Intelligent digital tachographs: Tips and information on how to make a smooth transition to the DTCO 4.0

Intelligent digital tachographs: Tips and information on how to make a smooth transition to the DTCO 4.0

(PRESS RELEASE) VILLINGEN-SCHWENNINGEN, 2-May-2019 — /EuropaWire/ — Continental has just published a number of valuable tips and additional information on helping fleet managers make a smooth transition to the DTCO 4.0. The deadline for the intelligent digital tachographs is June 15, 2019 when they are becoming mandatory for all newly registered trucks.

Continental offers the necessary infrastructure for the new tachographs and is enabling fleets of all sizes to comply with the statutory requirements and continue to operate smoothly. Furthermore, Continental will support fleet managers with the necessary equipment, services and know-how.

According to Marcello Lucarelli, head of Continental’s Tachographs, Telematics and Services segment the company has completed the approval process for its intelligent DTCO 4.0 tachograph well before the effective date of the new regulation.

As a result, vehicle fleets will also be required to have their peripheral equipment updated. They will need to update their download tools and fleet management software in order to work with the new tachograph encryption technology, ensuring continued compliance with legal requirements for archiving and saving data on drivers and vehicles.

Those updates will be needed the moment a single vehicle in a fleet has the DTCO 4.0 on board.

Updating your download tools

Backing up and archiving mass storage and driver card data can be done in a number of ways by Continental.  The company’s automatic downloading solutions (DLD family products) update themselves automatically via over-the-air (OTA) update and customers with these products and tools are covered up – they have to do nothing to prepare their existing devices for the DTCO 4.0.

For the fleet managers that use the products in the DLK family and rely on manual downloading Continental has created simple update possibilities using an update card, which is at www.vdo-shop.de or through dealers. Those that use the DLT Pro download terminals can update their devices via the Software Update option.

However, it is important to note that devices older than the DLK Pro product family and DLT Pro will no longer be able to download and archive data from the DTCO 4.0. 

Fleets that rely on these tools will need to switch to newer models in order to comply with the existing regulations also with the DTCO 4.0.

Diego Santos-Burgoa, sales director of Continental’s Tachographs, Telematics and Services segment, explains further:

“We’ve developed two download keys that meet the new technical requirements, the DLK Pro Downloadkey S and the DLK PRO TIS-Compact S, and they’re already available.”

All of the new or updated download tools will continue to work with older DTCO models.

De-minimis funding program

Subsidies for businesses that invest in hardware or software for digital EC recording devices are available through the De-minimis funding program by the German Federal Office for Goods Transport. More information on eligibility and how to apply can be found on the following web page: fleet.vdo.de/vdo-magazin/de-minimis

Fleet management systems

The fleet management systems will face changes too. VDO TIS-Web Motion or VDO FleetVisor in use by fleet operators to monitor and control their vehicles can continue to safely use their software with the DTCO 4.0.

The TIS-Web 4.9 fleet management system used for complying with statutory data-archiving requirements must be switched to the latest version, which is the TIS-Web DMM 5.0. Fleet operators that fail to update will no longer be able to archive data from vehicles with a DTCO 4.0.  The site fleet.vdo.de provides more information on this topic.

Tachograph apps updates

Continental has also reviewed its apps as we go ahead with the the DTCO 4.0.

Santos-Burgoa comments: “We decided to combine our various smartphone offerings, which cover communication with tachographs and between drivers and fleet offices.”

As planned, users will soon only need a single app in order to benefit from new functions. The new app is expected to be released in fall 2019 and will be available for iOS and Android. That’s why both the VDO Driver app and the VDO Fleet app will not get updated to the DTCO 4.0. The new app will included all the necessary functions.

The DTCO configuration app will remain unchanged. The DTCO configuration app lets fleet managers configure certain functionalities of the tachograph by themselves. Based on individual settings the app will be updated automatically or manually to the DTCO 4.0.

Tachograph cards

Validity of both driver and fleet cards will be until their expiry dates. Once expired, the cads will then be replaced automatically by the authorities with the new generation of cards. All DTCO tachographs are compatible with both the new and the old cards. Workshops, however, will need new workshop cards in order to meet the new test requirements.

Roadside checks

EU regulation 165/2014 specifies a standardized DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communication) interface,  among other requirements, for intelligent digital tachographs with the idea to make roadside checks more efficient.

The DTCO 4.0, in the moving vehicle, transmits wirelessly, following an authentication, vehicle and calibration data and information about security breaches and malfunctions that have occurred to the inspection officers’ devices. Then, inspection officers use the data to stop specific vehicles.

It will result in, thanks to this change, fewer unscheduled stops for companies and drivers that comply with all regulations. For those not in compliance, however, there will be no automatic fines based on the transmitted data.

Online training

Aside the the necessary hardware technology for intelligent tachographs, fleet managers can also rely on Continental for the relevant know-how. Among the new features introduced in the DTCO 4.0 are automatic position determination via GNSS and processing of driver and vehicle data in compliance with data privacy regulations. Online seminars will also be made available on the new DTCO 4.0 and its peripheral equipment. Starting in fall 2019, online training can be booked directly via the VDO Academy booking portal at vdo-academy.de.

Fleet operators can find other important information about intelligent digital tachographs at fleet.vdo.com/dtco-40-ready.

Transport logistic 2019 in Munich 

The new intelligent digital tachograph and the related equipment for efficient fleet management will be demonstrated by Continental at the transport logistic trade fair in Munich between June 4  and 7, 2019. It is the world’s leading trade fair for logistics, mobility, IT and supply chain management. Continental’s TruckOn booking portal will be presented there as well.  The TruckOn connects fleets and repair shops throughout Europe and has been enhanced with new functions. Continental will be exhibiting in Hall A3.309/410 at the trade fair.

More about the DTCO 4.0

EU tachograph regulation 165/2014 specifies a number of functional extensions in device technology: the digital tachograph is becoming intelligent. In order to meet the new statutory requirements, Continental has developed the DTCO 4.0 under its VDO product brand. The new DTCO 4.0 tachograph is even better protected against tampering and provides greater transparency during operation. Also, the EU regulation specifies standardized DSRC (stands for Dedicated Short Range Communication) technology for an integrated remote control mode, which makes precisely targeted vehicle checks possible.

Furthermore, there is an interface to a global navigation satellite system (GNSS), which will automatically record position data that can also be used to assist in fleet management.

Another new feature is the ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) interface, which can help fleet operators boost efficiency and provide a wide range of information from the digital tachograph via a standardized interface. Since most of the information that can be transmitted via ITS interfaces is classified as “personal” the data can only be transmitted from a vehicle if the driver has approved this action.

If the secure data from the tachograph is shared with other data processing systems, apps could use DTCO information to, for example, guide drivers to a nearby gas station, or to a parking lot that is easily accessible at the start of rest periods.

Media contacts:

Oliver Heil
Manager Media Relations
Commercial Vehicles & Aftermarket Continental
Phone: +49 69 7603-9406
Fax: +49 69 7603 88 9406
E-mail:
oliver.heil@continental-corporation.com

SOURCE: Continental