Update: The new smart tacho version 2 – What transport companies need to know

Reading out and archiving tachograph and driver card data with the new smart tachograph version 2 (Tacho Gen2V2)

Take action now: From 21 August 2023, new vehicles over 3.5t must be equipped with an intelligent tachograph version 2 (Smart Tacho V2), which requires new download keys or an update.
Lkw-Fahrer greift nach Smart Tacho V2 - Gen2V2

Short summary

Smart Tacho already compulsory in newly registered commercial vehicles since 2019

NEW from 2023: New vehicles need Smart tachograph version 2

Deadline:
21 August 2023

Legal basis
Regulation EU No. 165/2014 / Regulation (EU) No. 2021/1228

What is new?

New functions: OSMNA – Open Service Navigation Message Authentication enables recording of border crossings (expected only from 2024 onwards)
Bluetooth integrated for hardware-free data download (not expected to be usable until 2024)
Encryption and download: Download keys and remote download must receive update (as of now)

Intelligent tachograph version 2 soon mandatory

21 August 2023 is the deadline for the implementation of the measures from the EU Mobility Package

IWithin the framework of the EU Mobility Package and in particular the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1228, the European Commission also defined the further procedure regarding the intelligent tachograph. This is connected with a deadline that transport companies and hauliers should have on their radar: From 21 August 2023, the installation of the smart tachograph version 2 in newly registered commercial vehicles from 3.5 t is mandatory!

+++ Update 23 October 2023: Grace period granted +++

Due to the supply shortages of the new digital tachograph version 2, the EU Commission has granted a grace period. Member states can give time to retrofit until 18 August 2025 – Attention: This only applies to heavy commercial vehicles newly registered between 21 August 2023 and 31 December 2023, in national and international traffic.

Source and more information: Press release of the EU

The smart tachograph version 2 has functional innovations that are intended to provide better protection against manipulation, enable more efficient controls and make cabotage journeys and employee dispatches more traceable.

Get the readout hardware / downloadkeys updated in good time.

The most important thing right at the beginning: The tachographs of the 2nd generation version 2 cannot be read out with the existing download keys or remote readout hardware! In order for these to be able to handle the data containers from the intelligent tachographs, they require an update, which in most cases is subject to a charge, or it is even necessary to purchase new hardware.

Find out from your provider in good time whether their hardware is Smart Tacho V2-ready! This is the only way to comply with your legal obligations and not risk fines.

By the way, DAKO’s readout products have already been completely adapted to the new data structure, both the DAKO TachoKEY incl. App and the DAKO TachoStation as well as the hardware LINK 740 for remote download. » to the DAKO shop

How does the Smart Tacho version 2 differ from its predecessor?

Expansion of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) to include recording of border crossings

The Galileo satellite navigation system (GNSS), which is already available in the Smart Tacho version 1, is extended by a new security signal. The so-called OSMNA (Open Service Navigation Message Authentication) will also automatically record the vehicle position when crossing the border. This improves the documentation of cabotage journeys and driver dispatches and makes manipulation more difficult.

However, the new function will probably not be available by the deadline of 21 August 2023, but will be introduced via an update, the date of which is not yet known. Initially, the country entry on the tachograph must still be done manually! The entry of the location at the beginning and end of a working day remains unaffected and must still be entered by the driver (supported by a current position suggestion from the tachograph).

ITS interface with Bluetooth communication

Already known from the predecessor model is the standardised ITS interface (Intelligent Transportation System). This is no longer optional, but mandatory. Via the interface, it is now possible to securely transmit a variety of individual data from the tachograph to third-party telematics systems, for example. This includes position data, activity and driving time data or vehicle data such as brake pedal use.

The Gen2V2 tachograph now also communicates via Bluetooth, so that it should be possible to read out data via apps, for example, without a download key. However, this function will probably only be available in the course of 2024. DAKO is in the process of developing an app that is capable of reading out the tachograph and driver card via Bluetooth in order to make the function directly available after the manufacturer updates the Smart Tacho version 2.

