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What are my legal
obligations as a fleet
operator?
Since May of 2006, all newly licensed HGVs of more than 3.5 t and vehicles
for the conveyance of more than 9 passengers including the driver must
be equipped with a digital tachograph, in accordance with Regulation (EC)
No. 561 / 2006.
Data that was recorded on tachograph charts in the past is now electronically stored in the mass memory of the
digital tachograph and on the driver card. To fulfil your legal obligations as a fleet operator, you must regularly
download and archive the data from your digital tachographs and driver cards.
The tasks and obligations involved in complying with Regulation (EC) No. 561/2006 are
listed below for you.
Digital tachograph
Company preparations
The digital tachograph is activated before the ve hicle is commissioned. An authorised workshop must then
calibrate the digital tachograph for the vehicle within 14 days and enter the vehicle registration number.
Every company must have at least one company card.
A person who drives a digital tachograph-equipped HGV must possess a valid driver card.
Printing paper must be inserted in the digital tachograph. We recommend that you keep sufficient replace-
ment rolls of printing paper in the vehicle.
Archiving data
Driver card data must be downloaded and electronically archived every 28 days* at the latest.
Digital tachograph data must be downloaded and electronically archived every 3 months* at the latest.
Archived data must be stored for at least 1 year*. Backup copies of data must also be made.
In accordance with the pertinent regulation for driving crews, the data must be deleted upon expiry of the data
storage time limit.
* Legislation may be country-specific and must be adhered to accordingly.
