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The most accurate answer to the question of what a tachograph is is a recording device designed to protect drivers, passengers, and companies in various transport vehicles. These devices, whose use is mandatory throughout Turkey, record every scenario that occurs inside the vehicle, contributing to the proper progress of drives.
Consequently, firms, companies, or individuals engaged in heavy cargo transportation ensure vehicle safety in addition to their own safety. 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 mandatory recording and tracking device used in vehicles carrying loads above a certain weight. These vehicles are usually trucks, lorries, tractors, passenger buses, or minibuses with a weight of over 3500 kg.
Tachographs, also known as "tachometers", keep track of the distance covered by the vehicle, its speed on the road, how far it has traveled, the driving distance, or the duration of use of the vehicle and the driver. At the same time, driver identity information is also stored here. In this context, tachographs generate reports of all necessary information upon request. 🪪🚒
What Does a Tachograph Do?
A tachograph is a device that allows obtaining detailed information about the vehicle and the driver in question. The distance covered by the vehicle, its speed, the driver's identity, and the time period during which the vehicle is used can thus be easily monitored.
These devices, used to access most of the data, create different records for each driver and vehicle. Generally created with the driver's records and identity information, these records are used interchangeably, and different drivers can also be easily audited.
Using a tachograph device, records such as the driver's speed and rest period can be reported, and a chart can be created in this way. 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 time.
If these working hours are exceeded, the records can be easily reviewed. 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 frequently used especially in commercial vehicles and has a series of critical functions. Its primary purpose is to track and record how long the driver has been driving.
This data can be used by logistics companies to track and manage drivers' working hours. Additionally, this information is used to prevent excessive driving and driver fatigue. This is because these situations threaten driving safety.
From a legal perspective, 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 are being properly managed, especially in the event of an accident. This information provides important evidence in court as well as for insurance claims.
Ultimately, the use of 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 to meet the requirements of the business world and safety, and to fulfill legal obligations. 🙌
For Whom is the Tachograph Mandatory?
The clearest answer to the question of what a tachograph is and whether its use is mandatory is that it is mandatory for companies and vehicles engaged in intercity passenger and cargo transportation. The most important point to consider here is the production year of the vehicle used.
It is not mandatory to use it in vehicles produced before 1984. Apart from this, according to Article 99 in Section 3 of the Road Traffic Regulation, a driver employment and tachograph device possession certificate is 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.
Approved devices that have started to be used must be kept in the vehicle regularly, work throughout the journey, and record rest periods.
The work certificate, which must be kept in the vehicle along with the tachograph, is required for every vehicle, regardless of the production year or model of the vehicle. All information in the device must also be present in the driver's work certificate.
In Which Vehicles is a Tachograph Used?
Tachograph devices are used in all intercity buses, trucks, or minibus type vehicles. The general weight of these vehicles must be an average of 3500 kg and above. For this reason, especially light trucks and semi-trucks are the main vehicles in which the device should be used. 🚚📹
Which Driver's License is Required for a Tachograph?
All companies and drivers engaged in intercity cargo or passenger transport must have a tachograph card. To obtain a tachograph card, one must first possess at least one of the SRC 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 certificates.
In the subsequent process, depending on the purpose of acquiring the card, an application must be made for the relevant one of the 4 different types of tachograph cards, namely company, workshop, control, or driver card.
Card applications can generally be made on the official website of TOBB. The production and delivery of cards after the application process are done in cooperation with TOBB and the General Directorate of Security.
The validity periods of these cards are different from normal driver's licenses. Therefore, it is more appropriate to apply for a new card before the current card expires. Thus, it is possible to prevent any negative situation.
Consequently, the validity period of the cards obtained for companies and drivers is 5 years, control cards are 2 years, and workshop cards are 1 year.
The documents requested for the card application are as follows:
• Driver's license and one photocopy of it
• Biometric photo
• Identity card and photocopy
How Much is the Tachograph Fine?
It is mandatory to have a tachograph in commercial vehicles depending on the class of the vehicle. In case this device is not kept by drivers and companies, a 31/1-b Traffic Fine is applied. In this context, the fine for not having a tachograph is 598 TL. However, this situation may vary depending on 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 usually kept by the companies or firms to which the drivers are affiliated. In this context, the responsibility of keeping and presenting records belongs to the employer, and criminal actions are also applied to the employer. In other words, it is beneficial for tachograph records to be regularly checked and archived by the employing firm and companies.
What are the Tachograph Limits and Rest Hours?
The Highway Traffic Law sets clear and precise 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 can be extended up to 10 hours. The important thing is that the driver's weekly driving time does not exceed 56 hours in total. Within a two-week period, the driving time must not exceed 90 hours. These limitations must strictly be implemented.
Drivers are prohibited from driving continuously for more than 4.5-5 hours. Whether this rule is applied or not can be determined by the data recorded by tachographs. Not only driving times but also rest times are supervised via tachographs.
Accordingly, drivers are required to rest for at least 11 hours in a 24-hour period. This period can be applied either in three segments or as a continuous 8 hours. 📹
If a driver is traveling by 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 criminal sanctions. Furthermore, the use of tachographs and compliance with rest periods are extremely important.
