- acho checks every
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two and six years
0-AND SIX-yearly tachograph inspections will be compulsory by end of this year, but the proposed arrangements have upset le operators' representatives, writes ALAN MILLAR.
he checks fulfil an obligation hrined in EEC Regulation 3/70 to nominate bodies to -y out the two-yearly checks the accuracy and calibration tachographs, and six-yearly calibration inspection.
1 regulations to be laid before liament this spring, for implentation by the end of this 1r, the Department of Transtwill nominate the 474 tachoph calibration centres aldy approved by the DTp. se are all commercial estabhments which are fitting )nts for the three tachograph nufacturers on the British rket — Lucas Kienzle, Smiths ustries, and Veeder Root.
Vhile the industry would pretachograph checks to be card out during the annual adworthiness check at a ting station, the DTp says this not possible. It says that :hograph work demands Ihly skilled engineers whose lotions cannot be carried out test station inspectors.
he annual test only checks lether the tachograph is fitted that the seal has not been npered with.
rhis has done nothing to pla:9 either the Road Haulage Asiation or the Freight Transrt Association, although the IA's technical officer, Mike een, conceded this week that )robably is easier for the DTp operate the system through o separate testing centres.
-le said that operators in rural as could face greater diffi'ties as they may have to drive vehicle for 25 miles in one .ection for its annual roadworness check and another 25 les in another direction for the thograph check.
The FTA accused the DTp of making more than is necessary of the EEC requirement, and added that operators will now be required to maintain separate and detailed records.
"Otherwise, they will have no means of knowing, other than by checking each vehicle, when a particular vehicle requires a twoyear tachograph check," a spokesman told CM.
The biggest area of doubt still surrounding the plan is the level of fees to be charged for the twoyearly checks. The operators' associations believe it need only be a fraction of the £17 statutory charge for full calibration, and according to Mr Kneen this could be around £5 or £6.
The Motor Agents Association/which represents the fitting agents, is still arguing its case for an increase in the £17 fee. At present, the DTp wants this raised to £22, but the MAA is pressing for a £27 fee and has yet to consider what level of charges there should be for the simpler check.
Indeed, the exact form of the check has still to be agreed, so costings can only follow that. Some in the tachograph industry want self-destructive plaques to be fitted to the tachograph heads to prevent tampering.