General

VDO Tachographs – A History Of Innovation

The earliest tachograph dates back over 100 years and VDO have long been a trusted manufacturer of high quality components since the 1920s with the Autograph device.  VDO tachographs have been on the market since 1951 and are still manufactured at the Villingen site.  VDO is now a part of the Continental Automotive Group, a leading German automotive manufacturing company specialising in tyres, brake systems, interior electronics and automotive safety. 

Dr Lutz Scholten of Continental was recently quoted as saying “today the Digital Tachograph is more than just a device for recording driver and vehicle data, it’s the telematics heart of Fleet Management, enabling even small and medium sized fleets to boost their potential for efficiency”.

The Latest Generation of Digital Tachographs available at Tacho 2000 Ltd

The latest 1381 Digital Tachographs from VDO are the 2.2/3.0, and in future VDO will be launching the DTCO 4.0.

Tacho 2000 Ltd are a leading supplier of VDO Digital Tachographs and accessories in the UK. Each tachograph we supply is expertly configured to your exact requirements and our team of specialist are always at hand for technical support.

To speak to a member of our helpful team please call 01543 524 024

6 key updates to the Latest VDO Digital Tachograph 

In 2017 Continental (otherwise known as “VDO”) launched their latest range of digital tachographs, the VDO Digital Tachograph 3.0.  Our customer feedback is proving the VDO 3.0 Digital Tachograph to be as reliable as its predecessors.  Continental engineers have redesigned the tachograph and upgraded the software making it easier to use.  Compared to the ever popular VDO 2.2 Digital Tachograph series, engineers have specifically pointed to six upgrades to the latest DTCO 3.0:

Display, Flexibility and Card Handling Performance: Continentals most ergonomic design to date, the latest VDO DTCO 3.0 Digital Tachograph also has an enhanced digital display which is brighter and features anti-glare technology. This latest model also allows for easy and flexible card hand handling with faster start-up and processing times. 

Power Consumption: the new DTCO 3.0 Tachograph consumes less power when compared to the earlier generation DTCO 2.2 range of tachographs.

Faster Processing: you can now use mobile devices to add manual entries thus reducing errors whilst speeding up the process of keeping an up to date record of your logs. Ideal for two man crews where the passenger can make and edit entries. Although this function was also available on the DTCO 2.2 Tachograph, this has now been significantly improved on the DTCO 3.0 Tachograph. This latest generation of tachograph is almost twice as fast as its predecessor meaning downloading your data is fast and efficient. 

Smart Phone Compatible: The smartphone App allows for remote access to view and manage the drivers tachograph. The App configuration manager allows Fleet Managers to remotely change parameters without the need for the tachograph to be physically present. 

DTCO Configuration App

The latest generation of smart technology to hit the tachograph market, the DTCO Configuration App is now available on the latest DTCO 3.0 range of tachographs.

As with all technology, the market is ever more shifting toward automation and you can now download the DTCO Configuration App on any Android or IOS device.

How does it work?

The company card serves as proof of identity.  After successful authentication, the App connects to the DTCO tachograph via the VDO Smart Link.  Users can now customise functions ranging from changing the VDO counter to local time, setting the pre-alarms, entering licences, EU Member States and the vehicle registration numbers.  The App is easy to use with its simplistic functionality and is available to download on both Android and Apple smartphones and tablets.

Advanced control of your Tachograph

What may interest many Fleet Managers is the ability to define how the tachograph behaves when the driver switches off the engine. The DTCO automatically sets the device to Break, Working Time or Available, depending on the preconfigured settings made by the Fleet Manager.  In cases where the driver forgets to reset the tacho after a Break,  there is no need for the driver to go back and manually update the entry. As the Fleet Manager would have already pre-set the Breaks and Working Times, the driver can stay rest assured the tachograph logs are accurate and up to date. As well as the ability to change settings themselves Fleet Managers can also benefit from the greater efficiency of the new DTCO digital tachograph 3.0 when downloading local data. With faster processors, the Continental developers have almost doubled the downloading speed of this device. 

VDO Digital Tachographs – The Benefits for Fleet Managers and Drivers:

Benefits for Fleet Managers:

Entering and archiving driving times and rest periods is compulsory to comply with the law.  The drivers who are responsible for this need their entries to be as accurate as possible whilst spending as little time as possible doing it.  Continental have aimed to design the DTCO 3.0 tachograph to be as user friendly as possible whilst helping relieve the burden on the Drivers and Fleet Managers who are responsible for them.

The new VDO 3.0 Tachograph combined with the DTCO Configuration App allows Fleet Managers to remotely change several operating parameters within the VDO counter themselves, adapting them to specific company activities and saving a trip to the workshop.  

Benefits for the Driver:

Thanks to the redesigned user interface the driver can operate the DTCO 3.0 faster and more easily, the new negative display is also easy to read even in direct sunlight. Just before the end of a 45 minute Break the Wake Up function notifies the driver that they can commence driving in 2 minutes. 

Thanks to the VDO Driver App, management of the inserted cards has also been greatly improved along with greater access to fine tune the tachograph functions.  The App makes the manual entry of activities even easier, since all the rest periods can be pre-configured and processed directly on the smartphone.  The VDO counter also displays driving times and rest periods on the smartphone – so users benefit from considerable time and cost savings and much more clarity. The App is totally free of charge for Android and iOS operating systems.

The New Intelligent Tachograph

The new VDO 1381 DTCO 3.0 Tachograph is paving the way for the brand new INTELLIGENT TACHOGRAPH, which from June 2019 will be fitted as standard to all new vehicles.  

With the advanced technology of the DTCO 3.0, Continental/VDO have already laid what are the foundations for the new Intelligent Tachograph – the DTCO 4.0. Due to be released in June 2019 the changeover will not require a compulsory upgrade to the new model for existing tachograph users, this law only affects new vehicles manufactured on or after June 2019, so existing models can be used after this deadline date. 

Our VDO Products Available Online

Tacho 2000 Ltd are a leading supplier of VDO Tachographs – a specialist manufacturer of tachographs and accessories which are now commonplace in most commercial vehicles requiring a tachograph.

VDO supply both to UK and Global businesses with a wide and extensive range of high quality tachograph components.

We stock a wide range of VDO products and with our extensive experience and specialist knowledge you can stay rest assured you are buying the right products to suit your requirement. 

Here are some quick links to VDO tachograph products which can be purchased directly from our online store:

• All VDO Digital Tachographs
• All VDO Analogue Tachographs
• VDO Digital Tachograph Training Accessories
• VDO Charts and Rolls
• VDO latest DTCO 1381 2.2/3.0 Digital Tachograph Head
• VDO Digital Tachograph Retrofit Kits 1381 2.2/3.0
• VDO Digital Tachograph Retrofit Kits 1324
• VDO Tachograph Data Management Solutions
• VDO service replacement
• VDO Tachograph Upgrade Kits

• 1318 Analogue Tachograph Kits
• 1319 Analogue VDO Tachographs
• VDO Tachograph parts
• VDO stand alone 1324 speedometers
• VDO 1324 Tacho speedometers for use with DTCO
• VDO Sender units and cables,
• VDO Kitas 2 Sender Units
• VDO Tachograph Upgrade Kits
• VDO pulse adapters and trigger switches
• VDO Tachograph tools and test equipment
• VDO rolling road parts VOSA approved sealing parts

All VDO components are produced and manufactured to fit each individual vehicle.

If you require any assistance with finding a particular VDO product please do not hesitate to call our team on 01543 524024.

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.