A remote tachograph download allows fleet managers to automatically retrieve data from Driver cards and Tachographs (sometimes referred to as Vehicle Units or VU) without physically inserting the company card into the tachograph in the vehicle. 

System Components

Remote tachograph downloading relies on a set of connected components working together across the vehicle, the cloud, and the office environment. Each element plays a specific role in securely authenticating, retrieving, and forwarding tachograph and driver card data without requiring physical access to the vehicle.

In Vehicle

• Tachograph: Also known as Vehicle Unit or VU. Stores driver and vehicle activity data.

• Digidown RDL: Device with mobile data connectivity that is physically connected to the vehicle.

• Driver card: Inserted in the tachograph. Stores personal driving data. 

In the Cloud

• Digidown Portal: Cloud server system that links the Vehicles (via Digidown RDLs) with the Company cards (via a Digidown Host instance) and forwards the downloaded data to its destination 

In an Office or Data centre

• Computer 

• Smart Card Reader

• Digidown Host: Proprietary software running on the Computer

• Company card: Issued by the government to the transport company and used to authenticate ownership and unlock data from tachographs. 

Scheduled Downloads 

When a scheduled download gets triggered, Digidown Portal sends a message to the Digidown RDL which in turn requests the download from the tachograph. For a tachograph to give you the files, it needs to have been authenticated  with a company card in the last 24 hours. Once authenticated, the Digidown RDL will request the download straight away. 

Authentication 

The tachograph sends a series of challenges (a random cryptographic value) that get forwarded to the company card connected at the other end of the system.  

The company card will reply to each challenge with an answer. 

Once the tachograph has received the correct answer to all its challenges, then it considers itself unlocked for 24 hours. 

VU or Driver Card Download 

When a tachograph has been authenticated in the last 24 hours and it receives a Tachograph or Driver Card download request from the Digidown RDL, it will start, slowly, feeding it with the data. Digidown RDL starts putting the file together. When the download is complete, the Digidown RDL will send the file to Digidown Portal for it to get forwarded to the customer. 

Working Hours data

When a tachograph has been configured to get Working Hours data, Digidown RDL will: 

• Request an update from the tachograph every minute.

• Monitor the system for changes (using D8) 

It will then send it to Digidown Portal for it to get forwarded to the customer.