Reading driver cards and tachographs

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Three ways to read driver cards and tachographs

The rules on drive and rest periods stipulate that driver cards must be read at least every 21 days and tachographs must be read at least every 60 days.
There are three different ways to read driver cards and tachographs:

Automatic reading (remote download)

Automatic reading of driver cards and tachographs is done via a remote download box, which is either mounted on the back of the tachograph or factory fitted by one of the manufacturers. Examples of remote download boxes that are retrofitted in the tachograph are DLD (VDO), Lommy, Jaltest, AddSecure or MapOn.

Manual reading (wireless download)

For manual reading (wireless download) via a reading key, you can, for example, use a VDO key. This reading key has an integrated driver card reader, which allows you to download data directly from the driver card and tachograph onto the key. You can therefore do the task directly in the office/company.

Manual reading via a public reading station

Public reading stations: If you choose not to purchase hardware (download box/download key), you can always read via a public station, where you can use one of our 40+ stations around Denmark. At most stations there is a DAKO or VDO station where you can insert your driver card.

See the location and opening hours of the stations here:

Reading reminders

We will send you reminders by text message and email when you need to read your driver card and vehicle. The reminders will be sent 3 days and 1 day before you are due to read according to the rules on driving and rest periods, as well as additional reminders if the date is exceeded.

You can choose whether you want to receive the reminders by text message, email or both. The reminders make sense if you read manually at a station or with a reading key. Then you don't have to remember the 21-day and 60-day intervals yourself.

We recommend that you keep the reminders activated even if the driver card and tachograph are read automatically. This is because the technology can malfunction, a driver card can break or the tachograph can report an error in the reading. In this way, you will get a reminder that there is something you need to take into account. In these cases, contact our customer support team and we will resolve any challenges that may arise.

Download guide

DAKO station:

Check that the DAKO sign/logo lights up blue.
Insert the driver card into the DAKO station with the chip inwards and the image down.
The DAKO sign starts flashing green as a sign that it is loading.
When the DAKO sign lights up green constantly, the loading is complete.
Remove the driver card.
The DAKO sign will again glow blue.

VDO station:

Check that the LED light lights up blue.
Insert the driver card into the DAKO station with the chip inwards and the image down.
Led light starts flashing green, as a sign that it is loading.
When the LED light is constantly shining green, the loading is complete.
Remove the driver card.
The LED light will again light up blue.

In case of problems, call:70 222 337

VEHICLE DATA:

REMEMBER to turn the ignition on.
Insert company card into slot 2.
Insert the DAKO key into the download connector in the digital tachograph.
Type 1 on the key and the download begins.
When it finishes downloading, all diodes will light up to confirm that the download is OK.
Remove the DAKO key.

DRIVER CARD DATA:

REMEMBER to turn the ignition on.
Insert driver card in slot 1 and company card in slot 2.
Insert the DAKO key into the download connector in the digital tachograph.
Type 2 on the DAKO key and the download begins.
When the download is complete, all diodes will light up to confirm that the download is OK.
Remove the DAKO key.

STATION DAKO KEY DOWNLOAD:

Check that the "DAKO sign" lights up blue.
Insert the DAKO key into the DAKO station.
The "DAKO sign" will now flash green.
When the "DAKO sign" lights up constantly green, the download is complete.
Remove the DAKO key.
The "DAKO sign" will again glow blue.

DRIVER CARD DOWNLOAD

1. Turn the screen towards yourself so that the driver card opening sits at the top of the VDO key.
2. Turn on the VDO key on the button at the bottom and the screen will be lit.
3. Insert the driver card into the opening there, with the chip at the bottom and towards yourself
4. Data download begins while on the screen you can see a horizontal bar loading.
5. The VDO key beeps when data download is complete. On the screen it will say: "Available downloads"
6. Remove the driver card and turn off the VDO key on the button.

