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Summer 2019 Truck and Track 23
TACHOGRAPH ANALYSIS
The transition to intelligent tachographs: how
fleets can enter the new era without glitches
■■Necessary updating of download tools and fleet
management software
■■Tips fromContinental on how to make a smooth transition
to the DTCO 4.0
We all know by now that, from 15th June 2019, intelligent
digital tachographs – Smart Tachographs – became mandatory
for all newly registered trucks.
The technology company Continental is providing tips on how to
make a smooth transition to the DTCO4.0. By offering the necessary
infrastructure for the new tachographs it is enabling fleets of all
sizes to comply with the statutory requirements and continue
to operate smoothly. “We completed the approval process for our
intelligent DTCO 4.0 tachograph well before the effective date of
the new regulation,” says Marcello Lucarelli, head of Continental’s
Tachographs, Telematics and Services segment. “Customers can
therefore plan with confidence.” Vehicle fleets will also have to
bring their peripheral equipment up to date. This includes updating
their download tools and fleet management software to work with
the new tachograph encryption technology, ensuring continued
compliance with legal stipulations for archiving and saving data
on drivers and vehicles. The updates will be necessary as soon as
a single vehicle in a fleet has the DTCO 4.0 on board. Continental is
supporting fleet managers with the necessary equipment, services
and training.
Do I have to update my download tools?
Continental offers a number of means for backing up and archiving
mass storage and driver card data. Its remote downloading
solutions – the products in the DLD family – update themselves
automatically via over-the-air (OTA) update. Fleet managers with
these tools won’t have to do anything to prepare their existing
devices for the DTCO 4.0.
For those who use manual downloading – the products in the
VDO Downloadkey family have simple update possibilities using a
licence card. The card is available at through
your local VDO workshop. Users of DLT Pro download terminals can
update their devices via the Software Update option.
Important note: Devices that are older than the DLK Pro product
family and DLT Pro will no longer be able to download and archive
data from the DTCO 4.0. Fleets that use these tools will have
to switch to newer models in order to comply with the existing
regulations also with the VDO DTCO 4.0. “We’ve developed two
download keys that meet the new technical requirements, the DLK
Pro Downloadkey S and the DLK PRO TIS-Compact S which are now
available,” says Diego Santos-Burgoa, sales director of Continental’s
Tachographs, Telematics and Services segment. All new or updated
download tools will continue to work with older DTCOmodels.
Will I need new tachograph cards?
Driver and company cards will remain valid until their expiry dates.
The authorities will then replace them with the new generation of
cards automatically. Both the new and the old cards are compatible
with all DTCO tachographs. The only parties that need to make the
change right away are workshops, which will need new workshop
cards to meet the new test requirements.
Howwill road checks change?
Among other requirements for intelligent digital tachographs, the
EU regulation 165/2014 specifies a standardised DSRC (Dedicated
Short Range Communication). The purpose is to make roadside
checks more efficient for all those involved. After appropriate
authentication, vehicle and calibration data and information
about security breaches and malfunctions that have occurred is
transmitted wirelessly to the inspection officers’ devices from the
DTCO 4.0 in themoving vehicle. Inspection officers can then use the
data to stop specific vehicles. Companies and drivers who comply
with all regulations can expect fewer unscheduled stops at the
roadside thanks to this change. But don’t worry: There are no plans
in place to levy automatic fines based on the transmitted data.
Background
DTCO 4.0: The intelligent digital tachograph
The tachograph regulation (EU) 165/2014 incorporates numerous
functional extensions in device technology: the digital tachograph
is becoming intelligent. Continental developed the DTCO 4.0 under
its VDO product brand tomeet the new statutory requirements. The
new tachograph is even better protected against tampering and
provides greater transparency during operation.
The EU regulation specifies standardized DSRC (Dedicated Short
Range Communication) technology for an integrated remote
download by enforcement. This makes more precisely targeted
vehicle checks possible. In addition, there is an interface to a global
navigation satellite system (GNSS). This will automatically record
position data, which can also be used to assist in fleetmanagement.
AlsonewisanITS(IntelligentTransportation
Systems) interface, which can help fleet
operators boost efficiency and provide
a wide range of information from the
digital tachograph via a standardized
interface. Most of the information that
can be transmitted via ITS interfaces is
classified as “personal”. Data may only be
transmitted from a vehicle if the driver has
approved this action.
Many other applications are conceivable
if the secure data from the tachograph is
shared with other data processing systems.
Apps could use DTCO information to guide
drivers to a nearby petrol station, or to a
truck park that is easily accessible at the
start of rest periods.
The digital tachograph is becoming intelligent. Fleet operators will therefore have to update their tools and software.