UK Tachograph News:

This will initially involve the fitting of a tachograph unit to record data about the activities of the driver and vehicle. Now for those who are not in the know, Gross Train Mass is defined as the weight of the vehicle, any trailer towed behind it and the weight imposed on the two. As stated businesses need to be aware that in order to comply with the law they must have a fitted tachograph unit to some of their vehicles, and obey the driver hours regulations.

The problem is that neither the vehicle manufacturers, nor the tachograph manufacturers, have a solution for smaller vehicles.

By smaller vehicles we are referring to 4×4’s, pick-up trucks and cars: the work horses of business. So how did this piece of legislation come about? Until recently all passenger cars had a Gross Train Mass of below 3,490kg and hence fell below the threshold of 3,500kg.

The problem arises with the purchase of these newer vehicles by the fleet industry. These vehicles are being used for business, and if a tow bar is attached to allow the transportation of goods in trailers by the business, then the vehicle falls within the regulations.

The big issue is that the car manufacturers have yet to produce a tachograph unit that is able to be fitted to their vehicles. And herein is the crux of the matter - it is not illegal to sell cars without a tachograph as the manufacturers do not necessarily know the use the vehicle will be put to.

However, if you are using the vehicle, and you do not comply with the law, you will potentially be looking at prosecution. There is some good news though; Fleet Risk Consultants is discussing tachographs being fitted with a number of manufacturers on its clients’ behalf.

If you tow trailers in connection with your business you should be raising the issue with your vehicle supplier. So who does this piece of legislation apply to?

Here are some vehicle types that have recently been included and will require tacographs:

• Almost all the panel vans
• 4 x 4 pick-ups
• Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV)

If you tow for business using any of the above, you need a tachograph.

Your individual use of vehicles and trailers may fall outside the regulations as there are a few exceptions available.

courtesy Fleet News
01733 468655

European Tachograph News:

Nov 11

New tachograph rules on agenda. The European Commission wants to revise tachograph legislation to make full use of new technological opportunities such as satellite positioning.

The Commission says the changes will make fraud more difficult and reduce the administrative burden on haulage firms and is expected to save companies €515 million per year.

By ensuring better compliance with rules on driving times and rest periods, drivers will be better protected, road safety increased and fair competition assured, according to the Commission.

Six million European trucks and busses are equipped with tachographs in order to enable the control of compliance of professional drivers and transport undertakings with the social road transport legislation.

The digital tachograph was made mandatory for new vehicles in 2006. The present proposal aims to update the legal framework which dates back to 1985. The new regulation will help to reduce fraud and cut the administrative burden related to the tachograph’s use.

Vice-President Siim Kallas said: “The rules on driving times and rest periods are there to protect professional drivers and other road users. They also ensure fair competition and good working conditions for drivers. The digital tachograph is an excellent control tool to ensure that these objectives are achieved. This proposal is not only very important to maintain the reliability of the digital tachograph but it also constitutes a significant step towards introducing an intelligent, integrated on-board unit on trucks that will contribute to improving the efficiency of the EU transport system.”

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