Downloading data from Digital Tachographs

As an operator you will be required to download data from the Drivers Card within 28 days (depending on the amount of data usage per day.  For example a multi drop organisation will use up the memory on the card within less time - possibly as low as 10 days.)

How will you do this?

• First of all you will need a program to enable you to extract data from the card.  We can provide this.

• Then you have to decide who will download the data.

  • Will it be the driver.

  • Will it be a transport supervisor.

  • Will it be security personnel.

In order to download data from the card you will need:

• A computer with a card reader and software.

• The account/user name

• The password

Are you going to give these access details to drivers, security staff, warehouse personnel and many others?  

-

What happens when they leave?

• You will have to change all of the access data

• You will have to inform everyone of the changes

Also, anyone with access to the data may be able to change some or all of that data.

Procedures

-

There are, as can be seen, procedures that have to be in place before May 2006.  Appointing people responsible for the downloading of the data.

• The data to be downloaded by a supervisor every Friday or Monday and a log kept of the drivers whose data has been retrieved.

• Data downloaded by the driver and records kept of the time/date of download.

• Data downloaded by designated person only.

• All must have access to a computer with the relevant software.

In any event, a log of which drivers have had their data downloaded should be kept.

Should you take drivers cards off drivers on Friday and returned on Monday?

• Drivers are responsible for the cards and could make allegations of misuse when not in there possession, unless they are stored in a secure place.

• If cards are taken from drivers you must ensure that someone is available to return the cards to them when they resume duty.  

The advantage of retaining drivers cards is:

• That you can, to some extent, prevent them from working for someone else over a weekend (Only with vehicles fitted with digital tachographs)

• The driver will not turn up on Monday having forgotten his card.

• Of courser the driver can refuse to give you his card.

*If you take cards from drivers you  should ensure that there is a time/date signature when the cards are taken and returned.*

Who does the card belong to? 

• The card, like a driving licence, belongs to the Secretary of State for Transport.

What about agency driver records? 

• You will be able to download data from the agency driver’s card so that you will have a record of all driving etc undertaken by vehicles on your O licence. You will also be able to interrogate the data to ensure they have had the necessary daily rest / weekly rest periods prior to them driving your vehicle.

• Any work completed in your vehicles will also be recorded in the vehicle units.

Company card 

• Company cards do not store data, they are simply a key that allows you to download data using an appropriate device.