Your dashboard shows a count: “2 warning(s) and 1 issue(s) in your latest snapshot.” Or Daily Compliance Review paints a day amber or red. The question every driver asks next is the same:
Is this a slap on the wrist — or something that could get me in proper trouble?
In HGV Time Pilot, card analysis separates warnings from infringements. They are not the same severity, they do not mean the same thing for “can I drive right now?”, and neither is automatic proof of a fine. This post spells out the difference in cab language.
It is not legal advice. Enforcement officers work from the tachograph and the law — not from our colour coding.
The short version
| Warning | Infringement | |
|---|---|---|
| Severity | Lower — often allowance-related or approaching a hard limit | Higher — harder breach of drivers’ hours rules |
| Typical flavour | “You are using flexibility / pattern that needs attention” | “This looks like a rule was broken” |
| What to do | Understand it; adjust habits; mention to your TM if needed | Take it seriously; review the day; talk to your operator |
| Automatic fine? | No | No — but treat it as high priority |
Neither label is a court verdict. Both deserve a look before you shrug and drive on.
How this differs from “Can I drive now?”
The driver status headline answers a forward-looking question: am I OK to roll from here?
Warnings and infringements are mostly historical (and sometimes current) issues detected on imported card activity — often on past days.
That means:
- You can see You can drive today (green) and still have warning or infringement counts from earlier in the week.
- A past infringement does not always freeze you today — but it still belongs in your records and your operator conversation.
- Conversely, a status like Break required or Daily driving limit reached is about now, whether or not DCR has labelled a formal infringement yet.
| Driver status | Warnings / infringements | |
|---|---|---|
| Question | Can I drive right now? | What issues were detected on card data? |
| Time focus | Forward-looking | Per-day / snapshot history |
| Green status + old issues? | Possible and normal | Counts can still be non-zero |
Where you see them in HGV Time Pilot
Driver status card
After a card download, issue counts appear under the status headline when either warnings or infringements are non-zero.
- Free — counts in the 14-day card preview window; detail is limited.
- Pro — fuller snapshot history, plus View in Daily Review to jump to the day.
Daily Compliance Review (Pro)
Open the day → Infringements tab. You get titles tied to the activities that triggered them — not just a number.
Calendar colours help you scan:
- Warning days — at least one warning-level issue
- Infringement days — at least one infringement-level issue
Use Next issue / This week’s issues to jump instead of scrolling month by month.
Shift timer alerts (different thing)
The Android shift timer can show WARNING / INFRINGEMENT-styled hints during a live shift (for example approaching 4½ hours). Those coaching alerts are not the same as card-backed warnings and infringements stored from a download. Timer hints are not evidence. Card analysis is the audit trail.
Examples (illustrative, not exhaustive)
Warning-shaped patterns often involve flexibility and allowances — for example reduced-rest patterns that are still within rules but need watching, or situations approaching a hard limit.
Infringement-shaped patterns are harder breaches — driving beyond limits, missing required break/rest in a way the engine treats as a clear rule break, and similar high-severity findings.
Exact titles depend on your card data and the rules engine. Read the activity-linked explanation in DCR rather than guessing from the colour alone.
What to do when you see one
For a warning
- Open the day in Daily Compliance Review (Pro) or note the date from the status count.
- Read the title and the related activity — Shift Details / Activities Log help.
- Ask: was this a one-off, or a habit (late breaks, heavy use of reduced rest)?
- Adjust the next shifts. Mention it to your transport manager if your operator expects visibility.
For an infringement
- Do not ignore it — open the day and understand what and when.
- Compare against your memory and the cab unit. Card data wins for enforcement; the app interprets.
- Tell your operator early if that is your process — surprises at audit time are worse.
- If they ask for a file, generate an infringement acknowledgement (or day pack) from the Reports hub.
- Optionally ask Time Pilot AI to restate the issue in plain English — then verify against DCR.
Acknowledgement reports
Pro’s Reports hub includes an infringement acknowledgement layout — useful when your operator wants a formal PDF sign-off trail for flagged issues.
Flow that works well:
- Understand the issue in DCR first.
- Generate the acknowledgement (or day) PDF.
- Send or file it through your usual channel.
The PDF documents analysis from your card import. It does not “clear” the infringement with the authorities.
Free vs Pro — honest split
| Free | Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| See that counts exist | Yes (14-day preview window) | Yes |
| Colour calendar + issue titles | No (teaser only) | Full DCR |
| Jump to day from status | Locked / upgrade prompt | View in Daily Review |
| Acknowledgement / day PDFs | No | Reports hub |
14 days of Pro after your first card import is the easiest way to learn the difference on your real days, not screenshots.
Common misunderstandings
- “Green status means a clean card forever.” No — it means OK to drive now.
- “A warning is nothing.” Soft severity is not “ignore forever.” Patterns become infringements.
- “An infringement means I am banned today.” Not automatically. Check the current status headline as well as the historical flag.
- “The app fined me.” It did not. It labelled analysis. Outcomes sit with operators and enforcers.
- “Timer said WARNING so I have an infringement on my card.” Not the same system.
A practical weekly habit
- Download the card after the last shift of the week.
- Read Can I drive now? for the next-shift picture.
- If counts are non-zero, open DCR → Next issue.
- Fix misunderstandings while the week is still in your head.
- File a weekly or acknowledgement PDF if your operator wants paper.
Frequently asked questions
Do warnings and infringements appear without Pro?
Counts can appear on Free within the preview window. Full explanations and the calendar need Pro (or the card bonus).
Can HGV Time Pilot remove an infringement from my card?
No. The card and vehicle unit are the record. The app only analyses imports.
Should I stop driving if I see any count?
Check the status headline for whether you can drive now. Then review historical issues when safe to do so — not mid-roundabout.
What if I disagree with a flag?
Compare Activities Log and Shift Details with your memory and the cab printout/display. Contact support@hgvtimepilot.com if you think the analysis is wrong — and still follow your operator’s process.
See your own flags clearly
- Download your card.
- Open status on Android My Card Data or the web dashboard.
- On Pro, open Daily Compliance Review and read the Infringements tab.
For the rules behind many flags, see EU 561/2006 and weekly rest & the fortnight. Feedback welcome at support@hgvtimepilot.com.
Warnings and infringements in the app are analysis of tachograph data for planning and self-checking. They are not legal determinations. Always follow your operator’s policies and current regulations.