On April 24, 2024, Regulation (EU) 2024/1258 of the European Parliament and of the Council made important changes to Regulation (EC) No. 561/2006, establishing new minimum requirements for daily and weekly breaks and rest periods in the occasional road passenger transport sector.
To make life easier for truck drivers, 1tacho will summarize all these changes and then explain them in more depth, for those drivers who want to know more details. Here we go!
What changed from Regulation 1258/2024?
In practice, the changes from Regulation 1258/2024 are:
– When carrying documentation: quirement of an “itinerary sheet” on board for all trips, even within national perimeters, which was previously required only for international trips;
– When dividing breaks: Drivers can divide the mandatory 45-minute break into two breaks of at least 15 minutes each, as long as, in total, they have the minimum duration necessary to ensure adequate rest for drivers .
– When resting: a 1-hour delay is allowed when resting, once per trip of up to 7 hours or, twice, in the case of trips lasting 8 hours or more.
What are the Main Objectives of the changes to the Regulations?
– Improvement of drivers’ working conditions
– Guarantee of fair competition between transport companies
– Increased road safety
Explaining each change better
1. Flexibility in Breaks and Rest Periods
For drivers who carry out occasional road transport of passengers, so that changes are made that do not compromise the safety of passengers and drivers, ensuring that road safety is maintained.
Break Rules:
– Division of breaks: Drivers can divide the mandatory 45-minute break into two breaks of at least 15 minutes each.
– Minimum duration of breaks: Each break must have the minimum duration necessary to ensure adequate rest for drivers.
Daily Rest Periods:
– Postponement of daily rest: It is permitted to postpone the start of the daily rest period by a maximum of one hour, provided that the driving time on that day does not exceed seven hours.
– Postponement Limitation: Postponement is permitted only once during the trip or twice on trips of eight days or more.
2. Facilitation in the applicability of the Rules
The regulation aims to make the rules more applicable to occasional road passenger transport services, both national and international, thus eliminating discrepancies that could affect competition and that could affect the performance of drivers, bringing to the rules some possibilities of flexibility that expand the use of driving time, breaks and rest periods.
3. Documentation Requirements
Drivers must have an “itinerary sheet” on board the vehicle with essential information about the trip. This document is already required for international services and will now also be mandatory for national services.
4. Sanctions for Infractions
Member States will have the competence to impose sanctions for infringements of Regulation (EU) No 165/2014, even if those infringements were committed in another Member State or in a third country. This measure aims to ensure that the rules are applied effectively and coherently across the European Union.
Expected Benefits
– Improvement of drivers’ working conditions, with adequate breaks and flexible but safe rest periods.
– Greater efficiency and quality of occasional road passenger transport services, better meeting passenger needs.
– Harmonization and clarity of rules** for operators and drivers, facilitating compliance and reducing ambiguities.
– Reduced risk of fatigue and stress for drivers, increasing safety on the roads.
–Improved communication with the authorities, having the itinerary sheet and the 1tacho app at hand, whose tachograph data is promptly collected and analyzed, the driver finds it easier to argue with the authorities along the route .
Conclusion
With these changes to Regulation (EU) 2024/1258, which aim to improve drivers’ working conditions, ensure fair competition between companies and increase road safety, adaptation to the new rules and their effective implementation will be fundamental to achieving the objectives of improving working conditions and safe and fair competition between transport companies.
Answer: Drivers can now divide the mandatory 45-minute break into two breaks of at least 15 minutes each. This flexibility allows drivers to adjust their breaks according to travel needs, without compromising adequate safety and rest.
FAQ: Regulation (EU) 2024/1258 on Occasional Road Passenger Transport
1. What are the main changes introduced by Regulation (EU) 2024/1258?
Answer: The main changes include greater flexibility in scheduling breaks and rest periods for drivers, harmonization of rules for national and international services, the obligation to have a “route sheet” on board the vehicle, and the possibility of Member States impose sanctions for infringements committed in other countries.
2. How does the new flexibility in breaks work for drivers?
Answer: Drivers can now divide the mandatory 45-minute break into two breaks of at least 15 minutes each.
3. What are the documentation requirements for drivers?
Answer: Drivers must have an “itinerary sheet” on board the vehicle with essential information about the trip. This documentation is necessary for both international and national services, ensuring that authorities can verify compliance with rules regarding breaks and rest periods.
4. How will sanctions for infractions be applied under the new regulations?
Answer: Member States have the competence to impose sanctions for infringements of Regulation (EU) No 165/2014, even if those infringements were committed in another Member State or in a third country. This ensures uniform and effective application of rules across the European Union, increasing road safety and fairness between operators.
5. What is the expected impact of the new rules on drivers’ working conditions?
Answer: The new rules should significantly improve working conditions for drivers, offering more flexibility for breaks and rest, which can reduce stress and fatigue. Furthermore, by harmonizing rules across the EU, drivers can expect a more consistent and safe working environment, regardless of the country in which they are operating.
For more details, see the full text of the regulation on the official website of the European Union