Expansion of recorded data – activity data driver card, type of cargo, position loading and unloading operations

The new devices can record more data than before. On the one hand, this concerns the activity recordings of the driver card – the temporal scope of the recording increases here from 28 to 56 days (reason: extension of the control period). The use of this function requires the change to new driver cards with increased memory capacity. However, a compulsory exchange of driver cards is not planned, already existing driver cards and company cards remain valid and also function in the Smart Tachos version 2.

The new driver cards G2V2 will also store in future:
  • Recording of border crossing
  • Position documentation during loading and unloading
  • Configuration settings of the tachograph
  • Extended calibration data (country and time stamp)

New driver and company cards will be issued from August 2023, which are also backwards compatible with older tachograph models. New workshop cards will be available from July 2023.

In addition, the new tachographs also record the type of cargo (goods/people).

Attention: Drivers must now enter the location manually during loading and unloading operations! The tacho and driver card store the entered position and time.

DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communication) now also transmits driving times

The current system of remote data retrieval has been optimised. This is intended to facilitate checks and enable a pre-selection of conspicuous vehicles. In future, more data can be transmitted, such as driving times. In detail these are:

  • the time stamp for the last authenticated position
  • the uninterrupted driving time of the driver
  • the longest cumulated driving time of the driver for the current and previous working day
  • the driver’s longest accumulated driving time for the current working day or for each completed working day started or finished in the current week
  • the driver’s accumulated driving time for the current week
  • cumulative driving time of the driver for a two-week period

When inserting the driver card for the first time, drivers still have to decide whether they give their consent to the transfer of personal data. This only concerns the transmission to third party systems, authorities are legally allowed to read this data. However, a remote control without stopping the vehicle is still not possible, this is only about efficiency and pre-selection for controls. This benefits drivers and companies that comply strictly with the law, because then it is less likely that they will have to stop for a check.

Which vehicles are affected by the transition to the new Smart tachograph?

The deadline of 21 August 2023 applies to newly registered commercial vehicles over 3.5 t from this date. Any new vehicle you buy after this date will have a 2nd generation version 2 tachograph.

Do vehicles also have to be retrofitted?

Yes, but only in cross-border traffic. Gradually, older vehicles in this area must also be equipped with the new tachographs. By 31 December 2024, all vehicles > 3.5 t with analogue or digital tachographs in cross-border traffic must be equipped with the Gen2V2 tachograph. Commercial vehicles over 3.5 t with Smart tachographs version 1 have a retrofitting obligation until 19 August 2025.

The Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1228 also stipulated that commercial vehicles between 2.5 and 3.5 t in cross-border traffic must also have smart tachographs version 2. Here, the deadline is 1 July 2026.

Vehicles that only drive domestically are not affected for the time being.

Smart Tachograph incl. retrofitting obligations at a glance

  • 15 June 2019: Smart Tacho Version 1

  • 21 August 2023: Smart Tacho Version 2

    Compulsory for all newly registered commercial vehicles > 3.5t

  • 31 December 2024: Compulsory retrofitting to Smart Tacho Version 2

    for commercial vehicles > 3.5 t with analogue/digital tachographs of older design in cross-border traffic

  • 19 August 2025: Compulsory retrofitting to Smart Tacho Version 2

    for commercial vehicles > 3.5 t with Smart tachographs version 1 in cross-border traffic

  • 01 July 2026: Smart tacho version 2 mandatory

    for light commercial vehicles (> 2.5 t to 3.5 t) in cross-border traffic

From when will Smart tachographs version 2 be built in?

In June, the Federal Motor Transport Authority already granted type approval for the VDO DTCO 4.1, which is a smart tachograph version 2. It is therefore quite possible that version 2 smart tachographs will already be installed in new vehicles before the deadline. Definitely, transport companies will have to expect them in newly registered vehicles from 21 August 2023.

How can you prepare for the smart tachograph version 2?

As an entrepreneur with a fleet of vehicles or as a self-driving entrepreneur in the commercial sector, you must ensure that you comply with your legal obligations at all times. That is why it is enormously important to find out about the new devices now and, above all, to check the readout hardware. Providers of download keys and other readout hardware and software should be able to provide information on when an update for the devices will be available. There is no question that an update is necessary. DAKO’s readout range is prepared for the new Smart Tachos V2, the DAKO TachoKEY is Smart Tacho V2-ready.

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