For many years the tachograph was a device that recorded only driving and rest times. With the smart tachograph generation, the picture changed: the device now automatically processes location points, border crossings and loading/unloading operations, and enforcement bodies can access this data remotely. Although the device lives in the tractor, half of the recorded operation actually takes place on the trailer.
What Gets Recorded?
- A breakdown of driving, break and rest periods matched to the driver card
- The trip's start, end and intermediate location points, plus border crossings
- Time and location data of loading and unloading operations
- Cross-matching of vehicle-combination records with telematics systems
Combined with Trailer Telematics
Tachograph data alone tells the driver's story; trailer telematics adds the vehicle's story: door openings, temperature logs, axle loads and brake-system data. When the two sources combine, the result is the trip's complete digital twin — a defence file in an audit, a proof tool towards the customer, and raw material for operational analysis. The fleet manager's job is to consciously set up this data stream's access rights and retention arrangement. A fleet that collects data for its own efficiency, not just for audits, comes out ahead of this transformation.