Anybody with a ‘card reader’ may download the data from a driver card, you then need some software to read that data and some analysis software to say whether the data contains any offences with regard to EU or AETR drivers hours Regs. A basic set-up is in the order of about £30 and is available to all members of the public. If you want to download data from the Tacho head then you will need either a Company Card or a Control Card. The former will cost you £38 the latter you will only get in the UK if you are Police or VOSA. You will also need a ‘Download Tool’ which is about £140.
Whilst there are various bits of kit around that will allow companies to download data from Digital Tachos remotely, some will be ‘legal’ downloads, others will be just basic info that can be used in planning drivers work but will not satisfy the legal requirement to copy the data from the Tacho every 56 days or thereabouts. As things stand at present VOSA / Police are NOT able to download your Tacho remotely, the vehicle has to be stopped, a Control Card inserted and a Download Tool used. There is a proposal that the 3rd generation of Digital Tachos, due 2017/2018 will allow remote downloading by enforcement bodies - don’t hold your breath. Technically possible but much more difficult in practise and the kit won’t be that expensive compared with current kit.
We’ll have to wait and see what the new ‘technical annex’ actually requires, however, it is very unlikely to require ‘retrofitting’ of the new units to older vehicles so we’re safe for a few more years yet.
geebee45:
There is a proposal that the 3rd generation of Digital Tachos, due 2017/2018 will allow remote downloading by enforcement bodies - don’t hold your breath. Technically possible but much more difficult in practise and the kit won’t be that expensive compared with current kit.
I’ve seen that too, infact i thought i posted a link here to it one time. So far the leglasitive proposals are being pushed through to enable this ‘legally’/‘lawfully’ whatever you wanna call it. Technically possible sounds like it ‘may be able to be done in the future’, the technology actually exists now, already, all they’re waiting for is to tie up the ‘legaslative’ end of things.
geebee45:
We’ll have to wait and see what the new ‘technical annex’ actually requires, however, it is very unlikely to require ‘retrofitting’ of the new units to older vehicles so we’re safe for a few more years yet.
Yeah probably retro fitting is not going to be required, i did like the addition of GPS/GPRS to the new tacho units. And then it almost begs a question, if the technology gets this good then we probably won’t need VOSA operatives to Police it all. Just like we don’t have Police and we rely on CCTV cameras. I know its like the difference between preventing crime and catching offenders. But hey, we can’t have it all !!!
Mike-C:
And then it almost begs a question, if the technology gets this good then we probably won’t need VOSA operatives to Police it all. Just like we don’t have Police and we rely on CCTV cameras. I know its like the difference between preventing crime and catching offenders. But hey, we can’t have it all !!!
Which is exactly why new rules and regulations must constantly be thought of and implemented so that the hordes of law and enforcement officials in all EU member states have a reason to exist. We must always be seen as the Juggernaut menace and a danger to the public or else those on the Vosa gravy train risk redundancy and new careers in DCPC training, another gravy train.
Phantom Mark:
Stobarts I know for certain hook into the tacho in real time so they know exactly what you have done and what you can or can’t do, linked into the microlise or whatever system it is they use. That’s absolutely 100% certain.
fairly certain they don’t. The information comes from the isotrack, which isn’t linked to the tachograph. The only time they get the digicard info is when the driver downloads his card, or when the tacho head is downloaded.
we have masternaught and my boss can look on his computer and see dutie logs for the day in real time, other work/rest, keys left in ignition etc etc, so does that sync with the tacho head some how then relay it to masternaught as thought it was encrypted?
