The most accurate answer to the question "What is a tachograph?" is that it is a recording device designed to protect drivers, passengers, and companies in various transport vehicles. These devices, which are mandatory to use throughout Turkey, contribute to the correct progression of driving by recording every situation that occurs inside the vehicle.
Consequently, companies, corporations, or individuals engaged in heavy cargo transportation ensure vehicle safety as well as their own security. In this article, we will examine in detail what tachographs are, what they do, and their role in road transport. 🙌🚚
What is a Tachograph?
A tachograph is a recording and tracking device that is mandatory for vehicles carrying loads over a certain weight. These vehicles are usually trucks, lorries, road tractors, passenger buses, or minibuses with a weight exceeding 3,500 kg.
Also known as a "tachometer", tachographs keep track of the vehicle's traveled distance, its speed on the road, how far it has traveled, the driving distance, or the usage duration of both the vehicle and the driver. At the same time, driver identity information is also stored here. In this context, tachographs report all requested information on demand. 🪪🚒
What Does a Tachograph Do?
A tachograph is a device that allows obtaining detailed information about the vehicle and the driver in question. Thanks to this, the vehicle's traveled distance, speed, the driver's identity, and the time frame in which the vehicle was used can easily be audited.
Used to access most data, these devices create different records for each driver and vehicle. These records, which are generally created with the driver's records and identity information, are used interchangeably, and different drivers can also be easily audited.
By using a tachograph device, records such as the driver's speed and rest periods can be reported, and thus a graph can be generated. One of the most important reasons for using these devices is that, according to official laws, every driver is subject to a specific daily working limit.
In case these working hours are exceeded, the records can be easily examined. In other words, this device also serves as evidence in cases of protection or violation of legally accepted rights and responsibilities. 👈
Why is a Tachograph Used?
A tachograph is a device with a series of critical functions that is frequently used, especially in commercial vehicles. Its primary purpose is to track and record how long a driver has been operating the vehicle.
This data can be used by logistics companies to monitor and manage drivers' working hours. It is also used to prevent excessive driving and driver fatigue, as these situations threaten driving safety.
From a legal standpoint, the use of a tachograph is of vital importance. Determining how long a driver has been driving can be critical to understanding whether driving and rest times have been managed properly, especially in the event of an accident. This information provides important evidence in court as well as for insurance claims.
Ultimately, using a tachograph is a legal requirement, and businesses that do not comply with these requirements may face heavy penalties. Therefore, the use of a tachograph is extremely important both for meeting business and safety requirements and for fulfilling legal obligations. 🙌
Who is Mandatory to Use a Tachograph?
The clearest answer to the question of what a tachograph is and whether its use is mandatory is that it is compulsory for companies and vehicles engaged in intercity passenger and cargo transport. The most important point to consider at this juncture is the manufacture year of the vehicle used.
It is not mandatory to use in vehicles manufactured earlier than 1984. Apart from this, according to Article 99 in Section 3 of the Road Traffic Regulation, a driver work permit and an obligation to possess a tachograph device are mandatory.
According to this article, the devices to be used in the vehicle or vehicles in question must be inspected and approved by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Devices that are approved and put into use must be kept in the vehicle regularly, operate throughout the journey, and record the rest periods.
The work permit, which is mandatory to keep in the vehicle along with the tachograph, is required for every vehicle, regardless of its manufacture year or model. All information on the device must also be present on the driver's work permit.
In Which Vehicles is a Tachograph Used?
Tachograph devices are used in all intercity transport vehicles such as buses, trucks, or minibuses. The gross weight of these vehicles must be an average of 3500 kg or above. Therefore, commercial vans and trucks are the primary vehicles in which the device must be used. 🚚📹
Which Driving License is Required for a Tachograph?
All companies and drivers engaged in intercity cargo or passenger transport must have a tachograph card license. For a tachograph card license, you must first possess at least one of the SRC 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 certificates.
In the next stage of the process, depending on the purpose of acquiring the card, an application must be made to the relevant type among a total of 4 different tachograph card types: company, workshop, control card, or driver card.
Applications for the card license can generally be made through TOBB's official website. After the application, the production and delivery of the cards are carried out in cooperation with TOBB and the General Directorate of Security.
The validity periods of these licenses differ from normal driving licenses. Therefore, it is more appropriate to apply for a new license before the current one expires, thereby preventing any unfavorable situations.
Consequently, the validity of card licenses obtained for companies and drivers is 5 years, control cards are 2 years, and workshop cards are 1 year.
The documents required for the card application are as follows:
• Driving license and one photocopy
• Biometric photograph
• Identity card and photocopy
How Much is the Tachograph Fine?
Having a tachograph in commercial vehicles is mandatory depending on the vehicle class. If this device is not present by drivers and companies, a 31/1-b Traffic Fine is applied. In this scope, the fine for not having a tachograph is 598 TL. However, this situation may vary according to laws and years. 👈🙌
How Many Years is a Tachograph Valid?
Tachographs are calibrated on average once every 2 years. This applies to both digital and analog tachographs. During the calibration phase, some parts of the device are sealed. The validity of this seal is also two years.
Who Keeps Tachograph Records?
Tachograph records are generally kept by the companies or firms to which the drivers belong. In this scope, the responsibility to store and present records belongs to the employer, and administrative penalties are also applied to the employer. Thus, it is beneficial for the employer companies and firms to regularly audit and archive tachograph records.
What are the Tachograph Limits and Rest Hours?
The Highway Traffic Law sets precise and definite rules regulating tachograph and rest periods. In light of these rules, a driver is allowed to drive for a maximum of 9 hours a day.
However, in some special cases, this period may be extended up to 10 hours. What matters is that the driver's total weekly driving time does not exceed 56 hours. Within any two-week period, the driving time must not exceed 90 hours. These limitations must strictly be followed.
It is forbidden for drivers to drive continuously for more than 4.5-5 hours. Whether this rule is implemented can be determined by the data recorded by tachographs. Not only driving periods but also rest periods are audited via tachographs.
Accordingly, drivers are required to rest for at least 11 hours in a 24-hour period. This period can be taken either in three separate blocks or as an uninterrupted 8-hour block. 📹
If a driver is traveling on a train or ferry, the tachograph must be set to ferry mode. In this case, the daily rest period is interrupted only once and for a maximum of 1 hour.
The tachograph records whether the driver complies with these regulations. Thus, both the health and safety of the drivers are protected, and businesses avoid administrative sanctions. Furthermore, compliance with tachograph usage and rest periods is extremely important.
