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If you are not familiar with phrases like mobile-worker, self-employed driver, working time, period of availability, breaks, and rest periods, please click on the following pictures and read pages 6-9. Very important to understand the meanings of these words.

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Reference period:

A ‘reference period’ is the period of time over which the working time is averaged. Employers, workers and self-employed drivers must know in advance when the reference period starts and ends for calculating working time.
Three options are available for selection as a reference period on agreement with employees:
  • œa fixed 17 successive week period
  • a fixed 26 successive week period
  • a rolling 17 week period
if no agreement is in place, then the default shown below applies
ADR , IMDG , ICAO, IATA, Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser , Hazload , Tachograph , Analysis , DGSA , 561/2006 , AETR , Training
You should decide which reference period is most suitable for your particular operation. choosing the best option will benefit your business.
And the point is, your working time is limited to an average of 48 hours a week. You calculate this average over the reference period. So if you pick the default reference period (no collective agreement) your average working time from 1st of January to 1st of May must be 48hours or less.  Average working time on week (1 + 2 + 3 +………+ 17 + 18 ) / 18 = 48hours or less. And of course, you have to do the same from 1st of May to 1st of September and in the last 17 weeks as well. Or you can pick the fixed 26 weeks or the rolling 17 weeks reference period with an agreement.
A mobile worker or self-employed driver may work up to 60 hours in a single working week, as long as they maintain the 48-hour weekly average over the reference period. The mobile worker must not work more than 60 hours in a single week.
So you can work 60 hours a week but you have to keep watching your average on your reference period. (Max. 48 hours a week)
And one more thing. According to 561/2006/EC you can drive 56 hours a week. That means if you have more than 4 hours other work on that week you break the law!!!
Breaks and periods of availability (where the mobile worker or self-employed driver does not have to be at their workstation but must be available to take calls or start work) known about in advance do not count as working time.
Source: RSA
Thanks for reading and see you soon.
ADR , IMDG , ICAO, IATA, Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser , Hazload , Tachograph , Analysis , DGSA , 561/2006 , AETR , Training