September 2002

Digital tachographs with smartcards will replace the current paper-based analogue units on all new vehicles above 3.5 tonnes gross from 2004. The two-year countdown started in June when the EU published technical directive EU 2135/98, which describes the units and their performance.

But fears remain among industry groups that these cards will be more prone to abuse by unscrupulous drivers and operators than manual charts.

Tachographs are legally required on all vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gross to record drivers' hours. The tachograph unit in the truck will store the last 365 days of information on driving hours, breaks and rest. It must have a print-out facility and have two smartcard slots for dual-manning operations.

The tacho will also record excessive driving times and overspeeding. Drivers will be able to enter some information manually, and for accident investigation, second-by-second speed data will be available for the last 24 hours' driving time.

 

There will be four types of smartcard - one each for the driver, the company and the tachograph calibration centre, plus a control card for the enforcement agencies. The driver card will be valid for five years and will record up to 28 days' activities.

Truck manufacturers are indicating that they may adapt existing on-board telematics systems to make them comply with tachograph specifications. Approved digital tachographs should start appearing some time in 2003.