The Tachomaster Glossary of Terms

This page will help guide you through some of the terminology used in Tachomaster and the tacho world.

Term Description
Active Work also known as Work - the EU Drivers Hours and Working Time regulations use work as a mode to record time when a worker or driver is engaged in activity that is not rest or a period of availability. Under EU Drivers Hours rules Work is separated from Drive but under Working Time regulations drive and work are merged to form a period of work.
Benchmarking Generally a term to judge a sets of data against similar sets - in Tachomaster the benchmarking is used to judge a company against similar sizes of other companies so you can see how you are performing.
Break a period of time a driver or worker takes during a duty period to eat etc. sometimes referred to as rest although rest is normally a period between duties/shifts, i.e. daily and weekly rests.
Company Card the company card is used by an operator of vehicles to authenticate a tachograph VU download and lock data to the card so other companies cannot see it. When an operator receives a new vehicle a user will go to the VU enter the Company card to initiate the lock in by inserting the card. To download a vehicle the user will enter the company card into the VU and then insert a download tool to download the vehicle data. Once the download is complete the download tool and then company card are then removed and ejected. Once the final download for the company has been complete on ejection the operator would select Lock Out - Yes before disposing or selling the vehicle.
Control Card used by the DVSA and Police to carry out enforcement. Once entered the company card will allow the officer to print out or download data from the VU and resident driver card.
CPC Certificate of Professional Competence - in Tachomaster this refers to the Driver CPC - a professional driver is expected to have a valid DQC (Driver Qualification Card) which lasts for a period of 5 years. A driver must undertake 35 hours of CPC training on various driving and transport related subjects or modules to obtain the DQC card. Normally this training is taken in 5 periods of 7 hours, although this can be broken into in 3.5 hour periods, 2 for each module. There are other CPC types too, for example a Transport Manager CPC, is a legal requirement of the operator licensing system for both Standard National and International operating licences.
CPC Cycle End in some instances a driver CPC 5 year training cycle may not be in accordance with the DQC card. This is very unusual now and generally both CPC Cycle end and DQC expiry are the same.
DBS Disclosure and Barring Service - is a UK government system for employers to check any employee or person for previous criminal convictions in order to make safer recruitment decisions. The DBS carries out the functions previously undertaken by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).
DCRS Driving Compliance Reporting System - a Tachomaster module to apply disciplinary levels to drivers based on points for infringements.
Department In Tachomaster drivers can be pigeon holed into sites, employee type and also department. A department could be at various levels, you could setup drivers as rigid or articulated. You could setup a parent Department with sub department off that department. The Department tool can help you group drivers. We would advise against using locations as Departments as you can set up not only Sites but also Regions and Areas.
DigiDL a unit that can be fitted to a vehicle/truck/lorry/bus/coach/van that can download driver and vehicle tachograph data remotely without the need to get in the vehicle. The unit, manufactured by Tacho Sys, can communicate to a central host via a mobile SIM (most commonly) or by WiFi. This centre, for example the Tachomaster servers would host the operators Company Card to authenticate the remote download as you would to perform a manual download. In Tachomaster, if the DigiDL is fitted with a SIM then the Tachomaster Live module will record the driver modes to provide real time tachograph status and analysis. The WiFi option could also provide Tachomaster Live data but only when within range of the specified wireless LAN (Local Area Network).
Digipost Pro a driver card reader and DigiVU vehicle file upload tool. The Digipost Pro is a wall mounted unit that can be fitted with a mobile phone SIM or connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) and can transmit the driver card and vehicle files to Tachomaster via the internet. The unit is not connected to a PC and can be installed entirely independently at any location provided a signal is available. The unit can also be used for time and attendance by switching on the Tachomaster clock in/out capability.
DOT Download Optimisation Tool - The DOT provide advanced remote downloading of tachograph, daily downloads of drivers and vehicles, Tachomaster Live tacho status for drivers hours availability. Falcon Tracking can be added to the subscription for highly accurate vehicle positions and add the DOT Analytics Module for full telematics analytics for driving style, mpg etc.
DQC Driver Qualification Card - a professional driver must undertake 35 hours of CPC training on various driving and transport related subjects or modules to obtain the DQC card. The DQC is valid for 5 years and is issued in Great Britain by the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency). Normally the training is taken in 5 periods of 7 hours, although this can be broken into in 3.5 hour periods, 2 for each module.
Drive a mode that is a period of time that a tachograph vehicle is moving (wheels turning). Drive is accumulated for Drivers Hours regulations.
Driver Card a card issued by the DVLA to record drivers hours. Any driver who has a Driving Licence entitlement to drive a vehicle fitted with a tachograph (C, C1, C1E, CE for trucks or D, D1, D1E or DE for buses and coaches) requires a Driver Card to record this mode data. The driver card is then uploaded to Tachomaster - it is a leagl requirement up upload the data on a driver caard within 28 days.
