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Smart-card tachos 'will hit launch target
Page 6
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THE DVLA and electronics manufacturer Actia have both stressed that the 5 August 2005 deadline for the introduction of digital smart-card tachographs will be met, despite concerns from the Freight Transport Association.
A DVLA spokesman says the agency is only waiting for digital boxes to start appearing in trucks so it can start issuing smart cards.
With less than 10 months before the August deadline, fears are mounting that drivers will be committing an offence if they are unable to use the technology because of a lack of training.
However, Actia which is the first of four manufacturers to gain type approval for its smart-card tachograph says it has already had discussions with the FTA, as well as "large operators" who are so impressed with the samples they have tested they are considering retro-fitting their entire fleet "[Truck] manufacturers have had c-samples, d-samples for a while now," says Actia's sales and marketing manager, Steve Byng. "As time goes on they will use ones with test cards. We are where we want to be now.We are working on training courses [but] it only took me an hour to learn it."
However. FTA policy director James Hookham, says Actia has not fully explained the system to operators. "Actia has to tell our members how far they have got in convincing Mercedes, MAN, Iveco and so on ,that they can supply the equipment and get it working," he adds.
"It's a little more complicated than just getting type approval from the EC."
A DVLA spokesman says: "We are ready to issue [smart cards] now. As soon as units appear in vehicles then the cards will be ready to go."