What is a digital tachograph?

Are you curious about what a digital tachograph is? Find here all the information you need to get started as a carrier or transport entrepreneur.

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The digital tachograph

The tachograph is a monitoring device that records driving and rest times. This ensures road safety and fair competition in the transport sector.

History of the digital tachograph

Transport companies have been using the analog tachograph since the 1960s. Due to susceptibility to manipulation and fraud, the analog tachograph has had a successor since May 1, 2006: the digital tachograph. With the analog tachograph, data is printed on a disc; the digital version stores data electronically.

Both systems receive data from the gearbox. The digital tachograph offers more insight through the driver card and internal memory. It records: driving and rest times, speed, distance traveled, card data, activities (driving/resting/working/availability), and fraud attempts.

From May 1, 2006, newly registered buses (>8 persons excluding driver) and trucks (>3,500 kg) are tachograph-equipped. Since July 24, 2006, this also applies to light commercial vehicles used in professional goods transport.

How a digital tachograph works

The tachograph is an electronic box the size of a car radio, consisting of: vehicle unit, motion sensor, and tachograph cards. The vehicle unit has: arrow menu, display window, processor, clock, two card slots, printer, download output, and KITAS sensor (connected to gearbox). When the gearbox rotates, the sensor sends encoded signals to the vehicle unit.

Data is stored on: the internal memory (total vehicle data, last 365 days) and on the driver card. The two largest suppliers are Stoneridge and VDO, both bound by European legislation.

Technical upgrades

• 2011: improved driving time calculation including the '1-minute rule'
• April 2012 (Stoneridge) / October 2012 (VDO): second reference speed signal against magnetic fraud, optional Bluetooth dongle
• October 2017: VDO version 3.0 (lower power consumption, precursor to smart tachograph)

Driving time and the '1-minute rule'

The tachograph records driving time from the moment of motion (even with just a few centimeters movement). Driving seconds are rounded up to a minute. Since October 2011, one minute of driving is only counted if actual driving is the longest continuous activity in that minute. Example: 29 seconds of driving → the minute counts as rest.

The '3-minute rule'

The tachograph measures the activity that occurs most frequently during three consecutive minutes. One minute of rest between two driving periods counts as driving time. Stopping at a red traffic light is not counted as a break.

Digital tachograph data

The digital tachograph records:

• Vehicle registration certificate date
• Vehicle speed
• Single or dual crew
• Number of times driver card inserted per day
• Distance traveled via odometer
• Driver activity (driving, resting, other work, availability)
• Date and time of activities
• Events (speeding, driving without card, fraud attempts) and error messages
• Enforcement checks
• Tachograph calibration details

Data is stored in .DDD files for import into tachograph analysis software.

Digital tachograph inspection

Inspectors from the Road Transport Authority, police, and military police oversee compliance. As a driver, you must always be able to show the following data from the previous 28 calendar days:

• Data from tachograph and driver card
• Record sheets
• Documents to account for working times
• NIWO license
• Professional competence / Employment requirement
• Cabotage / Real establishment
• Check hired charters and foreign charters
• Overloading

Digital tachograph installation

Installation by a certified installer. After installation, the tachograph is sealed with an installation plate containing: installer name/address/seal number, installation date, registration number, VIN, Impulse value, tire size. Sealing on every fraud-sensitive spot.

Digital tachograph calibration

Calibrate once every two years at an RDW-certified workshop. Often done together with the vehicle inspection. Re-seal after each service.

Tachograph replacement

Vehicle before January 1, 1996: analog or digital replacement permitted. Truck 12+ tons or bus 10+ tons registered on/after January 1, 1996: mandatory digital replacement. Other vehicles: analog replacement also permitted.

The smart tachograph

Since June 15, 2019, newly registered vehicles are required to be equipped with the smart tachograph (EU Regulations 164/2014 and 799/2016). See our page on the smart tachograph for more information.