Recording off-road driving
- Off-road driving
- What counts as off-road driving?
- How do I record off-road driving?
- What should I do if the number of “off-road” recordings made on the chart proves too cramped/illegible?
- Do I need to use the tachograph when taking my company vehicle to the Testing Station for the annual test?
- Which symbols should I use for ‘other work’ and periods of availability?
This section is designed to help answer any questions about the Tachograph, how to use it and how the legislation works. Additional information can be found in
Drivers Hours and Tachograph Rules for Road Passenger Vehicles
And
Drivers Hours and Tachograph Rules for Goods Vehicles
Off-road driving
What counts as off-road driving?
Journeys taken place entirely off road would be considered as ’other work’.
So, for example, any time spent driving off road between a parking/rest area and a loading bay prior to travelling on a public road would constitute driving time, but it would be regarded as other work where an entire load is picked up and deposited on the same off-road site.
How do I record off-road driving?
Off-road driving should be recorded as "other work".
If using the type of tachograph which automatically records any time the vehicle is in motion, a manual entry must be made on the reverse of the chart to indicate time spent driving "off-road" - ie. OW 09.00-12.00. Where a digital tachograph is used, manual entries should be made using either the manual input facility or written on a printout.
If using a non-automatic tachograph, the mode switch should be left on the other work symbol, and a manual entry made on the reverse of the chart, ie. OW 0900-12.00 (off-road driving) to help account for the missing mileage.
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What should I do if the number of “off-road” recordings made on the chart proves too cramped/illegible?
Entries can be made on a separate piece of paper or separate charts, which must accompany the chart(s) in question.
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Do I need to use the tachograph when taking my company vehicle to the Testing Station for the annual test?
Drivers of in-scope vehicles will not be regarded as being within scope of Regulation 561/2006 if they are never engaged in the carriage of goods or passengers during their employment with a company.
A journey involving a vehicle laden with a "dummy" load (for example, test ballast, concrete blocks etc) which is being taken to an annual test by a fitter or mechanic, will fall outside the scope of the EU rules. For all other categories of load - for example, goods which would normally be carried on a day to day basis, including those of a commercial nature - the journey will fall in-scope of the EU rules.
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Which symbols should I use for ‘other work’ and periods of availability?
The UK has taken advantage of a provision in the Regulations, which permits each Member State to record periods of both "other work" and "periods of availability" under the "square" 
sign for vehicles registered in its territory.
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Page last updated: 14/10/2008