All professional HGV drivers who come under the drivers’ hours rules are required to use a tachograph to record their hours. There are now four types of tachograph device fitted to vehicles, not two.
Although the tachograph records the driver’s activity it does not stop the driver from breaking the rules. Therefore a driver must know the drivers’ hours rules inside out to ensure they remain compliant with the law.
What Are The Four Types Of Tachograph?
- Analogue – records the driving data on a wax coated disc called a tachograph chart. These devices are no longer manufactured.
- Digital – fitted in vehicles registered from 1 May 2006. Records all the data on the vehicle unit and on your digital driver card.
- Smart tachograph 1 – fitted in vehicles registered from 15 June 2019. Logs the vehicle’s location at the start and end of the working day.
- Smart tachograph 2 – the current standard. It also records border crossings automatically and can be scanned by enforcement officers whilst the vehicle is in motion.
For the driver using the tachograph unit not much has changed. However behind the updated face there have been some significant changes, and the biggest is which vehicles MUST now have the newest unit.
Does Your Vehicle Need A Smart Tachograph 2?
- 21 February 2024 – fitted to all newly registered vehicles which come under the rules.
- 31 December 2024 – vehicles with an analogue or digital tachograph used on international journeys had to be upgraded.
- 19 August 2025 – vehicles with a smart tachograph 1 used on international journeys had to be upgraded.
- 24 December 2025 – all newly registered goods vehicles must have a full smart tachograph 2.
- 1 July 2026 – goods vehicles over 2.5 tonnes used on international journeys for hire and reward.
*If your vehicle only ever works in the UK you can keep the analogue, digital or smart 1 unit it already has. If an analogue or digital unit fails it can be replaced like for like. If a smart 1 unit fails it must be replaced with a smart 2.
*Vans between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes used only in the UK do not need a tachograph at all.
Your Driver Card
To drive a vehicle with a digital or smart tachograph fitted you will need a digital driver card. You may only hold one card and you must NEVER use a card which belongs to another driver.
If your card is lost, stolen or damaged you must report it to the DVLA and apply for a new card within 7 days. You may drive without the card for a maximum of 15 days, provided that you take a printout at the start and at the end of each day and write your details on it.
*This does NOT apply if you have simply left your card at home. You cannot drive a vehicle fitted with a digital or smart tachograph without it.
It is a legal requirement to record work away from the vehicle, by using the manual entries function on the digital tachograph. You should also carry enough print roll for a printout to be produced if an enforcement officer asks for one.
*The clock inside a digital tachograph runs on UTC, which is 1 hour behind British Summer Time. Don’t forget to account for the difference when making manual entries in the summer.
How Many Days Of Records Must You Carry?
When driving in the UK you must be able to produce your records for the current day plus the previous 28 days. This includes analogue charts, your driver card, printouts and any manual records.
On international journeys between the UK and the EU this is now the current day plus the previous 56 days.
*This is one of the biggest changes of recent years. If you are told that 28 days covers every journey, that is the old rule.
What Exactly Are You Responsible For?
Driver Duties
- Carry 28 days of history when driving, or 56 days on international journeys between the UK and the EU.
- All tachograph charts must be handed in no more than 42 days after use.
- Charts need to be protected and available at all times.
- Carry your driver card at all times, even if in an analogue vehicle.
Operator Duties
- Check charts and digital data for breaches and infringements.
- Ensure that driver cards are downloaded at least every 28 days.
- Download tachograph vehicle units at least every 90 days.
- Store charts and data in a secure and accessible location.
- Keep 1 year of history, or 2 years if it is used as the working time record.
More On The Drivers’ Hours Rules
- Drivers' Hours Rules – driving limits, breaks, daily rest and weekly rest.
- Which Rules Apply To You? – the 3.5 tonne and 2.5 tonne thresholds, who is exempt and the GB domestic rules.
- Double Manning, Ferries & Night Work – plus out of scope driving.
- Working Time Rules – the 48 hour average, the 60 hour week and the 6 hour rule.
Download the full Drivers’ Hours Handbook for free here
Get 25% off an online course covering the drivers’ hours rules when you use
discount code hgvdh15
Or get the E-Book which works on all smartphones and provides drivers with a fully comprehensive guide to both the Drivers’ Hours Rules and the Drivers’ Working Time rules, along with real life examples to aid understanding.
If at any point you have questions regarding the drivers’ hours rules, please feel free to contact the office by calling 0191 491 5032.