Blog posts about Smartanalysis

New to digital tachographs – What are the driver’s and operator’s basic responsibilities?

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) have reported that some transport operators have been using vehicles fitted with digital tachographs, but with no idea on…

Suspended prison sentences for drivers convicted of tachograph fraud

Four drivers pleaded guilty and were convicted at Newry Crown Court in Northern Ireland for offences connected to fraud and forgery of tachograph records. Prison sentences…

EU Drivers’ hours compliance – A summary guide for new drivers and operators

All professional LGV, bus and coach drivers are governed complex rules concerning the use of the vehicle tachograph and their drivers’ hours.  This summary guide provides…

What does the latest Fleet Compliance Checks report tell us?

The latest Fleet Compliance Checks report (2013 to 2014) was published at the end of October. The Department for Transport commissions this report. It is produced…

Over 50% of HGV drivers on M5/M6 exceeded drivers’ hours in 12 months

In a year-long operation on the M5 between and J4 and the M6 between J6 for Spaghetti Junction and J14 more than 200 HGV drivers were…

Ramping up drivers’ hours enforcement in EU

EU laws regarding tachographs and drivers’ hours are ineffective if there is inadequate enforcement of them. In the UK the DVSA and Police are responsible for…

HGV drivers offences

What are the most common offences for HGV drivers? How might they be avoided? See below HGV drivers offences from 2013 vs 2014 in numbers. Download…

Simplified guidance on EU rules on drivers’ hours and working time

Simplified but far from simple. The Department for Transport have published a new 23 page guide to simplify the EU drivers’ hours and working time rules.…

£3000 fine for tachograph offences – £500 per drivers’ hours offence!

A Co Armagh heavy goods vehicle operator and his driver were both fined £1,500 at Armagh Magistrates’ Court today for tachograph irregularities following an investigation carried…

Everything you wanted to know about the DVSA’s Earned Recognition Pilot

The DVSA’s Earned Recognition Pilot inviting road transport operators to share maintenance and tachograph data will help the authorities focus their efforts on non-compliant operators. The…

Loaning HGVs can be more expensive than you might think.

A farmer was recently fined £500 after he failed to produce tachograph charts for a HGV he loaned to a friend. The driver was also prosecuted…

How do you know if a new job will cause a drivers’ hours infringement?

A customer asked me recently if there was a tool from Descartes that allows them to pre-empt any potential drivers’ hours issues when they look to…

Want to be left alone by VOSA? – IRTE Conference 13 Sept 2012

The IRTE Conference on 13 September 2012 at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon focused on strategies for cost effective fleet management and operations. The conference included…

HGV Levy to be suspended to help with COVID-19

The Government will suspend the HGV Levy for 12 months from August 1. The 12 month suspension is to help reduce financial liabilities for UK and foreign hauliers…

Tachograph reports help Industrial Tribunal dismiss fraud case

The recent case of Brian Yeardley Continental’s successful defence of a “whistleblowing” case brought by a disgruntled ex-employee highlights the importance of having your tachograph and…

Maintain a compliant and safe road transport operation with COVID-19 restrictions

As a road transport operator, the current situation with COVID-19 and restrictions with social distancing present significant challenges. Some operators will be experiencing a slowdown in…

RHA call for Drivers to go to jail for breaking drivers’ hours rules

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has recently called for tougher action to be taken against truck drivers who falsify their driving records.  Drivers’ hours infringements and…

Updated rules and guidance on drivers’ hours

Drivers’ hours rules and guidance have been updated on GOV.UK. If you drive a goods vehicle or a passenger-carrying vehicle you must follow the rules on…

HGV operator fined £1,900 for drivers’ hours offences in Northern Ireland

Eight charges relating to HGV drivers who failed to take the required daily rest resulted in a fine of £1,900 for a County Antrim-based HGV operator…