Driver hours vs delivery deadline: 24 and 48 h

Driver hours vs the delivery deadline: how far a truck really gets in 24 and 48 hours

Regulation 561/2006 sets the limits on driving, breaks and rest, and those limits set real delivery dates. We turn the rules into kilometres for 24 and 48 hours and show when a promised deadline is mathematically impossible.

Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 allows 9 hours of driving per day, twice a week 10 hours, with a break of 45 minutes after 4.5 hours at the wheel. (source: eur-lex.europa.eu) Combined with truck speed limits this gives roughly 600 to 700 km per day. Over 48 hours, with a daily rest in between, 1300 to 1400 km is the realistic plan for one driver.

The limits that plan the route for us

Daily driving time: 9 hours, extendable to 10 twice a week.
After 4.5 hours of driving, a break of at least 45 minutes.
Daily rest: 11 hours as standard, reduced to 9 hours at most three times between weekly rests.
Weekly driving cap: 56 hours, and 90 hours over any two consecutive weeks.

These are not guidelines but rules enforced from the tachograph. A forwarder promising a deadline that requires breaking them is promising somebody else's risk.

Where does 600 to 700 km a day come from?

A truck combination runs at most 80 to 90 km/h on motorways, depending on the country, and the whole-route average is lower: junctions, congestion, approaches to docks, the loading itself. Nine hours of driving multiplied by a realistic pace gives exactly that 600 to 700 km. Not forwarder pessimism, arithmetic.

What does delivery in 24 hours really mean?

If the truck loads in central Poland in the morning, after nine hours of driving it typically ends the day in central Germany. Then the driver must take the daily rest. A deadline of tomorrow morning on the far side of Europe simply does not compute with one driver, however good everyone's intentions.

What does 48 hours really mean?

Two days mean two full driving blocks separated by a rest, so about 1300 to 1400 km. On the UK route add the Channel crossing and customs: with a smooth border, 48 hours from loading to unloading in England can be achievable, but with zero reserve for anything going wrong.

Double crew: nearly non-stop driving

Two drivers taking turns keep the vehicle moving almost continuously, so the daily range nearly doubles. It is the standard tool for urgent FTL (full truckload) in road transport. For smaller consignments a van is often faster from the start, because it does not wait for a trailer to fill: see express vans.

Vans have limits now too

Since 1 July 2026 international transport with vehicles over 2.5 tonnes permissible weight falls under Regulation 561/2006 and the tachograph obligation, per Regulation (EU) 2020/1054. A promise that a single-driver van will cross Europe non-stop is now simply a promise to break the law.

A deadline that does not compute costs money

A lost unloading slot, a contractual penalty, a stopped production line: that is the typical bill for a deadline promised against the tachograph. If another carrier has just left you with such a deadline, the emergency exit is described under emergency transport takeover.

Step by step

Route verification. You check the planned route considering road limits and required stops.
Break calculation. You build mandatory rest stops into the estimated delivery timetable.
Crew selection. You decide between single or double driver staffing based on deadline requirements.
Transit monitoring. You track driving duration continuously throughout the journey.
Cargo handover. You complete the delivery while strictly complying with regulatory limits.

Definitions

Daily driving time: The total duration spent steering the vehicle between rest periods.
Driving break: A continuous period during which the driver may not drive or perform other transport work.
Daily rest: A dedicated uninterrupted period during which the driver disposes of their time to recover.
Tachograph: A recording device measuring driver activities, distance, and speed to ensure legal compliance.

When does this rule not apply?

Standard single-driver limits do not apply when a multi-driver crew is assigned or when legally recognised emergency situations occur on the road.

The OTSL role

We structure international transport schedules so that shipments reach their destination on time without regulatory breaches. Explore our road transport options and learn more about cross-border logistics in UK customs and EU import terminology.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

How many hours a day may a truck driver drive?

Under Regulation (EC) 561/2006: 9 hours a day, twice a week 10. After 4.5 hours of driving a break of at least 45 minutes is mandatory. The weekly cap is 56 hours of driving, and at most 90 hours over any two consecutive weeks.

How can a delivery be sped up if the limits cannot be bypassed?

Two tools work legally: a double crew, with the vehicle moving almost continuously, and good loading logistics, meaning a morning start and no waiting at the ramp. For smaller consignments an express van is often faster, leaving immediately instead of waiting for a trailer to fill.

Do the driving time rules apply to vans as well?

Yes, since 1 July 2026 international carriage of goods with vehicles over 2.5 tonnes permissible weight falls under Regulation 561/2006 and the tachograph obligation, per Regulation (EU) 2020/1054. A van driver on an international route therefore has the same driving and rest limits as a truck driver.