The rest and behind-the-wheel periods of lorry drivers are to be adapted to EU regulations. In order to transpose an EU directive the German government has come up with a new draft (16/4691), which contains the necessary adaptations of the respective German regulations.
The EU directive which is to be transposed into national law and take effect from April 11th will extend the minimum rest time for lorry drivers from currently eight to nine hours. Furthermore it introduces the requirement of a total rest time of 45 hours for a two week period. The maximum wheel time admissible per calendar week will be limited to 56 hours and to 90 hours per double week. 