Tachographs

If an analogue tachograph breaks down, it must be replaced with a digital tachograph.  Digital tachographs will be replacing analogue ones as the vehicle fleet is being renewed. 

Drivers of vehicles fitted with digital tachographs, companies owning vehicles with digital tachographs, workshops repairing tachographs and inspectors from the Norwegian Public Roads Administration and the police must be familiar with digital tachographs.

In order to use a digital tachograph, you need a tachograph card.

There are four types of tachograph cards:

• Driver cards
• Company cards
• Workshop cards
• Control cards

The most important difference for tachograph users is that data on driving time and rest periods are registered in the tachograph and on a tachograph card (smart card) instead of on diagram charts. Tachograph cards are issued to drivers, transport companies, tachograph repair shops and inspectors.

The digital tachograph is a small computer that is installed in the vehicle. Information about the vehicle’s activities is stored continuously in the tachograph.

Driver cards

If you are going to drive a vehicle with a digital tachograph, you will need your own driver card. Insert the card in the tachograph head unit before you start driving. The driver card records information about your driving, and is thus personal.

Company cards

Transport enterprises must have a company card, which is used to lock data from the tachograph’s vehicle unit. This must be done at least once a month

Workshop cards

Mechanics working in an approved workshop for digital tachographs must hold a workshop card  in order to perform work on the tachograph.

Control cards

Inspectors must hold a separate  control card in order to check the driving time and rest periods recorded in the tachograph’s vehicle unit.