• SECTOR GUIDE
Scaffolding operators face an unusual mix: short local journeys, early starts, and genuine uncertainty over which exemptions apply.
Many believe their work falls outside the rules when it doesn't - and that misunderstanding is one of the most common reasons scaffolding firms face enforcement action.
Tacho Agent removes the guesswork: we confirm exactly which drivers' hours and tachograph rules apply to your operation, analyse your data for infringements, and make sure any exemption you rely on actually holds. Start with a free compliance report.
• THE RISKS
The issues that most often catch operators out.
Many scaffolders rely on exemptions that don't actually cover their work.
Loading and pre-load checks count as working time, but often go unrecorded.
Brief site-to-site trips don't escape drivers' hours rules.
Crews who drive, erect and dismantle blur the working-time picture.
• TAILORED GUIDANCE
In-depth guidance written for scaffolding contractors.
• REFERENCE GUIDES
Full regulation references that apply across every sector.
• COMMON QUESTIONS
Quick answers to what operators ask us most.
No. Your records must be accurate at all times.
The tacho must be set to "Other Work" whenever you're carrying out any working duties, and only set to "Break" during a genuine break.
It isn’t.
Under GB domestic rules, time spent driving off the public road for building work, civil engineering, quarrying, forestry or agriculture is left out of the driving-time tally, though it’s still recorded as duty.
The carve-out comes from Part VI of the Transport Act 1968, which underpins the GB domestic drivers’ hours regime.
It does.
Time spent physically erecting scaffolding is duty time and has to be logged against the daily and weekly limits, even on days where the driving portion itself qualified for an exemption.
Once a vehicle carrying your own goods passes 3.5 tonnes, a restricted O-licence is needed.
Section 2(1) of the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995 makes it an offence to use a goods vehicle on the road for hire or reward, or for a trade or business, without a licence, and section 3(3) sets out when that licence has to be the restricted type.
It's determined by where the vehicle goes.
Assimilated (EU) rules cover goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes operating within the UK and vehicles over 2.5 tonnes used for hire or reward travelling between the UK and EU (bar specific exemptions); AETR rules take over for international journeys that start, end or transit through no EU member states.
GB domestic rules fill the gap wherever neither of the other two applies.
For domestic hire-or-reward work, the threshold sits at 3.5 tonnes. Since 21 May 2022, that scope has widened to also catch light goods vehicles of 2.5 to 3.5 tonnes maximum laden weight when used internationally for hire or reward, reflecting commitments under the UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
• WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Would highly recommend their services to anyone
Andy Gilbert from tachoagent was very efficient when installing the updated system he explained everything clearly and precisely. Would highly recommend their services to anyone.
- DN, General Manager, scaffolding contractor
• FIRST REPORT FREE
A free, no-obligation compliance report based on your own tachograph
data — with the issues found and plain-English actions to fix them.