Driving times and rest times imposed by law for drivers and truck drivers: what is the maximum limit of hours to drive for lorries and buses daily and during the week.
When travelling with trucks and heavy vehicles, the driver is required to respect the driving breaks. It is not possible to drive continuously for many hours at a time, but the driver is obliged to make stops during the journey for the necessary rest, all regulated by law.
Let’s see what the rules set on driving and rest times that drivers and truck drivers must strictly comply with on a daily and weekly basis are. The transport service of goods by road, things or people, by truck and bus, must necessarily comply with the EC Regulation No. 561/2006 which defines the driving and rest times of drivers and truck drivers.
Driving times and rest times for truckers
The regulation on breaks and rest times for truck drivers applies to road transport of goods by vehicles of over 3.5 tones and road transport by vehicles such as buses carrying more than nine people ( including the driver). All truckers and drivers can drive for a maximum limit of hours regulated by law and must follow precise periods of daily and weekly rest periods. Failure to comply implies financial penalties and deduction of points on the license.
Daily driving and rest times
On a 9-hour working day, the truck driver or driver must stop driving after 4.5 hours for 45 minutes. These 45 minutes of rest can also be divided into two smaller breaks, but the first must necessarily be at least 15 minutes, the second at least 30 minutes.
Daily and weekly driving hours, how many hours can you drive at most?
Each truck driver or driver can drive for a maximum of 9 hours a day, extendable up to 10 only twice a week. In a week, the total hours cannot be more than 56, and in two weeks it cannot be more than 90
Where to rest? Truck stop for weekly and daily driving breaks
There are the driving and rest times set for the drivers: the weekly rest can no longer be carried out inside the truck cabin. Still, it must necessarily be spent in the house or in an ideona structure whose costs are borne by the haulage company. If the driver stays on the road for several consecutive weeks or months, the new rules require international drivers to return to the country of residence every 2 or 4 weeks, depending on the working hours.
Drivers returning to headquarters and running out of driving time will be able to exceed the maximum driving time by one hour, without penalties (or by 2 hours with an intermediate rest of at least half an hour).
TRAINING OF DRIVERS
The driver is the key to achieving the highest efficiency. Truck driving training helps the driver to save fuel and anticipate traffic situations. This is also good for safety. A well-trained driver is more attentive to his vehicle.
Training education and schools
By participating in the professional truck driving school, you can improve the performance of your truck. The course aims to improve driver performance, in terms of safety, efficiency and compliance. Benefits include:
- Reduced consumption
- Better vehicle reliability
- Better driver productivity
- Greater safety and well-being
- Greater operation.
The annual fuel bill for a 40-ton truck is roughly 37,000$. A 3% reduction in fuel means a saving of 1150$ for each trained driver. And, with fuel prices set to rise further, this is a business benefit that cannot be ignored—help from the operational services of driver training. Our Driver Training team has in-depth knowledge of how to get the best out of our trucks and can train qualified professional drivers. The course can be arranged according to the needs of the driver and the company. Teaching both in the classroom and in the booth can be provided with minimal disruption to working hours.
Training Sessions
The training consists of a classroom lesson followed by a practical test on the track, intending to show the economy and excellent performance of MX engines. It will take place at the customer’s premises equipped with a room used as a classroom (screen and video projector) and two vehicles with semi-trailers for driving tests.
The course lasts one day for a maximum of 14 participants divided into two groups; the first in the morning and the second in the afternoon. During the day, there will be a theoretical presentation during which the factors that affect fuel consumption will be explored: aerodynamics of the vehicle, power and torque, driving style to save fuel, etc.
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