Compliance and the role of tachograph analysis
Mark Lewin, director of tachograph analysis expert Novadata, explains the role that tachograph software can play in ensuring compliance errors are spotted early
Many operators use a versatile digital tachograph software analysis solution, without realising that it can play an invaluable role in maintaining compliance with their undertakings.
Clearly, comprehensive records are essential. In fact they are a legal requirement – part of your O-licence undertakings. So the correct use of the tachograph by drivers is also a key part of your compliance. However, as with many things in life, it isn’t always easy to spot errors in tachograph usage until the damage has been done – especially in the case of manual entries.
Your digital tachograph analysis solution can help. Some analysis solutions include a specific report which immediately highlights a missing manual entry, so you can see instantly that the driver has not understood the requirement to make this manual entry each day. You can, therefore, very quickly spot a pattern of errors which could compromise your compliance.
Other digital tachograph analysis solutions include a driver activity module. This is slightly different, but will still flag up when manual entry errors are being made. Either of these approaches can provide a manager with an early warning that the driver has made, or is habitually making, an error.
The manager can then arrange to train the driver themselves or send them on a Driver CPC course to refresh their knowledge of correct tachograph usage. Managers should also ensure that their knowledge is up to date, by attending a digital tachograph course for managers and supervisors. A drivers’ hours law course for managers is also helpful.
Most digital tachograph analysis solutions contain a wide range of reports, so we find that many operators use only a few of these day to day – not realising that there are functions which can help you to spot compliance problems caused by driver error.
It is well worth asking your digital tachograph analysis solution provider about these reports, and how to use them to identify compliance issues. This is applicable whether you use an online, web-based, solution, or standalone software.
We are always happy to explain to operators how you can use our analysis solutions to monitor driver behaviours; as, once compliance problems caused by driver error are identified, they can be addressed as early as possible.
Your training also needs to be managed to assist with your compliance. Drivers need regular refreshing in their tachograph training every few years. Models change, and, of course, it’s now a legal requirement for all new vehicles to be fitted with smart tachographs. This may mean that some drivers will be faced with a tachograph which may be subtly different from the one they have been used to.
A slight change can be a bigger problem than a large one. If the change is obvious, the driver will realise that they need training. However, people do tend to like to do things the way that they have always done them. Faced with something which works only slightly differently provides plenty of room for error – especially if the driver assumes that the new tachograph is more or less the same as the last one.
Including a Driver CPC tachographs and drivers’ hours module in each five-year cycle of periodic training ought to be something of a given for wise managers, especially to ensure that their drivers catch up with innovations such as the smart digital tachograph.