How to use a tachograph? Instruction Manual for FleetMaster

Although the tachograph may seem like a complex device at first, it is essential for ensuring road safety, compliance with road traffic regulations and efficiency. It makes it easy to keep track of working hours, compliance with the rules and even rest periods, which are crucial for any driver – or you could get into serious trouble on the road. As important as the tachograph is in the transport sector, understanding its functions and how to use it properly is key. Let’s look at the most important aspects of this device and how to get the hang of them.

Driver card

If you’re already familiar with the tachograph, you probably know that tachograph reading makes any long-distance journey much easier and helps companies to keep track of the route and provide assistance in unexpected situations, even when they’re several hundred kilometres away. Drivers of vehicles equipped with a digital tachograph must have a digital driver card, which stores the driver’s data, including driving and rest periods, etc. The card normally stores 28 days’ worth of data and is issued for 5 years. If you drive such a vehicle, please note that you must use this card every day, from the moment you take control of the vehicle until the end of your working hours, when the card must be removed. You can apply for a driver card either at the office or by electronic means.

Getting started

As handy as tachograph reading can be, getting started can be overwhelming. If you drive a vehicle with a tachograph, insert your driver card at the start of your shift, then add activities to it by selecting manual entry. Use the activity button to select the task you want to perform, and set the time displayed to the current local time. If you notice any malfunctions in the system components shown on the display, take appropriate action, making sure to make a note of it in the tachograph when taking a break or resting, and removing the driver card from the card slot at the end of your shift or when you switch vehicles. You can also print out or view your saved activity data by selecting the relevant menu functions. These are the basics of using a tachograph – of course, some features may vary from model to model, but following the rules and using the device regularly will help you get used to it quickly!

Other nuances

Obviously, life doesn’t always go as planned, so you may have to improvise and follow basic logic. Although tachograph reading automatically records details of activities, sometimes you may have to do this yourself. For example, you may have to write by hand if your tachograph malfunctions, or if you are no longer able to use your driver card because it has been lost, damaged or simply stops working. In this case, the driver must print out the day’s entries when he/she has finished driving and, if necessary, make a handwritten note of the time spent on preparation and other work. You can simply indicate such personal details on the other side of the paper roll sheet.