)

  1. Weekly Report book WTD – for the full or part time driver to record his hours. Includes guidance notes on the WTD.
  2. Chart Analysis book – Use in the office to record and then calculate the average hours.
  3. Drivers Envelopes – Recently updated for WTD hours recording.
  4. Chart Checker – a simple device to quickly calculate working hours and breaks from the tachograph chart.
  5. WTD CD – A full guide to the WTD including spread sheets allowing rolling inputs to calculate each drivers working time, over each reference period.
    Details of the WTD (mobile workers) can be found here.