DTT HGV Tachograph Rules 4

Question 1

What must a driver do before starting a new journey with a digital tachograph?

Accepted Answer

Insert driver card, confirm or enter country, and check that the correct mode is displayed

Answer

Before starting a digital tachograph journey, insert your driver card, confirm or manually enter the country you are starting in, and verify the tachograph is in driving mode before moving.

Question 2

What is a 'manual entry' on a digital tachograph used for?

Accepted Answer

Entering activities that occurred when the card was not in the unit — such as rest taken at home

Answer

Manual entry allows a driver to enter activities that occurred when the driver card was not inserted — such as rest at home, holidays, or sick leave. This ensures the full 24-hour picture is complete.

Question 3

A driver is asked by a Garda to produce tachograph records. What records must they be able to show?

Accepted Answer

Current day's record plus the last 28 days of records on the driver card

Answer

A driver must produce their current day's tachograph record and be able to show the last 28 days of records stored on the digital driver card (or last 28 days of analogue charts).

Question 4

What does the 'availability' mode (hourglass symbol) on a tachograph mean?

Accepted Answer

The driver is available and waiting but not driving or working — such as waiting for a ferry or loading

Answer

Availability mode records time when the driver is free to leave the vehicle but must remain available — such as waiting for loading/unloading or waiting at a port. This time can count toward daily rest under certain conditions.

Question 5

What is the difference between 'break' and 'rest' in tachograph regulations?

Accepted Answer

A break interrupts driving time; rest is a longer period after a shift when no work may be done

Answer

A break (minimum 45 minutes after 4.5 hours driving) interrupts the driving period but does not count as rest. Rest is a longer period (minimum 9 hours daily) during which no work or driving is permitted.

Irish DTT Truck/Bus Practice Test

Irish DTT Truck/Bus Practice Test

DTT HGV Tachograph Rules 4