Tachographs are small devices which, by law, have to be installed in any and all commercial vehicles which weigh over three and a half tonnes. They are designed to record information on the vehicles and used to monitor the working conditions of drivers, like the hours worked, distances travelled, and any breaks taken. A three-and-a-half tonne vehicle can become a dangerous weapon when being operated by overtired drivers, and tachographs help to ensure the safety of both the drivers and others on the road. Let’s get into it.
Why Are They Used?
Tachographs were first introduced in the mid-80s, and they were originally analogue. It was the European Union that made them mandatory for qualifying vehicles. But, it wasn’t until 2006 that the digital tachograph was introduced. As mentioned above, they now need to be installed on any commercial vehicle that carries more than eight people or weighs over 3.5 tonnes. The Driver & Vehicle Agency (or DVA) is a government agency, and it is their job to regulate and monitor tachograph data. They use the data to build a case if they believe an offence has been committed. 
How Are They Used?
The brand and type of tachograph do dictate its use, but, luckily, they do tend to come with user manuals which outline their operation. That being said, most digital tachographs do work somewhat similarly. All drivers should have a card which is unique to them, housing their details; these cards are inserted at the beginning of the trip along with the details of the journey and the route.
They are not infallible, and it is possible to manipulate them, although doing so is a criminal offence. It is important that a tachograph is accurate, which is why they will need to be calibrated regularly – usually at two-year intervals, and this tends to be a job for qualified personnel.
How Are They Read?
Again, this does depend on the tachograph itself. The user manual should outline this for you too. Some tachographs need to be read manually, others need to be downloaded in order to be read, and lastly, some providers – like FleetGO – offer tachograph analysis software in their packages. There are different requirements for reading a tachograph. Once accessed, the data itself is actually pretty easy to read and comprehend.
A driver’s card should be read every twenty-eight days. Whereas the tachograph itself only needs to be read every ninety days. After having been read, the data should be stored for at least a year unless it is needed for tax purposes, in which case it will need to be stored for seven years. This generally means being kept on a server if the information is digital, which most tachographs tend to be these days.
Rounding Up
Tachographs are a legal requirement which is something to consider; obviously, if your business needs them, then you have to have them installed. However, even if you don’t have vehicles that qualify, they are still worth considering. So why not do a little research to find out more about them and the benefits that they can offer to your business?
