Using the mode switch on recording equipment

Drivers must use the tachograph mode switch.

	= driving time This is an automatic function in most new tachograph models and there is no separate symbol on the device.
	= other work loading and unloading helping passengers board and alight from the vehicle cleaning and technical maintenance all other work designed to ensure the safety of the vehicle, its cargo and passengers administrative formalities with the police, customs, border control officers and other authorities any time spent driving a vehicle that is not governed by the European Tachograph Regulation to and from a vehicle that is, if the vehicle is not kept at the driver’s home or their employer’s place of work where the driver is normally based any time spent driving a vehicle used for commercial operations not falling within the scope of the European Driving Time and Rest Periods Regulation any and all work performed in a private or public employment relationship for the same or another employer, whether within or outside of the transport sector
	= period of availability any time spent sitting next to another driver or on the couchette while the vehicle is in motion
	= breaks and rest periods Drivers must use the mode switch in order to clearly distinguish between the aforementioned periods of time (other work, breaks, period of availability). When a driver exits their vehicle in a storage area, for example, and hands over the vehicle to another driver, they must move their driver card into the second slot on the digital tachograph and change the mode switch setting.

Markings to be made on record sheets

The following information must be entered in the centre of the record sheet when a driver begins their shift: the driver’s surname and first name the location (town/city) where the sheet is inserted into the tachograph the date (day, month and year) on which the sheet is inserted into the tachograph the vehicle’s registration number the odometer reading (km) at the start of the journey

 

 

The following information must be added to the centre of the record sheet at the end of each shift: the location (town/city) where the sheet is removed from the tachograph the date (day, month and year) on which the driver’s shift ends the odometer reading (km) at the end of the journey

 

 

The following information must be entered at the back of the record sheet whenever a driver switches vehicles: the time at which the switch was made the new vehicle’s registration number the odometer reading on the new vehicle

Checklist for using a tachograph

Analogue tachograph

• Record sheets cannot be shared between drivers. Each driver is personally responsible for using their tachograph and making the necessary markings on their record sheets.
• If a tachograph malfunctions, the necessary entries must be made manually on the time-scale on the reverse of the record sheet.
• A broken tachograph must be sent in for repairs within one week. Tachographs must be inspected at least once every two years.
• Other periods during which a driver is unable to use their tachograph must also be recorded manually on the time-scale on the reverse of the record sheet.
• It is the driver’s responsibility to make sure that there are enough empty record sheets in the vehicle to last the entire journey before they set off.
• Transport companies have a duty to keep their drivers’ record sheets for a period of at least one year and to keep them in good order.

Digital tachograph

• Each transport company needs a company card that allows them to lock the tachographs that they use.
• It is the transport company’s responsibility to ensure that no driver of theirs who does not have a valid driver card is given a vehicle fitted with a digital tachograph (except when a tachograph does not need to be used).
• Transport companies must copy all driving time and rest period data pertaining to their drivers from their vehicles’ digital tachographs
  • at least once every two months in the case of vehicles based in Finland
  • whenever a vehicle based in another country enters Finland, and
  • whenever a vehicle is sold.

Using the OUT mode

When using the OUT mode, drivers must keep in mind that, pursuant to Article 6(5) of the European Driving Time and Rest Periods Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 561/2006), drivers must record as “other work” any time spent as described in Article 4(e) as well as any time spent driving a vehicle used for commercial operations not falling within the scope of the Regulation, and also record any “periods of availability”, as defined in Article 15(3)(c) of Regulation (EEC) No 3821/85, since their last daily or weekly rest period. This information must be entered manually either on a record sheet or a printout or by using the manual input facilities on the recording equipment.

• The OUT mode is designed for recording operations that do not fall within the scope of the Driving Time and Rest Periods Regulation. See: Exceptions.
• Any movements of a vehicle in OUT mode are deemed to constitute “other work” as opposed to “driving time”.
• A driver card must be used even when a tachograph is in OUT mode if the driver’s shift includes any driving that falls within the scope of the Driving Time and Rest Periods Regulation. It is also recommended to use a driver card for shifts worked entirely in OUT mode in order to make recording working hours easier and to avoid having to input data manually.
• If a driver card is not used on journeys made entirely in OUT mode, the details of both the journey in question and all other work must be entered using the manual input facilities on the recording equipment.

Special circumstances

Deviations from driving times

The nature of and reasons for any unforeseen deviations from normal driving times (due to, for example, extreme weather conditions, accidents or lack of parking) or if a vehicle needs to be moved during a break or a rest period must be recorded manually on the record sheet (on the reverse) or on a strip printed out from the recording equipment.

Evidence of other work performed

Drivers must produce reliable evidence of any work that they perform outside of the transport sector for all days from which record sheets or driver card data are not available.

Annual leaves and sickness absences

Annual leaves and sickness absences must also be entered to record sheets or recorded manually to a driver card.

Records of fines and warnings

Drivers must keep records of any fines or other warnings given to them for breaches of driving time and rest period rules in Finland, other EU Member States or other countries that observe the AETR (such as Russia) for at least the same period of time as they keep their record sheets and have the records with them in their vehicle. The aforementioned records or other warnings must be presented to a competent control authority upon request.