Drivers' Hours: law changes

This means that drivers and operators have to deal with new rulings on many areas like the Weekly Driving Limit. Plus there are new definitions for key terms such as ‘carriage by road’ and activities, including rest, breaks, driving and other work.

View the official EU Journal - No 561/2006 or the VOSA website for more information.

Both our OPTAC Analysis products, OPTAC+ and OPTAC², have been upgraded to include the new legislation. So if you need to analyse digital data, or a mix of analogue and digital, we have a solution for you.

Digital Tachographs: Winter update

Van Operators: Digital tachographs and Hazardous Goods

The EU have recently released legislation that effects van operators but most are unaware of the new laws.

Tachographs are required for combinations over 3.5 tonnes, which can mean a van and trailer. 4x4s, SUVs and pick ups that pull trailers and go over the 3.5 tonne gross-combination-weight also need a tachograph. Everyone must have the right license, qualifications and equipment, otherwise you could get prosecuted.

Ferrying a small amount of packaged items (eg: aerosol cans and flammable liquids) is fine, but operators who ship bigger hazardous products in barrels need to know how much they can carry legally.

VOSA can pull you over if your vehicle and trailer looks like it exceeds the 3.5 tonne weight. And if your vehicle doesn't have a tachograph, and isn't complying with the new EU driving law, both your company and you (the driver) can be prosecuted. This offence will become part of the government’s fixed penalty system in 2008.

The driver exemption grace period for vehicles under 3.5 tonnes that go over the load threshold for hazardous goods ends on 1st January 2007.

We are very pleased to say that Andy Salter of Commercial Motor magazine paid us a visit a while ago, and we are featured in the 30 November edition. A very positive article it was too.

They said and we quote:
'The OPTAC system seems intuitive; it gives users all the data and analysis needed to ensure that a fleet complies with tachographs regs'.
Naturally we would agree with that, but you can find out more about our OPTAC solutions here.

Digital Tachographs: Autumn update

Driving in France

Vosa informs us that France has adopted a set of national rules to deal with the replacement of analogue tachographs with digital ones by making distinctions between the dates when vehicles are registered. They will take into consideration the age of the vehicle and the likely technical difficulties, as well as the associated costs.

Luckily for the UK, these rules will only be applied to vehicles registered in France.

Any vehicle which is registered outside France, and equipped with an analogue tachograph, may continue to use Article 16 of Regulation 3821/85. This allows for one week to return to base to get the tachograph fitted, or if that is not possible, to get the equipment repaired en route

Pre-deadline truck registrations

Following the introduction of digital tachographs on 1 May, figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show truck registrations plummeted by 51% in June, to 2,755.

But the year-to-date figures were ahead by 4.3% by that point. Further proof that the industry was aiming to beat the digital tachograph May deadline.

Merging digital and analogue tacho data

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has said that fleet managers need seamless drivers’ records, regardless of whether their trucks are fitted with analogue or digital tachographs. And apparently not all tachograph analysis companies offer this service.

Luckily our software handles both digital and analogue data in the same space. It also covers EU legislation, domestic HGV legislation and the Working Time Directive. This means that if you are using a mix of digital and analogue tachos, Stoneridge can really help you meet your legal obligations.

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