Anyone had this before? Got in truck 2014 reg wanted do a print out came out blank so checked the roll was fine tried twice more nothing came out blank.
Guessing this is a vor situation have reported it was told were look into it meaning they probably won’t
I always thought they used thermal heat thing to do a print out kinda like a till.
Anyone had this before? Just curious really.
While on subject kind of what’s the rules if you do days driving a van.
I always thought next time get in a truck do a manual entry.
Ok have kinda make it up roughly and can’t input driving time. So just work when had a break more work and break etc.
Some lad told me today he doesn’t bother to much ch hassle and fath he just keeps a diary when out on a van so if gets stopped can get his diary out.
I always thought had be on your card or am I wrong?
Diaries etc are no good. They used to be accepted, but no more.
You must make a record either by manual entries, or on the back of a tacho-roll.
If you are in a van (under 3.5T) the driving time is not driving a truck, so is not entered as driving.
Lots of people don’t bother with lots of things…Some get away with it, some don’t.
Using a pen and a bit of tacho-roll seems easy enough to me to avoid possible grief, and less chance of wrong input on manual entries.
Edit To Add
"When a tachograph is not available to record data in real time, the only permitted methods for drivers to make a manual entry are to:
make a manual entry on an analogue tachograph record sheet – write the driver’s name in the usual place and blocks of activities anywhere else as long as they are legible
make a manual entry on digital printout paper – write the block of time on the front of the paper and driver details on the back (driver name, driver card number, driving licence number)
retrospectively use the manual input facility on a digital tachograph when the card is next inserted
The regulations do not permit any other forms of record. However, DVSA will also accept attestation forms that cover the relevant periods, including rest, other work and periods of availability. One attestation form should cover each activity. For example, in a period where there was no in-scope driving, a driver would need one attestation to cover other work, and another for weekly rest."
From the .gov site Drivers’ hours and tachographs: goods vehicles - 4. Tachograph rules - Guidance - GOV.UK
Digital tachographs do not use ink for printouts, as you say they use thermal paper but it has to be the right quality in order to last for up-to 2 years and still be readable.
Assuming that you’re using the correct standard of print paper and it’s not too old it could be that the roll of print paper is bad.
As @franglais has said van driving does not come in-scope of EU regulations so you do not need to record driving time as it counts as other work for the EU regulations.
Personally I would simply write the days start and end times and the breaks/rest periods on a piece of printout paper, but you can input it all into the tachograph with a manual entry if you’re confident about not making mistakes.
If you record the van shift on printout paper, when you next use a tachograph use the ? symbol for the time from the end of the last tachograph shift to the start of the current tachograph shift
edit: Just to add that if you try another roll of print paper and it still does not work you need to VOR the vehicle, as far as I’m aware you still need to be able to do printouts for the DVSA or police if you get stopped.
Have you checked the paper roll is loaded with the printed side comes out in the right orientation, I’ve chucked a roll in before now and put it so it comes out wrong side facing up or down (whichever it is can’t remember off hand without looking at one and it comes out blank. If the paper is in the correct way then I’d guess the thermal head that makes the printout is goosed at a guess.
As also said if it doesn’t print then it needs to be VOR as you need enough paper and he able to print for a DVSA stop, as to what having enough paper actually is depends so I always carry at least 3 tacho rolls with me. I currently have 5 more the better then you are covered no matter what.
There is no legal minimum paper rolls to carry just enough so that DVSA can do as many printouts as they like, so it could depend on how far back they want to go as to how much paper would be required, so better to carry a fair amount.