In the road transport sector, the management of driving times, rest periods and vehicle data is strictly regulated. To guarantee transparency and security, several types of card are used with digital tachographs. These cards, each with a well-defined role, are indispensable for drivers, companies, maintenance workshops and control authorities. Here's an overview of the different cards used in the world of transport.
1. The driver card
Validity: 5 years
Use: Compulsory for all drivers of vehicles fitted with a digital tachograph - driving vehicles over 3.5 T (or carrying more than 9 passengers). This card is strictly personal. It identifies you and is authenticated by the tachograph.
Functions :
The driver card records: activities carried out (driving, resting, working and availability) driving status (single or double crew) identity of the vehicle used distance traveled malfunctions and breakdowns.
The card records your activity on all the vehicles you drive, for a minimum of 56 calendar days.
Note: Drivers are responsible for their card, which must remain in good condition. It contains the same information as the driver's license, but does not replace it.
Practical information: driver card application, renewal and loss
The key stages in applying for a driver card renewal
When should you plan to apply?
The renewal request must be made between 3 and 1 month before the card's expiry date. This is the transition period between the 2 cards.
Your new card can be used the day after your old card expires. Keep your old card with you for at least 56 days after the expiry date.
How do I apply for a renewal?
2 options are available :
Request your renewal directly from your personal space on the HubProTransport portal https://hubprotransport.com).You pay by credit card on the secure site.
You can request the delegation of your cards through your company, with the agreement of your employer. Go to “My requests” and click on “Delegate the management of your tachograph card requests to your employer”.
Price €56.00 excl. tax, i.e. €67.20 incl. VAT, payable by your employer.
What should I do if my driver card is lost or stolen?
You must report the loss or theft of your driver card to the appropriate administrative authorities (police, gendarmerie, etc.). You can drive for 15 calendar days after the loss of your driver card.
During this period, you must be able to justify your activity, so you must print out a tachograph ticket at the end of each day.
By law, you must keep them with you for at least 56 days, and then store them at your company for 1 year.
2. Company card
Validity: 5 years
Use: The carte entreprise is issued to companies that own or operate HGVs and are registered with the Registre du Commerce. Any manager of a company based in France who operates a truck or a fleet of trucks can apply for one or more cards, for himself or for his employees.
Functions :
Used to manage the transfer of recorded data from the on-board device to the company's IT system.
Non-nominative, it bears only the company details (name and address of head office).
Advantage: Facilitates data archiving and management of driver activity times.
3. Workshop card
Validity: 1 year
Use: Nominative card protected by a secret code. This card is reserved for agents of workshops approved by DIRECCTE. (National portal for regional directorates for the economy, employment, labor and solidarity).
Functions :
Allows calibration and maintenance of tachographs.
It electronically signs the boxes, enabling you to find out who installed them.
It stores data on the vehicle's last three breakdowns and the last six anomalies.
It is the only card that can be used to modify the operation of electronic tachographs.
4. Controller card
Validity: 2 years
Use: Land transport controllers' cards are nominative, while other controllers' cards are anonymous.
Agents considered as controllers :- Gendarmerie officers - Police officers - Customs officers - Agents of the Ministry of Transport's land transport control corps.
Functions :
Read, print and download data stored in tachograph memory or on driver cards.
Objective: Ensure compliance with transport regulations.