5 reasons to exchange your old tachograph for a SMART 2 today

16.04.2024

31 December 2024 is an important deadline for international transport operators: analogue and first-generation digital tachographs (until June 2019) must be replaced with SMART 2 digital tachographs. And time moves at a rapid pace. Should you wait until the last moment, or install a SMART 2 now?

Here are 5 useful reasons why you should change the tachograph now.

When crossing borders, SMART 2 enters the country code automatically. No need to stop.

When the country code requirement was introduced in 2022, no digital tachograph had automatic country code input capabilities. The requirement arose, there was no capacity, but the country code must be inserted – by force. This means unnecessary stops when crossing national borders. All of that, in turn, is a waste of time and money and, to be honest, a hazardous thing to do in traffic. With the arrival of SMART 2 from 21 August 2023, this capability is finally available. So, drivers with a SMART 2 digital tachograph installed in their vehicle can easily drive across borders without stopping. The tachograph enters the code automatically.

You must only know that the Stoneridge tachograph automatically saves the country code on all driver cards, but the one from VDO only does so on driver cards produced since 21 August 2023. So if you have an old driver card and a VDO digital tachograph, you should get a new card made. See additional information here.

SMART 2 takes into account the ship rule even during weekly rest periods (24 and 45 hours)

We have a new rule as of 20 August 2020: you can take a break to board and disembark the ship even during weekly rest periods, i.e. both the 24-hour and 45- hour rest period. The 45-hour rest period can be interrupted if the ship journey lasts at least 8 hours. Other nuances remain the same: there can be a total of 2 interruptions, a maximum of 1 hour in total.

Problem: I would like to use this rule, but the tachograph does not understand it and still requires a long break after taking a rest break with interruptions. This is because older and SMART 1 tachographs have planning systems that the new rules are NOT programmed into. Only SMART 2 can understand the new rule. Older tachographs can only understand the interruption of regular daily rest periods, as this rule has always existed. Therefore, many drivers and companies struggle with the fact that they want to use the ship rule during the weekly rest period, but drivers are apprehensive to do so, because the tachograph will get confused. This leads to missed opportunities, which might create stress caused by ignorance and the reluctance of drivers to use the ship rule during weekly rest periods. However, SMART 2 helps to solve this problem immediately, because IT KNOWS!

Calculation of two consecutive shortened (24 h) weekly rest periods in the planning system

The weekly rest period rule is one of the most complex in the work and rest period rule set for drivers. There is the so-called old or basic rule, and there is also the ‘mobility package rule’. The mobility package rule allows you to do two ‘45s’ and two ‘24s’ in four consecutive weeks. This means that the driver has the possibility to take only 24- hour breaks in two consecutive calendar weeks, which the basic rule does not allow. At this point, the driver must also take into account other conditions such as compensation, which differ from the base rule. See this article for more details. The assistance system helps the driver and the company be more aware of the weekly rest periods and allows the planning system to assist the driver in this difficult matter. SMART 2 can be trusted more than older tachographs. Of course, it is very important that the driver knows the rules of work and rest time at a professional level and understands which rule they are currently using or want to use. But that is related to continual code 95 training, where all this is learned.

Avoid queues at the end of the year and potential fines in the new year

Thousands of vehicles need to replace their existing tachographs with SMART 2. This is an expense, and of course one would like to postpone the expense as far as possible. Understandable, but ... Many think so. So, we can expect that, at the end of the year, there will be a lot of crowds and queues. However, it is questionable whether the people replacing the tachographs will be able to do everything at once. So, you may suddenly find yourself in a situation where you need to send the vehicle out at the beginning of the new year, but you have not had time to replace the tachograph yet. If you take the risk and do it with an old tachograph, it means risking a fine for using a non-compliant tachograph. The problem can be prevented by replacing your tachograph now, where there are no queues.

Moreover, older trucks with tachographs that are not SMART, may no longer carry out transport across the border. It is extremely easy for the police to check this – SMART tachographs are equipped with a DSRC system, meaning that the police can see your tachograph data when you drive past them. Old tachographs do not have this system, so it is easy to detect and catch them and issue a fine. In addition, changing a tachograph in a foreign country… the Polish police would fine 10,000 zloty for such a thing! The potential cost is suddenly multiplied.

Ensure the replacement of the tachograph now at the most affordable price and at a time that suits you

Upon browsing the price lists for SMART 2 replacements, the replacement of the first- generation digital tachograph costs 1,350 euros + VAT, at a minimum (digimeerik.ee). You do not have to take the vehicle to the workshop – the device will be changed at your vehicle’s location (it´s mobile service). The prices at the Scania dealership start from 1,580 euros + VAT. In any case, when communicating with importers and brand representatives, prices have no sign of decreasing; it is rather believed that they will increase. High demand will certainly contribute to an increase in prices in the second half of the year. There may also be supply issues, but the tachograph manufacturers have said that they will be able to handle the orders.

Another thing is that, at the moment, you can plan the time of the tachograph replacement yourself and do it at a time that suits you. At the end of the year, however, you just might not get a shot at a time that suits you. This can drag on and become inconvenient. Prevent problems and find out more about various service providers yourself – www.stoneridge.ee – and have SMART 2 installed now.

In conclusion

The introduction of the SMART 2 digital tachograph is useful in many ways – it enables you to cross national borders without stopping and helps to plan work and rest time rules better and make the driver’s job easier in many other ways. In addition, they are equipped with a Bluetooth system, which enables even better control of the tachograph through the corresponding app (NB! The app is not available at the moment). Many drivers already use SMART 2 and feedback is being received. There are upsides, but also some cons, which we will discuss in further detail in the driver’s code 95 advanced training.

The European Union published a letter recently, asking all parties involved to remind people of deadlines for the transition to SMART 2 and, if possible, to replace the tachograph with a biannual inspection. Do not leave this to the last minute, they emphasised.

The deadlines for changing tachographs are as follows:

• 31 December 2024, all analogue and first-generation digital tachographs (non-SMART, produced until June 2019),
• 19 August 2025, SMART 1 tachographs must be replaced by SMART 2.
• 1 July 2026, SMART 2 tachographs must be installed on vans with a gross weight of 2.5 tonnes or more engaged in international transport.

However, it is clear that there is no escape from SMART 2. This exchange process does not only affect the local Estonian carrier. That is simply how it is. And the sooner it is installed, the better! Why wait?

My message is: replace your existing tachograph quickly and start benefiting from SMART 2 today!

See also: Memorandum of the EU Commission and Corte on the replacement of tachographs

If you have any questions about the use and replacement of the new SMART 2 digital tachographs, or if you need any kind of advice or help, feel free to contact us. We are happy to help!