Downloading vehicle units
A vehicle unit records the vehicle's activity, the cards inserted, places, events and faults. Downloading copies those records into a file that you keep and upload here.
How a vehicle unit is downloaded
Download devices and tools differ, so follow your device's manual. In general:
- Insert your company card into the vehicle unit. A company card allows the undertaking to display, download and print the data it has locked (Regulation (EU) No 165/2014, Article 2(2)(j)).
- Connect your download device or tool to the vehicle unit, start the download, and wait until it says it has finished.
- Copy the saved file to your computer and upload it here with Upload downloads.
How often
- Download each vehicle unit at least every 90 days (Regulation (EU) No 581/2010, Article 1(3)(a)).
- Only days with a recorded activity are counted for that period (recital 3), and the data must be downloaded in such a way that no data is lost (Article 1(4)).
- Your Member State may require downloads more often (Regulation (EC) No 561/2006, Article 10(5)(a)(i)).
Remote download services
Some services download vehicle units remotely. Export the downloaded files from the service and upload them here. If they are standard tachograph downloads, TachoTrace reads them like any other file, by their content.
Detailed speed data
A vehicle unit can include detailed speed data in a download. The legal download intervals do not cover it (Regulation (EU) No 581/2010, Article 1(2)), and TachoTrace does not use it, but it counts towards your storage. Switch it off in your download tool if the tool allows it. See What you can upload.
Driving without a card
A vehicle unit records driving even when no driver card is inserted. That time cannot be linked to a driver. A vehicle's page shows it as "Driven without a card".
These guides explain; they are not legal advice. Where they quote a regulation, the source is linked.