Jo drives a variety of rigid vehicles from 3.5 tonne panel vans to 26 tonne box vans for an operator based in the North of England and working across the EU.
From its base in the North of England, it generally takes around 12 hours of driving to reach Dover.
All company vehicles are fitted with a speed limiter, bunk, refrigerator, roof-mounted spoiler, exterior sun shade and a digital tachograph.
From its base in the North of England, it generally takes around 12 hours of driving to reach Dover.
All company vehicles are fitted with a speed limiter, bunk, refrigerator, roof-mounted spoiler, exterior sun shade and a digital tachograph.
There are 7 multiple choice questions in this case study. Read this carefully and ensure you fully understand the scenario before starting the test. You need to score 6 out of 7 to pass.
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Correct Answer: B
Explanation: • V5C registration document, green card insurance, Vehicle Excise disc: No, the V5C registration document is the only one in this group that would be required. The insurance green card is no longer required in any EU member state where the vehicle being driven is based in any other Member State and the UK no longer has a Vehicle Excise disc.
• ATP certificate, carnet, attestation of activities, CMR, Community Authorisation and driving licence: No, the ATP certificate is only required for temperature controlled loads and no carnet is needed within the EU. The attestation of duties will be required here because Jo cannot produce tachograph records for the previous fortnight as she has been on holiday and not working. The CMR document may be required in this instance. Strictly speaking it is not the Community Authorisation that is required but a Certified copy of the Community Licence. Jo will need to carry her driving licence.
• Tachograph records for the previous 7 days, V5C registration document, CMR and ATA carnet: No, Jo will not have any tachograph records for the previous 7 days as she has been on holiday (the requirement anyway is for a driver to carry records for the current day and the previous 28 days (or, in their absence, an Attestation of Duties made out by her employer). She will need the V5C registration document and probably a CMR document but not an ATA carnet.
• Certified copy of Community Authorisation, CMR, Attestation of activities, driving licence and Driver Qualification card: Yes, Jo will need a Certified copy of Community Authorisation, CMR will probably be required, the attestation of duties will be required as Jo will not have any tachograph records for the previous fortnight as she has been on holiday, she will need her driving licence and Driver Qualification Card.
Explanation: • V5C registration document, green card insurance, Vehicle Excise disc: No, the V5C registration document is the only one in this group that would be required. The insurance green card is no longer required in any EU member state where the vehicle being driven is based in any other Member State and the UK no longer has a Vehicle Excise disc.
• ATP certificate, carnet, attestation of activities, CMR, Community Authorisation and driving licence: No, the ATP certificate is only required for temperature controlled loads and no carnet is needed within the EU. The attestation of duties will be required here because Jo cannot produce tachograph records for the previous fortnight as she has been on holiday and not working. The CMR document may be required in this instance. Strictly speaking it is not the Community Authorisation that is required but a Certified copy of the Community Licence. Jo will need to carry her driving licence.
• Tachograph records for the previous 7 days, V5C registration document, CMR and ATA carnet: No, Jo will not have any tachograph records for the previous 7 days as she has been on holiday (the requirement anyway is for a driver to carry records for the current day and the previous 28 days (or, in their absence, an Attestation of Duties made out by her employer). She will need the V5C registration document and probably a CMR document but not an ATA carnet.
• Certified copy of Community Authorisation, CMR, Attestation of activities, driving licence and Driver Qualification card: Yes, Jo will need a Certified copy of Community Authorisation, CMR will probably be required, the attestation of duties will be required as Jo will not have any tachograph records for the previous fortnight as she has been on holiday, she will need her driving licence and Driver Qualification Card.
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: • There is no need to make a record this day, as the vehicle does not exceed 3.5 tonnes: No, as advised in the DVSA publication "Rules on Drivers Hours and Tachographs" (Page 29) DVSA require that where during a week in which in-scope driving has taken place, any other work including out of scope driving (e.g. driving a vehicle under 3.5 tonnes) must be recorded on tachograph chart, printout, manual entry using the manual input facility for digital tachographs or on a log book. In other words, if a driver has driven a vehicle subject to EU rules for even a part of a day in any particular week, then that driver needs to keep a record of all work for the whole week.
• She should make a record on the analogue tachograph fitted to the 3.5 tonne vehicle: No, the 3.5 tonne would not be fitted with any type of tachograph as it does not fall into the criteria that requires one to be fitted i.e. it does not exceed 3.5 tonnes.
• She should make a note of her driving hours in her diary: This is not an accepted form off record keeping.
