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11110 V E S Like the rising of the sun the adoption of

26th October 2000
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

electronic smart-card tachographs is a foregone conclusion. Unfortunately, unlike the sunrise, we STILL don't know when this will happen. Brian Weatherley looks at what operators can expect from the high-tech solution to drivers' hours. AII right, let's start with an easy one. When exactly will we get the new electronic smart card tachographs? "Ah... that's the $64,000 dollar," says Nick Rendell, with an enigmatic smile.

As boss of VDO Kienzle, the UK arm of tacho manufacturer Mannesmann VDO Kienzle which is set to be a major supplier of the new equipment, he's in a better position than most to know. Unfortunately, we're dealing with Brussels here.

Peter Needham, VDO Kienzle UK's product and training man

ager, picks up the story: "The EU Council of Ministers adopted the original proposal for the digital tachograph way back in 1997— and the final '113' technical specification should have been approved in July 1998. But it wasn't until March of this year that it actually happened."

So what's being proposed?

"There are two elements decided under 1B—the driver's smart card and the vehicle unit," Needham explains. "But the problems are in operational issues, as the industry will need to be set up to accommodate smart cards and the digi tal system—rather than tachograph charts."

Although the technical specification for the digital tachograph (or DT) has been approved by

member states it has not yet been published in The Official Journal of the European Communities, and until it is, it won't be fully applied.

Just don't expect a ripping yarn. According to Needham, the full DT specification plus appendices for all the elements of electronic tachos comprises a 21n pile of A4 pages. Snoozeville!

Meanwhile, we've already passed the original official DT implementation date of L August 2000 and we're still no nearer to knowing when the first units should be fitted to new trucks—although we do know that European Council Regulations 2135/98 indicate a delay of 24 months from the original date of publication.

However, Rendell says: "My gut feel is that there will be a delay until around 2003. The only requirements upon the member states are to have card issuing resolved for enforcement and to decide how test stations will work. But there's still a lot more to sort out."

Tags

Organisations: EU Council of Ministers
Locations: Snoozeville, Brussels

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