Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of August 13, 2026, from the General Directorate of Road and Rail Transport |
|---|---|
| BOE Publication | August 15, 2026 |
| Entry into force | July 23, 2026 (retroactive application) |
| Exception period | From July 23 to 31, 2026 |
| Affected parties | Bus companies and drivers required by the Junta de Castilla y León for evacuations due to forest fires |
| Legal basis | Article 14.2 of Regulation EC 561/2006 |
| Category | Regulatory Changes — Road transport |
| EU Notification | Communicated to the European Commission in accordance with community regulations |
Bus drivers mobilized by the Junta de Castilla y León to evacuate municipalities affected by forest fires were able to exceed usual driving and rest limits during the period between July 23 and 31, 2026. The Resolution of August 13, 2026, from the General Directorate of Road and Rail Transport, applies the exception provided for in Article 14.2 of Regulation EC 561/2006 for emergency situations.
The measure is retroactive: although published on August 15, it covers operations carried out from July 23. This means that companies and drivers who already acted during that period are legally covered, but must comply with the communication and registration requirements established by the resolution.
What does this regulation establish?
Regulation EC 561/2006 sets driving and rest limits for professional drivers in the EU. Its Article 14.2 allows Member States to temporarily suspend those limits in emergency situations, subject to notification to the European Commission. This resolution activates that mechanism for evacuations due to forest fires in Castilla and León.
The following table shows the exact comparison between usual limits and those that apply during the exception period:
| Parameter | Usual limit (EC 561/2006) | Limit during exception |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum daily driving | 9 hours | 11 hours |
| Maximum weekly driving | 56 hours | 60 hours |
| Maximum bi-weekly driving | 90 hours | 120 hours |
| Minimum daily rest | 11 hours | 9 hours |
The exception applies exclusively to drivers required by the Junta de Castilla y León for evacuation operations in the municipalities listed in the annex of the resolution, during the period from July 23 to 31, 2026.
Economic and operational impact
For operating companies, the main impact is not direct economic but rather inspection and penalty risk management. Without this resolution, any driver who had exceeded the limits of Regulation EC 561/2006 during evacuations could have been subject to sanctions in a tachograph check. The resolution eliminates that risk retroactively for the indicated period.
Operationally, companies must assume two specific obligations:
- Report the registration numbers of the vehicles involved in evacuations to the General Directorate of Transport of the Junta de Castilla y León.
- Ensure that drivers have recorded the exception in their logbooks, so that there is documentary traceability of operations carried out under the protection of this resolution.
Non-compliance with these formal requirements could leave the company without legal protection in the event of an inspection, even if the hours driven were within the new exceptional limits.
Who does it affect?
- Bus passenger transport companies that received a requirement from the Junta de Castilla y León to participate in evacuations due to forest fires between July 23 and 31, 2026.
- Bus drivers who operated in the municipalities listed in the annex of the resolution during that period.
- Regulatory compliance managers and fleet managers of such companies, who must manage the reporting of registration numbers and documentation of logbooks.
- Transport advisors and management firms that provide services to affected operating companies.
The resolution does not apply to companies that operated in Castilla and León during the same dates for reasons other than evacuation due to fires, nor to drivers who were not expressly required by the Junta.
Practical example
A bus company based in Salamanca receives a requirement from the Junta de Castilla y León on July 24, 2026 to evacuate a municipality listed in the annex. It mobilizes three drivers who that day drive 10.5 hours each, exceeding the usual limit of 9 hours but not reaching the new exceptional limit of 11 hours.
Without the resolution, those three drivers would have incurred a violation of Regulation EC 561/2006 detectable in any tachograph check. With the resolution published on August 15, those hours are retroactively protected.
For the protection to be effective, the company must: (1) report the registration numbers of the three vehicles to the General Directorate of Transport of Castilla y León, and (2) verify that each driver has recorded in their logbook that the operation was carried out under the exception of Article 14.2 of Regulation EC 561/2006 by requirement of the Junta.
What should companies do now?
- Identify the vehicles involved: Compile the registration numbers of all buses that participated in evacuations by requirement of the Junta de Castilla y León between July 23 and 31, 2026.
- Report the registration numbers: Send that list to the General Directorate of Transport of the Junta de Castilla y León, as required by the resolution. Do so as soon as possible to avoid problems in future inspections.
- Verify logbooks: Check that each affected driver has recorded in their logbook the exception applied, with reference to the Junta's requirement and the exception period (July 23-31, 2026).
- Preserve the Junta's requirement: Keep the documentation proving the requirement received from the Junta de Castilla y León, as it is the element that justifies the application of the exception in the event of any inspection.
- Inform drivers: Ensure that the drivers involved are aware of the resolution and its content, especially the obligation to record it in the logbook.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly are the new driving limits during the exception?
During the period from July 23 to 31, 2026, drivers required by the Junta de Castilla y León for evacuations due to forest fires could drive up to 11 hours daily (compared to the usual 9 hours), 60 hours weekly (compared to 56) and 120 hours bi-weekly (compared to 90). The minimum daily rest was reduced from 11 to 9 hours.
What must companies report and to whom?
Operating companies must report the registration numbers of the vehicles involved in evacuations to the General Directorate of Transport of the Junta de Castilla y León. This communication is a formal requirement of the resolution and is necessary for the legal protection to be effective.
What must drivers record in the logbook?
Drivers must record in their logbooks that the operation was carried out under the exception of Article 14.2 of Regulation EC 561/2006, by requirement of the Junta de Castilla y León in the context of evacuations due to forest fires during the period July 23-31, 2026.
Does the exception apply to any bus company that operated in Castilla and León on those dates?
No. The exception applies exclusively to drivers and companies that were expressly required by the Junta de Castilla y León for evacuation operations in the municipalities listed in the annex of the resolution. Companies that operated in the region for other reasons are not covered.
Does this exception have legal protection at European level?
Yes. The resolution is based on Article 14.2 of Regulation EC 561/2006 and has been notified to the European Commission as required by that community regulation, which gives it full validity within the EU legal framework.
Official source
Consult complete regulation at official source (BOE-A-2026-17811)
Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-17811