Time Tracking in Transport: Tachograph, Driving Times and the Spanish Working-Time Record for Drivers
A sector with a double obligation
Road transport is one of the sectors with the strictest working-time rules. Professional drivers are subject at the same time to EU rules on driving and rest times and to the general obligation to keep a working-time record that applies to every company in Spain.
The tachograph
The tachograph is the device that automatically records the driver's activity: driving, other work, availability and rest. The digital and smart tachograph stores data reliably and lets authorities check it. It is mandatory in most goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and passenger vehicles with more than nine seats.
Driving and rest times (EU Regulation 561/2006)
Regulation (EC) 561/2006 sets strict limits for road safety:
- Daily driving: maximum 9 hours, extendable to 10 hours twice a week.
- Weekly driving: maximum 56 hours, not exceeding 90 hours over two consecutive weeks.
- Breaks: after 4.5 hours of driving, a minimum break of 45 minutes.
- Daily rest: at least 11 hours, reducible to 9 hours up to three times between weekly rests.
- Weekly rest: a 45-hour period, reducible under certain conditions with compensation.
Breaching these times carries specific transport penalties, separate from labour-law sanctions.
Coexistence with the working-time record
Royal Decree-Law 8/2019 requires recording the working day of all employees, including in transport. This is where complexity arises:
- The tachograph records driving times, but not necessarily the whole working day (loading, unloading, waiting, paperwork).
- The working-time record must reflect the start and end of the full day and the effective working time.
- Companies must reconcile both records to avoid contradictions during an inspection.
Sector challenges
- Drivers who spend days away from the workplace, constantly on the move.
- The need to integrate tachograph data with the time-tracking system.
- Periods of presence and availability that do not always match driving time.
Tools that unify the information make compliance easier and reduce the risk of penalties. At RegulaKit we help companies meet the working-time record requirement simply. To calculate the cost of possible non-compliance, try our penalty calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the tachograph replace the working-time record?
No. The tachograph records driving times, but Royal Decree-Law 8/2019 requires recording the whole working day, including loading, waiting and paperwork.
How many hours can a driver drive per day?
A maximum of 9 hours per day, extendable to 10 hours twice a week, under EU Regulation 561/2006.
When must a driver take a break?
After 4.5 hours of driving, a minimum break of 45 minutes is mandatory, which may be split as the regulation allows.
Which vehicles must carry a tachograph?
Generally, goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and passenger vehicles with more than nine seats.
What weekly rest is a driver entitled to?
A regular weekly rest of 45 hours, reducible under conditions with the corresponding compensation, under EU Regulation 561/2006.