What are Multi Manning Drivers Hours?

Multi Manning 

Multi-manning is an arrangement where at least two drivers are available to drive a vehicle between consecutive daily rest periods, or between a daily rest period and a weekly rest period.

Under the European Union (EU) drivers’ hours rules, for the first hour of multi-manning the presence of another driver or drivers is optional, but for the rest of the period they must be there. This allows a vehicle to leave its operating centre and collect a second driver along the way, as long as this is done within one hour of the first driver starting work.

Vehicles manned by two or more drivers must follow the same rules as single-manned vehicles, apart from the daily rest requirements.

If two or more drivers operate a vehicle, each driver must have a daily rest period of at least nine consecutive hours within 30 hours of the last daily or weekly rest period. This allows drivers’ duties to be spread over 21 hours.

The maximum driving time for a two-man crew using this allowance is 20 hours, if both drivers are entitled to drive ten hours. After this time, a daily rest is required.

Ferry or Train Transport

If your vehicle is being transported by ferry or train, the daily rest requirements are more flexible.

A regular daily rest period may be interrupted but no more than twice by other activities, and not exceeding one hour in total.

This allows you to drive the vehicle onto a ferry and off at the end of a sea crossing.

If your rest period is interrupted in this way, the total accumulated rest period must still be 11 hours. If you interrupt the daily rest by 20 minutes to board a ferry or train and by 20 minutes to disembark, then your 11 hours daily rest will be spread over an 11 hours and 40 minutes period.

You must have a bunk or couchette available during the rest period.

New provisions for rests and breaks for drivers when journeys involve transport by ferry or by rail  (Aug 2020)

Where a driver accompanies a vehicle which is transported by ferry or train and takes a rest period, the following derogation will apply:

Regular daily rest period or a reduced weekly rest period, that period may be interrupted not more than twice by other activities not exceeding one hour in total. During that regular daily rest or reduced weekly rest period the driver shall have access to a sleeper cabin, bunk or couchette at their disposal.

Regular Weekly rest period, the above derogation will only apply where
(a) the journey is scheduled for 8 hours or more; and
(b) the driver has access to a sleeper cabin in the ferry or on the train.’

This change affects all drivers undertaking the carriage of goods internationally only.

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