FAQ

The digital tachograph enables the precise electronic capture, recording and storage of information on the time that the driver and co-driver of a commercial vehicle spend driving, working, resting, and on standby. Also recorded are the speed and the distance traveled. One such device of this type is the new EFAS from intellic. Data from this control device is stored on the mass memory (vehicle data) and on the driver smartcard (driver's activities). This information serves as documentation for controlling entities such as the police.

The EU Commission resolved that digital tachographs are a legal requirement for commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle weight exceeding 3.5t and for omnibuses with more than 8 passenger seats that are registered as of May 1, 2006. The legal basis for the introduction of the digital tachograph is Regulation (EC) no. 2135/98 and the European regulation 1360/2002.

The resolution by the EU Council foresees the equipment with digital tachographs for good vehicles > 3.5t and omnibuses with more than 8 passenger seats registered after May 1, 2006. In Germany this is interpreted such that there is no obligation to upgrade existing fleets and consequently there will be vehicles on the road with analog and digital tachographs.

The main objectives of the new digital tachographs are to accurately record driving activities, high security against manipulation, and improved methods of control. Further, EFAS offers several new features (e.g. trouble-free installation/dismantling of the printer module) to help the driver to operate the digital tachograph, and to save a significant amount of time.

There are various methods for storing the data on the driver card: The data can be printed out and archived in chronological order for at least 30 days, or it can be downloaded (by "download stick" or, in future, OTA) onto a PC or read into a terminal for storage. The driver smartcard stores the identity and activity, details on the manufacturer of the control device, the vehicle identification number and vehicle registration number.The driver requires a company smartcard to be able to download and archive the data from the mass memory. The mass memory is used by the device to store information collected on speed, distance traveled, workshop servicing and control activities (such as speeding).

The obligations to preserve data records differ between the data from the mass memory and the data from the driver smartcard. Data copied from the mass memory (vehicle data) and printouts of this data (arranged chronologically) have to be retained for at least 365 days. Driver-related data from the tachograph card (and any printouts) are to be retained for 30 days.

There are four different types of control device smartcard for operating a digital tachograph: The driver card, the company card, the control card and the servicing card. These are electronic chip cards that the driver or other authorized persons can use to identify themselves to the control device and to store various types of data depending on the type of card. The possession of these cards is connected with certain functions.

The personal driver smartcard is a chip card that records all relevant driver-related activities such as the driver's driving, resting, working and standby times. It is for normal driving operations and identifies the driver to the control device. This allows the activities of the driver to be displayed, stored and printed out.

The company smartcard is an electronic chip card that enables an authorized company to access the data in the control device or on the driver's smartcard for display, printout or download. The company smartcard is intended for the vehicle's owner. It is not to be used for driving purposes. It is the property of the owning company.

The control smartcard is used for identification purposes by controlling bodies such as the police. With the control smartcard, all of the data in the control device and on the driver smartcard can be displayed, printed out, and downloaded. Like the company smartcard, the control smartcard is not to be used for driving purposes.

Like the driver smartcard and the company smartcard, the servicing smartcard is bound to a certain person or entity. It is intended exclusively for the employees of authorized vehicle servicing stations. The workshop smartcard allows the control device to be activated, checked and calibrated. Test drives with the workshop smartcard are permitted. Like the company smartcard and the control smartcard, the workshop smartcard is not to be used for driving purposes.