EU Regulation 561/2006 (Drivers' Hours) - Retained EU Law
What this means for your business
- Enforced by
- DVSA
- Applies to
- United Kingdom
- On this page
- 22 compliance obligations, 2 practical guides
What you must do
22 compliance obligations under this legislation.
Equipment and safety 1
Fit tachograph equipment and keep driver records on all cargo or passenger vehicles
If you run a road transport business, every vehicle you use to move goods or people must be fitted with a recording (tachograph) device. You must also keep accurate records of drivers’ hours, maintain copies for a year, and make them available to drivers and inspectors whenever asked. Failure to do so can lead to enforcement action and fines.
Management duties 7
Ensure drivers’ hours, breaks and rest periods comply with regulations
You must organise your drivers’ schedules so they never exceed the allowed daily or weekly driving times, take the required breaks and rest periods, and keep accurate records. You also need to provide suitable gender‑friendly accommodation for weekly rest and retain documentation to show you are meeting the rules.
Manage driver hours, breaks, rest periods and keep accurate records
If you run a road‑transport business you must make sure your drivers do not exceed the legal daily, weekly and two‑week driving limits, take the required breaks and daily/weekly rest, provide suitable accommodation for rest taken off‑vehicle, organise schedules so drivers can return to base or home for weekly rest, and keep written or electronic records of all driving, work and availability time.
Manage driver pay, schedules and tachograph data to meet drivers’ hours rules
Unlimited fineYour transport business must never pay drivers bonuses or wage supplements that are linked to distance, speed or load if they could push drivers to break the law. You also have to organise drivers’ work so they can follow the drivers’‑hours limits, give them proper instruction and carry out regular checks. Finally, any tachograph data from vehicles must be downloaded, kept for at least 12 months and be available to an inspector on request.
Manage driver rest, breaks, records and provide suitable accommodation
If you run a road‑transport business, you must make sure your drivers stay within the daily and weekly driving limits, take the required breaks and rest periods, keep accurate records of their work and availability, and provide gender‑friendly accommodation with proper sleeping and sanitary facilities for any weekly rest taken off‑vehicle. You also have to organise schedules so drivers can return to their base or home for at least one regular weekly rest in each four‑week period.
Manage drivers’ hours, breaks and rest periods and keep accurate records
If you employ drivers of commercial road vehicles, you must organise their schedules so they never exceed daily or weekly driving limits, take the required breaks and rest periods, provide suitable accommodation for weekly rest, and keep a record of all driving time, other work and periods of availability. This means planning routes, monitoring tachograph data and retaining written logs.
Manage drivers' hours, breaks, rest and keep accurate records
If you operate commercial road vehicles, you must make sure your drivers do not exceed the daily and weekly driving limits, take the required breaks and rest periods, and have suitable accommodation for longer weekly rests. You also have to keep a complete record of all driving, other work and periods of availability, either on paper or by electronic tachograph, and be able to show how you organise work so drivers can take their rest. Failure to do so can lead to prosecution.
Manage drivers’ hours, breaks, rest and record‑keeping
You must make sure any driver you employ or contract does not exceed the permitted daily and weekly driving limits, takes the required breaks and rest periods, keeps accurate records of driving, other work and availability, and rests in suitable gender‑friendly accommodation when required. You also need to organise work so drivers can return to their base or home for regular weekly rest and keep evidence that you have complied.
Record keeping 14
Fit vehicles with tachographs and keep driver data for at least one year
You must install the required tachograph recording equipment in any road vehicle you use to carry passengers or goods, unless an exemption applies. You also have to keep all tachograph records – paper sheets, print‑outs and any downloaded driver‑card data – in order, legibly and for at least 12 months, and give copies to drivers or inspectors when asked.
Keep and produce driver penalty documentation on request
If you receive any paperwork about fines or legal action, you must hold onto it until it can no longer lead to another penalty, and you must show it to an enforcement officer if they ask. If you work for more than one transport company, you also need to give each company enough information for them to meet the regulations.
Keep and produce drivers’ documents
Unlimited fineIf you’re a driver, you must keep any paperwork you receive from enforcement officers or courts – such as logbooks, penalty notices or court files – until it can no longer be used for a new penalty. When a company or authority asks, you must hand over that evidence. This lets the authorities confirm you followed the rules and prevents you from being charged twice.
Keep and produce enforcement documents and share info with multiple employers
If you employ a driver, they must retain any paperwork they receive from an enforcement officer or court about penalties until the case can no longer lead to another sanction. They must show this paperwork if asked, and if they work for more than one transport company they must give each company enough information to meet the drivers’ hours rules.
Keep and provide driver documentation when requested
If you are a driver, you must hold on to any paperwork an enforcement officer or court gives you about penalties or legal action, and you must show that paperwork to anyone who asks for it. If you work for more than one transport company, you also need to give each company enough information so they can meet their own legal duties.
