Social Regulation

Social regulation in road transport governs the work of professional drivers. Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 sets driving and rest times, and Regulation (EU) No 165/2014 covers the tachograph. Directive 2002/15/EC limits their working time, including loading and maintenance.

These rules have three aims. They protect road safety by limiting fatigue at the wheel. They improve drivers' working conditions and ensure fair competition between transport companies.

Which texts make up social regulation?

The table sums up what each text covers and the key figures to know. Each row links to the official text on EUR-Lex.

Text	What it covers	Key figures
Regulation (EC) No 561/2006	Driving times, breaks, rest	9 hours a day, 56 hours a week, 90 hours over two weeks; 45-minute break after 4.5 hours
Regulation (EU) No 165/2014	Tachographs and cards	Tachograph inspected at least every two years; driver card valid for five years at most
Directive 2002/15/EC	Drivers' working time	48 hours a week on average, 60 hours at most; no more than 6 hours of work without a break
Regulation (EU) 2020/1054	Update of both regulations	56 days of records to produce since December 31, 2024; vehicles over 2.5 tonnes in international transport and cabotage since July 1, 2026

Directive 2006/22/EC completes this framework. It sets out how EU member states check that these rules are applied.

What does a driver's working time cover?

Working time goes beyond driving. Directive 2002/15/EC includes loading, unloading, assisting passengers, cleaning and technical maintenance. Periods of availability, such as waiting at a border, are in principle excluded.

Average weekly working time may not exceed 48 hours. It can reach 60 hours in a given week, provided the 48-hour average is kept over four months. When night work is performed, the working day is limited to 10 hours in any 24-hour period.

A break of at least 30 minutes is required when working time totals between 6 and 9 hours. Beyond 9 hours, it rises to 45 minutes. It can be split into periods of at least 15 minutes.

What obligations does the company have?

The company organizes work so that its drivers can comply with the rules. It gives them instructions and checks their activity regularly (Article 10 of Regulation 561/2006). It is liable for its drivers' offenses, even when they are committed in another country.

Pay linked to distance traveled or the amount of goods carried is prohibited if it endangers safety (Article 10). The company trains its drivers to use the tachograph and keeps the records for at least one year (Article 33 of Regulation 165/2014).

Regular weekly rest cannot be taken in the vehicle. The employer pays for accommodation. It also arranges for the driver to return home or to the company's operational center every four weeks (Article 8).

Which fleets are affected?

Regulation 561/2006 applies to the carriage of goods by vehicles over 3.5 tonnes. Since July 1, 2026, it also covers vehicles over 2.5 tonnes in international transport and cabotage (Regulation 2020/1054). Some passenger transport is also covered.

Exemptions exist, for example for a vehicle of up to 7.5 tonnes carrying the driver's work equipment. This exemption applies within a 100 km radius of the company's base (Article 3). The detailed limits are in our driving time entry.

How Dadycar helps

Dadycar's software doesn't replace the tachograph, but it organizes everything around it. The employees and sites module links each driver to their site and vehicles. The documents module centralizes driver's licenses, contracts and insurance, with expiry alerts.

Trips, recorded by a GPS-OBD device or the connected vehicle, are matched to drivers with an RFID driver badge. Donna, the AI agent, audits your account across six areas, including compliance. Nothing changes without your preview and approval.

Working time tracking data is kept for 5 years, then automatically deleted. Hosting is in France, with OVHcloud.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between driving time and working time?

Driving time only counts driving, which is capped by Regulation 561/2006. Working time adds loading, cleaning or maintenance. It is limited to an average of 48 hours a week by Directive 2002/15/EC.

How long must tachograph data be kept?

The company keeps it for at least one year (Article 33 of Regulation 165/2014). The driver must be able to produce records for the current day and the previous 56 days. This rule has applied since December 31, 2024 (Regulation 2020/1054).

Can a driver have more than one driver card?

No: a driver may hold only one valid card (Article 27 of Regulation 165/2014). It is valid for no more than five years (Article 26). See our driver card entry for how to apply and renew.