Digital Tachograph Overview

The Digital Tachograph system tracks the activity of drivers and vehicles using in-cab hardware devices physically connected to heavy goods vehicles. The information gathered from this hardware is used to ensure drivers follow legal regulations intended to minimize driver fatigue, and to prevent accidents that might result from this fatigue.

In the European Union, and parts of Europe, these regulations specify that drivers of heavy goods vehicles (>3.5 metric tonnes) drive for no more than 9 hours in a single midnight-to-midnight day (and drive only up to a maximum of 4.5 consecutive hours between breaks), 56 hours in a week, or 90 hours in any two consecutive weeks. Drivers must also take a minimum number of rest breaks every day (11 continuous rest hours; and 45 minutes of non-continuous rest breaks within every 4.5 driving hours block) and week (at least 45 continuous hours of rest) to ensure they are rested and safe when behind the wheel of their vehicle.

Drivers using the Digital Tachograph system typically use a "digital driver card" inserted into the device to sign in and identify themselves to the digital tachograph in their vehicles at the start of their shift. The embedded hardware device then tracks changes in vehicle state, as well as vehicle speed and total distance driven during the driver’s shift (that is, during the period between the time and date that the driver signs in then later signs out). This basic information is transmitted to, and stored within, Verizon Connect fleet management databases. Calculated values generated from this raw data is presented on the Digital Tachograph screen in near real-time (updated approximately every minute).

From the Main section of the navigation bar choose Digital Tachograph. The Digital Tachograph screen opens, showing the Drivers tab by default.