• She should use a domestic log sheet and then make a manual entry on the digital tachograph when she returns to a larger vehicle: Yes, as advised in the DVSA publication "Rules on Drivers Hours and Tachographs" (Page 29) DVSA require that where during a week in which in-scope driving has taken place, any other work including out of scope driving (e.g. driving a vehicle under 3.5 tonnes) must be recorded on tachograph chart, printout, manual entry using the manual input facility for digital tachographs or on a log book. In other words, if a driver has driven a vehicle subject to EU rules for even a part of a day in any particular week, then that driver needs to keep a record of all work for the whole week.
Explanation: • There is no need to make a record this day, as the vehicle does not exceed 3.5 tonnes: No, as advised in the DVSA publication "Rules on Drivers Hours and Tachographs" (Page 29) DVSA require that where during a week in which in-scope driving has taken place, any other work including out of scope driving (e.g. driving a vehicle under 3.5 tonnes) must be recorded on tachograph chart, printout, manual entry using the manual input facility for digital tachographs or on a log book. In other words, if a driver has driven a vehicle subject to EU rules for even a part of a day in any particular week, then that driver needs to keep a record of all work for the whole week.
• She should make a record on the analogue tachograph fitted to the 3.5 tonne vehicle: No, the 3.5 tonne would not be fitted with any type of tachograph as it does not fall into the criteria that requires one to be fitted i.e. it does not exceed 3.5 tonnes.
• She should make a note of her driving hours in her diary: This is not an accepted form off record keeping.
• She should use a domestic log sheet and then make a manual entry on the digital tachograph when she returns to a larger vehicle: Yes, as advised in the DVSA publication "Rules on Drivers Hours and Tachographs" (Page 29) DVSA require that where during a week in which in-scope driving has taken place, any other work including out of scope driving (e.g. driving a vehicle under 3.5 tonnes) must be recorded on tachograph chart, printout, manual entry using the manual input facility for digital tachographs or on a log book. In other words, if a driver has driven a vehicle subject to EU rules for even a part of a day in any particular week, then that driver needs to keep a record of all work for the whole week.
3. Which group below best describes the requirements to be met before Jo could take a daily rest in her cab?
Mark one answer
B
C
D
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: • The vehicle must be fitted with a bunk and a supplementary heater: There is no requirement for the vehicle to be fitted with a supplementary heater.
• The vehicle must be fitted with a bunk and the facilities to prepare a basic meal: There is no requirement for the vehicle to be fitted with the facilities to prepare a basic meal.
• The vehicle must be fitted with at least 2 bunks and curtains to all windows: There is no requirement for the vehicle to be fitted with 2 bunks unless it is multi-manned. There is no requirement for the vehicle to be fitted with curtains to any windows.
• The vehicle must be stationary and fitted with a bunk: Correct.
Explanation: • The vehicle must be fitted with a bunk and a supplementary heater: There is no requirement for the vehicle to be fitted with a supplementary heater.
• The vehicle must be fitted with a bunk and the facilities to prepare a basic meal: There is no requirement for the vehicle to be fitted with the facilities to prepare a basic meal.
• The vehicle must be fitted with at least 2 bunks and curtains to all windows: There is no requirement for the vehicle to be fitted with 2 bunks unless it is multi-manned. There is no requirement for the vehicle to be fitted with curtains to any windows.
• The vehicle must be stationary and fitted with a bunk: Correct.
B
C
D
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: • It can carry 6,300 kgs and is a two axle vehicle: No, 6,300 kgs is the maximum train weight of the vehicle including driver, fuel, trailer and any load carried by the vehicle and the trailer. Is however, a 2-axle vehicle.
• The weight of the vehicle, load, fuel and driver cannot exceed 6,300 kgs: No, 6,300 kgs is the maximum train weight of the vehicle including driver, fuel, trailer and any load carried by the vehicle and the trailer. This weight is only relevant when the vehicle is used with a trailer.
• The payload of the vehicle is 1,650 kgs or 2,250 kgs when towing a trailer: No, the figure 1,659 kgs refers to the maximum weight transmitted to the ground by the front axle and the figure 2,250 kgs refers to the maximum weight to be transmitted to the ground by the rear axle.
• Its maximum permitted gross weight including vehicle, load, fuel & driver is 3,500 kgs: Yes, this is the maximum gross weight of the vehicle, driver(s), fuel and load.
