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TWO CA Tit
Page 60
Page 61
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With the first digital tachographs hitting the road,
Colin Barnett introduces an irregular series focusing on
their use. First, find your card.
It might still be plagued with problems, but there's no escaping that the world of digital tachographs is with us. For those cynics who said:"I'll believe it when there's a smart card in my wallet," that day has now arrived. Enforcement and workshop control cards have been available since early summer, and you can now obtain driver and company cards.
Whichever card you need, the first step is the same — call 0870 8501074 and ask the friendly Swansea operator or after-hours answerphone for an application pack.You'll he asked whether you are applying for a driver or company card, although we asked for a driver card pack and received two packs for each type. Better too many than too few, though, and the good news is that they arrived in less than three days.
The application form (D7798) for a company card is quite straightforward, as long as you remember to use the compulsory black pen. It requires the obvious company name and contact details, as well as a named individual to be responsible for your company's card admin.There are no specific requirements for this person to have any special qualifications.
The form then asks for the number of an existing card, if this is not a first card application, and your tachograph calibration centre seal number if your company operates one. You can then specify when you want the card to start within the next three months, and how many cards you require, up to a maximum of 2,232 — a number that must have some relevance to someone.
Finally, you can request replacements for lost, stolen or faulty cards, or exchange cards following company name or address changes. On the reverse, you can apply to renew an expired card, hut you can ignore that for the next five years, the life of a card. Then just sign the cheque —this time they don't care what colour pen you use — and post to DVLA, Swansea SA99 1ST.
Tick a few boxes
Applying for a driver card (D777B) varies in difficulty. If it's for your first card and you already have a photo-card ordinary GB driving licence, it's very easy. You simply fill in your name, address, confirmation of UK residency for at least 185 days in the past year and your 16-digit driving licence number, using black ink or course, tick a few boxes and you're done.
One point to remember with both cards is to keep your final signature within the box provided, to allow for the digitisation process.A practice box is provided in the application form notes.
In circumstances where you are not replacing a lost or stolen card,changing personal details including name, address and photo, or exchanging a foreign card for a GB one, you can receive the new card by post. Otherwise, you have to collect it from a pre specified DVLA local WINO office orVOSA test 616 station. One slight blemish in the otherwise fairly efficient process is the need for this personal collection if you just change your address, which many people do on a fairly regular basis.
Filling in the forms
From phoning for an application pack on a Sunday afternoon to receiving the driver card Our application took just I days, including the time for getting around to filling in the forms.
Finally, why would you need a driver card? Quite simply,if you wish to drive a goods vehicle of more than 3,500kg G VW or a passenger vehicle carrying more than nine occupants,which is equipped with a digital tachograph,you must have a digital card.
The only exception is that if you have been issued with a digital card that is subsequently lost, stolen or faulty, you may drive for up to 15 days, or as long as it takes to return the vehicle to base. I lowever, the onus is on the driver to prove the
eaecuivgerz:
Transport circumstances, and you can expect this to be vigorously enforced when the system is up and running.
We will return to the subject of digital tachographs with a hands-on look at using and managing them just as soon as enough specialist products and services appear on the market. In the meantime, you can check out the official information source at www.digitaltachograph.gov.uk.