Transport managers remotely accessing data from digital tachographs via telematics systems might be breaking the law unwittingly unless they also download the data via the encrypted front port.
Tacho specialist Tachodisc says that, with the exception of VDO's latest model, data transmitted by telematics systems via the rear port of digitachs does not include the unit's digital signature. This is only provided when the data is downloaded from the front port using a suitable encryption cable.
"Accessing tacho data via telematics provides real-time information but, legally, operators must also download the data because it must have the digital signature," says Tachodisc director Karen Crispe. "Most digitachs since 2006 have allowed remote reading from the rear of the unit, but this does not comply with the law."
Operators must also 
keep hard copy records of tacho data for two years, adds Crispe.
Tachodisc is about to launch a new Bluetooth device that will allow tacho data to be transmitted as email via mobile phones and software-enabling laptop computers to be connected to digitachs via an encrypted USB cable so that digitally-signed data can be downloaded straight onto the PC in the cab.