GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 22, 2026
Driving Time
Unlike total working time – which covers loading, waiting, and administrative tasks – driving time refers precisely to the period during which a driver is actively at the wheel and the vehicle is in motion.
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Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32006R0561
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Logistics Concept
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Definition & Explanation
Unlike total working time – which covers loading, waiting, and administrative tasks – driving time refers precisely to the period during which a driver is actively at the wheel and the vehicle is in motion. Under EU Regulation 561/2006, the standard daily maximum is 9 hours, extendable to 10 hours on no more than two days per week. Compliance is enforced through continuous tachograph recording; both drivers and operators face substantial fines for infringements, and repeated violations can jeopardise an operator's licence. For haulage companies running cross-border operations, driving time limits are a binding constraint in route planning: they determine how much distance a driver can cover in a single shift and where mandatory breaks and rest periods must be built in.
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