Digital tachographs in the spotlight
Issue: Spring 2009
With recent reports suggesting that 32% of all UK registered trucks are now fitted with digital tachographs, we can confidently say that the digital age is no longer a ‘vision’ for the commercial transport industry, but a reality.
These figures concur with the findings from our own customer survey, which clearly demonstrated that the uptake for digital, in just two years, has been far quicker than first expected. The net result of drivers and operators now having this experience is that the impact of digital tachographs can now start to be measured and evaluated.
During our own customer research, which revealed that there was a 50/50 split between those using digital and analogue, many of our digital customers reported that despite overcoming some initial teething problems, the switchover to digital is starting to bring them many business benefits. One of the most positive effects reported is the way operators now approach and manage tachograph analysis; we have seen this firsthand especially from fleets operating a mixture of digital and analogue, who are now realising the benefits of analysis and having all of their data analysed, not just digital.
By having direct experience of professional analysis, operators can see that the payback extends beyond the necessities of protecting their O licence, and that digital and analogue data can be used as an effective fleet management tool. Customers are using our analysis business solutions to scrutinise data more effectively so that they can evaluate operational bottlenecks, under utilisation of vehicles and driver performances, for example. Al l of these elements provide crucial business intelligence and are contributing to assist operators manage VOSA’s Operator Compliance Risk Score system.
Digital tachographs, however, since they were first introduced, have had a hard time in the press, most notably with the rounding-up issue. The recent media reports of ‘scams’ and ‘fiddles’, where a magnet is placed near a gearbox to interfere with digital tachographs, have only served to enhance the analogue vs. digital argument. Realistically though, drivers’ tampering with tachographs are an age old problem – the significant difference with digital tachographs however, is because of advances in technology drivers have a higher risk of being caught by the authorities. This is justified by the very fact that the data stored on a digital VU and driver card is in an unreadable binary code, and it therefore has to be read and analysed using appropriate computer software in order to meet legislative requirements.
The analysis of analogue charts was never this sophisticated, unless you were one of the few that paid for the services of a bureau. Also, the authorities, which are taking this matter very seriously, now have the technology to interrogate the digital tachograph fully at the roadside, and so all potential fiddles, including the magnet scam, can be spotted.
Measures to further detect and prevent digital tachograph fraud have also recent ly been announced by the European Commission. In summary, the new legislation, which came into effect in January 2009, permits the use of dedicated, type approved adaptors in light vehicles and has set out best practice guidelines for national control authorities when carrying out checks of vehicles and equipment.
As the debate over digital tachographs continues, one thing for certain is that we will see further technical advancements made to the digital tachograph, which will hopefully address some of the issues being discussed. The first developments will start this year with the introduction of vital extra functions such as wireless and the option to remotely download data.
● Karen Crispe is a Director at Tachodisc.
For further information on the new digital tachographs or for advice on how to manage the transition, contact Tachodisc (which is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2009) on Tel: 01925 283328,
E-mail: sales@tachodisc.co.uk or v isit: www.tachodisc.co.uk
Published: 02/03/2009
