In general, goods vehicles with a maximum permissible weight over 3.5 tonnes are required to be fitted with tachograph recording equipment. This can be analogue or digital equipment.

Analogue tachographs have now been in use for approximately 20 years.

However, the EU wanted to take advantage of technology now available in order to ensure the security of the recording of driver duty periods. The aim is that the new system is less vulnerable to illegal acts by users to distort the data. This has lead to the introduction of new digital tachographs such as the one shown above right.

The new system will also allow for easier and better control of drivers' hours by operators and the enforcement authorities. For more details, please click on the link to the official UK site for Digital Tachographs below.

DVTA currently check up to 25,000 tachograph charts per year.

List of Approved Tachograph Centres (PDF 19KB, Opens new window)

Link to the Official UK site for Digital Tachographs www.digitaltachograph.gov.uk (opens new window)

For Digital Tachograph Smart Card queries, contact DVLNI Digital Tachograph Section (Shari Butcher) on 02870 341469

For Tachograph Workshop Approval queries, Contact DVTA Enforcement Section (Richard Lee) on 02890 254123

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