Since August 2023, the newly registered commercial vehicles have hit Europe’s roads with the new second version of the smart tachograph. The aim: to monitor and enforce the new regulations of the EU Mobility Package I. This is the first time in its more than 100 year history that legislators have given the tachograph additional monitoring functions that go far beyond simply recording driving and rest times. However, the real value for fleet managers lies in the wealth of reliable data provided by the smart tachograph. This enables fleets not only to comply with regulations, but also to achieve efficiency and economic gains.
New functions make compliance easier
Smart tachographs of the second version, such as the DTCO 4.1, have new and extended functions that support fleet managers in their compliance tasks – now and in the future:
- Data recording and processing: The device is suitable for recording loading and unloading operations, calculating working time on the basis of the recorded data and recording the new reduced rest period, which can be taken twice in succession under certain conditions.
- Cabotage and dispatch of drivers: A GNSS module (Global Navigation Satellite System) automatically detects the position of the vehicle as well as border crossings and stores the data in the mass memory. The DTCO 4.1 already uses data from the European satellite navigation system Galileo, which will offer additional data security in the future.
- Connectivity: In addition to the now mandatory integrated ITS interface, the second version of the intelligent tachograph now also has a new Bluetooth interface.
- Driver cards: Smart tachographs in the second version are suitable for the new driver cards with an extended memory capacity of 56 days, which will be required from the end of 2024. However, earlier generations remain valid and compatible.
More efficient work processes thanks to reliable tachograph data
However, the second version of the intelligent tachograph alone does not improve workflows. Modern fleet data management platforms such as VDO Fleet help to fully exploit the potential of the data. They automatically extract the tachograph data from the mass memory, evaluate it and then display all fleet-relevant data in an easy-to-understand overview – from the performance of individual drivers to the current ERRU score of the entire fleet. As the number of reports increases, the trustworthy tachograph data becomes a valuable decision-making aid for successful fleet management.
For example, the data from the second version of the smart tachograph can improve turnaround times and vehicle utilization, thereby reducing the high-cost pressure that continues to exist in the industry. Thanks to up-to-date position data for each vehicle, routes can be planned more conveniently, loads combined and ad-hoc changes facilitated. In addition, the software supports better allocation of drivers and freight by providing the remaining driving and rest times, the last loading and unloading events and other valuable information that fleet managers need to reduce empty runs.
The data from the tachograph can also help fleet managers to monitor compliance throughout the fleet. Is a particular driver repeatedly breaking the same rule? A driver-specific scorecard that shows the number and severity of violations draws attention to the problem and makes it possible to coordinate training plans more effectively and at a more convenient time. And the aggregated overview shows not only the fines already incurred, but also the risk of a poor fleet-wide ERRU score.
The future of tachograph data usage is promising
However, the second version smart tachograph not only offers the existing opportunities to use data for day-to-day operational improvements. As a universally trusted provider of secure, authenticated and reliable data from commercial vehicles, it also provides the perfect stepping stone for new and innovative applications. This data thus becomes a valuable asset to offer other value-added services such as the so-called tachograph toll. This will allow the tachograph data to be made available to various toll service providers in real time. The result: on-board tolling devices become superfluous and toll billing becomes more efficient.
Other possible applications that go beyond the legal and regulatory requirements are
- load control via sensor data on individual axles
- automated billing and payroll services using working times and information on loading and unloading processes
- automatic reservation of rest or parking spaces based on position and driving time data as well as current traffic and real-time rest area information
- optimized tire and maintenance management using mileage, acceleration and weight data to determine tire wear
- digital fuel management using mileage and position data to know when a particular vehicle needs refueling
- real-time communication with drivers and compliance support based on driving and rest time data
- introduction of the eCall function using data on a vehicle's position, ID and load
However, many of these functions rely on real-time data, for which the smart tachograph must first be connected to the online world. VDO is already working on a plug-and-play solution that should solve the current connectivity problems in most fleets. Once this solution is available, there will be no limit to the services that can use the second version smart tachograph and its data to make life easier for the fleet.
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