“Poland and other EU countries have problems with the timely implementation of second-generation cards,” the Polish Security Printing Works reports. This is the effect of Brexit – one of the three laboratories certifying these cards (located in the UK) has stopped its activities. We asked experts if there might be delays in collecting new trucks from manufacturers.
From mid-June this year, smart tachographs will have to be installed in all new trucks in the European Union. These devices will be much more technologically advanced than the current ones. Among other things, they will mark the position of the vehicle every few hours and enable the ITD to read the data remotely, without having to stop the truck.
However, in order to enable the use of smart tachographs, cards must also be available. Meanwhile, the Polish Security Printing Works recently announced that the handing over of workshop cards may be slightly delayed.
Several weeks delay
The process of implementation of second-generation cards started in Europe in 2016 runs very slowly throughout Europe due to the fact that only 2 laboratories are currently entitled to issue certificates – STA in Sweden and WFD in the Netherlands,” – the Polish Security Printing Works reports in a press release.
At the same time, it adds that the British laboratory stopped working on the equipment, ‘as a result of Britain’s departure from the EU’.
For this reason, the issue of second-generation workshop cards may be shifted in Poland by a few weeks and is expected to start as late as mid-April. That is almost a month after the deadline.
Workshop representatives admit that without cards they will have their hands tied and will not be able to perform e.g. calibration of smart tachographs. However, there is not much to worry about. They believe that those who have applied for workshop cards in good time should receive them early enough to train staff and allow new tachographs to be used.
All transport will not be stopped
Other industry representatives also see no cause for concern. “There will be no drama, at least that’s how we see it at the moment. It will be possible to activate tachographs already in the factory, and probably most manufacturers will do so. Only for later calibration will the workshop be necessary,” explains Jakub Faryś, President of the Polish Automotive Industry Association.
There are two types of workshops in Poland. The first are those belonging to manufacturers. And, as I know colleagues, they will do their best to get these cards and be able to calibrate the tachographs on time. The second are independent workshops. Yes, there may be some delay in their case, but if this happens, it is due to the fact that the owners did not complete certain formalities in good time. Frankly speaking, however, I think that here, too, we are talking about exceptions,” adds Faryś.
At the same time, he stresses that smart tachographs are only required for new vehicles this year.
So even if some trucks will be parked with carriers waiting for calibration, it will not mean that suddenly the entire road transport will stand still. Everything that has been on the road so far will still be able to do it,” he adds.
No queues
The problem, as the experts point out, seems marginal for one more reason. So far, the interest in new tachographs has not been too great. Zbigniew Kołodziejek, Marketing Manager at DAF Trucks Polska confirmed that there are no queues.
Since this is a change imposed by law, not by the market, I think that customers will register trucks with old tachographs until the last minute,” he explains.
And even the fact that the delay in issuing cards is now discussed not only in Poland, but also in other countries, such as the Netherlands, does not make it a huge problem for the industry, which is supposed to seriously hinder running a business. At least not for the time being.
Ultimately, everything depends on the actual delay in availability of cards. If it does not exceed two or three weeks, we will manage to do everything on time. However, the less time we have to implement new systems, the more nervous the process of handing over the vehicles to the customers will be,” states Kołodziejek.
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