The tachograph (tachometer) is the bus's black box: it records driving time, breaks, rest and speed and is used by the authorities for inspection. Here are the rules, cards and errors that cost fines.
Introduction
All buses designed to carry more than 9 people, including the driver, and subject to driving/rest time regulations (Regulation (EC) 561/2006), must have a tachograph (speed recorder). It records driving time, breaks, daily rest, and speed, and is the central control tool for the Road Directorate and the police.
Digital vs. analog tachograph
| Type | Recording | Short / media |
|---|---|---|
| Analog (older) | Discs (tachograph discs) — record curve on paper | Paper disc — removed and stored |
| Digital (standard) | Data on tachograph card and in the unit's memory | Driver's card (personal chip card) |
| Smart tachograph v2 | Automatic GNSS Position + Remote Readout via DSRC | Driver's card — new generation |
New buses registered in the EU must have smart tachograph (version 2) acc. Regulation (EU) 165/2014 with continuous amendments. Smart tachograph v2 automatically registers GPS position and makes it possible for roadside inspection to read data wirelessly (DSRC) without stopping the vehicle.
The cards
- 01Driver's card (personal) — inserted in the tachograph at start; records the driver's activities. Valid for 5 years; issued by the Traffic Authority.
- 02Company card — haulier/operator's card; provides access to company data in the tachograph.
- 03Control/authority card — used by police and the Danish Road Directorate for roadside inspections.
- 04Workshop card — calibration and service; only approved workshops.
What is inspected?
- 01Compliance with the 4.5-hour limit and 45-minute break.
- 02Daily and weekly driving time (9/10 hours, 56 hours/week, 90 hours/2 weeks).
- 03Daily and weekly rest (11/9 hours; 45/24 hours).
- 04Missing activities — periods without registration must be explained (e.g. ferry rest outside cab).
- 05Calibration certificate: the tachograph must be calibrated every 2 years or when changing tyres/bodywork.
Manual entry at start and end
When you insert your driver's card at the start of the day, the tachograph asks whether you want to record activities for the period since the card was last removed (e.g. rest, ferry, other work). You must also enter the country symbol — the country you start and end the drive in. If the drive is not covered by the rules (e.g. private driving or driving under the 50 km exemption), you put the tachograph in »out of scope« (OUT). If you forget the country symbol or manual entry, periods appear unexplained during inspection.
Activity symbols
| Symbol | Activity | Counts as |
|---|---|---|
| Rat | Driving | Travel time (automatic when the bus is running) |
| Crossed hammers | Other work | Work time — not break |
| Square with lines | Availability time | Can count as break/rest under conditions |
| Bed / horizontal line | Break and rest | Resets the 4.5-hour clock |
The four cards
| Card | User | Validity | Issuer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver's licence | Each driver (personally) | 5 years | Road Authority |
| Business card | Haulier/operator | 5 years | Road Authority |
| Workshop card | Approved tachograph workshop | 1 år | Road Authority |
| Control card | Police and Road Directorate | 5 years | Road Authority |
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