Tachographs and Horseboxes

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EquusOurique

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I know this a very old subject but in a bid to clarify the situation I visited the Enforcement Section of the Department of Transport to get a definitive and clear answer.

Here goes:

Private box (if clients are contributing to costs this is still private use) up to 7.5 tonnes does NOT need a tacho or a card putting in if you have one.
Box up to 7.5 tonnes engaged in commercial work must have a calibrated tacho and you must use a card at ALL times.
ANY horsebox, regardless of use, OVER 7.5 tonnes gross MUST have a calibrated tacho and MUST use a card.

My thanks to the DOT at Beverley test station.
 
I thought a 7.5T private HGV has to have a tacho in working order and calibrated, but is not required to use it (i.e. puts cards in it). How else would I know my speed?
 
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I thought a 7.5T private HGV has to have a tacho in working order and calibrated, but is not required to use it (i.e. puts cards in it). How else would I know my speed?

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yes you still need it as a speedo but not to record on a chart
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Oh dear, more myth and rumour.
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If you want the answers you need to read Council Regulation (EC) 561/2006, Council Regulation (EEC) 3821/85, The Community (Drivers Hours) and (Recording Equipment) Regulations 2007 and the Transport Act 1968. The only problem is that is nearly 300 pages (most of which, about 250 pages, is irrelevant unless you want to know how to manufacture a Digital Tachograph).

Basically the OP got it pretty much correct, although the bit about taking a clients horse on a cost sharing basis worries me. That sounds like a 'commercial activity' to me, otherwise why would they be a 'client?' Which would not be exempt Tacho / drivers hours.

It doesn't matter when the vehicle was first registered, if the use of the vehicle falls under one of the exemptions contained within '561, or the derogations contained within CDHRE you do not need to have a tacho fitted. You can actually take the existing tacho out and just fit a speedo instead. However, if you were to then use the vehicle on a journey that was not exempt you would be committing an offence. Note; if you have a later analogue tacho, looks like a CD player or a digital tacho, you may not be able to remove them as they will be connected to the vehicles' can-bus electrical system.

Any vehicle that falls under the control of '561 and was first registered on or after 1st May 2006 will need to have a Digital Tachograph fitted.

Having a tow bar fitted to a dual purpose vehicle (4x4) or an LGV (Transit type) does not necessarily mean that a tacho must be fitted. A tacho needs to be fitted only if the use of the vehicle comes under the descriptions contained within '561. I have a Shogun with a tow bar and have not got a tacho fitted and will not be fitting one unless the law changes (highly unlikely anytime soon).

All of this has nothing to do with Revenue & Customs, they may have many powers but Tachographs and drivers hours are not their concern. The Police and VOSA enforce drivers hours and Recording Equipment (proper name for Tacho) rules in the UK.

Hope this helps clarify things. If anybody would like PDF copies of the legislation PM me with your e-mail and I will happily fill up your in-box.
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Oh dear, more myth and rumour.
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ooo.gif


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The reason that there is so much myth and rumour is that you can never find anything on the VOSA website or get a straight answer out of their staff or the police.
 
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