Oct/Nov 2006

Businesses hiring vans would rather take models with conventional analogue tachographs than the new digital variety. That's the experience of TLS Vehicle Rental, one of Britain's biggest commercial vehicle rental operators.

According to the company, one in 25 of its standard 7.5-tonner vehicles is now equipped with a digital tachograph, yet the average utilisation rate for them is significantly lower than that for models with mechanical versions.

The resistance may be purely practical rather than philosophical, though. According to marketing director Sean Welham: "The vast majority of customers don't have a driver card, so they require a vehicle that has an old-style tachograph." He adds: "The growing need to have a card is just not on the radar of many operators and their drivers."

The TLS experience seems to be borne out by national trends. When TLS checked with VOSA, the vehicle licensing authority, it found that fewer than one in ten of UK drivers qualified to drive heavy commercial vehicles had been issued with a driver card.

Welham says there's "a lot of ignorance around" on the subject, but adds: "Many drivers appear to be trying to do without hassle and cost of applying for a card for as long as possible."

He warns: "The average age of a 7.5-tonner on our fleet is 18 months, so it won't be too long before we have significant numbers of digital tacho vehicles to rent. It will only be a matter of months or a year before drivers who want to rent a 7.5-tonner will need to have a driver card, or they will simply find it difficult to get hold of a vehicle."

FOOTNOTE

Tachograph advice from FTA's new site

If you want to know more about digital tachographs and everything to do with them, Britain's Freight Transport Association has launched a dedicated Web site on the subject. It aims to provide comprehensive information, advice, guidance and details of services to support commercial vehicle operators.

It includes a step-by-step process for preparing for the digital tachograph, along with options for data analysis. There is also a dedicated help line. Go to www.digitaltachograph.fta.co.uk.