Welcome to the first edition of Truck and Bus Product Focus - the brand new industry newsletter from the publishers of Truck & Bus Pack. Each week in Product Focus we'll be showcasing a different sector of the CV and PSV industries. Keep these newsletters in your inbox, and over time you'll build up a comprehensive reference resource. 

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It's been an interesting couple of years following the introduction of digital tachographs in 2006, which have changed the face of the industry. Now that the dust has settled, we've taken the opportunity to look at a variety of the tachograph options available today.

One-stop professional solution for reading smartcards and downloading data from digital tachographs

aide automotive offer solutions to owner drivers or fleets to comply with the latest digital tachograph requirements. We can offer complete hardware and software kits that enable driver card and tachograph downloads; the data can be reviewed and archived on a PC. We also offer a range of support services, which include training, software installation and latest news bulletins.

Our downloaders are supplied in a rugged shell that resists harsh environments and also protects against dropping. Each downloader is very user friendly and can store multiple full tachographs. The unit is hand-held and powered by batteries or from the tachograph or PC. 

Prices start at £245 + VAT.

Comprehensive Digital & Analogue Tachograph Data Management Solutions

VDO, the Continental Automotive tachograph brand, is a leading European supplier in the marketplace. VDO is offering its innovative TIS-Web system for only £40 per driver/vehicle per year for a typical fleet, complete with a free helpline, software upgrades and with no annual license fee. 

To order a FREE three-month trial of the system, or for further information about VDO’s range of data management products, please click on the link to the left.

Download, view, store and report on your digital tachograph data - without paying subscription fees

Smartcard Focus offers a range of complete, low-cost, digital tachograph solutions. These include our market leading EasyTac downloader, which puts fleet operators in control of their data, making it easy to view and print detailed activity reports and daily graphical timelines for driver's card and VU data.

EasyTac software allows you to decide where your data is stored and how it is passed on for analysis, rather than relying on subscription-based downloading and analysis. All data files can be exported, imported, or shared in standard EU-specified file format.

As experts in the technology behind digital tachographs, Smartcard Focus is uniquely positioned to provide customers with advice on all types of digital tachograph downloading solutions, smartcard readers and VU download devices.

Novadata: Tachograph Training Specialists

With the arrival of digital tachographs and the new legislation surrounding them it's vital that drivers, fitters and fleet managers are all in the know about the new equipment. 

Novadata, a long-standing provider of transport-related training for the UK, has developed a new suite of modular courses which can be adapted for all your transport personnel - run by tutors qualified to City & Guilds standard.

Meanwhile, Novadata's Internet-based digital and analogue tachograph analysis services provide a simple and stress-free solution to your data management. And they also stock a wide range of tachograph equipment including download devices, charts and accessories. 

OPTAC from Stoneridge:
a simple solution for digital data management

Download, view and store data from both digital tachographs and driver cards quickly and easily. Portable and really easy to use, the award-winning OPTAC tool can store up to twenty full digital tachograph records, or over 500 smartcard downloads.

We aim to keep you legal, giving you peace of mind.

The package comes complete with everything you need to connect to your PC, including the latest OPTAC software. It's entirely mobile so you can use it anywhere - around the yard or away from base.

Reports can be viewed on screen and printed for future reference, including seven-day activity logs and fault reports. All this for only £495 plus VAT. Stay legal - buy now. 

It's here at last - Digit-ALL:
The Complete Digital Tachograph Training & Information System for Drivers & Managers

- All the training materials you will ever need to train drivers and managers
- For Actia, Siemens and Stoneridge
- Includes unique printable 'Show me how to' guides for on the job support
- Ideal for primary and refresher training, including printable exercises
Plus:
- Free digital tachograph user manuals
- Free VOSA guides to Drivers' Hours and Tachographs
- All the legislation

Digit-ALL comes on a single interactive CD - and at about a third of the price of individual manufacturers' training packages and with massively more content it's fantastic value for money. It's all you'll ever need! To try before you buy, click the link to the right.

An innovative product developed in partnership with Tachograph Analysis Consultants of Liverpool

New Digi-Fob is now available from Tachodisc

The latest addition to Tachodisc's extensive range of digital products and services is the Digi-Fob, priced at just £25 (plus VAT and delivery).

The new Digi-Fob is a hand-held device, designed to give drivers and transport managers an immediate update of completed Drivers' Hours at any time, by allowing users to view the last card activity, the last daily rest and weekly rest. It also has the ability to show a weekly summary, daily rest infringements, reduced daily rest infringements, break infringements and holiday.

However, it must be noted that the Digi-Fob cannot be used as a download or analysis tool, which is required by law.

Concerned by compliance?
Baffled by digital?

Tachograph Analysis Consultants (TAC) has over 20 years' experience helping all from the smallest to the largest fleets. Correct use of digital and analogue tachographs is crucial for compliance.

Analysis: digital & analogue for Drivers’ Hours, Working Time etc.
Compliance: in-house training, audits, procedures review.
Corporate manslaughter: duty of care; good practice & guidance.
MCD: mobile compliance device.
Training materials: award winning training materials.
Incident analysis: how fast, accelerating, braking…(digital & analogue).
Legal advisers: Public Inquiry, Industrial Tribunals.
Digital tachographs: training, implementation - all three manufacturers.
Handbooks: customised to your requirements.
Fleet efficiency: detailed analysis for a major supermarket chain showed savings over £800,000 pa.

Fleet Solutions from Time Instruments: 
keeping track of your tachograph
and driver data

Timtach offers a range of simple to use and easy to install entry level systems, ideal for smaller operators to full multi-branch analogue and digital analysis systems. With over 30 years' experience in tachograph support, Time Instruments are a VOSA-approved tachograph support organisation.

Software solutions supplied include Tachostore, DigiSave+, TACHOMATT and SOLID. We also stock a range of download tools including download keys, card readers and combined download key/card readers.

• April 25 - Vehicle Weighing
• May 2 - Workshop Diagnostics
• May 9 - Safety & Security
• May 16 - Exhaust & Emission Systems
• May 23 - Fleet & Traffic Management Software

If you would like to advertise in a future edition of Product Focus, or have any further questions or comments, please feel free to email us (info@truckandbuspack.com), or call on 0151 427 1950.

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© OnTarget Publishing Ltd 2008