Tachographic Legislation: Key Changes You Need To Know

The courier industry is constantly being introduced to new technologies and ideas, and sometimes it can be difficult to keep up with everything that’s changing. You may already be aware of this, but from June 2019 it will become law that every single vehicle involved in the industry must be fitted with a ‘smart tachograph’.

What Makes Them Smart

These smart tachographs are installed in vehicles in order to monitor driver behaviour. In doing so they serve to improve efficiency and ensure that safe standards are met with regard to how long a driver is working for and how regularly they are taking breaks, all of which are vital checks that need to be monitored.

For drivers who meet all these safety requirements and standards, there is nothing to fear about this new law and the introduction of smart tachographs into all delivery vehicles. However, for those who prefer to try and get around any of these expectations, this is a law that will seek to ensure that this kind of behaviour can no longer become a habit.

Using sophisticated satellite technology, and with enhanced security settings, the tachographs will ensure that a reading is taken at the start and finish of each journey or job, affording the courier industrya safer and more efficient way of operating. A reading will also be taken every three hours to make sure that no driver is missing out on taking out their vital meal and rest breaks from the road.

DSRC

Another new feature this new technology will add to courier vehicles is Dedicated Short Range Checks (DSRC). This will allow the authorities to make much more direct and effective roadside checks, by accessing information and data about a vehicle even whilst it is still moving. This will further ensure that safe standards are met throughout the courier industry.

Whilst these new powers for the authorities may scare some people, they won’t actually come into force until 2034. In terms of the information collected, if no infringement is recognised with regard to a vehicle then the data must (by law) be deleted within around three hours. So again, there is nothing to worry about if your behaviour meets the standards that are set by the courier industry.

DVLA

The DVLA is fully prepared for these new changes, and any driver or company cards issued since the beginning of this year will be fully compatible with the tachograph technology. Workshop cards, however, given that they were issued in April 2018 with a one-year validity, won’t be compatible with these changes.

For those of us who work in the industry, change seems to be a constant feature of life out on the roads. We must move with the times and keep up to date with everything from alternative fuels to electric cars and smart tachographs if as a collective we are to continue meeting the highest standards in safety and effective work practices.

Author Plate

Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day jobs in the express freight exchange industry. Connecting logistics professionals in the courier industry across the UK and Europe through their online platform, transport businesses are networked together, trading jobs and capacity through what is now the fastest growing Freight Exchange in the UK.