The Transport Commission (TRAN) of the European Parliament has just approved in its first reading a proposition by the Commission aiming to integrate a digital tachograph allied to a GPS system. The Parliament itself is set to pronounce on this during a plenary session in September. Allying a digital tachograph to a satellite navigation system would considerably facilitate the life of drivers and transport companies, because ‘wireless’ data transfer would be possible. Combining the two data sources would also enable better control over working and rest time regulations and would also avoid certain grey areas in the domain of cabotage. The authorities would be able to carry out checks at distance and target those trucks or companies showing the highest risk profile (it should be remembered that a central data-bank of serious offences is to be set up in 2013 at Union level).

The opinion of the TRAN Commission has been applauded by the main professional federations. The IRU is opposed to the decision just taken, however, to retro-fit vehicles already equipped with first and second generation digital tachographs.