CPC Tachograph & Working Time 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A driver who manipulates or tampers with tachograph data commits:
- A minor road traffic offence only
- A criminal offence under the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 and EU Regulation 561/2006, potentially resulting in imprisonment (Correct answer)
- A civil offence only
- A disciplinary matter for the employer only
Correct answer: A criminal offence under the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 and EU Regulation 561/2006, potentially resulting in imprisonment
Tachograph fraud is a serious criminal offence; using a fraudulent device or manipulating records can result in a criminal record, heavy fines, imprisonment and loss of licence.
Question 2: What is the maximum weekly driving time under EU Regulation 561/2006?
- 45 hours
- 56 hours (Correct answer)
- 60 hours
- 50 hours
Correct answer: 56 hours
The maximum driving time in any one calendar week (Monday to Sunday midnight) is 56 hours, subject to the overall fortnightly limit of 90 hours.
Question 3: Under the Road Transport (Working Time) Regulations 2005, a mobile worker's maximum weekly working time is:
- 40 hours per week with no flexibility
- An average of 48 hours per week, with a maximum of 60 hours in any single week (Correct answer)
- 56 hours to match driving hour limits
- No maximum for self-employed owner-drivers
Correct answer: An average of 48 hours per week, with a maximum of 60 hours in any single week
The Road Transport (Working Time) Regulations limit mobile workers to an average of 48 hours per week calculated over a reference period, with a single-week cap of 60 hours, including all work not just driving.
Question 4: When must a driver insert their tachograph card into the vehicle unit?
- At the start of the working week
- Before commencing any driving, and it must remain inserted throughout the journey (Correct answer)
- Only when crossing international borders
- Only for journeys exceeding 50 km
Correct answer: Before commencing any driving, and it must remain inserted throughout the journey
The driver card must be inserted in slot 1 before any driving begins and must remain in the vehicle unit throughout; removal without justification is an offence.
Question 5: What does 'period of availability' (POA) mean in tachograph terms?
- Time spent driving on standby
- Time during which the driver is not required to remain at their workstation but must be available to start work — such as waiting for loading or ferry crossing (Correct answer)
- Time off duty at a rest area
- Overtime worked beyond the shift
Correct answer: Time during which the driver is not required to remain at their workstation but must be available to start work — such as waiting for loading or ferry crossing
POA is time during which the driver is available for work but is not driving or performing other duties — such as accompanying a vehicle on a ferry or waiting while a vehicle is loaded by others.
Question 6: How long must tachograph records be kept by the operator?
- 6 months
- 1 year
- 2 years (Correct answer)
- 5 years
Correct answer: 2 years
Operators must retain tachograph records (printouts, charts and digital data downloads) for a minimum of 12 months for the driver and 2 years for the vehicle unit, and must produce them on request.
CPC Tachograph & Working Time 2
A driver who manipulates or tampers with tachograph data commits: