Tachograph Compliance – Driving Without a Driver Card and DCPC (Driver Certificate of Professional Competence)
In the second quarter of 2024, at the Roadside Checks the enforcement agencies observed notable increases in tachograph offenses, specifically:
- Driving Without a Driver Card:
- Increase: 35%
- Implications: This rise suggests a growing issue with drivers failing to use their driver cards correctly. The driver card is crucial for recording driving times, breaks, and rest periods, ensuring compliance with regulations designed to prevent fatigue and ensure road safety. A significant increase in offenses might indicate lapses in compliance and potential safety risks.
- Fines: Fines for driving without a driver card are substantial to deter such behaviour. They typically range from several hundred to several thousand euros depending on the jurisdiction. For example, fines might be up to €5,000 or more in some regions, and additional penalties could include vehicle impoundment or points on the driver’s license.
- Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC):
- Increase: 22%
- Implications: The rise in offenses related to the DCPC indicates a concern with drivers either lacking the required certification or failing to maintain it. The DCPC is essential for ensuring that professional drivers have the necessary skills and knowledge to operate safely and efficiently. This increase could point to issues with driver training or certification processes and could impact overall road safety and operational standards.
- Driver Fines: Fines for not having a valid DCPC are also significant. They generally range from a few hundred to a few thousand euros, depending on the country. For example, fines in many European countries can range from around €1,000 to €2,000 or more and repeat offences may result in higher fines or additional legal consequences.
- Operator Fines: For the operator are 5 times higher in many European countries for allowing a driver without a valid DCPC to operate and drive a commercial vehicle.
Overall, these increases in offences will lead to more and stricter enforcement to raise awareness of compliance requirements among drivers and operators.
With Idha-Online and proDRIVERS you can avoid these pitfalls by regularly checking that you know all your drivers and that they are on your payroll.
