Downloading tacho card data is crucial for fleet management and regulatory compliance. This guide covers everything from understanding what a tachograph is, to how to download tacho card data effectively.
Table of Contents
Why Should You Download Tacho Card Data?
Downloading tacho card data is necessary for:
Legal compliance
Most importantly, you need to download your tacho card data because it's the law! Driver Card data must be downloaded every 28 days at the latest - failure to do so will result in fines and penalties being issued by the DVSA. (Vehicle downloads must also be done every 90 days at the latest - you can read more about this on our guide on how to download digital tachograph vehicle units.)
Fleet management
Before you can analyse your Driver Card data, you need to download it first! Having access to detailed data on how your Drivers and vehicles have been operating is key to understanding how to optimise your fleet's efficiency.
Monitoring driver behaviour
As well as improving fleet efficiency, analysing data downloads allows you to detect patterns in your Drivers' behaviour. If Driver A is picking up a lot of tacho overspeed infringements, or if Driver B is cutting their break times a bit fine, downloading and analysing your data is the best to find out!
How to Download Tacho Card Data
There are two ways to download tacho card data: manual and remote.
Download Tacho Card Data Automatically/Remotely - Recommended
Thanks to advances in tacho technology, it's now possible to download tacho card data without lifting a finger. TachoMagic's Automatic Download Devices (TADDs) automatically upload all Driver and Vehicle data to our servers at regular intervals, whenever the vehicle ignition is on. Once we have it, it's automatically analysed in real time, without any human input. Easy!
The TADD is a physical device that is installed behind the tachograph unit in your vehicles. Once it's set up - which can be done easily in less than 15 minutes thanks to our custom plug & play cable - you can safely forget about it, since it does its job automatically.
Download Tacho Card Data Manually
You'll need to use a manual download device, such as a Digidown (can do Driver and Vehicle data) or a basic card reader (can only do Driver data), both of which are available on our Shop Page. Of course, you can only do this when the vehicle is available for you to do the download.
Whichever option you go for, you need to insert the card into the reader, and use a USB port to transfer that data from the reader to your PC.
Once it's on your PC, make sure to do two things: First, you'll probably want to run the data through a tacho analysis system to make sure the driver hasn't committed any infringements. In TachoMagic, you can simply upload the downloaded data to our system, and we'll do the rest, converting it into simple, understandable reports.
Secondly, you'll need to keep the data stored for at least 2 years, in order to ensure compliance with the UK's Working Time Directive.
So, you can do it manually, or you can have it done for you, automatically! With a TADD, you won't have to pester Drivers to remember their card downloads, or wait in the cab while the Vehicle data downloads. To make it better, a TADD is a lower price than a Digidown 2-in-1 downloader!
Digital Tachograph Responsibilities
Drivers and Operators both have a responsibility to regularly download tacho cards. Incidents are reviewed case-by-case by the DVSA, but it is likely that they will hold the operator/manager at fault.
Drivers have a responsibility to carry the past 28 days' worth of their Driver data on them at all times while working. This is fairly straightforward to do, as the Driver Card (which they legally require to drive in-scope) stores all this data anyway. However, Drivers must ensure they have enough tachograph paper rolls to print out the full history if requested to do so by enforcement authorities. You can order extra paper on our Shop Page.
FAQ: Download Tacho Card Summary
Downloading tachograph cards is a legal requirement, and the data gathered can be used to provide valuable business insights. There are two main ways of performing the downloads: manually, using a download tool or card reader, or remotely/automatically using a download device.
Remote download and analysis is becoming more and more popular, as the technology becomes cheaper and easier to use, and the time & hassle it saves makes it increasingly worthwhile. Not having to remember your regular Driver card downloads is a big plus too.
TachoMagic is a supplier of download devices, automatic or otherwise! Have a browse of our website for more info, or feel free to get in touch on 0113 877 0190 if you've got any questions or would like to make an order.
Further Reading:
If you've found our page, "TachoMagic FAQ: Download Tacho Cards" useful, you may also enjoy the following posts:
- How long are tachograph cards valid for?
- Tacho Card FAQ
- Where can I download my digi card?
About The Author
Simon Theaker
Simon has over 20 years of dealing with tachograph analysis, and the technologies involved.
His in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience have made him a key behind-the-scenes member of the TachoMagic team.
Through his blogs, Simon hopes to make the lives of Fleet Managers easier, as he shares the answers to some of the most common questions he has received.