Explanation: • It can carry 6,300 kgs and is a two axle vehicle: No, 6,300 kgs is the maximum train weight of the vehicle including driver, fuel, trailer and any load carried by the vehicle and the trailer. Is however, a 2-axle vehicle.
• The weight of the vehicle, load, fuel and driver cannot exceed 6,300 kgs: No, 6,300 kgs is the maximum train weight of the vehicle including driver, fuel, trailer and any load carried by the vehicle and the trailer. This weight is only relevant when the vehicle is used with a trailer.
• The payload of the vehicle is 1,650 kgs or 2,250 kgs when towing a trailer: No, the figure 1,659 kgs refers to the maximum weight transmitted to the ground by the front axle and the figure 2,250 kgs refers to the maximum weight to be transmitted to the ground by the rear axle.
• Its maximum permitted gross weight including vehicle, load, fuel & driver is 3,500 kgs: Yes, this is the maximum gross weight of the vehicle, driver(s), fuel and load.
5. To what international time zone should the tachograph clock in these vehicles be set during the month of August?
Mark one answer
B
C
D
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: • Greenwich Mean Time (GMT): No, although this would be the same as Co-ordinated Universal Time (the correct answer) for 6 months of the year.
• British Summer Time (BST): No, it should be set to Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
• Universal Continental Time (UCT): No, it should be set to Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
• Coordinated Universal Time (UTC): Correct.
Explanation: • Greenwich Mean Time (GMT): No, although this would be the same as Co-ordinated Universal Time (the correct answer) for 6 months of the year.
• British Summer Time (BST): No, it should be set to Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
• Universal Continental Time (UCT): No, it should be set to Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
• Coordinated Universal Time (UTC): Correct.
6. What is the minimum number and length of breaks or rest periods required to make the journey from base to Dover?
Mark one answer
B
C
D
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: • Two 45-minute breaks: No, this would allow two periods of 4.5 hours driving and another 1 hour period of driving - then it would be necessary to complete a daily rest as the maximum 10 hour drive would have been achieved before the destination has been reached.
• Two 45-minute breaks and an 11 hour daily rest period: No, this is not the best answer here as taking a full daily rest of 11 hours does not make the most efficient use of a driver's time as he could take a reduced daily rest of 9 hours.
• One reduced daily rest period of 9 hours: No, this would be illegal as Article 7 of EU 561/2006 requires a driver to take a break after 4.5 hours of driving.
• Two 45 minute breaks and a 9 hour reduced daily rest period: Yes, this makes the best use of a driver's time and is completely legal
Explanation: • Two 45-minute breaks: No, this would allow two periods of 4.5 hours driving and another 1 hour period of driving - then it would be necessary to complete a daily rest as the maximum 10 hour drive would have been achieved before the destination has been reached.
• Two 45-minute breaks and an 11 hour daily rest period: No, this is not the best answer here as taking a full daily rest of 11 hours does not make the most efficient use of a driver's time as he could take a reduced daily rest of 9 hours.
• One reduced daily rest period of 9 hours: No, this would be illegal as Article 7 of EU 561/2006 requires a driver to take a break after 4.5 hours of driving.
• Two 45 minute breaks and a 9 hour reduced daily rest period: Yes, this makes the best use of a driver's time and is completely legal
7. Which of the accessories fitted (which is not legally required) may contribute to reducing the vehicle's impact on the environment?
Mark one answer
B
C
D
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: • The speed limiter: No, whilst this may contribute to a lessening of the impact of this vehicle on the environment a speed limiter is a legal requirement and the question specifically asks for things that are not legally required.
• The exterior sun shade: No, the exterior sunshade would not reduce the vehicle's impact on the environment in fact, because it may disrupt the airflow over the cab, the reverse may be true.
• The digital tachograph: No, a digital tachograph would have no impact either way.
• The roof-mounted spoiler: Yes, the roof mounted spoiler will smooth the air-flow over the roof of the load-compartment thereby reducing drag and improving fuel consumption.
Explanation: • The speed limiter: No, whilst this may contribute to a lessening of the impact of this vehicle on the environment a speed limiter is a legal requirement and the question specifically asks for things that are not legally required.
• The exterior sun shade: No, the exterior sunshade would not reduce the vehicle's impact on the environment in fact, because it may disrupt the airflow over the cab, the reverse may be true.
• The digital tachograph: No, a digital tachograph would have no impact either way.
• The roof-mounted spoiler: Yes, the roof mounted spoiler will smooth the air-flow over the roof of the load-compartment thereby reducing drag and improving fuel consumption.