Digital Tachograph

INTRODUCTION

The introduction of digital tachograph technology to replace the existing analogue recording devices in new commercial lorries and buses became mandatory within the EU Community from May 2006. Tachographs are instruments fitted in the cab of trucks and buses to record the driving times, breaks and rest periods of individual drivers.

Central to the introduction of digital tachograph technology is the provision of smart cards for use by drivers, companies, calibration workshops and enforcement officers.

Before proceeding to fill out applications for Digital Tachograph Cards, it is recommended you read this document and understand the different type of cards and some of the key obligations of holders of such cards.

This document contains information about the following:-

EU LEGISLATION

A digital tachograph is an electronic system for recording driving and rest times for drivers and co-drivers of commercial vehicles. Vehicle speed, distance travelled and other system related are also logged. Data is stored in a memory (mass memory) inside the unit and on driver-specific smart cards (driver cards).

In Ireland, the Road Safety Authority is the legal body responsible for issuing these cards.

The legal basis for the introduction of the digital tachograph is Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3821/85 as amended by Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2135/98 and its Annex 1360/02 relating to the installation and use of vehicle recording equipment for the enforcement of driving hours of professional drivers as outlined below:

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 2135/98 amending Regulation (EEC) No 3821/85 on recording equipment in road transport and Directive 88/599/EEC concerning the application of Regulations (EEC) No 3820/85 and (EEC) No 3821/85 introduced digital tachograph across the EU amending Regulation (EEC) No 3821/85 on recording equipment in road transport and Directive 88/599/EEC concerning the application of Regulations (EEC) No 3820/85 and (EEC) No 3821/85 introduced digital tachograph across the EU

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1360/2002 adapting for the seventh time to technical progress Council Regulation (EEC) No 3821/85 on recording equipment in road transport. Annex 1B contains the technical specification for digital tachographs adapting for the seventh time to technical progress Council Regulation (EEC) No 3821/85 on recording equipment in road transport. Annex 1B contains the technical specification for digital tachographs.  

Note: This is a large document, approximately 4.6MB and can take some time to download.

Useful Links:

European Legislation

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road/policy/index_en.htm

Monitoring of Implementation of Digital Tachograph

http://www.Eu-digitaltachograph.org

Siemens VDO Autommotive AG is a German company that manufactures digital tachographs.

www.siemensvdo.com/dtco

DT Manufacturer - Stoneridge Electronics Ltd

Stoneridge Electronics Ltd is a UK-based company that manufactures digital tachographs.

http://www.stoneridgeelectronics.co.uk

Organisations - International Road Transport Union (IRU)

DIGITAL TACHOGRAPH TRAINING

For information on digital tachograph training please contact:

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport of Ireland

Phone: 01-6763188

mailto:jim@cilt.ie

DRIVER CARD

The personal driver card:

The Vehicle Unit or (VU)

Before commencing a journey (e.g. when loading/unloading or driving) a driver /both drivers) must insert the driver card into the 1st or 2nd man slot (driver or co-driver) on the front Digital Tachograph Unit as indicated in the diagram above. The centre field details will be recorded automatically by the tachograph driver name, vehicle registration number, start and finish odometer readings.

In the same way as with the analogue tachograph, a digital tachograph will record a drivers’ activities such as driving, other work, breaks and rest by changing the mode switch, and swap the cards between driver and co-driver slots when double manned.

When a driver is doing a manual entry of data to the tachograph he/she will be asked (via the units menu) if he/she has driven any other vehicle that day and must select whether it was by digital or analogue recorded method. If driving a vehicle fitted with an analogue tachograph the driver should have a chart to cover the driver activities.

A driver must also make daily printouts when changing between vehicles fitted with analogue and digital tachographs. This guarantees a complete record (printouts and charts) of driving activities for the current week and the last working day of the previous week.

Downloading of data by the driver

There is a requirement for the driver card to be downloaded every 21 days.

The legislation requires the driver to either download the data and retain it themselves or allow the company to download the data from their driver card and retain for inspection.

Agency drivers

In the case of a driver working for more than one company, he/she should download data every 21 days from the driver card and retain for inspection.

APPLICATIONS FOR DIGITAL TACHOGRAPH CARDS.

A fee of €50 is payable in respect of driver, workshop and company cards. There is no fee for control cards.

APPLICATION FOR A DRIVER CARD 

A Driver Card is valid for 5 years

Application forms are available from the Road Safety Authority, Clonfert House, Bride Street, Loughrea, Co Galway Telephone: 091-872600 or can be downloaded by clicking the link below.

