You know the moment: mid-shift, phone in one hand, trying to remember whether today is one of your 10-hour days, or whether that reduced weekly rest still needs paying back. You would ask a transport manager — if one were free.
Time Pilot AI is the plain-English assistant inside HGV Time Pilot for that moment. It answers against your last card download and current shift context where available — not a generic rulebook FAQ — and it cites the regulation it is working from when it matters.
This post explains what it can do, Free vs Pro limits, and the hard boundaries. It is a helper, not legal advice, and it does not replace the digital tachograph.
Who it is for
- Drivers who want a quick “can I…?” answer without decoding a calendar
- Anyone already using the shift timer or card download who wants the numbers explained in sentences
- Pro users who want unlimited questions with deeper compliance context
What it knows
Time Pilot AI is grounded in the same account as the rest of the product:
| Context | What it can use |
|---|---|
| Last card download | Driving totals, break position, rest patterns, and the compliance picture from your imported tachograph data |
| Current shift | Live timer modes and progress when a shift is active on Android |
| The rules | EU 561 / UK drivers’ hours concepts, WTD reference periods, and AETR where relevant — with citations when they matter |
Example questions it is built for:
- “When’s my next 45-minute break due?”
- “Can I still drive home tonight?”
- “How much driving have I got left this week / fortnight?”
- “What does this warning on yesterday mean?” (richer with Pro / card context)
Answers are meant to reflect your actual day, not a textbook scenario with made-up hours.
What it does not know (or decide)
Be blunt about this — it matters at the roadside:
- It does not read the vehicle unit live. It works from imported card data and app context.
- It does not clear an infringement or speak for DVSA / an enforcement officer.
- It does not replace your operator’s instructions or your duty to follow the tachograph.
- Stale card data produces stale answers — if the dashboard says card data is outdated, download again before trusting a long answer about remaining hours.
- If the AI and the cab unit disagree, trust the tachograph and driver card.
Canonical product line:
Time Pilot AI is a helper, not legal advice — and it doesn’t replace the digital tachograph.
Free vs Pro
| Free | Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Messages | 3 per rolling 24 hours | Unlimited |
| Card / shift context | Yes, within what Free can see | Deeper compliance context from the full Pro toolkit |
| Good for | Trying the assistant, occasional “when’s my break?” | Week planning, unpacking DCR flags, repeated questions on a long week |
Your first successful card download can unlock 14 days of full Pro — including unlimited AI — so you can stress-test it against real card data before you subscribe.
Where to find it
- Web dashboard — v3.hgvtimepilot.com (same login as Android)
- Product surfaces that already surface AI entry points from the main app experience
Ask in normal English. Prefer specific questions (“I’ve driven 6h 47m today — can I do another 90 minutes?”) over vague ones (“Am I legal?”).
How it fits the rest of the stack
| Feature | Relationship |
|---|---|
| Shift timer | Live coaching mid-shift; AI explains the same rules in sentences |
| Can I drive now? | Headline status; AI unpacks why that headline appeared |
| Daily Compliance Review | Day-by-day detail; AI helps interpret a flagged day (Pro depth) |
| Warnings vs infringements | Severity language; AI can restate issue titles in plain English |
| Reports hub | PDFs for filing; AI is for conversation, not archive evidence |
Use the timer to stay ahead. Use the status card for a glance. Use DCR when you need the day dissected. Use AI when you want a sentence, not a tab.
Good habits
- Download your card regularly so answers match recent driving.
- Spend Free’s 3 messages on the questions that actually change your plan.
- During a Pro card bonus, ask the awkward ones — reduced rest, fortnight headroom, “what fired yesterday?”
- Cross-check important decisions against the dashboard numbers and the cab unit.
- Never screenshot an AI reply as “proof” for an officer — that is not what it is for.
Frequently asked questions
Is Time Pilot AI on iPhone?
There is no native iOS app. Use the web dashboard in a browser on any phone.
Does it work without a card download?
You can still ask general rules questions, but personalised remaining-time answers need card (and ideally fresh) data — same as driver status.
Is my chat private?
Conversations sit against your account. HGV Time Pilot is driver-first; we do not sell your data into anonymous fleet pools. See the privacy policy for the formal position.
Can it tell me to ignore a break?
It should never be used as permission to break the rules. If an answer seems too optimistic, check the timer, the status card, and the tachograph.
Does unlimited Pro AI mean it is always right?
No. Unlimited means no message cap — not perfect legal accuracy. Treat it as a skilled co-pilot, not a solicitor.
Try it on your next question
- Get the Android app and sign in (or open the web dashboard).
- Download your card if you have not already.
- Ask one concrete question — break due, drive home, week left.
- Compare the answer with Can I drive now? and, on Pro, Daily Compliance Review.
Pricing and Free vs Pro: /upgrade/. Feedback: support@hgvtimepilot.com.
Time Pilot AI assists with general drivers’ hours concepts using your account context. It is not legal advice. Always follow your operator’s policies, the tachograph, and current regulations.