Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Hi,
I have a question from a brother in law who lives overseas.
Are HGVs monitored using a logbook system in Australia or using a tachograph system as in Europe.
My understanding of tachographs is that it records when a vehicle is driving / parked on a circular disc that cannot be interfered with by the driver. A new disc is inserted each day by the operator and discs are stored for a prescribed period for possible review.
Appreciate any help.
Thanks,
Tony

Back in the 1980's family friends with trucks all had tachographs - not sure about now tho.

In Australia every driver of a Heavy Vehicle (12 tonne GVM and over) must carry and fill in a Logbook........ There are some exclusions for drivers working within a 100 klm radius of their depot..........

Most of the larger fleet companies also run electronic tracking systems that pinpoints their vehicles to within 1 metre....
It also monitors other info such as speed rest breaks etc..... This is usually monitored and recorded on computer at the depot....... So the boss is constantly watching everything his drivers are doing.......

smithy5 wrote: So the boss is constantly watching everything his drivers are doing.......

Problem is, that the bosses who are watching are the ones getting paid bonuses for getting work done "efficiently" and are prone to push drivers over limits to make themselves look good.

This happens in smaller businesses more than large businesses. But i wouldnt put it past a few big businesses.

smithy5 wrote:In Australia every driver of a Heavy Vehicle (12 tonne GVM and over) must carry and fill in a Logbook........ There are some exclusions for drivers working within a 100 klm radius of their depot..........

Most of the larger fleet companies also run electronic tracking systems that pinpoints their vehicles to within 1 metre....
It also monitors other info such as speed rest breaks etc..... This is usually monitored and recorded on computer at the depot....... So the boss is constantly watching everything his drivers are doing.......

Thanks Smithy5, so logbook is mandatory and no tachograph.
Cheers, appreciate your help.
Tony

TopCat wrote: Thanks Smithy5, so logbook is mandatory and no tachograph.
Cheers, appreciate your help.
Tony

At the moment no Tachograph, but the rumours have been around for a few years now that it's not far away.......
The technology is readily available and every time there is a traffic incident involving a truck, the desk jockey's see it as an answer in the name of "safety"

Also if you are going to be using a log book, ensure you rule straight lines, print neatly and clearly in black or blue pen, ensure you spell correctly and don't make any mistakes. All of these breaches are subject to fines and demerit points

I know a bloke who got written up for putting down Wagga in his log book instead of Wagga Wagga...Nice guys them rta boys.

Gav wrote:I know a bloke who got written up for putting down Wagga in his log book instead of Wagga Wagga...Nice guys them rta boys.

Not unlike the bloke who got done for too many hours after he spent 8 of them sitting in traffic while the F3 was blocked

Not sure whether Trucks still have Tachographs. We used to when I worked for The Overnighters. I used to have to pull them out of the trucks every morning and "lose" the ones that showed the blokes doing 140km/h plus on the Hume. Speed Limiters don't do much when your going downhill in Neutral