The Most Misunderstood Drivers' Hours Rules

Gary Riches from Driver Hire's Colchester Office and Tony Goacher from the Croydon & Sutton Office get together to provide hints, tips and tricks to help their drivers be the best that they can be.
In this episode Gary and Tony discuss the most misunderstood drivers' hours and working time rules; the split break, the six-hour break and the mysterious fifteen hour day.

[@RSma-zr4je]

I understand the WTD as being that you can work for a maximum of 6 hours continiously without a break, but you then have to have at least 15 mins break before you can do any more work. If you are driving a lot then the tacho break rules will kick in first. It will depend on what sort of work you are doing as to what sort of break you will get to first, but a break is a break and can be used to satisfie both sets of rules at the same time.

[@alananderson6812]

A 30 minute break before 6 hours ? no such rule exists! No wonder there is soo much confusion on drivers hours when everyone teaching these rules makes up their own version. The rule is you cannot work for more than 6 hours without a break of at least 15 minutes.

[@airborne652]

I spotted that error myself. I give up 🥸

[@dennispalmer7859]

Hi Alan I'm glad I'm not the only one who understands the rules I was beginning to wonder seriously

[@gary63693]

100% correct

[@Dazzzb]

👍👍100%

[@methaneman4045]

15 minutes is correct. I think they may be referring to the fact that the working day is going to be longer and thus another 15 minute break will be required before 9 hours is up. The convenient way to do this is to take a 30 minute break at the 6 hour maximum

[@gary63693]

For people that don't know their WTD and driving hours, should book their next CPC course as a FULL 7 hour module on just that. That's what i did when i first started my HGV job

[@elvisGT]

6hrs 15mins 9 hrs 30 mins for working time, driving - 45 mins (can be splitted in 15mins and than 30 mins) to extend for another 4h30mins - 2x10hrs a week, 24hrs break twice a month

[@amac6483]

The break times are the minimum time so the 15 minutes can be a 20 or 25 and the second one can be 35 or 40 minute break and then you won't be rounded down by the machine.
We were once told by Tesco that agency drivers can't take more than a 45 minute break. " a break of at least 45 minutes " if you did you would be banned from site and if you got an infringement, insufficient break, e.g. 44 minutes, you were banned from site.

[@LubeTubeification]

Ok here goes...the second you select begin country uk you are on the clock calculate 6 hours from that very minute, from there work to DTD not WTD and as the day goes wether you are rapid forklift drops or tail lift if it’s the latter then keep an eye on the 6 hour mark heavy grunt work gets you to the WTD before DTD if that’s the case then take 15 that’s the 6 hour rule sorted continue to the 4.5 hour DT mark take 30mins slate is clean to do it all again up to 12 hours if you go beyond the 12 hours get work with someone else 🤣

[@serviosilver9440]

As far as I understand the first brake will count 15 minutes if you taken 15 or more and none if it were taken less than 15 minutes and the second 30 minutes, I am in doubt about how late can the driver take the second brake if it should be after 4.5 hours or after 4 hours plus 30 minutes to complete the 4.5 hours. Lets assume
1) The driver makes 2 hours =120 minutes + 15 minutes brake equal to 135 minutes THEN drives another 105 minutes to totalise 240 minutes that makes 4 hours + 30 minutes brake which achieves 4.5 hours;
2) The driver makes 2 hours =120 minutes then takes his brake 15 minutes that makes 135 minutes THEN drives another 150 muntes which totalise 285 minutes + 30 minutes brake that makes a total of 5 hours and 15 minutes;
Could any of you help us to clarify wether the 1 or 2 above is right or none?
Thanks

[@dennispalmer7859]

Hi No 2 is correct the driver took 45min when he did 4.5 hrs driving in total.
No 1 driver did 3hrs 45 driving very advisable to take 45min but not necessarily in the order driver could've took 3 x 15mins to comply under WTD (working time directive)
When you take a break ALWAYS remember the clock starts again Driving Time Directive only kicks in when you do 4.5hrs driving or you anticipate your gonna do 4.5 hrs driving I hope I've helped you understand.

[@serviosilver9440]

@@dennispalmer7859 thanks for helping

[@dennispalmer7859]

@@serviosilver9440 Your Welcome

[@Oldguydosestuff]

Great simple explanations thanks
Just one quick question
WTD
I start at 6am drive and other work for for 3 1/2 hours then have 15 mins then I have my 30 minutes normally starting at about 11.45
With WTD rules do I have to complete my first 15 mins of my 30 min break before the 6 hours or can I start my break at say 5 hours 58 minutes
Put a bit better
WTD
Do I need to have my 30 minutes or complete my 30 minutes before my first 6 hours is up 🤔

[@reviewaccount3612]

You need a 15 min in a 6 hour period. So what I do is about 5 hours into shift I sit up for 15 mins. I normally have only driven about 2 hours by this time. I then go back on to work until I need to stop for my driving time and have a 30 min.

[@thedriverhirepodcast5444]

Thanks for the question. It depends on how much driving you've completed in the first six hours. EU Drivers Hours say you can't drive more than four and half hours without either a 45 min break OR a 15 and a 30 (in that order). If you haven't then WTD rules say you need 30 mins or 2 x 15.

[@Oldguydosestuff]

@@thedriverhirepodcast5444 Hi it works out at 60% driving 40% other work for a 10 hour shift pretty evenly balanced throughout the shift
So 5 hours driving
4 hours other work
45 minutes break taken in a 15 then 30

[@irvz2087]

You can work for 6 hours straight before needing a 30 minute break
Driving time up to 4h30m plus 90 minutes work would be acceptable

[@dennispalmer7859]

Hi I'm here to help you driver's are misunderstanding WTD it's very simple if you start at 6am then you need a break of 15mins BEFORE 12oclock not a minute after within 6hrs. ALWAYS remember the clock starts again please remember this. If you are finishing B4 3pm you only need another 15mins anything after requires 45mins. If you anticipate during your day you will be doing 4.5hrs driving then comply with DTD
15 then 30 or straight 45 if you need help I'm here have a great day

[@EVNL576]

These rules are for what country?

[@lagraefz9982]

EU