Work-time is the New Zealand equivalent of drivers' working hours, or time spent doing work-related tasks in an occupation subject to Land Transport Rule Work Time and Logbooks 2007, Rule 62001.^[1]

The rules are applied to drivers and transport operators and govern maximum periods of work time and minimum rest times. The rules apply if, at any time during a cumulative work period, a person drives or operates a vehicle that:^[2]

• requires a class 2, 3, 4 or 5 heavy vehicle driver licence, or
• is driven or operated in a transport service (other than a rental service), or
• is used in circumstances in which the vehicle must, or ought to be operated under a transport service licence, or
• is used to carry goods for hire or reward.

There are numerous potential exemptions to work-time requirements where any of the following applies. It is a:

• vehicle used within a 50km radius of its normal base of operations
• vehicle not used for hire or reward
• school bus
• police or army vehicle
• motorhome
• mobile crane
• vintage heavy vehicle^[3]
• special-type vehicle such as a forklift truck, road roller or roadside maintenance vehicle
• vehicle recovery service vehicle
• urban bus

All drivers of vehicles subject to work-time rules must keep one current logbook in the vehicle while driving. The logbook must be up-to-date to the most recent period of rest time. Drivers complete a logbook course^[4] as part of class 2 heavy vehicle licence training.

Paper logbooks are available in two variants:

• Heavy vehicle (vehicles over 3500kg)
• Small passenger service vehicle (e.g. taxi)

They are triplicate (employee) or duplicate (self-employed). Each logbook sheet has a white top copy, a yellow duplicate for the employer and a pink copy that may be requested by enforcement officers.

Electronic logbooks are available and must be approved by NZ Transport Agency. They are seen as a way to avoid falsification of logbook records.^[5]

Completed logbooks must be kept for at least 12 months after the date of the last entry.^[6]