# Driver Working Time Control

*Last updated: 2026-06-18*

> A driver who has not taken a mandatory break after 4.5 hours at the wheel has committed a recorded infringement – this is precisely what driver working time control is designed to detect.

A driver who has not taken a mandatory break after 4.5 hours at the wheel has committed a recorded infringement – this is precisely what driver working time control is designed to detect. It covers the uninterrupted logging of all driving, on-duty, and rest periods, in practice almost exclusively via the digital tachograph, which has long been mandatory in new commercial vehicles above a certain gross weight. Traffic authorities analyse tachograph data during roadside checks and company audits; transport operators themselves are also required to carry out regular internal reviews. Missing, manipulated, or incomplete records are treated as serious violations, attracting substantial fines and driving bans. Unlike the broader working time legislation that governs the overall employment framework, driver working time control focuses on the technical monitoring and documentation of driving-specific hours.

**Source:** [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32006R0561](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32006R0561)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Driver Working Time Control |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 132 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-18 |
| Source | https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32006R0561 |

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*Logistics Glossary — Freight Academy: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/driver-working-time-control](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/driver-working-time-control)*

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