Waiting on a bay. Sat in the cab while they unload the trailer next door. Stuck in a queue at the depot gate. You are not driving — but you are not properly off duty either.
That grey zone is often recorded as POA — Period of Availability. It is one of the four modes on the HGV Time Pilot shift timer and a regular line on tachograph activity logs. It is also one of the most misunderstood labels in drivers' hours, because EU 561 and WTD treat it differently.
This post explains POA in cab language — when to use it, what it does and does not do, and how the app handles it. It is not legal advice. For enforcement, your tachograph and driver card are the record.
What POA actually means
Period of Availability is time when you are available for work but not actively driving or doing other work — typically waiting, on call at the vehicle, or in a situation where you cannot use the time freely for your own purposes.
It is not:
- A proper break under EU 561 driving rules
- Rest (daily or weekly)
- “Free time” just because you are sitting still
It is:
- Often working time under WTD
- Something that should match what the tachograph recorded if the vehicle unit was set correctly
If your operator or the cab unit says POA, the phone timer should say POA too — not Break because you happen to be on your phone.
Two rulebooks, two answers
| Question | EU 561 / UK drivers' hours | WTD (road transport) |
|---|---|---|
| Does POA count as working time? | Not the same framing — focus is on driving and rest | Yes — POA is working time |
| Does POA reset the 4½-hour driving clock? | No | N/A (WTD uses shift break tiers, not the 4½h rule) |
| Can POA help with WTD break totals? | N/A | Sometimes — a POA segment of 15+ minutes can count toward WTD qualifying breaks |
| Should I pick POA on the timer while waiting? | If that is what happened — yes | Same — it affects WTD tier warnings |
That is why drivers see confusing combinations: you can be fine on driving hours but tight on WTD after a long POA block, or you can have taken “a break” in your head while the 4½-hour bar still fills because POA does not reset it under EU 561.
POA vs Break vs Other Work — quick picker
| Mode | Typical situation | EU 561 driving clock | WTD working time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driving | Behind the wheel | Counts toward 4½h limit | Counts |
| Other Work | Fuel, paperwork, coupling, loading | Does not reset driving clock | Counts |
| POA | Waiting on bay, queue, availability at vehicle | Does not reset driving clock | Counts |
| Break / Rest | Qualifying break or rest | Can reset driving clock if rules met | Break may count toward WTD tiers if long enough |
Rule of thumb: if you would tell a transport manager “I was waiting”, POA. If you were doing a task, Other Work. If you were on a proper break, Break — and make sure the tachograph agrees.
Common scenarios
Waiting to load or unload
Classic POA — you are at the customer but not driving or physically loading (depending on operator practice and what the tacho records). Do not tap Break just because you stopped moving.
Yard queue or gate delay
POA while you are available at the vehicle. Short faff under 15 minutes may not help WTD break maths either — the shift timer looks for 15+ minute qualifying segments for WTD tiers.
“I had a sandwich in the cab”
If it was a genuine break and the tachograph shows break/rest, use Break on the timer. If you were still technically available to move the moment they waved you on, it may be POA on the card — match the record, not the sandwich.
Long POA after a driving spell
You might have been waiting 90 minutes. Under WTD, that can contribute to break totals if the segment qualifies — but it does not cancel the need for a driving break under EU 561 if you still have not taken 45 minutes (or 15 + 30) away from driving. Many infringements start here.
How HGV Time Pilot treats POA
Android shift timer (Free)
During an active shift you tap POA when your activity changes to waiting/availability. The timer:
- Keeps the 4½-hour driving bar running — POA does not reset it
- Counts POA toward WTD working time and WTD 6h / 9h break tier logic
- Treats 15+ minute POA or Break segments as qualifying for WTD tier warnings
Timer alerts are coaching hints for today only. They are not stored as warnings or infringements on the card.
Card download and dashboard
Your driver card import shows POA as recorded by the tachograph — the ground truth in Daily Compliance Review Activities Log. If the timer and card disagree, trust the card for compliance review and fix your mode habits next shift.
Can I drive now? and Pro analysis use card data, not live timer POA taps, for remaining drive times and historical flags.
Common mistakes
- POA as a sneaky break. It is not a EU 561 driving break. The 4½-hour clock keeps running when you go back to Driving.
- Break on the phone, POA on the tacho (or the reverse). Modes should match reality and the unit.
- Ignoring POA for WTD. A day of “just waiting” still counts toward working time and reference period averages.
- Other Work when it was waiting. Over-counts active work; under-counts availability patterns your operator expects as POA.
- Assuming POA fixes weekly rest. It does not — see weekly rest and the fortnight.
A practical POA habit
- Start shift in Other Work for yard/paperwork, switch to Driving when you roll.
- When you are waiting at vehicle, tap POA — same moment you would select it on the tacho if applicable.
- Watch the 4½-hour bar — POA does not save you; plan a real Break before driving limits bite.
- On long waits, note WTD tier warnings — you may still need qualifying break time across the shift.
- Download your card and compare Activities Log to how you tapped the timer.
Frequently asked questions
Is POA the same as rest?
No. Rest is rest. POA is availability/working-time territory under WTD, not a substitute for daily or weekly rest under EU 561.
Does POA count toward the 9-hour daily driving limit?
No — POA is not driving. But it does count toward WTD working time and can affect WTD break requirements.
What if my operator always records waiting as Other Work?
Follow your operator’s recording practice so card, timer, and TM expectations align. This post describes standard POA concepts — your transport manager wins on local policy.
Can Time Pilot AI explain POA on my day?
Yes — Time Pilot AI can restate your timeline in plain English when card context is loaded. Verify against DCR.
Is POA on iPhone?
Live POA mode is on the Android shift timer. Card POA history appears on the web dashboard after download.
Related reading
Questions from the yard: support@hgvtimepilot.com.
This article describes general drivers' hours and working time concepts. It is not legal advice. Always follow your operator's policies and current regulations.