digitaltachograph.html

What is a digital tachograph? Digital tachographs (Digitachs)are similar in appearance to a modular analogue tachograph . They come in separate parts, a vehicle unit and a speedometer - but that is where similarities end. In all other aspects this is a totally different animal. The Vehicle Unit (VU) is located within the driver's area of the vehicle cab. It sends a signal to the speedometer / odometer unit that is located where the driver has a clear view of it. The vehicle unit still receives a signal from the vehicle (usually from the gearbox) as the analogue units do, via a cable. The VU is the brains of the system. It is able to hold data on drivers of the vehicle and their periods of driving and duty for about a 12 month period. It will also hold data relating to faults, attempts to tamper with the system, over speeding, calibration details, and when data has been accessed, for example, by VOSA staff or Police. The VU and the motion sensor from the gearbox will be encoded as a pair and the signals from the sensor will be fully encrypted so any attempt to interfere with them will be registered and recorded in the vehicle unit. [This is greater than the current modular tachographs] The VU will be set to Universal Time Co-ordinated (UTC) - as another name for Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) - all records will be against this time. The visual display will probably be set to the local time, but this will not affect the internal time. What needs to be remembered is that the stored record will be an hour behind in British Summer Time - for example - a driver starts at 0600 (6am), the record will show 0500 (5am). There will be no difference in the winter as we are back to GMT. Drivers, companies (operators), workshops (tachograph calibration centres) and enforcement officers (VOSA & Police) will each have smart cards according to their specific needs. These enable them to use and / or give access to the data in the VU. Drivers A Driver Smart Card will be issued, on application, to driving licence holders with appropriate vocational category or categories. The Card identifies the driver and allows storage of driver activity data. Before commencing a journey, drivers must insert their Driver Smart card into the appropriate slot on the front of the vehicle Unit. The 'centre field' details that previously had to be written into the centre of the analogue tachograph chart at the beginning of each working day are now recorded automatically into the digital tachograph device from the Driver Smart Card. During the day drivers still need to record their different activities by changing the mode switch on the front of the Vehicle Unit. The options are driving; other work; breaks; rest. Where double manning, drivers must ensure the correct Driver Smart Card is inserted in the Vehicle Unit, depending on who is driving or in control of the vehicle at the time. Details of time spent working away from the vehicle, formerly written on the rear of an analogue tachograph chart, can be added manually into the digital tachograph record by using the appropriate mode switch. The Vehicle Unit will also automatically record details of any faults/interference, errors and over speeding that occur. After each shift, drivers should remove their Driver Smart Card and keep it safely. Operators A Company Smart Card is issued to the owner or holder of vehicles fitted with digital tachograph recording equipment. The Company Smart Card identifies the company and allows display, download and printing of data stored in any Vehicle Unit which has been activated by this company. The major difference between analogue and digital tachographs is the use of the Smart Card system to record and download driver records. Unlike the analogue system, which only recorded driver activities on a daily basis, the digital unit automatically records up to 28 days activities to the Driver Smart Card and also records information in the Vehicle Unit for up to 365 days. The Company Smart Card allows operators to 'lock' data recorded in the digital tachograph Vehicle unit to prevent unauthorised access. However, this data must be 'locked in' by a company before they start operating a vehicle, and then 'locked out' when use has finished - it is not possible to 'lock in' data retrospectively, leaving it open to unauthorised viewing. The Company Smart Card also allows operators to download information from the Vehicle Unit to analyse drivers' hours, as required by the legislation, and to ensure maintenance of the appropriate records detailed in the undertakings of every Goods Vehicle Operators Licence. Training. The digital tachograph is more complex to operate and administer than the analogue tachograph. So, the authorities will expect all drivers and administration staff to have had some level of introductory training before operating and storing data via the digital tachograph. Call DTT Norwich now on 01603 731788 for details of training courses.

Digital Tachograph

`Digital Tachograph`