The tacho is the one bit of kit that decides whether your day is legal. It records what you do, the DVSA can read it, and a mistake can cost you a fine or a mark against your name. Most infringements come from simple slips, not from drivers trying to cheat. Here is how the rules work in plain English.
What a tachograph actually does
The tachograph records your driving time, breaks, rest and other work. Digital tachographs use a driver card that holds your last 28 days of activity. The vehicle unit also stores data, and both can be checked at the roadside or at your employer's premises.
- Your driver card is personal to you. Never use someone else's card and never let anyone use yours.
- The vehicle unit records distance, speed and the activity you select.
- Your employer or agency has to download your data on a regular basis. You should be able to ask when your card was last downloaded.
Using your card properly
Getting the basics right every shift avoids most problems. It takes a minute and saves you a lot of grief later.
- Put your card in at the start of your shift, before you move the truck.
- Check the display shows the right country and the right date and time.
- Select the correct activity: driving is automatic, but you set other work, rest and availability yourself.
- Take your card out at the end of your shift and keep it somewhere safe.
- Carry your current driver card and any recent printouts or manual entries the rules require.
Manual entries and other work
If you did anything away from the truck since your card was last used, such as a rest period, loading or working on another vehicle, you may need to add it as a manual entry when you put your card back in. Skipping this is one of the most common reasons for gaps in your record.
- Record all other work, including loading, unloading, paperwork and waiting for a slot.
- Do not leave out time because you were not driving. Missing activity looks like a gap, and gaps get questioned.
- If the unit or your card develops a fault, keep a handwritten record of your activity and tell your transport office straight away.
The tacho and drivers' hours limits
The tacho is how those limits get checked. The headline figures for most Class 1 work are 9 hours driving a day (10 hours twice a week), 56 hours a week and 90 hours across two weeks, with a 45 minute break after 4 and a half hours of driving. Check gov.uk for the latest detail, as the rules vary slightly by journey type.
Common infringements and how to avoid them
- Driving without a card, or with the wrong activity selected.
- Missing or late breaks, often caused by poor parking planning or a delayed slot.
- Not taking enough daily or weekly rest.
- Exceeding the daily or weekly driving limits.
- Forgetting a manual entry after a ferry, train or time away from the vehicle.
Check your remaining time before you set off, plan your break and parking early, and speak up if a schedule cannot be done legally. Around the ports, good parking goes quickly, so do not leave it late.
“They're honest about the job before you start, answer the phone when you need them and the pay has always been right.”
What a good agency does about your tacho
A decent agency books work that can be done legally, downloads your data on time and listens if a job does not add up. Ask any agency how they handle tacho data and infringements before you sign up. If they are vague, that tells you something.
At BWN we guarantee a minimum of £1,000 for a five-day week, which is a minimum of £200 per shift across five shifts, Monday to Friday. If a shift runs short you still get your £200. If it runs long, the hourly rate applies, which can be up to £25 per hour depending on the job. You are paid from tacho card in to tacho card out, with no break deductions, and we pay weekly.
Class 1 driver after steady work with an agency that respects your hours? Message us on WhatsApp on 07792 414025 or email [email protected] and we will tell you what is available this week.