The AETR Convention is an international agreement regulating the working conditions of drivers performing international road transport, in force in Poland since 1992. It covers transports carried out outside the European Union and the European Economic Area.
The AETR sets a maximum driving time for drivers of 56 hours per week, with a limit of 90 hours in a two-week period. The daily driving time is 9 hours, with the possibility of extending it twice to 10 hours per week. After 4.5 hours of driving, drivers must take a 45-minute break. The regulations also govern the minimum daily rest period, which is 11 hours.
The convention's regulations - in addition to driving time for drivers regulates and specifies:
- mandatory breaks,
- recording of data with a tachograph,
- the minimum age of drivers at 18 years for vehicles up to 7.5 tons and 21 years for larger vehicles.
In Poland, the counterpart of the AETR Convention is Regulation 561/2006 of the European Parliament and the Council, which deals with transport within the European Union. Both acts regulate working time, breaks and rest for drivers, but the AETR Convention applies to international transport outside the EU. These regulations make it possible to ensure greater road safety and harmonize regulations in international road transport.