Operate the digital tachograph and driver card

Insert your personal EU driver card into the tachograph slot before the journey begins. Your data is stored encrypted on the card. Driving without a card is a criminal offence unless the special rules for manual printouts are followed.

When the card is inserted, the tachograph asks for your activity since the card was last removed. Enter correctly what you were doing (rest, other work, availability) in the meantime, so the record is continuous.

Failure to manually enter ferry, waiting and rest time is a classic roadside inspection remark.

Switch the activity selector correctly between driving, other work, availability and rest. Driving is recorded automatically when the vehicle moves, but when you are stationary it is your responsibility to select correctly.

Set the activity to rest/break during the 45-minute break and during daily rest. These records are what document that you comply with EU 561/2006 — they must match what you actually do.

The 2nd-generation smart tachograph automatically records border crossings and ferry/train journeys and communicates digitally with the authorities during roadside checks. On older units, border crossings must be entered manually.

With multi-manning, both driver cards are inserted from the start of the journey — the card of the driver driving in slot 1 and the co-driver's in slot 2. The recording must be able to distinguish between the two drivers.

If the card has been forgotten or damaged, or the tachograph fails, you must follow the rules for manual printouts and notes: print out at the start and end of the journey and record the activities on the printout with your name and card number.

At a roadside check, you must be able to produce data for the current day plus the preceding 56 days (extended from 28 days as of 31 December 2024, EU 165/2014 art. 36). Make sure the card and vehicle memory are downloaded regularly.