Ferry and train: how to record rest correctly on the tachograph
International truck routes across Europe often include ferry crossings or transport by rail. In these situations, drivers must pay particular attention to how their rest periods are recorded on the tachograph.
An incorrect entry may cause an inspection authority to treat a rest period as interrupted or incomplete, even when the driver actually spent most of that time resting.
What is the Ferry/Train rule?
European drivers’ hours legislation allows certain rest periods to be interrupted when a vehicle is transported by ferry or train.
This is especially useful when a driver needs to move the truck onto a ferry, park it on board and later drive it off after arrival.
A regular daily rest or reduced weekly rest may be interrupted no more than twice. The combined duration of these interruptions must not exceed one hour.
The one-hour limit applies to all interruptions together, not to each interruption separately.
What conditions must be met?
During the relevant rest period, the driver must have access to suitable sleeping accommodation, such as a bunk, sleeper berth or cabin.
A typical situation looks like this: the driver begins the daily rest period before boarding. The rest is briefly interrupted to drive onto the ferry. Once the truck is parked, the driver continues resting in the sleeping accommodation. After arrival, the rest may be interrupted again to drive off the ferry.
The total interruption time must remain within the permitted limit.
How to use Ferry/Train mode on a tachograph
Modern digital and Smart Tachographs include a special Ferry/Train function. The exact menu and symbols may differ depending on the tachograph manufacturer.
The driver should make sure that every stage is recorded correctly:
- start of the rest period;
- activation of Ferry/Train mode;
- vehicle movement during boarding;
- continuation of rest on board;
- disembarkation after arrival.
Simply activating the Ferry/Train function does not automatically make the entire rest period compliant. During a roadside inspection, authorities can review the complete sequence of tachograph activities.
Can the rule be used during weekly rest?
The Ferry/Train exception can apply to a reduced weekly rest period if all required conditions are met.
For a regular weekly rest period, additional restrictions apply. The ferry or train journey must be scheduled for at least eight hours and the driver must have access to a sleeper cabin.
This means that drivers should not assume that every weekly rest period can be interrupted under the Ferry/Train rule.
Common tachograph mistakes
Many problems during inspections are caused not by deliberate violations, but by incorrect tachograph operation.
Typical mistakes include:
- activating Ferry/Train mode too late;
- selecting the wrong activity;
- exceeding the total permitted interruption time;
- restarting the journey too early;
- entering manual records incorrectly.
Even a short incorrectly recorded period can affect how the authorities assess the driver’s entire rest.
Why tachograph knowledge matters
Professional drivers need to understand much more than maximum daily driving hours.
They should also know how to operate a digital tachograph, use manual entries, identify different activity symbols and apply special rules during international journeys.
This is particularly important for drivers operating between Poland, Germany, Scandinavia, the United Kingdom and other European destinations where ferry crossings are common.
Professional driver training at CONTINENT
Drivers planning to work in Poland and across the European Union can complete professional training at CONTINENT Driving School.
CONTINENT offers both short and long Code 95 courses, ADR training, as well as assistance with obtaining a driver tachograph card.
Proper training helps drivers understand EU drivers’ hours rules, tachograph operation and real situations they may face during international transport.