I work for a small firm with only two trucks. One of which is now so old as to need replacing. We have no experience or equipment for digital tachographs and I am considering simply buying a second hand vehicle to avoid the problem. Does anyone have any advice as I am constantly reminded that I can’t avoid the issue forever!
Well you’ve answered you’re own question. You can’t avoid it forever as it’s now compulsory on all new builds but you’re right, you could buy a wagon around a year old and avoid the problem for some time. If it was me, I’d be buying second hand!
What’s the problem with digitachs? - they’re pretty easy to use.
The only thing that could be a problem is downloading the data from the driver’s card and the digitach itself, which you have to do regularly, but not nearly as regularly as you have to change the old charts. If you have a PC (which you must have if you’ve posted here!), you can get a simple card reader and software to do this. I found a cheap package which is really simple to use on the web from a company called Smartcard Focus - it’s great and very easy to use. Much easier than keeping all that paper.
Once you’ve got a digitach, you’ll wonder what you were worrying about.
But the whole point is I dont want to have to keep paying monthly subscriptions, just view the files myself?
I think you’ll find that monthly subscriptions are for analysis and not compulsory, with a card reader and the appropriate software you should be able to download / store and view the data on your own computer.
I paid about £99 for the card reader and software. It’s a one-off charge and there is no monthly subscription. I can download the data, view and print it and store the files on my PC - which is all I need as I didn’t want to pay for fancy analysis every month.
Found the http://www.smartcardfocus.com website now and your right it lets you view, print and store the information. Just what I need. Much more confident in buying a new truck now, all I have to worry about is what to go for!
Thanks for the help guys.
System looks good for reading the info off driver cards. Don’t forget that the operator is under an obligation to download and store the info from the Vehicle Unit (VU) to. If VOSA come calling they will want to see both files; the driver card and the VU.
You can download the VU and a drivers’ card (when in the VU) using the ‘digidown’ shown on the website. So to be fully covered as an operator you really need to buy the ‘digidown’ and the software, whether you buy the additional card reader or the whole shooting match is upto your budget.
Alternatively, resign youself to using / driving progressively older and older vehicles. 
. Be careful buying ‘late’ secondhand vehicles. Although digital tachos became mandatory on vehicles first entered into service on / after 01/05/2006. Some vehicles were fitted with them after 05/08/2005. So, even buying secondhand you could still end up with a digital