Tachograph laws

Wife’s just bought a 7.5t horse box with a tachometer fitted (paper disc style) - fairly sure it was a conversion for a commercial lorry. I’m presuming the same rules will apply when using it as they would with a 7.5t commercial? Lady she bought it from didn’t seem to know anything about the tacho and I’m guessing it has done several thousand miles without a disc in it.
 

itsalwaysme

Member
Location
Cheshire
Wife’s just bought a 7.5t horse box with a tachometer fitted (paper disc style) - fairly sure it was a conversion for a commercial lorry. I’m presuming the same rules will apply when using it as they would with a 7.5t commercial? Lady she bought it from didn’t seem to know anything about the tacho and I’m guessing it has done several thousand miles without a disc in it.
If it's a horsebox for private use only it will probably be (have been with last owner) exempt, you just need an exemption note for MOT
 

Boohoo

Member
Location
Newtownabbey
Give me a minute to find my notes from my transport management courses to ensure that I'm 100% correct. In the meantime anyone who thinks they know what a lorry looks like please refrain from posting because every time tachograph, CPC or operator licensing are mentioned on this forum there is more incorrect than correct information posted.
 

Boohoo

Member
Location
Newtownabbey
Drivers whose driving is solely for non commercial purposes, up to 7.5 tonnes, are exempt from the drivers hours regulations. So if the lady in question only transports her own horses for her own pleasure then there's no need to insert a tachograph chart. However, if the lorry is used to transport horses for other people and payment is received or if the lady in question makes her living from competing then a tachograph chart would be required along with full compliance with EU drivers hours regulations.
 

simon-0116

Member
Location
Sheffield
Drivers whose driving is solely for non commercial purposes, up to 7.5 tonnes, are exempt from the drivers hours regulations. So if the lady in question only transports her own horses for her own pleasure then there's no need to insert a tachograph chart. However, if the lorry is used to transport horses for other people and payment is received or if the lady in question makes her living from competing then a tachograph chart would be required along with full compliance with EU drivers hours regulations.
Daft question if a mechanic fetches Lorry to carry out work from owners yard to his business premises presume they then need to put tacho in. Asking for a friend [emoji6]
 

Boohoo

Member
Location
Newtownabbey
Daft question if a mechanic fetches Lorry to carry out work from owners yard to his business premises presume they then need to put tacho in. Asking for a friend [emoji6]
Can't find that in my notes, was sure I had it somewhere.
The official exemption list to EU drivers rules includes,
"Vehicles undergoing road tests for technical development, repair or maintenance purposes, and new or rebuilt vehicles which have not yet been put into service."

If the dealer collects a lorry for service from where I work their driver doesn't insert their digital tachograph card and sets the tachograph to 'Out of Scope'.
 

Boohoo

Member
Location
Newtownabbey
Isn't there a radius to keep within though, something in my mind about 60 km radius or maybe it was 100km - 60 miles?
There is a UK exemption to the EU rules for vehicles carrying animal carcasses and waste not for human consumption as well as live animals between farms and markets within a 50km radius. There's a domestic regulations exemption from record keeping for vehicles driven less than 4 hours per day within a 50km radius of base. None of these would apply to the OP though.
 

Half Pipe

Member
There is a UK exemption to the EU rules for vehicles carrying animal carcasses and waste not for human consumption as well as live animals between farms and markets within a 50km radius. There's a domestic regulations exemption from record keeping for vehicles driven less than 4 hours per day within a 50km radius of base. None of these would apply to the OP though.
The radius has been increased to 100km.
 

FIL46

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Aberdeenshire
I have a merc atego for my race car it is plated at 7490kg has a side door and two windows for the sleeping bit and sectioned off from the rear for the car, When I got it tested at vosa I asked the head boy there the law and he said, as its plated at 7490kgs and with the above mentioned it is a Private use vehicle and no tach was needed he helped me fill out the form job done.
 

Boohoo

Member
Location
Newtownabbey

Half Pipe

Member
Yes, it has been 100km since March 2015. My notes date from 2014 and I don't think I've had any need to look at exemptions since. Thank you.

@ridger you were correct about the 100km radius.
The change to 100km saved fair bit paperwork for us getting to a market just over 50km from our base.
Had to keep a diary showing other work time off etc just to keep the hour drive to and from market once a week legal.
Now just daily walk around check and off we go.
 

Robt

Member
Location
Suffolk
For your use (the op) you do not need a yacht. (Edit, predictive text put yacht rather than tacho!) if it’s a digital then set it to places, then out of scope to save it beeping. HOWEVER if it’s a digital then it records anyway so if you are using for private non tachometer use and you have a crash say 8 hours after no stops then you will rightly be forvthe high jump. Our 4x4’s all have tachometer in. We are borderline it a “grey area” however I do feel better if I have a rest and visual check of lights etc after 4.5 hours of driving.
So to the op, if your wife is doing horse events local then you are fine. If however she is driving over 4.5 hours then I’d suggest a digital tacho is fitted for yours, hers, anyone else’s safety. My tacho card cost £35 I think
 

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