News

Problem With Digital Tachographs - 29th March 2012

We have been informed that the DVLA are aware of problems on some Digital Tachograph Driver Cards. Several drivers have reported seeing the following errors on the display of the vehicle unit (VU) when inserting the Drivers Card:

"ERROR CODE 48”
"CARD ERROR”
"CARD NOT VALID” - When it is
"CARD EXPIRED” - When the card has not expired

You are advised to check the card in another vehicle unit or a download device to verify whether there is a fault with the card. Once you have established that your card is faulty you are advised to contact the DVLA within 7 days. You will then need to return the card in order to receive a free replacement. Application forms are downloadable from the Business Link website http://www.businesslink.gov.uk or available from DVLA (tel. 0300 790 6109), DVLA Local Offices and VOSA Testing Stations. The DVLA typically issue a reference which you are advised to have to hand in the event you are stopped by an enforcement officer. According to the DVLA if you mark on the envelope "code 48” you will receive priority. Replacement cards should arrive within 5-7 days.

Under these circumstances you can legally drive without a card but you must produce two 24h daily print outs from the VU one at the start of your duty and the other at the end of your duty. On the back of these print outs you need to record your:

Name
Driving licence number
Signature

This is a legal requirement and drivers must keep the printouts with them for 28 days and return them to the operator within 42 days. The opperator in turn must keep them for 1 year or 2 years plus the reference period if using the information for the Working Time Directive.

You can drive using printouts for up to 15 days, or longer if away from base. It is important that sufficient supplies of print rolls are issued to these drivers. One roll will produce approximately 28 x 24h daily printouts.

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