Driving time exceedance is the primary catalyst for heavy sanctions in the European road transport sector. Governed by Regulation (EC) 561/2006, these infringements are digitally recorded by the tachograph with no margin for error, directly impacting the Good Repute of both drivers and transport undertakings.
In modern logistics, understanding the precise moment a journey transitions from compliant to illegal is the difference between a profitable route and a business-threatening fine. Neglecting these daily and weekly limits is the fastest way to accumulate Systemic Driving Excesses and trigger a Ministry of Transport audit.
The Three Layers of Mandatory Driving Limits
Compliance requires balancing three distinct temporal layers simultaneously. Our TachoTools engine automates these calculations to prevent errors:
Daily Limits
Standard: 9 hours.
Extended: 10 hours (allowed twice per week).
Read
Daily Guide →
Weekly Limits
Maximum of 56 hours of total driving time within a fixed week (Monday 00:00 to Sunday 24:00).
Bi-weekly
The combined driving time over any two consecutive weeks must not exceed 90 hours.
Digital Forensic Detection & File Processing
The smart tachograph serves as an impartial legal witness. Every exceedance is permanently stored in the driver's card memory. To maintain "Good Repute," transport managers must implement a systematic audit of:
- .DDD Files: The EU standard for forensic analysis.
- .TGD Files: Second-generation data (Smart Tachograph 2).
TachoTools processes both formats with 100% regulatory accuracy.
The Cost of Non-Compliance: Fines & Sanctions
Infringements are categorized by severity (MI, SI, VSI), affecting the company's Risk Rating System (RRS):
- Financial Sanctions: Fines increase exponentially if the 90-hour bi-weekly limit is exceeded by more than 10%.
- Immediate Operational Stop: Roadside inspectors can enforce immediate vehicle immobilisation until the mandatory daily rest is completed.
- Administrative Risk: Persistent VSIs can trigger a "Loss of Good Repute," leading to the withdrawal of the Community Operator License.
Proactive Prevention: Real-Time Intelligence
Relying on driver memory is no longer a viable business strategy. By implementing the TachoTools Compliance Dashboard, you gain predictive intelligence:
- Remaining Drive Time: Live visual countdowns for every driver in the fleet.
- Trend Detection: Identification of bi-weekly hour accumulation before reaching the 90h limit.
- Automatic Guardrails: Alerts when a driver is about to use their final 10-hour extension of the week.
Is Your Fleet At Risk?
Don't wait for a Ministry of Transport audit. Run a proactive compliance check on your driving hours today.
Technical Compliance Resources