Introduction - What Does WTD Stand For?
WTD stands for Working Time Directive - it's one of the sets of rules that LGV and PCV drivers must adhere to. It is also known as the Road Transport Directive, and frequently gets confused with the Drivers' Hours regulations, which are a separate set of rules that must also be adhered to by drivers in the UK.
This guide looks closer at the Working Time Directive and covers all the vital information you need to know to follow the rules.
What Are The WTD Rules For Drivers?
These rules determine how long drivers can spend working per day, week, and month, as well as determining their entitlement to paid breaks.
What Are The Daily WTD Driving Limits?
There isn't an upper limit to the number of hours that a driver can work in a day, however:
- If you are driving an LGV and any part of your shift falls between 12-midnight and 4:00am, the whole shift is considered to be night work - and you must not exceed 10 hours' of night work within a 24-hour period.
- You may not work for more than 6 hours straight without a break - breaks must be no less than 15 minutes in duration.
- If your daily working time is between 6 - 9 hours, then breaks totalling 30 minutes must be taken.
- If your daily working time exceeds 9 hours, then you must take 45 minutes' worth of break over the course of the day.
What Is The Maximum WTD Weekly Average?
- The average working week must not exceed 48 hours over a predefined reference period (this is 17–18 weeks by default, but this can be changed by your employer). This is calculated by adding up the hours worked, and dividing them by the number of weeks worked.
- The maximum weekly working hours is 60 - you mustn't exceed 60 hours of work within any 7-day period.
- Sick leave, parental leave, and statutory annual leave all count as working time. Any day taken off is recorded as 8 hours of work.
- Any holidays taken beyond your contracted entitlement will be recorded as rest days, and do not add any hours for your WTD.
What Happens If you Don't Follow The WTD?
Some of the penalties for breaking WTD rules include:
- Verbal warnings.
- Points on your licence.
- Fixed penalty notices (fines).
- Your vehicle being immobilised by the DVSA until the problem is rectified, and the release charge has been paid.
Driver Benefits of the WTD
It is easy to overlook the benefits of the Working Time Directive and think it was put in place purely to confuse you, but there are some benefits to the WTD.
Making sure that a driver takes regular scheduled breaks or works only a certain number of hours a week is more than just for comfort, it is also for safety. Not just for drivers but other road users as well. Safeguarding driver hours and making sure that you are treated fairly protects everyone and makes sure no one is mistreated and there are no exhausted drivers on the road.
Summary: The WTD / Working Time Directive
The Working Time Directive (WTD) covers how much drivers are allowed to work, on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis, as well as determining how much break drivers should take.
There is substantial overlap between the WTD and Drivers' Hours rules - both must be adhered to, but the Drivers' Hours rules are more in-depth and stricter, so these often take precedence (a notable example is driver break rules). Have a look at our guide to Drivers' Hours rules directly compared alongside the WTD - it's a great way to get a picture of both rulesets side-by-side.
Tachograph Analysis - How Tachomagic Can Help
If you are finding it difficult to keep up with WTD, Driver hours or keeping up with compliance, TachoMagic can help. Our TADD (TachoMagic Automatic Download Device) allows you to get all Driver and Vehicle Data uploaded automatically. Our reports are available when you need them and can be streamlined to provide you with the information you need, when you need it.
Find out more below.
Further Reading
If you've found our page about the WTD helpful, you might find this related information below useful.
- EU tachograph rules made simple
- What are the UK tacho rules for vans and trailers?
- Do I need a tachograph for private use?
- Driver Hours
