Glossary

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A

AETR

Abbreviation for the European Agreement concerning the work of crews of vehicles engaged in international road transport. The AETR is aligned with EU social regulations.

Annex 1B

Technical specification covering digital tachographs. Published as Regulation (EC) No. 1360/2002.

ATC (Rolling Road Test Computer)

Diagnostic system that can be used in conjunction with a roller dynamometer to test tachographs.

Authorised workshop

Workshop that has been approved to calibrate and inspect tachograph systems and EU control units/tachograph systems.

Availability time (POA)

Covers periods of waiting time, the duration of which is known about in advance.

B

Break  

Breaks in work; Drivers may not carry out any driving or any other work.  Break periods are used exclusively for recoperation. 

C

CAN bus

Technology used for networking various electronic systems with standardised interfaces and protocols via a cable.

Co-driver

See "Driver 2."

Compact Test Computer (CTC)

Diagnostic system for calibrating and testing digital tachographs.

Company Card

The Company Card (5 years validity) authorises the fleet operator to access data stored in the memory of the digital tachograph unit and can be used to "lock in" and "lock out" the data so that the data will be accessible to the company but inaccessible to any other company, which may use the vehicle in the future.

Constant

The constant “k” can be set by the authorised workshop and is required by the tachograph to display speed and distance correctly. On the DTCO it is adjusted to the vehicle’s distance pulse count with the aid of approved service diagnostic systems.

Control card

The Control Card (2 years validity) enables the enforcement authorities to access specific informatin from the tachograph in order to, for example, observe and monitor drivers' hours compliance.

Control Unit

EC control unit   

D

Data Plate

Data plate supplying manufactures information for the tachograph such as manufacturer, type, date of manufacture and serial number, constant and approval marks. 

Directive

Directives are procedures laid down by legislatory bodies. 

Downloading

Copying a part or all of the data stored in the mass memory of a digital tachograph or in the memory of a smart card. During the download process, none of the stored data is modified or deleted. 

Driver 1

Any person who drives a vehicle (driver).

Driver 2

Any person on board who may drive if necessary (co-driver).

Driver card   

The Driver Card (5 years validity) is used by the driver to record personal driving, other work and rest times.  The driver card stores the previous 28 days of data.  If the vehicle has a co-driver, their driver card is inserted into the second interface slot in the vehicle unit.

Driving Time

Driving time is the working time a driver spends driving a vehicle.  

DTCO

Abbreviation for digital tachograph

DTCO 1381

Digital tachograph from VDO.    

E

EC control unit

See "EC tachograph."  

EC control unit / tachograph system inspection

Periodic inspection of EC tachograph systems in accordance with legal requirements (at least once every two years).

EC tachograph

Recording equipment approved for use within the EU for recording driving, working and rest times, as well as speed and distance travelled.

EDM

Abbreviation for an electronic diesel consumption measurement system that provides the driver with a continuous readout of fuel consumption. On vehicles fitted with EDM the tachograph can be linked up to an additional sensor so fuel consumption can be recorded.

Electronic speedometer

Electronic device that displays speed and distance travelled

F

FTCO 1319

Abbreviation for “flat tachograph”; additional designation for the 1319 analogue tachograph.

H

Hazardous goods vehicle

Vehicle permitted to transport dangerous goods by road.  

Http

Communications protocol for transmitting data via the Internet.  

I

Installation plaque (calibration plaque)

Tamperproof, sealed plaque displayed in the vehicle as required by law which contains key information relating to the calibration of the tachograph unit.

Instrument cluster

Multifunctional display unit which displays, monitors and manages vehicle functions.

K

KIPAS

Software from VDO which allows workshops to calibrate digital tachographs.

KITAS

Abbreviation for Kienzle Tachograph Sensor. The KITAS enables speed information to be captured and transmitted in a tamperproof way.

K-Line

K-Line is a standard, asynchronous serial interface used on a DTCO for programming and diagnostics.

L

Limit Controller

Special device which can recognise and report assignable maximum or minimum values.

M

Mass memory

Data memory integrated into the Digital Tachograph. The mass memory stores data for 365 calendar days with average driver activity. (Average driver activity involves 256 activity changes per day).

Mounting position

Mounting angle of tachograph in relation to the horizontal.

MTCO 1324

Analogue tachograph in radio slot format.  

N

Number of revolutions

Indicates how many times the engine crankshaft rotates per minute

O

Odometer

Indicates the distance travelled. 

Other work time

Covers all activities defined as work other than driving in scope of EU/AETR Rules.  Includes any work for the same or another employer, within or outside the transport sector.   

P  

Pulse sender

A pulse sender converts mechanical revolutions (e.g. vehicle movement) into an electrical signal.

R

Recording unit

A tachograph which records working time for up to two drivers as well as the speed and distance travelled.  Recording equipment the total equipment intended for installation in road vehicles to show record and store automatically or semi-automatically details of the movement of such vehicles and of certain work periods of their drivers.

Regulation (Tachographs)

Legislation passed by the EU Council of Ministers concerning the use of tachographs (e.g. EEC Regulation No. 561/2006 and 3821/85).

Recording Equipment

The total equipment intended for installation in road vehicles to show, record and store automatically or semi-automatically details of the XXXXX of such vehicles and of certain work periods of their drivers.

Rest time

Covers daily or weekly rest periods.  Drivers may not carry out any driving and or anyother work.  During a rest period a driver must be freely be able to dispose of his time.

Revolutions per minute

Revolutions per minute (rpm) refers to the number of revolutions of the vehicle’s engine.

Rolling Road Test Computer (ATC)

Diagnostic system that can be used in conjunction with a roller dynamometer to test tachographs.  

RS 232

Standard serial interface. 

S

Seal

Security seal that cannot be removed without visible signs of damage. 

Seal stamp

Stamp for “signing” a seal, showing the authorising body, country and test workshop.  

Sender

Pulse sender/generator used to provide the speed and distance signal for tachograph units.    

Sender lead

Electrical connection between pulse sender and tachograph

Sensor

See "Sender."  

Service Diagnostic Systems (SDS)

General term for all systems used for calibrating and testing tachograph units. Abbreviated to “SDS”. The STC, MTC, HTC and CTC are all service diagnostic systems.

Smart card

Plastic card featuring an electronic chip on which user-related data is stored.    

Social regulations

Legal requirements regarding working times in the road transport sectors of EU and AETR countries.

Special equipment

Additional functions built into the tachograph system.

Speedometer

Unit for displaying speed.  

T

Tachograph bracket

Bracket with adjustable angle for holding a tachograph during inspection. The angle during inspection must correspond to the mounting angle.  

Tachograph system

Recording unit approved nationally that records speed, distance travelled, driving time and stationary periods.

Tachograph

General term for EU control devices and other types of tachograph system.  

Test constant

Fixed constant K = 8000 which must be set on the tachograph when testing on an STC test rig.

Time groups

Personal working time divided up into different activities. 

U

UTC – Universal Time Co-ordinated

Standard co-ordinated time.  

V

Vehicle Identification Number

Unique number stamped onto the vehicle in an accessible location on the chassis or manufacturer’s plate

Vehicle Registration Number

Issued by national registration authorities and displayed on a number plate to the front and rear of a motor vehicle.

Visual inspection

Assessment based on a visual check.

W

Working time

Road transport worker’s time divided up into working time groups – driving time, availability time, and other working time – in accordance with legal requirements. (Working Time Regulation).

Workshop card

The workshop card (1 year validity) is used by an authorised tachograph calibration centre for calibration and maintenance purposes for example the workshop card enables digital tachographs to be tested and calibrated, as well as allowing data to be downloaded.