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION FORM FOR A DRIVER CARD (available here in Irish )

Driver Application Additional Information

Procedures to follow if the driver card is lost/stolen or malfunctions

• If lost/stolen the theft must be reported to the police in the area where it occurred and a report number is required.
• The driver needs to phone the Road Safety Authority to report its loss and to request a replacement card. Telephone Number 091-872600
• You must complete an application form and send it with the relevant fee to the Road Safety Authority
• An applicant must apply within 7 days for a replacement card.
• A driver may continue to drive without a card for a maximum period of 15 days or for a longer period if this is necessary for the vehicle to return to its premises, provided a driver can present evidence of the impossibility of producing or using the card during this period.
• The driver must keep a manual record of driving activities during the absence of his driver card.
• In the event that a card malfunctions a driver must apply for a replacement card within seven days.
• A replacement card will issue within 5 working days of receipt of a completed application.
• A card that has malfunctioned must be returned to the Road Safety Authority with the application for its replacement.

Renewal of a driver card

An application for a renewal of a driver card must be made at least 15 days in advance of expiry of card so that a new card can be issued in a timely manner. Applicants should ensure that they submit applications within a few weeks of expiry of their driver card to avoid delay in the renewal of cards.

Exchange of Driver Card

If a drivers personal details change, e.g. name or address, an application for a new card must be made. Prior to an exchange of card taking place the data from it has to be downloaded and the driver card has then to be handed over to the Road Safety Authority.

DATA PROTECTION:

Data held on your Driver Card may be exchanged with the appropriate authorities in other Member States, for enforcement purposes.

COMPANY CARD

A Company Card is valid for 5 years

General information

The company card is valid for 5 years and serves to protect company-related data in digital tachographs. The card allows a company to download the information from the Digital Tachograph Unit in order to carry out checks on drivers’ hours, rostering etc as required by the legislation and to maintain the required records for examination by Transport Officers and/or the Garda Siochana.

The company card allows a company to lock data recorded in the VU to prevent another operator looking at the data. This is necessary to ensure the protection of personal information of a company and its driver(s), and details of work patterns and times from competitors. This would be important when vehicles are sold or returned to a hire/lease company.

Mandatory Download

In Ireland there is a mandatory requirement for download of all digital tachographs (vehicle units) every three months. The downloaded data must be available for inspection by Transport Officers and/or the Gardai at any time.

Failure to comply with this requirement will result in legal proceedings being taken against the owner or operator of the vehicle.

APPLICATION FOR A COMPANY CARD

Applicants should be the owner, operator or have leased vehicles fitted with recording equipment. Application forms are available from the Road Safety Authority, Clonfert House, Bride Street, Loughrea, Co. Galway. Telephone: 091-872600  or can be downloaded clicking the link below. An operator can apply for multiple cards if required for the efficient running of their business.

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION FOR A COMPANY CARD

WORKSHOP CARD

A Workshop Card is valid for 1 year

The workshop card is available only to approved calibration workshops.

Such workshops must be approved by the NSAI (National Standards Authority of Ireland) and the workshop fitter must provide proof that he/she has received the necessary qualifications.

If a workshop fitter is employed by more than one workshop, he/she must hold a workshop card for each workshop that he/she is working for.

General Rules

• The Workshop manager is responsible for the workshop cards at all times.
• The Workshop manager is responsible for the return of cards if/when fitters leave their employment
• If a card cannot be returned such as lost/stolen/malfunctioning the Workshop manager is obliged to notify the Road Safety Authority.
• The PIN is personal to a fitter and is posted to him/her personally. This should not be disclosed to any other person.
• The Workshop card can only be used by the person to whom it is issued.

APPLICATION FOR A WORKSHOP CARD

Applicants should be employees of authorised Workshop Centres. Application forms are available from the Road Safety Authority, Clonfert House, Bride Street, Loughrea, Co.Galway Telephone Number 091-872600 or can be downloaded from the link below.

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION FORM FOR A WORKSHOP CARD

CONTROL CARD

The control card is available only to Road Safety Authority Transport Officers and the Garda Siochana for carrying out enforcement of digital tachograph legislation.

APPLICATION FOR A CONTROL CARD

Applications for control cards can be made to the Road Safety Authority, Clonfert House, Bride Street, Loughrea, Co.Galway. Telephone 091-872600 or it can be downloaded from the link below.

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION FORM FOR A CONTROL CARD

HELP DESK

Should you have any further queries on applying for digital tachographs, you can contact the RSA helpdesk Tel No. 091-872600: during office hours where your query will be addressed or, you can e-mail digitaltacho@rsa.ie

The information contained on this website does not purport to be a legal interpretation of the requirements of the legislation relating to tachographs