The Impact of Regulation 561/2006 on Fleet Management Viewed through Efficient Use of Drivers' Working Time

Abstract

The introduction of contemporary procedures to fleet management processes has recently changed the work planning and supervision of driver's work activities. Tendencies to control the implementation of driver's work have been present in modem professional practice for quite a long time; however, the equipment available on the market limited its implementation. The intensified development of digital tachographs has, in technical terms, ensured such equipment considerably before the legislative groundwork was prepared for its practical implementation. The Commission Regulation (EC) No. 561!2006 (implementation of Social legislation relating to Road Transport) does not bring any essential novelties in terms of permitted workload. Consistent monitoring of drivers activities, made possible by digital tachographs, will have impact on the existing working methods. The topic of the present paper is in deep analysis of the impact of the mentioned regulation with special emphasis on the conditions for the regulation of the current stage of drivers work and on the expected consequences. The essential im-p011ance lies on the expected change in the mentality and approach to planning the driver's activities in the transport process on the part of the ea n·ier: the outcome will eventually result in the efficiency of each individual canier. KEYWORDS fleet management, dliver's work planning, digital tachographs

Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 - review of the adopted changes on 15 July 2020

“…Drivers are not entitled to take a rest for more than 45 hours in the cabin of the vehicle anymore. The provisions of Regulation that place emphasis on weekly rest periods may bring some favorable response from potential candidates for this profession [14]. Study also shows that it is not possible to meet the requirements of social law and that the current state of freight vehicle parking is unsustainable [17].…”

The Impact of Financial and Non-Financial Work Incentives on the Safety Behavior of Heavy Truck Drivers

“…This, in turn, creates the basis for resolving another structural problem that relates to the elimination of deregulation of the truck driver profession. The fact is that virtually anyone who obtains a driving license and a code 95 driver qualification can become employed as a truck driver [ 52 , 53 ]. As for education, a secondary-level education is sufficient, even if uncompleted.…”

Maintenance of heavy trucks: an international study on truck drivers

“…This can greatly benefit transport companies, as the results show that the vehicles are utilised more efficiently and in a better technical condition. The main novelty consists in the fact that truck utilisation is affected not only by the economical driving of truck drivers, as pointed out by Lowe & Pidgeon [27] and Muha & Sever [30], but also by their active involvement in the company's maintenance process. Development of truck drivers' competencies: The requirements • for truck drivers regarding professional training in the EU are limited to the basic qualification -code 95.…”

“…Although the survey included truck drivers from Slovenia, Italy, Serbia and Croatia, the results are representative for the whole EU area and not just for the Central European region or for each individual country. This assertion can be justified by the fact that all truck drivers driving in the EU operate within the framework of the uniform law provisions related to working time, obligatory rest periods for mobile workers and recording equipment used in road transport [30]. Furthermore, the transport companies where truck drivers work must ensure that their fleet is in compliance with uniform EU legislation [8][9][10].…”