Tachograph Devices

Tachograph Devices

The tachograph is a device that records the driving time, rest periods, breaks and periods of other work undertaken by a driver. Council Regulation (EU) Number 165/2014  on recording equipment in road transport provides the basis for the tachograph. This aimed at helping to enforce the rules on driving times and rest periods and monitor the driving times of professional drivers in order to prevent fatigue, and guarantee fair competition and road safety.

From 2006, tachographs are digital, which allows a way more accurate and secure recording and storage of data than the previous tachographs who was analogue. This device records all vehicle’s activities, like speed,  distance and driving times and even the rest periods of the driver. The system includes a printer for use in road side inspections and the driver has a personal card with microchip, which the driver must insert into the tachograph when the driver is taking control of the vehicle. This card ensures that inspections remain as simple as possible.

It is obligatory to install a digital tachograph in new vehicles with a mass bigger than 3,5 tonnes and carrying more than 9 persons including the driver (public transportation).

New regulation
Regulation (EEC) N° 3821/85 has been updated by Regulation (EU) N° 165/2014   which introduces different new features in the digital tachograph:

- an interface with the satellite navigation systems , especially Galileo and EGNOS European GNSS Agency ;
- better security mechanisms that makes fraud very difficult and reduce the administrative burden, which is expected to save companies €515 million per year.


- a remote communication facility to communicate the tachograph data to a police enforcer on the roadside when the vehicle is moving, thus avoiding unnecessary stops for checking;

- an ITS interface to link the tachograph with other ITS applications.

By ensuring better compliance with rules on driving times and rest periods, drivers will be better protected and fair competition will be assured.

The Commission shall adopt before March 2016 a Commission Regulation defining the new technical specifications for the "smart" tachograph, compliant with Regulation (EU) N° 165/2014.
As this measure is obligatory, more and more transport and logistic companies are implementing gps tracking sistems so the drivers are full monitored