Many drivers forget to manually enter the correct country code in the tachograph at the start or end of their workday.
This may seem like a small detail, but it is a legal requirement strictly monitored by the ILT (Dutch Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate).
Even with the latest generation tachographs the Smart Tachograph 2 this remains an important point of attention. Although this tachograph automatically records the country code when crossing borders, the driver still needs to manually enter and/or confirm the country code at the start and end of each shift.
If this is not done, the trip registration will be incomplete.
This is what it looks like in the software:
What are the consequences?
A missing or incorrectly entered country code is classified as a violation by the ILT. This can result in fines during roadside inspections or company audits.
If this happens repeatedly, it may also lead to increased monitoring of your company.
How can you prevent this?
Although technically a simple action, complying with this requirement demands consistent attention:
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Provide drivers with clear instructions on entering the country code at the start and end of the workday.
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Encourage drivers to correct a forgotten entry. If the country code was not entered immediately, it is better to enter it later than not at all.
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Use tachograph analysis software, such as the Roadsoft platform, to automatically detect missing country codes. By setting up notifications, planners or drivers can be informed in time about mistakes or omissions.
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Utilize automatic reports to quickly see which drivers regularly skip this step. This enables you to take targeted action and prevent errors in the future.
By combining good guidance, monitoring through software, and continuous attention, you can easily avoid this common — and very preventable — violation.
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