Working Time Directive (WTD) rules are often mixed with tachograph rules — but they are not the same thing.
Many drivers stay legal on the tachograph and still breach WTD limits without realising it.
This page explains how WTD actually works, what counts as working time, and what breaks do — and do not — reset.
What WTD is — and what it is not
Working Time Directive regulates total working time, not driving time.
It applies even when a tachograph is not required and is checked separately from EU driver hours rules.
WTD does not replace tachograph rules — both systems run at the same time.
What counts as working time under WTD
Under WTD, working time includes:
- driving
- loading and unloading
- vehicle checks and cleaning
- waiting time, if the duration is not known in advance
- any other activity recorded as “work”
Periods of availability only count as working time if the duration is unknown.
WTD limits explained
The main WTD limits for drivers are:
- Maximum 48 hours per week on average (over the reference period)
- Maximum 60 hours in a single week
- Maximum 6 hours of work without a break
These limits apply regardless of daily or weekly driving limits.
WTD breaks vs tachograph breaks
This is where most confusion happens.
A 45-minute tachograph break:
- resets continuous driving
- A WTD break does not reset total working time
- It interrupts continuous working time, allowing up to another 6 hours of work before the next WTD break is required.
The overall working time for the shift or week continues to accumulate.
A WTD break:
- If total working time is 6–9 hours, you need at least 30 minutes of breaks in total
- If total working time is more than 9 hours, you need at least 45 minutes of breaks in total
- Breaks can be split into blocks of at least 15 minutes
- You must not work for more than 6 hours without taking a break
A single break can satisfy both rules, but only if it meets the conditions of each system.
The most common WTD misunderstanding
Many drivers believe that taking a 15-minute break automatically allows them to work for another 6 hours.
This is wrong.
A WTD break must be taken before reaching 6 hours of continuous work.
If the break is taken after the limit is exceeded, a breach has already occurred.
In addition, the length of the break must match the total planned working time:
- 6–9 hours of work requires 30 minutes of breaks in total
- More than 9 hours of work requires 45 minutes of breaks in total
A short break taken late does not create a new “safe” 6-hour working window.
WTD breaks control when a break must be taken, not how long you are allowed to work in total.
Why WTD infringements are often missed
WTD is usually checked:
- during audits
- by employers
- through working time records, not the tachograph alone
That’s why drivers are often surprised to be told about WTD breaches weeks later.
In short
- WTD and driver hours are separate systems
- Driving time ≠ working time
- Breaks do not always reset both
- Tachograph legality does not guarantee WTD compliance
Need help with your tachograph data?
If something doesn’t add up, looks clean but still failed a check,
or you’re not sure how the rules were applied — we can help.