The Mobility Package: what a haulier has to keep track of

Driver return

The operator must organise work so that in every period of four consecutive weeks the driver can return to the employer’s operational centre or home and spend at least one regular weekly rest there. If the driver took two reduced weekly rests in a row, the return must come earlier, before the rest that includes the compensation, which in practice means after three weeks.

The driver may choose to spend the rest elsewhere, but the operator must document how it fulfilled the obligation and keep the records for inspection (Regulation (EC) No 561/2006, Article 8).

No weekly rest in the cab

The regular weekly rest, and any rest over 45 hours taken as compensation for a reduced one, may not be spent in the vehicle. The driver needs suitable accommodation with a bed and sanitary facilities, paid for by the employer. Daily rests and reduced weekly rests may be taken in the cab if the vehicle has a suitable sleeping place and is stationary.

In international transport, two consecutive reduced weekly rests are allowed under conditions. The compensation for both must be taken before the next weekly rest.

Vehicle return

Vehicles used in international transport must return to one of the operational centres in the operator’s country of establishment within eight weeks of leaving it (Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009, Article 5).

Cabotage

After an international carriage and unloading in the host country, up to three cabotage operations are allowed, and the last unloading must take place within seven days of the international unloading. After that, the same vehicle may not do cabotage in that country for four days. You need evidence for every operation, for example the CMR consignment note (Regulation (EC) No 1072/2009, Article 8).

Posting of drivers

In cabotage and in transport between two foreign countries, the driver is a posted worker. The driver is entitled to pay under the host country’s rules, and the operator must submit a posting declaration through the IMI portal no later than the start of the posting. Bilateral transport with loading or unloading in the country of establishment, and transit, are not posting (Directive (EU) 2020/1057).

Border crossings

When crossing a border, the driver must enter the country in the tachograph at the first possible stopping place. The second-generation smart tachograph records the crossing by itself. Border crossings are the basis for proving returns, for allowances and for identifying cabotage.

Light commercial vehicles

Vehicles over 2.5 and up to 3.5 tonnes in international transport have needed a Community licence since May 2022, and since 1 July 2026 they also need a second-generation smart tachograph and must follow the driving and rest time rules and driver return.

What to have on record

• when and where each driver had a regular weekly rest, and when they were home,
• proof of accommodation for rests outside the vehicle,
• when each vehicle returned to the country of establishment,
• every cabotage operation with its unloading date,
• posting declarations for each country and driver,
• border crossings from the tachograph.