Smart Cards For Digital Tachograph Drivers

For those not familiar with the driving of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) a Tachograph is a piece of technology fitted to the vehicle in order to give a separate reading of distance travelled, speed travelled at and the amount of time drivers have been driving for. This is used principally to help reduce the chances of accidents on the road either by driver error or because the driver has not had the correct amount of rest.

What is a Digital Tachograph?

A Digital Tachograph is the newest technology available on the market that replaces the old style paper disc which had to be removed from the vehicle and given to a depot or transport manager at the end of each shift. These new digital tachographs make it impossible for any driver to drive longer than they should or faster than they should whilst attempting to confuse the system as was possible with the old style system.

These new tachographs offer separate printouts that give approximate distances, speeds and duration of how long the vehicle in question has been stationary.

Why Do I Need a Smart Card?

New legislation coming into force deems it necessary to have one of these smart cards in order for you to drive a vehicle fitted with such a Tachograph. If you, as the driver, do not have a smart card then the law says you should not be allowed to drive a vehicle and therefore it is becoming increasing necessary to have one.

These smart cards are similar in style to the photocard driving licence but have the capability of storing information about not only the driver but his working routine and driving habits as well.

There are four new smart cards available. They are:

• Control Card
• Workshop Card
• Driver Card
• Company Card

Each of the aforementioned cards fulfil a specific purpose.

What Do The Cards Do?

Control Cards are used by the police and Vehicle Operator Standards Agency (VOSA) when they carry out checks to enforce the new legislation that is coming into play. These cards will give both the police and Vehicle Operator Standards Agency (VOSA) unlimited access to all and any information stored within the digital tachograph system.

Workshop cards are – as the name suggests – used by mechanics that are registered as calibration centres so that they may repair, reset or program the equipment as and when it is necessary to do so. Any changes to the system are recorded for future reference.

Driver Cards are the cards we looked at earlier and contain information relevant to the driver such as name, driver’s number and also details of his routes travelled, time spent on the road and time spent stationary. This information is then stored to the card but cannot be altered by the driver in any way.

Company Cards are used by the haulage companies themselves in order that they may check the information on the tachograph and make any amendments to the nature of the setup therein.

For further information on digital tachographs and smart cards you should visit the Vehicle Operator Standards Agency (VOSA) website at www.vosa.gov.uk