Up until recently I had been driving for the same firm and since we went over to digi cards, I downloaded my card every three/four weeks or so.
I left there in January, but ths afternoon, at three PM, I have got my first agency job “for one day only” as it stands. I am a tad embarressed to admit that I am not sure when I should get my digi tacho card downloaded? I know how the digi’s work, but do I get my card downloaded at the end of the shift tonight in their transport office and do I need to take a print off each time? I would also like to know if I drive for two or three companies over the next month without downloading it each time, how do I get my card downloaded before it starts to overwrite??
You only need to print off to write on back To explain why you have gone over hours etc. the transport office download agency drivers daily in my experience. I would not worry about overwriting as that could be in 6 months to a year. Just hand your card over at the end of every shift, if they don’t bother to download it and it gets overwritten then that’s their problem not yours.
Your responsibility as a driver is simply to “make the card available for downloading”. So if you go into the office at the end of each shift and ask “do you want to download my card?” then you’ve done your bit. If they decline your offer and they never see you again then that is their problem, you have done your bit.
In practice it will probably take well over 6 months before the data on your card starts to be overwritten, and that’s if you’re using the card every day. If you only use it a couple of days a week you will probably end up with a year or more on there.
Although not nessesary, I tend to take a print out at the end of every shift and store them as I would analogue cards.
This gives me a paper copy of the hours Ive worked, should there be any dispute between the customer, agency, & me. So having paper copies/printouts, if needed I can scan, fax them to the companies so I can prove that Ive done ■■ hrs and get paid for them.
Most agencies dont have facilities, or the inclination to download your card either, even if theres a timekeeping dispute. so long as you "make the card available for downloading" youve covered your back.
Another thing Id suggest, is acumulate/aquire a couple of spare tacho rolls, so that your compliant, as theres probably a point that the OP will turn up on a job early one morning, the truck is missing all tacho rolls, there isnt a spare roll, or one in the head either no ones in the office, also carrying a spare dog clip in your bag is a good idea. then again the list of possible items an agy driver could carry can stack up.
Not all agencies are able to download digi cards.
My son has worked for agencies that have no downloading facilities.
I assume the agency pays you by time sheet,as long as the firm signs your time sheet and they have downloaded your card,that should be all that matters.
The best thing for your own peace of mind is to download it at the firm you are driving for every day.
Take a printout just for your own records,I do.
ALL drivers at our place,staff and agency,all have to download their card EVERY shift.
Not many agencies have the facility to download the driver card data, but it doesn’t matter because it’s the responsibility of the company you’re driving for to download the data from the card, the agency has no legal obligation or need to do it.
Always offer the card for download at the company you’re driving for then it’s up-to them whether they download the card data or not, if they don’t they’re fools but that’s not the drivers problem.
tachograph:
Not many agencies have the facility to download the driver card data, but it doesn’t matter because it’s the responsibility of the company you’re driving for to download the data from the card, the agency has no legal obligation or need to do it.
Always offer the card for download at the company you’re driving for then it’s up-to them whether they download the card data or not, if they don’t they’re fools but that’s not the drivers problem.
Exactly. The agency can ask you to print out seventeen feet of printouts every day, but they are only useful for wiping your arse on.
If all these transport companies are using agency drivers and never downloading the cards, then there will be some awful big gaps if VOSA come visiting.
The transport companies are on the same sticky wicket if they hire in a lot of vehicles and rely on a drivers printout. The card and the VU must be downloaded at specific intervals
