Harris Transport & Employment Consultants Ltd

Important changes to tachograph regulations

There are a number of important changes to the rules on drivers hours and records – for the full story, we advise you to get hold of a free copy of the Rules on Drivers Hours and Tachographs (goods vehicles or PSV's) from www.transportoffice.gov.uk

In the meantime here are some of the most important points:

From 1 January 2008, a driver must be able to produce records for the current day and the previous 28 (calendar) days on request.

When driving a vehicle fitted with a digital tachograph, this is quite easy as the driver smart card will normally hold records on most types of work for at least 28 days. Drivers who have been issued with a smart card must always carry it with them while driving. If drivers use different vehicles fitted with both analogue and digital tachographs over a 28-day period, they will need to produce both charts and their driver cards (and any printouts needed).

Driver cards have to be downloaded at least every 28 days and digital tachograph vehicle units (VU's) every 56 days. As with analogue charts, digital data must also be stored securely for at least 12 months after the date it relates to, and the data must be made available to enforcement agencies upon request.

To manage data securely, operators should follow the guidance on using their Company Card to ‘lock in’ to the digital tachograph VU as soon as the vehicle comes under their control. They also need to ‘lock out’ from the VU once they have downloaded all relevant data.

You can find further information on downloading tools, analysis and storage options from tachograph manufacturers, relevant trade associations and the analysis bureaux via internet search engines. Make sure your information comes from a trusted source.