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Do drivers’ hours regulations vary for double-manned units?

3rd February 2011
Page 20
Page 20, 3rd February 2011 — Do drivers’ hours regulations vary for double-manned units?
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How many hours can a double-manned vehicle work?

Multi-manning is an arrangement where at least two drivers are available to drive a vehicle between consecutive daily rest periods, or between a daily rest period and a weekly rest period.

Under the EU drivers’ hours rules, for the irst hour of multi-manning, the presence of another driver or drivers is optional, but for the rest of the period they must be there. This allows a vehicle to leave its operating centre and collect a second driver along the way, as long as this is done within one hour of the irst driver starting work.

Vehicles manned by two or more drivers (but not necessarily double-manned) must follow the same rules as single-manned vehicles, apart from the daily rest requirements.

If two or more drivers operate a vehicle, each driver must have a daily rest period of at least nine consecutive hours within 30 hours of the last daily or weekly rest period. This allows drivers’ duties to be spread over 21 hours.

The maximum driving time for a twoman crew using this allowance is 20 hours, if both drivers are entitled to drive 10 hours. After this time, a daily rest is required.

If your vehicle is being transported by ferry or train, the daily rest requirements are more lexible. A regular daily rest period may be interrupted no more than twice by other activities not exceeding one hour in total. This allows you to drive the vehicle onto a ferry and off at the end of a sea crossing. If your rest period is interrupted in this way, the total accumulated rest period must still be 11 hours.

You must have a bunk or couchette available during the rest period. You cannot break a reduced rest of nine hours.

If your vehicle comes within the scope of the EU rules and is not at your home or at your employers’ operational centre but a separate location, then the time spent travelling to or from that location to take charge of the vehicle may not be counted as a rest or break. This does not apply if you are on a ferry or train and have access to a bunk or couchette.

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Organisations: European Union

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