How to Use a Digital Tachograph

Key
1. Driver card inserted symbol (Driver card in slot 1)
2. Time
3. Vehicle speed (when in motion)
4. Driver 2 mode icon (Work / Rest / Period of Availability POA)
5. VU Menu button (addition of manual entries / creating print outs etc)
6. Print roll drawer release button
7. Driver 1 mode change button
8. Driver 1 mode icon (Work / Rest / POA)
9. Driver 1 card ejection button
10. Driver 1 card slot
11. Vehicle mileage reading
12. Driver 2 card ejection button
13. Driver 2 mode change button
14. Driver 2 card slot

2

Tachograph unit display

The display screen shows
● The time display (top left corner of display)
● Speed of vehicle (top right of display)
● The control (mode icon) for Driver 1 is displayed in the bottom left corner of the display screen
● In the centre of the bottom of the screen is the total Kms of the vehicle
● The control (mode Icon) for Driver 2 is displayed in the bottom right corner of the display
screen
● The Menu control button is to the right of the display, this shows ​OK (to enter the menu and
confirm any changes), Up / Down arrows to scroll through the menu and the “b​ ack”​ button
(Red box) which is used to go back through the menu or make changes to information added
● The button to the right of the menu control is to eject the drawer that holds the print roll for the
tachograph unit
● Below the screen there is a button with the number 1 on it, this signifies Driver 1 and pressing
that changes the mode icon for Driver 1.
● Adjacent to the number 1 is the eject button to eject the card of Driver 1
● Below the screen there is a button with the number 2 on it, this signifies Driver 2 and pressing
that changes the mode icon for Driver 2
● Adjacent to the number 2 is the eject button to eject the card of Driver 2
● Between the two eject buttons is a “flap” that cover the tachograph download connection
● Below the two eject buttons is a slot - this is where the Driver 1 card is inserted / ejected
● Below the print roll drawer is a slot - this is where the Driver 2 card is inserted / ejected

To operate the tachograph unit, the ignition has to be switched to the on position

Before inserting the driver card into slot 1, ensure that the icon in the lower left corner of the display is
showing the WORK symbol (crossed hammers) - this ensures the card would record work from the
point of insertion. If any other mode icon is displayed, this should be changed by using the Driver 1
button that is situated below the display.

With the vehicle ignition switched to the on position,b​ efore inserting your card, ensure the icon
displayed is as shown in the​ ​blue box​ ​above - ​this is set to WORK (crossed hammers) symbol

To set the tachograph mode
● With the vehicle switched to the on position
● Using the Driver 1 button in the ​green box,​ ​ press this until the icon displayed in the ​blue box​ is
as shown, this is the ​WORK​ (crossed hammers) symbol

Inserting the tachograph card
● The digital tachograph driver card can now be inserted - with the ignition switched to the on
position, present the card so that the memory chip on the card is facing upward and towards
the tachograph unit (as shown on the image above)
● Below the Driver 1 button in the ​green box​, there is a slot that the card will fit into, slowly enter
the card until some resistance is felt
● The tachograph unit will then automatically take the card in the rest of the way
● The tachograph will go through a loading process and then display the following text - L​ ast
Withdrawal ..d​ ate / time​… This is your opportunity to add Manual Records as described in
section 5 of this tachograph guidance document

Removing the tachograph card
● To remove the digital tachograph card, the ignition must be set to the on position, press the
highlighted button in the g​ reen box,​ this starts the process of card ejection
● The display shows ​End Country - UK​ - Press​ OK
● The display shows a progress countdown
● The display then changes to show 2​ 4 hour day​ … ​date​ … and ​No​ will be flashing
● If you require a print out for the day, use the up / down arrows to the right of the display to
show ​Yes​ and press​ OK,​ this will then produce a print out for the day
● If you do not require a print out, press​ OK​ and the card will eject automatically

Do you need to set the tachograph unit to Out of Scope to record GB Domestic Drivers
Rules?
With the ignition switched to the on position, the tachograph will show its regular display
Press the ​OK​ button to the right of the display, this will access the tachograph Menu
Press the d​ own​ button until the display shows Entry Vehicle ……. Press O​ K
The first option in this menu will be OUT - begin …….. Press ​OK
The Out of Scope setting is now stored .

