When taking a ferry, the tachograph break rules are slightly different, giving drivers more flexibility. In this post, we'll go over exactly what makes tacho rules for ferry crossings different, and how to set your tachograph to record them properly.
What Are The Tacho Rules For Ferry Crossings?
Which Mode To Use
When on ferries, some drivers set their tachograph to "Available", while others prefer to use the "Other Work" mode. While both are used commonly, we'd recommend using the Other Work mode. This is because under EU law, POA contributes to Drivers' daily break, whereas it doesn't under UK law.
This is unlikely to cause any issues in practice, but to prevent miscalculations and confusion about hours worked and whose laws to follow, it's simpler to use the Other Work setting while on ferries between different countries, and accept the extra hours of working time that come with it.
Daily Rest
When using trains or ferries, daily rest can be interrupted up to 2 times by other activities, provided that these activities take no longer than an hour when combined. This only applies if the driver has access to a sleeping area, such as a couchette, bunk, or cabin.
Any time spent on the interruptions must be added onto the end of the rest period, as they are not considered part of the 11 hours' minimum rest.
Tacho rules for ferry crossings can be applied in tandem with split daily rest rules, but as with regular split daily rest, the time must be extended to 12 hours. The ferry interruptions may fall within either portion of the split rest, it doesn't have to be one in each.
How To Put Your Tachograph Into Ferry Mode
Many tachographs have a Ferry/Train option. It acts as a marker to explain why periods of rest are interrupted. It's often referred to as a "Ferry Mode", but this isn't the most accurate term, because it isn't a mode like Driving or Other work.
Here's how you can get it to work:
- If you have some rest to do while you're waiting to board, set your tachograph to Rest when you arrive in the queue.
- When it's time to board, select your tachograph's Ferry/Train option (each model is different, so we can't tell you exactly how to do this). This will provide an "official" reason for why your rest period is being interrupted.
- Once you start moving, the tachograph should switch to Driving on its own.
- Once you're on board, set the tachograph to Rest again.
- When disembarking, if your 11-hour Rest is complete, set the tachograph to Other Work, or Driving. You're back to regular tachograph rules now.
- But if you intend to complete your Rest back on land, select the Ferry/Train option again before you disembark, to log the reason your Rest is being interrupted. Your tachograph will switch to Driving as soon as it starts moving again.
- Once you're parked up, set the tachograph to Rest and resume your rest. You're back to regular tachograph rules now.
What if My Tachograph Doesn't Have a Ferry Mode?
Not all tachographs have a ferry option. In this case, follow the instructions above, (obviously) skipping the bits about the train/ferry option. After your shift, take a print-out of your tacho readings, and annotate why your rest was interrupted on the back.
It's also a good idea to hang on to any tickets or boarding passes, in case your TM, or their tachograph analysis software, flags this as an infringement, and you need to prove you were on a ferry.
Tacho Rules For Ferry Crossings: What's It Got To Do with TachoMagic?
At TachoMagic, we offer affordable tachograph analysis and automatic remote download devices. As a result, everybody here knows the ins and outs of tachograph regulations, from the MD, to the software development team, to the junior marketers. If you're interested in the services we offer, have a browse of the website, or feel free to get in touch at admin@tachomagic.com - we'll get right back to you.
Further Reading
If you've found our post, "What Are The Tacho Rules For Ferry Crossings?" useful, these articles might also be handy:
