Which time-tracking solution is best suited for transport companies?

For transport companies with mobile drivers and international teams, a multilingual app with GPS, route assignment and offline mode is the best solution. Jobilino records working time, breaks and routes on the go via smartphone – in the driver's native language, with GPS positioning and direct assignment to routes or customers. All data is consolidated centrally in the office – for dispatching, payroll and regulatory inspections.

What do authorities check during inspections in logistics and transport?

Competent authorities check the following during roadside and operational inspections: tachograph data, operational working time records under national law, correct social security registration, compliance with collective agreement supplements, and professional driver qualification certificates. Missing working time records are penalised by up to €2,180 per employee (Austria) – in addition to any penalties for driving time and rest period violations.

Is GPS tracking of drivers permitted in Austria and Germany?

Yes, under certain conditions. GPS tracking is permissible if it takes place exclusively during working hours, serves a legitimate operational purpose and employees are informed about it transparently. In Austria, a works agreement under the ArbVG is required; in Germany, the consent of the works council under the BetrVG is required. Jobilino records GPS locations exclusively during active time tracking.

How does time tracking work when drivers have no mobile network coverage?

Jobilino is developed with an offline-first approach: clock-ins, break recordings and route assignments are saved locally on the device and synchronised automatically as soon as a connection is restored. Drivers passing through tunnels, remote areas or border regions with poor signal experience no data loss and no manual re-entry effort.

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Q: Is the tachograph sufficient as a record of working hours for logistics companies?

No. The digital tachograph records driving times and rest periods in accordance with EU social regulations – but not complete working hours under national law. Loading and unloading times, waiting times, office activities and other working time are not covered. Logistics companies must maintain both systems in parallel: the tachograph and operational working time records in accordance with AZG or ArbZG respectively.

Time Tracking in Logistics: Why the Industry Has Unique Requirements

Logistics and transport are the backbone of the economy – and at the same time one of the most challenging industries for recording working hours. Drivers often start before 6 a.m., heading out directly from home or from the depot. Their route takes them through several federal states or countries. The vehicle is their workplace, and the smartphone is the only device they always have with them.

At the same time, the industry is subject to one of the most complex working-time regulatory frameworks in Europe: EU social regulations, driving and rest time rules, national working time laws and collective bargaining agreements all interlock – and must all be documented without gaps.

Anyone who relies on paper or unsuitable apps here produces errors every day – with direct consequences for wages, regulatory inspections and their own cost calculations.

The 5 Biggest Problems with Time Tracking in Logistics & Transport

� No fixed workplace: Drivers and delivery staff start and end their work at changing locations – the depot, a customer's premises, or the road. A stationary time clock does not solve this problem.
� Driving time vs. working time: In transport, a distinction must be made between driving time, other working time, standby time and rest time. Paper records are error-prone and difficult to prove during inspections.
� International drivers: A large proportion of drivers in Austrian and German logistics companies come from Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary or Croatia. Single-language systems are operated incorrectly or ignored.
� Missing route documentation: Which driver completed which route in how much time? Without digital records, post-calculation is impossible – and customer complaints are nearly impossible to refute.
� Payroll with supplements: Night runs, weekend trips, on-call duties – all with different collective-agreement supplements. Without precise time tracking, payroll becomes a guessing game.

Legal Basis: What Applies to Logistics & Transport

Logistics companies must comply with several regulatory frameworks simultaneously:

National Working Time Act (AZG / ArbZG)

The Austrian AZG and the German ArbZG require complete records of the start, end and duration of daily working hours – for every employee, regardless of whether they work in the warehouse or in the cab. Retention requirement: at least 7 years.

EU Social Regulations for Road Transport (Regulation (EC) No. 561/2006)

For journeys with vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, EU-wide driving and rest time rules apply. These are recorded primarily via the tachograph. Important: tachograph data does not replace the working time records required under national law – both systems must be maintained in parallel.

Professional Driver Qualification Act (BKrFQG / BKF-G)

Evidence of mandatory further training and qualifications must be documented and available during inspections – digital records have a clear advantage here.

Important for fleet managers: Competent authorities carry out inspections both on the road and at the premises – and check not only tachograph data but also the company's working time records under national law. Those with gaps face fines of up to €2,180 per employee in Austria or up to €15,000 in Germany.

Digital Time Tracking in Transport: A Comparison of 4 Methods

1. Tachograph alone – not sufficient

The digital tachograph records driving times and rest times – but not the full working time required under national law. Loading and unloading times, waiting times, office activities and other working time are not covered. Anyone who relies solely on the tachograph has a documentation gap.

2. Paper and Excel – too error-prone

Manual timesheets in transport are the primary source of payroll errors. Drivers fill in sheets from memory, cross-border trips are incorrectly assigned, and supplements are calculated by hand. The administrative burden in the office is enormous – and so is the error rate.

3. Generic time-tracking app – often incomplete

Many generic apps only record start and stop – without route logic, without project or customer assignment, without multilingual support. For logistics companies with complex routes and international drivers, that is not enough.

4. Multilingual app with GPS and route assignment – the complete solution

Jobilino records working time, routes and breaks on mobile devices via smartphone – in the driver's native language, with GPS location tracking and direct assignment to routes, customers or jobs. The data flows centrally into the back office – for dispatching, payroll and regulatory inspections.

GPS in Logistics: More Than Just Location Tracking

GPS data in the logistics context is far more than a monitoring tool. Used correctly, it delivers genuine operational value:

� Proof of working time at the deployment location: GPS documents when and where the driver was – unambiguously and audit-proof
� Route analysis: How long did route A take on average? Where are time losses occurring?
� Customer evidence: In the event of delivery disputes, arrival and departure times can be proven precisely
� Real-time dispatching: Who is where? Which driver can still take on the additional route?

GDPR note: GPS tracking in logistics is permitted – but only during working hours, only for operational purposes and only with transparent notification to drivers. In companies with a works council, a works agreement under the ArbVG (AT) or BetrVG (DE) is required. Jobilino tracks location exclusively during active time recording – no location is captured outside working hours.

Multilingualism in Logistics: The Underestimated Factor

The proportion of drivers and warehouse staff from other EU countries is particularly high in Austria and Germany. Polish, Romanian, Slovak, Hungarian and Croatian drivers make up the majority in many logistics companies. A time-tracking app that is only available in German leads to:

Incorrectly clocked routes and breaks
Safety instructions for hazardous goods transport that are not understood
Mandatory further training documentation that is ignored
Frustration and high turnover – especially among drivers who are in desperately short supply

Jobilino shows every driver the app in their native language – fully: route display, break notifications, tasks and forms. The dispatcher writes in German – the driver reads in Polish. No detours, no misunderstandings.

Route Time Tracking: What Did Route A Really Cost?

For logistics companies, route time tracking is the most direct path to greater profitability. When every clock-in is automatically assigned to the correct route, the correct customer or the correct vehicle, data is generated that enables decisions:

� Which routes are profitable – and which are not?
� Where does waiting time arise at the customer's premises – and who pays for it?
� Which driver takes significantly longer than average for the same route?
� How does the time spent per customer develop over months?

Jobilino for Logistics & Transport: What the App Delivers in Practice

� Mobile time tracking via smartphone: Drivers clock in at the start and end of a route – directly from the cab, without any additional device
� GPS location on clock-in: Automatic proof of where the driver was – GDPR-compliant, only during working hours
� Route assignment: Every clock-in is directly assigned to the correct route, customer or vehicle
� Break recording in line with AZG/ArbZG: Mandatory breaks are correctly documented – automatic reminders for drivers
� Multilingual: Romanian, Polish, Slovak, Hungarian, Croatian, Serbian, Turkish, German, English
� Offline mode: Clock-ins are saved locally even without a mobile network and synchronised automatically
� Instant export: During regulatory inspections, complete time records are available within seconds as a PDF or Excel file
� Payroll integration: Direct export to BMD, DATEV and common payroll systems – collective-agreement supplements for nights, weekends and public holidays included

Digital Time Tracking in Your Logistics Business in 3 Steps

� Step 1 – Set up routes and vehicles: Enter your routes, customers and vehicles in Jobilino once. Print QR codes for vehicles or define GPS zones for the depot and customers.
� Step 2 – Invite drivers: Each driver receives a link via SMS. Download the app, select a language, done. No training, no IT knowledge required.
� Step 3 – Analyse and export: Daily reports, route analyses, break records – all at the touch of a button. Payroll export to your existing system without any manual effort.

Conclusion: In Transport, Documentation Determines Profitability and Legal Compliance

Logistics is a low-margin business – every hour that is recorded incorrectly costs real money. Incorrectly billed routes, undocumented overtime, missing break records and gaps during regulatory inspections quickly add up to amounts that wipe out an entire month's profit.

Digital time tracking is no longer optional in logistics. It is the fundamental requirement for legally compliant operations, fair payroll and cost calculations you can trust.

Try Jobilino now for free – designed specifically for logistics and transport companies with mobile drivers and international teams. No credit card, no commitment, ready to use immediately.

Time Tracking in Logistics & Transport: The Best Solution for Logistics Companies