Driver Working Hours & Fatigue Compliance Policy

Sydney Charter Bus Pty Ltd | Trading as Sydney Charter Bus Australia

Issued by	Sydney Charter Bus Pty Ltd (trading as Sydney Charter Bus Australia) \| ABN: 44 134 888 912
Accreditation	NSW Accreditation No. 39461 — Transport for NSW Bus Operator Accreditation Scheme (BOAS)
Applies to	All charters, transfers, tours, and multi-day bookings operated by Sydney Charter Bus Pty Ltd
Legislative framework	Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) (Driver Fatigue) Regulation 1999 (NSW) \| Chain of Responsibility (CoR)
Review	Current version 2.1— subject to amendment at any time. Always published at www.sydneycharterbus.com.au/company-policies

1. Purpose

This policy outlines the legal driving hours, mandatory rest requirements, and operational limitations that apply to all services provided by Sydney Charter Bus Pty Ltd. It is issued to ensure Clients understand scheduling constraints and safety obligations under NSW law.

All services are conducted in accordance with the Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) (Driver Fatigue) Regulation 1999 (NSW).

2. Legal Requirement — Driver Fatigue Laws

Bus and coach drivers in New South Wales are legally required to comply with strict fatigue management laws. These laws regulate:

◆	Maximum driving hours
◆	Maximum total work hours
◆	Minimum mandatory rest periods
◆	Record-keeping and logbook compliance

These requirements are non-negotiable and apply to all charters, transfers, tours, and multi-day bookings without exception.

3. Driver Working Hours — Simplified Overview

Short Period (5.5 Hours)

Maximum 3 hours driving or work

Minimum 20 minutes rest required

Daily Limits (24 Hours)

Maximum 12 hours driving

Maximum 12 hours total work

Minimum 12 hours rest

At least 8 consecutive hours off-duty

Weekly Limits (7 Days)

Maximum 72 hours driving or work

4. What Counts as Driver Work

Driver work includes more than just driving. The following activities are legally classified as work time and count towards daily limits:

✓	Vehicle inspections and safety checks
✓	Cleaning and refuelling
✓	Assisting passengers
✓	Loading and unloading luggage
✓	Administrative duties and paperwork

5. Mandatory Rest Breaks

Drivers are legally required to take rest breaks. The following conditions apply:

!	Breaks must be continuous — minimum 15 minutes
!	Drivers must be completely free from work duties during rest breaks
!	Breaks cannot be skipped, reduced, or delayed for any reason

These breaks may impact travel times and must be factored into all itineraries at the time of booking.

6. Client Responsibilities

To ensure compliance with driver fatigue laws, Clients must:

✓	Provide accurate and realistic itineraries at the time of booking
✓	Allow sufficient time for travel, traffic, and mandatory rest breaks
✓	Disclose all stops, waiting times, and route changes in advance
✗	Avoid requesting last-minute extensions that may breach legal fatigue limits

7. Scheduling Limitations & Operational Adjustments

Sydney Charter Bus Pty Ltd reserves the right to:

✓	Amend itineraries to remain legally compliant
✓	Schedule additional drivers where required
✓	Provide relief drivers for extended charters
✓	Adjust departure or return times
!	Refuse or modify bookings that are not legally achievable

⚠ Additional Compliance Costs

Any additional costs associated with compliance — including the provision of a second driver, overnight accommodation, or scheduling adjustments — will be the responsibility of the Client.

These costs will be communicated in advance wherever operationally possible.

8. Delays & Variations

Delays may occur due to:

Mandatory rest breaks required under fatigue management legislation

Traffic or road conditions

Compliance with fatigue laws and work/rest limits

Regulatory or enforcement requirements at roadside inspection sites

Sydney Charter Bus Pty Ltd is not liable for delays arising from legal compliance obligations.

9. Chain of Responsibility (CoR)

⚠ LEGAL NOTICE — Under NSW law, fatigue compliance is a shared legal responsibility. Clients and booking agents share accountability for safety outcomes under Chain of Responsibility (CoR) provisions.

Clients and booking agents must not:

✗	Request or pressure drivers to exceed legal fatigue limits
✗	Impose unrealistic schedules or deadlines
✗	Encourage unsafe or non-compliant behaviour

Breaches may expose all parties — including the Client and event organiser — to legal penalties under CoR provisions.

10. Safety Commitment

Sydney Charter Bus Pty Ltd operates under a strict Safety First policy. Where any conflict arises between scheduling and legal or safety requirements, legal compliance and passenger safety will always take priority.

11. Client Acknowledgement

By confirming a booking, the Client acknowledges and accepts:

✓	All services are subject to driver fatigue laws under the Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) (Driver Fatigue) Regulation 1999 (NSW)
✓	Schedules may be adjusted to maintain legal compliance without liability to Sydney Charter Bus Pty Ltd
✓	Additional resources may be required for extended services, at the Client’s expense
✓	Safety and legal obligations override all other scheduling or commercial considerations

🚫 Policy Compliance Notice

This policy forms part of the agreement between the Client and Sydney Charter Bus Pty Ltd upon confirmation of any booking. Sydney Charter Bus Australia reserves the right to amend this policy at any time in accordance with changes to applicable legislation, regulatory requirements or operational standards. The current version is always published at www.sydneycharterbus.com.au/company-policies.

📞 1300 468 199 | 📱 0413 182 999 | ✉ [email protected]

Office Hours: Monday–Friday 9:30am–4:30pm | Weekends 12:00pm–2:00pm | Public Holidays: Operational — Office Closed