Keep and provide driver penalty documentation
If your drivers receive any paperwork about penalties or court proceedings, they must hold on to it until it can no longer lead to another fine or sanction. They also have to show that paperwork to an enforcement officer or court when asked, and if a driver works for more than one transport company they must give each company enough information to meet the drivers’ hours rules.
Keep and provide driver penalty documents on request
If you drive a commercial vehicle, you must hold onto any paperwork you receive about penalties or court action until it can no longer be used for a second offence. You also have to show that paperwork to an enforcement officer when asked. If you work for more than one transport company, you must give each enough information for them to meet their own legal duties.
Keep and provide enforcement documents about penalties
If a driver receives any paperwork from an enforcement officer or a court about fines or legal proceedings, they must hold onto those documents until the matter can no longer lead to a further penalty. The driver must also show the papers to the enforcing officer or a court on request, and give each employer enough information to meet their own legal duties.
Keep and provide tachograph records for drivers and inspectors
If your business operates road vehicles that must carry passengers or goods, you must keep the tachograph record sheets, print‑outs and any data downloaded from driver cards in order and legibly for at least one year. You must give copies to drivers when they ask for them and produce the records to any authorised inspecting officer on demand.
Keep driver documents and give info to employers
If you or your staff drive company vehicles, you must keep any paperwork the police or court gives you about penalties until you can no longer face another penalty for the same offence. On request, you must hand this evidence to the authorities. If a driver works for more than one transport company, you need to give each employer the information they need to meet the regulation.
Maintain tachograph equipment and keep driver records
If you run road vehicles that carry passengers or goods, you must fit them with approved tachograph (recording) equipment, keep all tachograph sheets, print‑outs and driver‑card data in legible order for at least a year, give copies to drivers who ask for them and hand them to inspectors on request. When a driver’s card is lost, damaged or not with the driver, you must use the prescribed print‑out and manual‑entry procedure to record the journey.
Retain and produce driver documentation on enforcement requests
You must make sure any driver keeps any paperwork they receive from an enforcement officer or court about penalties or legal proceedings, and can show that paperwork when asked. If a driver works for more than one transport company, they must give each company enough information to let it meet its own legal duties.
Retain and produce enforcement documentation
If you employ drivers, they must keep any paperwork they receive from an enforcement officer or a court about penalties or legal proceedings, and hold onto it until it can no longer lead to another action. They must hand this evidence over when asked, and if a driver works for more than one transport company they must give each company enough information to meet the regulation.
Retain and provide enforcement documents and driver information
Unlimited fineYou must make sure any driver in your business keeps any paperwork from enforcement officers or courts about penalties or legal proceedings and can show it when asked. If a driver works for more than one transport company, they must give each company enough information to meet the drivers’ hours rules.
Penalties for non-compliance
3 penalties under this legislation. 3 carry an unlimited fine.
Manage driver pay, schedules and tachograph data to meet drivers’ hours rules
Unlimited fine
Keep and produce drivers’ documents
Unlimited fine
Retain and provide enforcement documents and driver information
Unlimited fine
Practical guidance
Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.
Get an operator's licence for goods vehicles
How to apply for an O-licence to operate goods vehicles for business. Covers Standard and Restricted licences, financial standing, transport …
Tachographs and Drivers' Hours
Understand tachograph requirements and drivers' hours rules for goods vehicle operations.
Sections and provisions
32 classified provisions from this legislation.
Duties 22
- s.5 CREWS, DRIVING TIMES, BREAKS AND REST PERIODS two consecutive weeks
- s.6 CREWS, DRIVING TIMES, BREAKS AND REST PERIODS two consecutive weeks
- s.7 CREWS, DRIVING TIMES, BREAKS AND REST PERIODS two consecutive weeks
- s.8 CREWS, DRIVING TIMES, BREAKS AND REST PERIODS two consecutive weeks
- s.9 CREWS, DRIVING TIMES, BREAKS AND REST PERIODS two consecutive weeks
- s.10 LIABILITY OF TRANSPORT UNDERTAKINGS A transport undertaking
- s.16 CONTROL PROCEDURES AND SANCTIONS The driver
- s.17 CONTROL PROCEDURES AND SANCTIONS The driver
- s.18 CONTROL PROCEDURES AND SANCTIONS The driver
- s.19 CONTROL PROCEDURES AND SANCTIONS The driver
- s.20 CONTROL PROCEDURES AND SANCTIONS The driver
- s.21 CONTROL PROCEDURES AND SANCTIONS The driver
- s.22 CONTROL PROCEDURES AND SANCTIONS The driver
- s.23 CONTROL PROCEDURES AND SANCTIONS The driver
- s.24 CONTROL PROCEDURES AND SANCTIONS The driver
- s.25 CONTROL PROCEDURES AND SANCTIONS The driver
- s.26 FINAL PROVISIONS driver
- s.27 FINAL PROVISIONS driver
- s.28 FINAL PROVISIONS driver
- s.29 FINAL PROVISIONS driver
- ... and 2 more duties