When will new large goods and passenger vehicles be fitted with digital tachographs (DTCO)?
European legislation which was introduced in August 2002, required all vehicles first put into service after August 5th 2004 to be equipped with digital tachographs and EU MemberStates were required to issue smart cards by May 5th 2004. The date of introduction was determined by the date of publication of Annex 1B (1360/2002) in the EU Official Journal, the successful type approval of a “digital tachograph” and the availability of tachograph smart cards. Changes to Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3821/85 on Recording Equipment in Road Transport, which support the introduction of digital tachographs, are contained in Council Regulation (EC) 2135/98 and Council Regulation 1360/2002. However the Council of the Ministers of Transport reached a political agreement on 11th June 2004 regarding the introduction date of the digital tachograph: All ministers of the EU Member States decided on 5th Aug. 2005 as the deadline for the compulsory fitment of digital tachographs. The decision by the Counci
