GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026
Tachograph data
Tachograph data is the automatically recorded, legally required log of a professional driver's activities: driving time, working hours, breaks, rest periods, and vehicle speed are captured continuously and stored on the driver card and in the tachograph's internal memory.
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Source: https://www.etsc.eu/what-is-a-tachograph/
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Definition & Explanation
Tachograph data is the automatically recorded, legally required log of a professional driver's activities: driving time, working hours, breaks, rest periods, and vehicle speed are captured continuously and stored on the driver card and in the tachograph's internal memory. Commercial road transport operators across the EU must ensure this data is downloaded, archived, and reviewed at regular intervals as part of their compliance obligations under hours-of-service regulations. Enforcement authorities access these records during roadside checks and company inspections; infringements can trigger fines, driving bans, or sanctions against the transport undertaking. It is worth distinguishing the raw data itself from the compliance reports produced by tachograph analysis software – the latter are derived outputs, not the original record. Digital tachographs have progressively replaced analogue chart discs, with smart tachographs now enabling remote roadside checks via DSRC communication.
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