To leave the menu, press the back button ,the display will show the text - Leave Main
Menu - yes ……… Press O​ K

OUT w​ ill now be displayed in the bottom left corner of the tacho display - this signifies that the
tachograph is now set to Out of Scope

The tachograph will remain set at ​Out of Scope​ until
● A digital tachograph card is ejected
● The ignition is switched off
● The batteries have been disconnected

Before inserting your card, ensure the icon displayed is set to WORK (Crossed hammers) symbol

Do you need to do manual entry to close off the previous shift and the start of your current
shift?

After you have inserted your card, the display will show details of the ​Last withdrawal date & time,​
and then the display shows - 1​ M entry addition - ​yes (this is to show you are about to create a Manual
Entry for driver position 1)……. Press​ OK

Previous shift closure
● Display shows on top line the card last withdrawn date / time
● Bottom line is when the card was inserted
● Change the mode icon to WORK (C​rossed hammers)​ - Press​ OK
● Change Date back to previous day - Press ​OK - ​NB, if the shift end was in the previous
month or the previous year, you have to change the year / month prior to changing the
day date
● Change hour number to correct hour of finish time - Press​ OK
● Change minute number to correct minute of finish time - Press​ OK
● The date / time will then move up to the top line on display

Rest Period to add
● Display shows on top line the end of the previous shift ( date / time)
● Bottom line is when the card was inserted
● Change the mode icon to REST (b​ ed) -​ Press ​OK
● Date will be correct as this will be “today's” date - Press ​ OK
● Change hour number to correct hour of start time - Press ​ OK
● Change minute number to correct minute of start time - Press​ OK
● The date / time will then move up to the top line on display

Start of current Shift to card insertion
● Display shows on top line the end of the rest period (date / time)
● Bottom line is when the card was inserted
● Change mode icon to show correct mode ie WORK (C​ rossed hammers)​ - Press ​ OK
● If work has been the only action since shift start, Press ​OK
● Begin Country UK displayed - Press​ OK
● Confirm Manual Entry displayed - Press​ OK

If you believe you have made a mistake, before you press O​ K to confirm the manual
entry, you can use the​ ​back button to change any entry made on this occasion

2

If you require a print out of your working day(s), such as an incorrect manual entry which has
locked 2 days together or your card has been left in overnight, follow this process

Driver Print out
● ignition must be switched to the on position
● Press the O​ K​ menu button to enter the tachograph menu
● Using the U​ p / Down buttons on the menu control, scroll through the menu to printout driver -
Press O​ K
● The display shows 24h day - Press O​ K
● The display shows the current date, using the ​down button, scroll back to the date of the print
out required - Press​ OK
● The display shows the last date selected, using the u​ p / down button, scroll to the next date of
the print out required - Press​ OK
● The print out will start. Once completed tear off the print out from the edge of the drawer
● Press the ​Return​ button until L​ eave Main Menu - Yes​ is displayed - Press ​OK

Print information completion - first day
● On the back of the print out you must complete the following -
❏ Driver Name
❏ Driver card number or Driver licence number
❏ Date of printout
❏ Driver signature

● On the print out grid, a line must be marked along the time when the driver finished his shift on
day one, for example a line drawn from the top of the grid to the bottom at 17:30, with SDR
(Start of Daily Rest) added to the right side of the line, this states the drivers finish time.

● The driver should declare the reason for the print out, for example, ​Incorrect Manual Entry
Made,​ or D​ river Card left in vehicle overnight by mistake

● The printout should be taken to the Transport Office to be copied
● The print out must be kept safe with the driver and be available to view upon request by a

DVSA or Police officer, for 28 calendar days after which it must be handed in to the Transport
Office for safe retention for 12 months

Print information completion - second day
● On the print out reverse side you must complete the following -
❏ Driver Name
❏ Driver card number or Driver licence number
❏ Date of activity
❏ Driver signature

● On the print out grid, a line must be marked along the time when the driver started his shift on
day one, for example a line drawn from the top of the grid to the bottom at 06:00, with EDR
(End of Daily Rest) added to the left side of the line, this states the drivers start time.

