LGV Tachograph Rules & Drivers' Hours 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the 'availability' mode on a digital tachograph used for?
- Time when the driver is available but not driving or working, such as waiting (Correct answer)
- Any time the driver is in the cab
- Rest periods only
- Time spent loading and unloading
Correct answer: Time when the driver is available but not driving or working, such as waiting
The availability (POA — Period of Availability) mode is used when a driver is available and could be called to work, such as waiting at a ferry terminal or waiting for a vehicle to be loaded, but is not actively working.
Question 2: How must a driver record a period of rest taken away from the vehicle during a working day?
- As a break using the break/rest mode on the tachograph (Correct answer)
- As other work
- As availability
- It does not need to be recorded
Correct answer: As a break using the break/rest mode on the tachograph
Any rest period must be recorded using the break/rest mode on the tachograph. Rest periods taken away from the vehicle should be recorded in the same way as rest taken in the vehicle.
Question 3: An LGV driver works for two different employers in the same week. Who is responsible for compliance?
- Both the driver and each employer are responsible for the parts they control (Correct answer)
- Only the primary employer
- Only the driver
- Only the most recent employer
Correct answer: Both the driver and each employer are responsible for the parts they control
Both employers and the driver share responsibility for compliance with drivers' hours rules. Each employer is responsible for the driving done for them, while the driver is responsible for their overall compliance.
Question 4: What is the maximum period a driver may have a reduced weekly rest?
- A reduced weekly rest of 24 hours may be taken but must be compensated before the end of the third following week (Correct answer)
- Reduced weekly rest can be taken every week
- Only once per month
- Twice per calendar year
Correct answer: A reduced weekly rest of 24 hours may be taken but must be compensated before the end of the third following week
A driver may take a reduced weekly rest of at least 24 hours instead of the full 45 hours, but the reduction must be compensated by an equivalent block of rest taken en bloc before the end of the third week following the reduced rest.
Question 5: What does 'out of scope' mean in relation to tachograph rules?
- The journey or vehicle is exempt from EU tachograph regulations (Correct answer)
- The tachograph is recording out of range data
- The driver is outside the UK
- The vehicle is outside its licensed operating area
Correct answer: The journey or vehicle is exempt from EU tachograph regulations
'Out of scope' means the journey, vehicle, or operation is exempt from EU tachograph regulations. In this case, the driver may still need to comply with domestic (GB) drivers' hours rules.
Question 6: What is the maximum driving time allowed for a driver in any two consecutive weeks?
- 90 hours (Correct answer)
- 100 hours
- 112 hours
- 96 hours
Correct answer: 90 hours
In any two consecutive weeks, total driving must not exceed 90 hours. This is the fortnightly limit and applies regardless of how the hours are distributed across the two weeks.
LGV Tachograph Rules & Drivers' Hours 4
What is the 'availability' mode on a digital tachograph used for?