How many hours can a truck driver drive per day in the EU?
EU truck drivers may drive up to 9 hours per day, extendable to 10 hours twice a week, with a 45-minute break after 4.5 hours and a 56-hour weekly cap.
Logifie Team
Logistics Technology Experts
Under EU Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 , a truck driver may drive a maximum of 9 hours per day — extendable to 10 hours no more than twice a week — with a mandatory 45-minute break after every 4.5 hours at the wheel, a weekly ceiling of 56 hours, and a two-week ceiling of 90 hours.
What is the maximum daily driving time for EU truck drivers?
The standard daily driving limit under Regulation 561/2006 is 9 hours. A driver may extend that to 10 hours on no more than two days in any single week, and these extensions cannot be carried forward.
The 45-minute mandatory break after 4.5 continuous hours of driving (Article 7) can be split into two fractions: a first break of at least 15 minutes followed by a second of at least 30 minutes, taken in that order. Logifie's driver-hours planning tool automates this calculation across an entire fleet, reducing the risk of an inadvertent infringement.
| Rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Daily driving (standard) | 9 hours |
| Daily driving (extended) | 10 hours — maximum twice per week |
| Break after 4.5 h driving | 45 minutes (or 15 min + 30 min in order) |
| Weekly driving | 56 hours |
| Fortnightly driving | 90 hours |
What breaks and rest periods are required under EU driving hours rules?
After each working day, a driver must take a minimum daily rest of 11 uninterrupted hours. That rest can be reduced to 9 hours on up to three occasions between any two consecutive weekly rest periods, and no compensation is required for a reduced daily rest.
The normal weekly rest period is at least 45 hours. A reduced weekly rest of 24 hours is permitted, but the shortfall must be compensated in full — attached to another rest period of at least 9 hours — before the end of the third week following. The EC Mobility and Transport driving-time reference is the definitive operator-facing summary from DG MOVE.
Understanding how a tachograph records these events is as important as knowing the limits. The guide to how digital tachographs work explains the recording modes, the data that enforcement authorities access, and what constitutes a compliant record.
What are the weekly and fortnightly driving limits in Europe?
A driver's total driving time in any single week must not exceed 56 hours; across any two consecutive weeks, it must not exceed 90 hours. These ceilings apply independently of one another.
From 1 July 2026, the same 561/2006 framework extends to light commercial vehicles (LCVs) between 2.5 t and 3.5 t used in cross-border transport or cabotage, as confirmed by the IRU practitioners' guide to Regulation 561/2006 . Van operators previously outside these rules must comply from that date.
Drivers new to EU compliance can find the licensing and training pathway, including Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) obligations, in the guide to becoming a truck driver in Europe .
Frequently asked questions
Can a truck driver drive 10 hours a day in the EU?
Yes, but only on a limited basis. A driver may extend the 9-hour daily limit to 10 hours on no more than two days in any single week. Extensions cannot be carried over, and any day above 9 hours counts against the two-extension allowance regardless of the margin. Enforcement authorities verify compliance through tachograph records.
What is the 56-hour weekly driving limit?
The 56-hour rule sets the absolute ceiling on total driving time within one working week, applied in addition to — not instead of — the daily limits. Any combination of daily driving that would push the weekly total past 56 hours is prohibited, and the two-week total must also remain at or below 90 hours.
How much rest does an EU truck driver need between shifts?
The standard minimum rest between shifts is 11 uninterrupted hours. That can be reduced to 9 hours on up to three occasions between consecutive weekly rest periods. A split daily rest is also permitted: a first period of at least 3 hours followed by a second of at least 9 hours, in that order.
Do EU driving hours rules apply to vans and light commercial vehicles?
From 1 July 2026, Regulation 561/2006 applies to LCVs between 2.5 t and 3.5 t used in cross-border international transport or cabotage for hire or reward. Before that date, these vehicles were largely outside the regulation's scope. Purely domestic LCV operations may still fall under national rules rather than 561/2006, so operators should verify the applicable regime with their national enforcement authority.
Use Logifie's driver-hours planning tool to track daily, weekly, and fortnightly limits automatically across your fleet.