Drivers Hours Regulations or EU Drivers Hours - The set of rules and regulations that limit drivers to specific amounts of driving time for Large Goods Vehicles (LGV) - Drivers Hours LGV or Passenger Service Vehicles (PSV) - Drivers Hours PSV.
DSA Driver Standards Agency - this body was amalgamated with VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) to form the DVSA.
Duty a period of activity that includes all modes. If a driver uses more than one vehicle in a day then two duty periods are recorded but Tachomaster will apply both duties to a single shift.
DVLA Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency - is the organisation of the UK government responsible for maintaining a database of drivers in Great Britain and a database of vehicles for the entire United Kingdom. Its counterpart for drivers in Northern Ireland is the (DVA) Driver and Vehicle Agency.
DVSA The Driver and Vehicle Standard Agency - formed as an amalgamationn in 2014 of VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) and the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) - they are the body the deals with the following "We carry out driving tests, approve people to be driving instructors and MOT testers, carry out tests to make sure lorries and buses are safe to drive, carry out roadside checks on drivers and vehicles, and monitor vehicle recalls."
Earned Recognition DVSA earned recognition (ER) is a new way for organisations with lorries, buses and coaches to prove they meet driver and vehicle standards. There are a set of KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) that should you go over Tachomaster would inform the DVSA via an automated email that the KPI had been breached. It is possible to use the Tachomaster Earned Recognition Module without sending data to the DVSA and nothing would be sent until your company had engaged with the DVSA ER scheme directly. Once the DVSA have provided you with an operator ID the Tachomaster would report the drivers' hours email once a month (28 days).
EU Drivers Hours the set of rules and regulations that limit driver to specific amounts of driving time for Large Goods Vehicles (LGV) - Drivers Hours LGV or Passenger Service Vehicles (PSV) - Drivers Hours PSV.
Fixed RP Start if you wish your Working Time reference period to be fixed for easier management then you enter a start date in Tachomaster (which is always a Monday) and depending on if your reference period is 17 or 26 week, your Working Time hours will be judged from this date. Once the period ends a new 17 or 26 week period automatically starts.
GV262 a document name previously used for Large Goods Vehicles (LGV) drivers' hours rules and regulations now superseded by the gov.uk website - Drivers Hours LGV. - see PSV 375 for buses and coaches
HGV Heavy Goods Vehicle - an older term now superseded by LGV - Large Goods Vehicle. Also known as lorries and trucks.
Infringement If a driver exceeds the permitted amount of driving times or takes insufficient amounts of rest this will trigger an infringement notification that the driver should be informed of.
LGV Large Goods Vehicle - a lorry or a truck used to carry cargo and goods on the road networks.
Linked Day is a generic term for when a driver card does not record an end of duty and a driver enters only rest between two shifts. This is handled within Tachomaster and if rest has been entered Tachomaster will automatically enter an end of duty either side of a minimum 9 hr rest period by default. If the mode is work or POA this record will not be amended by default but will require an entry to resolve and inform the driver.
LOLER The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) came into force on 5 December 1998. The 17 regulations of LOLER apply to all lifting equipment used in the workplace, whether it is used to lift loads or people. Tachomaster records a LOLER Expiry date against vehicles.
Member Code the Tachomaster member code is a unique code applied to every driver who downloads their data into Tachomaster. If a driver is an agency driver and works for multiple Tachomaster users each driver would have separate member code for each company. If the company uses multiple Road Tech products, the member code exists across all products to provide single app logins and data integration. The member code is the worker/driver user code or username when logging in to the Road Tech apps and web site.
Missing Cards used in conjunction with missing mileage. On digital tachograph vehicles if the vehicle is moved and driven without a driver card the VU will record a period of drive time that the vehicle was driven. Tachomaster will allow users to see this data and amend or add comments to accordingly.
Missing Day in Tachomaster it is advised that something is entered on every day including rest days. Any day that has no data is then known as a missing day.
Missing Mileage if a vehicle has been driven without a driver card (or an analogue tachograph chart) then missing mileage is then reportable. Missing mileage is also mileage where a driver card was inserted but has not been downloaded.
Mobile Worker a term used in Tachomaster and transport that denotes a worker who works driving a vehicle and therefore is subject to the Road Transport Directive which is a version of the Working Time Directive that is in line with the Driver Hours rules.
Night Hours Agreement a worker who works overnight (between midnight and 4am (LGV) or 1am and 5am (PSV)) is only allowed to work 10 hours in any 24 hour period. It is possible to opt out of this with an individual or workforce agreement which known as a Night Hours Agreement.
POA period of availability - a period of time when a worker or driver is available for work but is not actually working. This period is not then added to a workers working time (RTD/.WTD) but this period is still included in a duty period under drivers hours rules.
