SMART 2 automatically saves border crossings only on the G2v2 driver card.
18.10.2023
The SMART 2 digital tachograph has some important new features for the driver, such as:
- automatic insertion of the country marker when crossing national borders, which means the driver no longer has to stop at the border; and
- the possibility to fix loading and unloading operations (via a separate menu item).
However, various tests have revealed a problem – new features are not saved on older driver cards!
Driver cards of the digital tachograph
There are different ‘generations’ of driver cards:
- G1 – Generation 1, issued before June 2019 (before SMART 1).
- G2 – Generation 2 version 1, issued from 15 June 2019. Abbreviation: G2v1.
- G2 – Generation 2 version 2, issued from 21 August 2023. Abbreviation: G2v2.
On the driver card, this is shown under the driver’s picture, either with the G1 or G2 symbol. You will have to check the date of issue yourself.
In summary: SMART 2 automatically saves border crossings only on the G2v2 driver card.
Hence the issue!
If a driver is driving with an older card, but the vehicle is equipped with a SMART 2 digital tachograph (installed from 21 August 2023 onward), and the driver has heard about the new functions of the SMART 2 and thinks that the border crossing will be automatically recorded by the device, this could end badly during a police check, because the driver card does not have the country markers stored.
What are the recommendations?
First, you should monitor the situation. If you have a SMART 2 and an old card, test it yourself and see what happens. Download the card and check whether or not the country marker is stored on the driver card when you cross the border. This can be viewed either on a printout or with the appropriate software. You can also send us a file of the driver card and we can have a look.
Second, if you are absolutely sure that your tachograph is not recording border crossings on your driver card, you will have to do it yourself the old-fashioned way – stop at a convenient place after crossing the border and enter the new country marker yourself manually via the menu. This way, you avoid possible unnecessary fines and problems.
Third, if you are stopped by the police and it turns out that you have no border crossings on your driver card, but you were hoping that the SMART 2 tachograph would do it automatically with its new technology, know that the data is still stored in the memory of the device. It is also possible to check it from there.
Conclusion
As a driver, you do not have to be constantly and always take the blame for legislators not doing their job. It is unfair that drivers have to pay for everything out of their own pockets. That is how honest people end up being made dishonest – because of someone’s incomplete and shoddy work.
Do not let that happen. Be careful.
Soon, not a single person will want to enter the profession if they hear about the nonsense that is foisted on drivers on a daily basis. I know many people who are now thinking of giving up on the profession because they can no longer go along with the absurdity of what is happening in transport ...
Best regards,