● The driver should declare the reason for the print out, for example, ​Incorrect Manual Entry
Made​, or D​ river Card left in vehicle overnight by mistake

● The printout should be taken to the Transport Office to be copied
● The print out must be kept safe with the driver and be available to view upon request by a

DVSA or Police officer, for 28 calendar days after which it must be handed in to the Transport
Office for safe retention for 12 months

2

If your driver card has been lost or has malfunctioned, you must report it to your line manager
and then apply for a new driver card, following this you can then drive a vehicle for 14 calendar
days without a card as long as you follow this process

Vehicle Print out 1
● The ignition has to be switched to the on position
● Press the ​OK​ menu button to enter the vehicle menu
● Using the U​ p / Down buttons on the menu control, scroll through the menu to Printout Vehicle
- Press​ OK
● The display shows 24h day - Press​ OK
● The display shows the date, ensure the current date is shown - Press​ OK
● The display shows UTC Time -​ P​ ress​ OK
● The printout will start. Once completed tear off the printout from the edge of the drawer

● On the back of the printout you must complete the following:
❏ Driver Name
❏ Vehicle Reg Number
❏ Driver card number or driver licence number
❏ Date of printout
❏ Start point of journey
❏ Driver signature

● On the printout out grid, a line must be marked along the time when the driver started his shift,
for example a line drawn from the top of the grid to the bottom at 06:00, with EDR (End of Daily
Rest) added to the left side of the line, this states the drivers start time

● The print out must be kept safe with the driver and be available to view upon request by a
DVSA or Police officer, for 28 calendar days after which it must be handed in to the Transport
Office for safe retention for 12 months

Throughout the day the tachograph is operated normally as though a driver card was inserted

Vehicle Print out 2. At the end of the shift the driver must produce a second print out, as
follows:

● The ignition has to be switched to the on position
● Press the ​OK​ menu button to enter the vehicle menu
● Using the U​ p / Down buttons on the menu control, scroll through the menu to Printout Vehicle

- Press​ OK
● The display shows 24h day - Press​ OK
● The display shows the date, ensure the current date is shown - Press​ OK
● The display shows UTC Time - Press​ OK
● The printout will start. Once completed tear off the printout from the edge of the drawer

On the back of the printout you must complete the following:
❏ Driver Name
❏ Vehicle Reg Number
❏ Driver card number or driver licence number
❏ Date of printout
❏ Finish point of journey
❏ Driver signature

● On the printout out grid, a line must be marked along the time when the driver started his shift,
for example a line drawn from the top of the grid to the bottom at 17:30, with SDR (Start of
Daily Rest) added to the left side of the line, this states the drivers start time

● The print out must be kept safe with the driver and be available to view upon request by a
DVSA or Police officer, for 28 calendar days after which it must be handed in to the Transport
Office for safe retention for 12 months

2

Do you need to change the display time to British Summer Time?
With the ignition set to the switched on position, the tachograph will show its ​regular display
Press the ​OK​ button to the right of the display, this will access the tachograph Menu
Using the d​ own​ button, press this until the display shows Entry Vehicle, Press​ OK
Press the ​down​ button again until the Local Time option is displayed, Press O​ K
On the display, the UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) time is displayed on the left and the local time is
displayed on the right
To Change the local time, use the u​ p / down b​ uttons to change values, this is done in 30 minute
increments - pressing the up or down button twice will add one hour to the UTC time or deduct one hour
from the UTC time
Once you have changed the local time forwards or backwards to the correct local time, Press​ OK
Press the b​ ack​ button to show Leave the Main Menu yes, Press​ OK
The main display now shows local time, signified by the ​black dot​ to the side.

British summer time changes are, forward one hour in Spring, and back one hour in Autumn