Early expiry dates on digital tachograph cards, operators warned26 October 2010

The DVLA has revealed that some digital tachograph cards issued before 26 August 2006 will expire a day earlier than stated on the card.

DVLA is issuing reminder notices to all drivers affected but, in the meantime, VOSA has issued guidance of its own.

The agency warns that action should be taken to ensure compliance with the Drivers Hours requirement. It advises that on the last two days prior to the card expiry date, a daily activities printout should be produced from the vehicle unit (VU) when taking over the vehicle and when leaving it.

"If in a vehicle at the time of card expiry you must, immediately, or at the first safe time, after midnight on the expiry date, insert your new driver's card into the digital tachograph," says the DVLA statement. "In order to comply with the requirements to produce your tachograph records, you must [also] carry your old tachograph card with you for the following 28 days."

Both main tachograph manufacturers – Continental and Stoneridge – have confirmed what will happen in their devices when the driver card expires.

For Continental, the DTCO waits until the first stop after the expiry of the card, before ejecting it and stating that the card is no longer valid. If the vehicle is stationary, the DTCO will write the data up to midnight onto the card and automatically eject it.

Meanwhile, Stoneridge VUs will stop recording to the driver card when the card is first ejected after expiry, or at midnight after card expiry. At this stage, it is not known if the VU will display a warning. As we go to press, tests are being undertaken to confirm. Stoneridge says advice will be issued when confirmation is received.

Author
John Challen

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