Tacho support from Logistics UK
Logistics UK has highlighted recent key developments and issues surrounding tachograph and drivers’ hours regulations, and outlined how it can assist fleet operators in maintaining compliance.
“Businesses and transport managers have a responsibility to ensure operational compliance, including the retained EU and GB domestic driving hours rules,” said Martin Candish, head of compliance information at Logistics UK.
“Tachographs play a key role in monitoring this with smart tachographs including a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) source to produce a location stamp at the start and end of driving, as well as at three-hour intervals. In addition to this, it also includes Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC), a wireless enforcement function which enables roadside enforcement officers to communicate with the device to monitor for possible manipulation or malfunctions.”
Martin continued: “While drivers’ hours are a key element monitored by tachographs, in 2020 the European Institutions amended the tachograph rules, requiring drivers to record other work while away from the vehicle. All activity including driving, out of scope driving and other work must be recorded, as well as inactivity such as breaks, rest periods and sick leave.
“As part of these updated rules, drivers are obliged to produce and present a full set of tachograph records – written manually on a chart/print roll from a digital or smart tachograph, or made by using the manual input facility of a digital or smart tachograph – for the current day and the previous 28 days at the roadside.
“As this amendment took place during the Brexit transition period, the UK must comply with these rules, however, this has become a significant administrative barrier for occasional drivers, with some members reporting that their drivers – or other staff who hold a vocational licence – are not taking on last minute or emergency work as the manual process is complicated and impractical.
“As a result, Logistics UK has consistently called on the Department for Transport (DfT) to reverse this legal requirement and continues to support members’ queries relating to this via the Member Advice Centre.”
With tachograph regulations sometimes proving complicated to navigate, Logistics UK says its services in this area – which include tachograph analysis, tachograph on-site/remote compliance service and tachograph contract management – provide businesses with bespoke solutions to support them, manage and improve compliance.
“Using innovative cloud-based tachograph analysis software, businesses can access, analyse and process data securely, with flexibility and speed,” said Martin.
“The in-house Vision software interprets driver and vehicle data, highlighting areas of non-compliance and trends, lowering the risk to operator’s licence and fines/penalties, relieving stress.
“With over 40 years’ experience of interpreting tachograph data, Logistics UK’s tachograph services can assist with the set up and rollout of the software, highlight areas for development, and provide detailed management reporting.”
