Tachograph Regulations
EU regulations state that vehicles registered from 2006 onwards are required by law to have a Digital Tachograph rather than an Analogue tachometer to provide an accurate record of engine speed and distance in a commercial road vehicle.
As industry experts with over 30 years experience with both installing and supplying to Tachograph Centres across the UK we aim to share with you information that is vital to compliance within the Transport Industry.
We hope our blog is both helpful and informative, should you wish for further information please visit our online webstore https://www.digital-tachographs.co.uk where you will find further information, graphics and our contact information.
Do I Need A Tachograph?
Tachographs became a mandatory recording device for all HGV vehicles back in the 1980’s, by recording speed and distance the Tachograph provides an accurate picture of what a driver has been doing and whether or not they are driving in accordance with the law.
Since 2006 all vehicles over 3.5 tonnes sold in the UK are required by law to be fitted with a Digital Tachograph, all Tachographs before this date were Analogue.
A Tachograph records all information about the vehicle and for a Transport Operator you are legally required to periodically check your Tachograph records and maintain an adequate record keeping system should an inspection be taken place by VOSA.
Tachographs allow you to track the activity of the Driver and Drivers hours law legislation and the Working Time Directive set out and the maximum driving rest and on duty times for all Drivers. Failiure to comply with these laws can lead to hefty fines and loss of licence.
In the UK Digital Drivers Card data must be downloaded at least every 28 days and the vehicles unit data at least every 56 days. This accurate recording is vital as Drivers data must be retained for a least a year and working time records must be kept for at least 2 years thereafter.
There are various types of Analogue Tachographs – here are few of the most popular varieties:
- 1318/27 Analogue Tachograph – DAF/Mercedes/Volvo/Iveco/MAN
- 1324/27 Analogue Tachograph – Renault/Mercedes/Volvo/Iveco/Scania
- 1319/27 Analogue Tachograph – Neaoplan Coach/Mercedes Coach/Mercedes Sprinter
- EGK100 Motometer Analogue Tachograph – 2800 kph/2500 kph Volvo Truck and Coach
What are the main differences between Digital Tachographs and Analogue Tachographs?
As all new HGV’s are sold with a Digital Tachograph, Analogue tachograph systems are becoming less common as Digital Tachographs are now the norm in all vehicles manufactured since 2006.
It is also important to note, Analogue Tachographs are no longer manufactured from new which means the technology is now well on it’s way to becoming obsolete. Analogue uses a paper Tachograph chart which can be tampered and is not as accurate as the Digital downloading and recording devices. Also, the paper Tachograph charts need to be kept in storage and can become prone to fading.
Analogue Tachograph recordings are made up by a stylus cutting traces into the wax coated chart, there are three separate styluses that mark recordings of:
- Speed
- Distance Travelled
- The Drivers activity (known as the mode)
The inner part is used by the Driver to write all of the details of their vehicle and the Drivers name for that day, it also allows you to write the location of the start journey, end location, the date and start and end odometer readings. The reverse of the Tachograph chart normally contains an area for recording manual entries or details of other vehicles driven during the period covered.
Digital Tachographs allow all this important driver data to be securely stored on a single micro chip which is easy to store and download at any time.
Digital Tachographs Versus Analogue Tachographs, the Pros and Cons:
Analogue Tachograph Pros:
- Cheaper to buy
- Less maintenance costs
Analogue Tachograph Cons:
- Less Reliable
- Can be tampered
- More components to malfunction
Digital Tachograph Pros:
- More accurate readings
- Comply with the latest regulations
- Easy to store and retrieve data
- Can be tailored to your specification
Digital Tachograph Cons:
- More expensive to buy
Why Digital Tachographs are far superior when compared to Analogue Tachographs
In our professional opinion the latest generation 1381 Digital Tachograph 2.2/3.0 is a market leader as is reflected in many user friendly optimisations. It’s faster handling of Driver Cards and the new latest negative display is easy to read even in direct sunlight. This product can be ordered from our online webstore and the latest type DTCO 1381 Digital Tachograph 2.2/3.0 can be ordered from September 2017 onwards.
Fleet Managers can now configure Tachographs themselves, with the all new Tachograph and the DTCO configuration APP, Fleet Managers now have the option of setting several operating parameters.
More clarity for the Driver, Drivers can operate the new 1381 Digital Tachograph 2.2/3.0 faster and more easily thanks to the redesigned user interface. The new negative display is easy to read even in direct sunlight and just before the end of their 45 minute break the WAKE UP function notifies the Driver that they can start driving in 2 minutes time. The VDO counter also displays driving times and rest periods on your Smartphone so users benefit from considerable time and cost savings with much more clarity.
We hope you have found this blog post useful and of interest, if you need any further assistance or if you require any technical information please do not hesitate to contact us here. All products listed above are available to purchase both online and via a telephone order so please feel free to call 01543 524024.
