Road transport: EU rules on the organisation of the working time of professional drivers

SUMMARY OF:

Directive 2002/15/EC on the organisation of the working time of persons performing mobile road transport activities

WHAT IS AIM OF THE DIRECTIVE?

It sets out minimum rules for the organisation of working time for drivers supplementing Regulation (EC) 561/2006, which lays down common rules on drivers’ driving times and rest periods.

KEY POINTS

The rules of the directive apply to all ‘mobile workers’ in the service of a business established in an EU country to perform road transport activities. It also applies to self-employed drivers.

‘Working time’ includes:

driving;
loading and unloading;
helping passengers get on and off the vehicle;
cleaning and technical maintenance;
all other work related to the safety of the vehicle, passengers or cargo, as well as the carrying out of certain legal obligations directly related to a specific transport operation (such as customs formalities);
any other time when the driver is considered to be on duty.

A maximum working week is set at 48 hours; however, this can be extended to 60 hours as long as an average of 48 hours per week is not exceeded over a 4-month period.

Drivers must not work more than 6 hours without a break. Such breaks must last no less than 30 minutes when a driver works between 6 and 9 hours in a day.

This is in addition to the provisions of Regulation (EC) 561/2006, which sets a maximum driving limit of 4.5 hours without a break or rest.

The rules of Regulation (EC) 561/2006 on rest are maintained by this directive. Drivers must take daily and weekly rest periods.

Where a night shift is worked, a maximum of 10 hours can be worked in any 24-hour period.

A 2014 Commission report analysed the implementation of the directive and of the regulation in 2011-2012. It found certain improvements in the application of the legislation. However, the incompleteness and inconsistency of EU countries’ submissions prevented an in-depth analysis of the effect on road safety or on the health and safety of drivers. The European Commission noted that it would launch a comprehensive evaluation of the functioning of social legislation in road transport.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DIRECTIVE APPLY?

It has applied since 23 March 2002. It had to become law in the EU countries by 23 March 2005.

BACKGROUND

A 2008 Commission proposal to modify the directive to exclude self-employed drivers and to enhance its enforcement was rejected by the European Parliament. The directive initially covered only mobile workers employed by a transport company. Since March 2009, it has covered all drivers who fall in the scope of the regulation on driving times, breaks and rest periods.

For more information, see:

Driving time and rest periods (European Commission).

MAIN DOCUMENT

Directive 2002/15/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2002 on the organisation of the working time of persons performing mobile road transport activities (OJ L 80, 23.3.2002, pp. 35-39)