Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Authorities

How will company checks be carried out?

DfT implemented UK downloading and archiving legislation in 2008 (Statutory Instruments 198) with a mandatory requirement to download data from digital tachographs every 56 days and driver cards to be downloaded at least every 28 days.  The downloaded data must be available (archived) for inspection by VOSA at any time.  Archive data is a complete copy of the files held on the Vehicle Unit (VU) and the driver's smart card.  It must be held in a secure form with all "digital signatures" in place to ensure integrity for a period of at least 12 months. 

Authorities

How are roadside checks be carried out in future?

Where a driver drives a vehicle fitted with a digital tachograph he must be able to produce, whenever an enforcement officer (VOSA or Police) so requests:

• his driver card
• the chart for the current day and those used by the driver during the previous 28 calendar days and
• any manual records and print-outs made during the above period (i.e. if the Driver Card has been lost or stolen)

Authorities

What is the control card for?

The control card (2 years validity) enables the enforcement authorities to access specific information from the tachograph in order to, for example, observe and monitor drivers' hours compliance.  For example the card allows displaying, downloading and printing of all data stored in the vehicle unit or on the driver card.  The Control Card is issued to the Police and VOSA. 

Authorities

What data is stored on the control card?

The key parameters (date, time, duration, identification of the vehicle inspected, card number of the driver card checked) for the last 230 control activities are stored on the control card. Mass memory or driver card data is not stored on the control card.

Authorities

Can all digital tachographs be checked with the control card?

Yes, the control card can be used for all digital tachographs from all manufacturers. 

Authorities

Is Is it possible to use mass memory data for collision analysis?

Yes, special data from the VDO digital tachograph can be downloaded and used for collision analysis.

Authorities

By when must OEMs switch to using digital tachographs in vehicle production?

The date will be determined by the introduction date from which the EU prescribes that digital tachographs must be installed in new vehicles – minus the period between vehicle production and vehicle registration by their customers.