TACHOGRAPH DOWNLOAD:

1. Turn on the VDO key on the button and the screen will light up.
2. Put company cards in the tachograph in Slot 2.
3. Take the triangular cap of the VDO key,
4. Insert the VDO key into the tachograph opening there.
5. Data download starts while VDO key diode flashes
6. When the download is complete, the VDO key beeps while the diode lights up permanently.

WATCH VIDEO HERE

STATION VDO KEY:

1. Take the square and flat cap of the VDO key.
2. Install the extender cable on the VDO key in the USB connector.Note: Important that the VDO key is turned off!
3. Insert the other end of the cord into the VDO Download Terminal USB input on the right side.
4. Download begins and the VDO key beeps when it is finished. The screen will say: Download Complete.

VDO KEY FOR HOME PC:

1. Take the square and flat cap of the VDO key.
2. If using the USB cord, it must be installed now.
Note: Important that the VDO key is turned off!
3. Insert VDO key/wire into USB input into your computer.
4. Download begins and the VDO key flashes when it is finished.
5. You can double-check by checking to see if the files have ended up in the folder: (C:) – DAKO – Daten – Container - Backup.
Alternatively, by checking if you have received the reports by email.

In case of problems, call: 70 222 337.

DRIVER CARD DATA:

Turn on the Optac (NOTE: It must not be connected to a computer).
Insert the driver card into the Optac, with the chip outwards and down.
Press the button with a card symbol to read.
Green diodes start flashing, which means loading is in progress.
The optac beeps and the green diode lights up constantly – loading is complete.

CAR DATA:

REMEMBER to turn the ignition on.
Insert the company card into slot 2 of the car's Tachograph.
Insert cable between Optac and the digital tachograph.
Press the key with a half-colored car. (if you want all data read, press the full-coloured car)
When the download is complete, the Optac will beep and a green diode will glow constantly.

DOWNLOAD TO PC:

Turn on the Optac and connect it to a computer via a USB cable.
Data will now be automatically transferred.
A pop-up window tells you when data is downloaded.
The optac can be disconnected again.
Within 5 minutes you will receive a report by email.

In case of problems, call: 70 222 337

Notifications if you need to react:

We will also send you reminders by text message and email when a driver card or company card is about to expire. We will remind you 60, 30 and 14 days in advance so that you can order a new driver card or company card in good time before the old one expires.
You will also receive an email from us if

We detect a new driver or a former driver in one of your vehicles
We detect a new vehicle that is logged in with your company card or where one of your drivers is registered in it.
We receive a data file from the vehicle which is empty
We receive a data file from the vehicle which is broken/defective
We receive a data file on a driver with errors on
You have been driving without a driver card
You are not logged in to your vehicle

A driver card must be read at least every 21 days. It is allowed to read as often as you wish.
When you read a driver card, you do not 'empty' the driver card, but simply take a copy of the data stored on it. Driver card data is stored on a driver card for 3-12 months (depending on the number of activities and incidents) before the data is overwritten with new data. It is therefore also important to read an old/expired driver card before shredding it.
With automatic reading, the reading intervals are typically set to every 14 days to ensure that no drivers go over time, despite days of absence.
Some also choose to set download intervals to every day if you need the information from the driver card for e.g. payroll.

Reading driver cards and tachographs

CONTACT US FOR A NON-BINDING OFFER

Three ways to read driver cards and tachographs

Automatic reading (remote download)

Manual reading (wireless download)

Manual reading via a public reading station

Reading reminders

Download guide

DAKO station:

VDO station:

VEHICLE DATA:

DRIVER CARD DATA:

STATION DAKO KEY DOWNLOAD:

DRIVER CARD DOWNLOAD

TACHOGRAPH DOWNLOAD:

STATION VDO KEY:

VDO KEY FOR HOME PC:

DRIVER CARD DATA:

CAR DATA:

DOWNLOAD TO PC:

Notifications if you need to react:

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