PreDrive a Road Tech product using a mobile phone application to record the driver daily walk round and other checks. PreDrive links to Tachomaster.
PSV Passenger Service Vehicle - basically a bus or coach that is used to transport passengers.
PSV 375 a document name previously used for Passenger Service Vehicles (PSV) drivers' hours rules and regulations, now superseded by the gov.uk website - Drivers Hours PSV - see GV262 for LGV (HGV)
Reference Period under the Working Time and Road Transport directive a worker/driver is only allowed to average 48 with a specific number of weeks or reference period. This reference period is normally 17 or 26 weeks in length.
Region and Area these can be used in Tachomaster to place sites into areas which have a parent region. This functionality is for reporting purposes.
Remote Download a term for a download that has been initiated from a tachograph VU via the internet.
Rest a period of not working between duties.
RTD Road Transport Directive - a set of regulations that are intended to limit the amount of work a worker or driver can do. The RTD is for mobile workers (who drive vehicles) and has slightly different rules to the standard Working Time Directive so that they do not conflict with the Drivers' Hours Regulations.
Shift a period of time spent on a duty or duties. In Tachomaster if a driver drives two vehicles, two duties will be recorded but a single shift would also be recorded against a driver unless there is a rest period of more than 4 hours between duties. If the 4 hour gap is too short for your operation, please contact Tachomaster support and request that the period be extended - please be aware that this would only affect future duties and shifts and cannot be applied retrospectively.
Tacho Recalibration a digital tachograph unit must be checked and every 2 years in order to measure the unit's accuracy and would be adjusted if required. An authorised tachograph calibration workshop would carry out this work on the vehicle operator's behalf.
Tachograph a device installed in a vehicle to record drivers' hours - originally installed (in the UK) from 1981 these used circular wax covered paper charts. Since May 2006 new vehicles have been fitted with digital tachograph that record drivers' hours on digital smart cards and also record vehicle data.
Tachomaster Live it is possible to get real time driver tachograph status from a tachograph head. If the Road Tech Falcon Tracking system (Gold option) or a DigiDL remote download device (SIM version) is installed in your vehicle then Tachomaster will record the current hours status and display in both Tachomaster and Falcon. Please be aware that most recent tachograph have the live capability some older tachograph units do not have this live (also know as DDS (Driver Decision System) or counter) data available and you may need to request the manufacturer switch it on as it is not necessarily automatic.
Unforeseen Event if a driver has an infringement in Tachomaster there maybe mitigating circumstances, for example a driver is held up due to an accident and cannot take break. The Unforeseen functionality allows you to enter detail of unforeseen evernts. It is possible to setup a user/manager approval system for unforeseen events so a manager is notified of an unforeseen event request. Unforeseen events do not remove infringements but can remove DCRS points for disciplinary purposes.
Uploads when a new driver card or vehicle record is uploaded into Tachomaster remotely via a DigiDL, Digipost Pro etc the record is placed in the Uploads section so you can create a new record with the appropriate settings. The details will not appear in the Tachomaster calendars or reporting until this process is complete as Tachomaster does not know the site, working time referemce period settings etc that you will want to apply.
Vehicle Calendar view times for your vehicles in a calendar layout along with a summary. Options for assigning vehicle data to workers and more are available from.
Vehicle Rule the rule or set of rules by which the drive and duty is applied to for each vehicle. For example whether the vehicle runs under EC HGV, EC PSV, UK Domestic HGV, UK Domestic PSV. It is critical that the correct rule is setup for each vehicle in Tachomaster.
VOSA Vehicle and Operator Services Agency - The former body that dealt with driver and vehicle compliance, VOSA was amalgamated with the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) to form the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standard Agency) in 2014.
VU Vehicle Unit - the digital tachograph equipment that is installed in a vehicle to record drivers hours and vehicle data.
Worker a person who works for a Tachomaster customer (or user company) - these workers are often drivers of vehicles but the term worker is used as not all workers are drivers.
Worker Calendar View times for your workers in a calendar layout along with a summary and options for making additions and amendments.
Workforce Agreement a workforce agreement is used by companies to run extended working time reference periods that are longer than 17 weeks and/or for when workers opt out of the working time night hours restrictions. For extending a reference period, just enter this amount in the worker record (this can be done globally). For night hours agreements, enter the company settings and then workforce agreements can be set in 3 ways, Company-Wide Agreement this will affect all workers, Department Specific Agreement affecting a specific department and overriding any company-wide agreement, Specific Worker Agreement in Add/Amend Worker affects a single worker and overrides all other agreements set, for that worker.
Workshop Card a card used by approved tachograph vehicle unit (VU) installers and calibrators.
WTD The Working Time Directive - a set of regulations that are intended to limit the amount of work a worker or driver can do within a day, week and reference period.