Downloading your tachograph is required by law

With the arrival of digital tachographs according to EU Regulation 3821/85 Annex 1B, there is a requirement to download data from digital tachograph vehicle units (VUs). In order to do this an appropriate piece of equipment must be connected to the download connector on the front of the VU, and then the data within the VU can be transferred (downloaded) to the download equipment.

The New Gen 2 Smart Tachographs

From the 15th June 2019 it is mandatory for all new vehicles to be fitted with a Gen 2 Smart Tachograph.

Tachograph downloading systems

The download equipment can be a laptop with appropriate software, or a unit designed for downloading - the Lisle Design Digidown Range.

Driver cards must also be downloaded

Driver cards record driver activity when they are inserted into tachographs. The amount of data held on the driver card is limited, so the driver card must be downloaded regularly to ensure no data is lost. This can be done through a download tool attached to a tachograph, a fixed card reader attached to a PC, or through a portable card reader like the Lisle Design DigidownPlus.

Remote downloading

Digital tachographs produced since 2009 allow data to be collected remotely. The company card is left back at base, hosted on an appropriate hosting system. Data can be delivered to wherever it is required. The Lisle Design Remote Downloading range provides this function.

Company card hosting

Tachograph remote downloading requires the company card associated with the tachograph to be available over the internet via a hosting system. A hosting system is included with Lisle Design's remote downloading range.

Larger fleets, or companies that offer a hosting service may need to host many company cards. In this case, multiple card readers must be linked to a computer, for example using Lisle Design's card hosting range.

External resources

UK government advice on tachographs

European Commission advice on tachographs