DTT HGV Tachograph Rules 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What must a driver do before starting a new journey with a digital tachograph?
- Insert driver card, confirm or enter country, and check that the correct mode is displayed (Correct answer)
- Switch the vehicle to manual recording mode
- Print a full activity report from the previous day
- Enter the destination and expected cargo weight
Correct answer: Insert driver card, confirm or enter country, and check that the correct mode is displayed
Before starting a digital tachograph journey, insert your driver card, confirm or manually enter the country you are starting in, and verify the tachograph is in driving mode before moving.
Question 2: What is a 'manual entry' on a digital tachograph used for?
- Entering activities that occurred when the card was not in the unit — such as rest taken at home (Correct answer)
- Overriding automatic speed recording
- Recording cargo details
- Inputting the destination of the journey
Correct answer: Entering activities that occurred when the card was not in the unit — such as rest taken at home
Manual entry allows a driver to enter activities that occurred when the driver card was not inserted — such as rest at home, holidays, or sick leave. This ensures the full 24-hour picture is complete.
Question 3: A driver is asked by a Garda to produce tachograph records. What records must they be able to show?
- Current day's record plus the last 28 days of records on the driver card (Correct answer)
- Only the current week's charts
- The last 6 months stored on the vehicle unit
- Just the current day's printout
Correct answer: Current day's record plus the last 28 days of records on the driver card
A driver must produce their current day's tachograph record and be able to show the last 28 days of records stored on the digital driver card (or last 28 days of analogue charts).
Question 4: What does the 'availability' mode (hourglass symbol) on a tachograph mean?
- The driver is available and waiting but not driving or working — such as waiting for a ferry or loading (Correct answer)
- The driver is on a mandatory break
- The vehicle is on standby with engine off
- The driver is travelling as a passenger in another vehicle
Correct answer: The driver is available and waiting but not driving or working — such as waiting for a ferry or loading
Availability mode records time when the driver is free to leave the vehicle but must remain available — such as waiting for loading/unloading or waiting at a port. This time can count toward daily rest under certain conditions.
Question 5: What is the difference between 'break' and 'rest' in tachograph regulations?
- A break interrupts driving time; rest is a longer period after a shift when no work may be done (Correct answer)
- There is no legal difference — both terms mean the same thing
- A break is at least 9 hours; rest is at least 45 minutes
- Rest can be split; breaks must be continuous
Correct answer: A break interrupts driving time; rest is a longer period after a shift when no work may be done
A break (minimum 45 minutes after 4.5 hours driving) interrupts the driving period but does not count as rest. Rest is a longer period (minimum 9 hours daily) during which no work or driving is permitted.
Question 6: What is the purpose of a tachograph chart centre field (front of the disc)?
- Contains legally required fields for manual entry of driver name, date, registration, and odometer readings (Correct answer)
- Holds the carbon copy of the disc for the employer
- Contains the disc's unique serial number for authentication
- Provides space for the Garda to sign after an inspection
Correct answer: Contains legally required fields for manual entry of driver name, date, registration, and odometer readings
The centre field (and front) of an analogue tachograph chart contains mandatory fields that the driver must complete in writing: name, date, vehicle registration, and odometer readings at the start and end of the shift.
DTT HGV Tachograph Rules 4
What must a driver do before starting a new journey with a digital tachograph?