You have heard the pitch: drive with the app, review with the web. But the first week is where most drivers either click — timer on every shift, card downloaded, dashboard bookmarked — or install the app once and forget it until someone mentions infringements.
This post is a practical seven-day path through HGV Time Pilot: what to do each day, what you get for free, when the 14-day Pro card bonus kicks in, and how to know by the end of the week whether Pro earns a permanent place. No fluff — written for someone between shifts with ten minutes and a cup of tea.
It is not legal advice. Your tachograph remains the legal record.
Before day one — two surfaces, one account
| Surface | Job |
|---|---|
Android app (uk.co.hgvtimepilot.bridge) | Live shift timer, USB card download |
| Web dashboard (v3.hgvtimepilot.com) | Can I drive now?, Daily Compliance Review, Reports, Tools |
Same email and password everywhere. Create the account on whichever device you have to hand first.
You need: Android phone for timer + card reader. Optional but worth it: a CCID USB reader and USB-OTG cable before day three if you do not have one yet.
There is no iPhone app today — web works in Safari/Chrome on any phone for review.
Day 1 — Install and run one real shift
Goal: Prove the timer survives a working day.
- Install from Google Play and sign in.
- Open Shift Timer, enter VRN, pick UK or EU context.
- Tap Start shift before yard work — default mode is Other Work.
- Tap Driving, Break, POA, and Other Work when your activity actually changes. See POA explained if waiting time confuses you.
- Let the app warn you before the 4½-hour mark — allow notifications when Android asks.
- End shift and skim the summary / breaks log.
Free tier covers all of this. You do not need Pro to time shifts.
End of day check: Did the modes match what you did? If not, fix that tomorrow — the timer only helps honest taps.
Day 2 — Same again, add the web bookmark
Goal: Build the two-surface habit.
- Run another timed shift on Android.
- On a break or at home, open v3.hgvtimepilot.com on the same account.
- Bookmark it. You will live here for compliance review — not for live timing (that stays on Android).
You may see limited dashboard content until card data arrives. That is normal.
Optional: ask Time Pilot AI one rules question — 3 messages per rolling 24 hours on Free.
Day 3 — Card download (the unlock moment)
Goal: Get tachograph data on your account and trigger the 14-day Pro bonus on first successful import.
- Plug in your USB card reader with OTG.
- Open Card Reader in the Android app and follow the guided read.
- Wait for upload to finish —
successorno_new_databoth count for the card bonus if it is your first ever accepted import.
Card download is Free. This is the moment the product stops being “just a timer” and becomes a compliance toolkit.
After import:
- Check My Card Data / driver status — “Can I drive now?” headlines appear.
- On web, look for the Pro card bonus active banner with a countdown.
- You now have 14 days of full Pro if the bonus fired — DCR, Reports, walkaround, invoicing, unlimited AI.
If import fails (wrong card, reader issue), see the card download guide before you blame the rules engine.
Day 4 — Read your status like a driver, not a lawyer
Goal: Understand the green/red headline and the numbers underneath.
Open the web dashboard (or Android My Card Data) and read:
- The nine status states — OK to drive, break required, daily limit reached, and the rest (full explainer).
- Driving time left — Today, This week, Next week, Two-week total (fortnight-aware).
- Fresh vs stale card data — download again if the banner says outdated.
If issue counts appear, they are historical warnings or infringements — you can be green today and still have amber days last week.
Pro bonus task: Tap View in Daily Review on a flagged day and read the Infringements tab.
Day 5 — Walk one week in Daily Compliance Review
Goal: See your card as a calendar, not a mystery number.
On Pro (or bonus):
- Open Daily Compliance Review on the web.
- Use This week’s issues or Next issue if anything fired.
- Open Activities Log on a busy day — compare POA, breaks, and driving to your memory.
- Try Shift Details if you forgot when you actually started.
Free without bonus: you still get a 14-day preview teaser — enough to taste it, not enough to plan a month.
This is the feature most drivers use to decide whether Pro is worth £6.99/month.
Day 6 — One Pro tool beyond hours (pick your job)
Goal: Try the part of Pro that matches how you work.
| If you are… | Try… |
|---|---|
| Owner-operator / small fleet | Walkaround check + vehicle safety tracker |
| Agency / subcontractor | Weekly PDF report + contractor invoicing |
| Hours-focused | WTD dashboard + weekly rest / fortnight read |
| Curious | Unlimited Time Pilot AI — ask about next week’s drive room |
You do not need every tool on day six. One meaningful win beats ticking every box.
Day 7 — Decide your routine (and whether to keep Pro)
Goal: Lock in a weekly habit, not a one-off experiment.
A sustainable pattern many drivers keep:
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Every shift start | Shift timer on Android |
| Every shift end / weekly | Card download when back on data |
| Before promising next week’s work | Can I drive now? — check Two-week total |
| Friday or after tight weeks | Daily Compliance Review scan |
| When someone asks for paper | Reports PDF |
Pro decision:
- Bonus still running? Note the countdown — subscribe at /upgrade/ before day 15 if you want to keep DCR, Reports, and unlimited AI.
- Happy on Free? You keep timer, card download, status headline, 14-day preview, and 3 AI messages/day forever.
- Not sure? Download the card again next Friday and repeat day five — patterns show up over two weeks, not one.
Free vs Pro — what you had all week
| Free (always) | Pro (subscription or 14-day bonus) | |
|---|---|---|
| Shift timer + alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Card download | Yes | Yes |
| “Can I drive now?” headline + What’s left | Yes | Yes + live snapshot recompute |
| DCR calendar + issue detail | Teaser | Full |
| PDF reports, walkaround, invoicing, vehicle tracker | No | Yes |
| Time Pilot AI | 3 / 24h | Unlimited |
Full breakdown: /upgrade/.
Common first-week mistakes
- Timer only, never card — you miss daily/weekly/fortnight limits and DCR entirely.
- One card download, never again — status goes stale; refresh after long runs.
- Expecting the web to time shifts — live timer is Android only.
- Ignoring POA — long waits count under WTD; see POA guide.
- Assuming bonus repeats — once per account ever.
Where to go next
- Product tour: how it works
- Rules backbone: EU 561, WTD
- Product story: Introducing HGV Time Pilot
Stuck in week one? support@hgvtimepilot.com — we read driver mail.
HGV Time Pilot assists with drivers' hours planning and review. It is not legal advice. Always follow your operator's policies and current regulations.