Ask the MAC – 2 Apr 2026

With Andrew Kelly, Manager – Compliance Information.

Bit previous…
Q) When changing over vehicles, one of the drivers has left their digital tachograph card in the vehicle they drove the previous day, which is now out on the road with another driver. Is it possible for the driver who has left their digital tachograph card in another vehicle to drive for a day using printouts until they can get their card back?

A) A driver can only drive using vehicle unit printouts if their card has been lost, stolen, damaged, or is malfunctioning. They must report this as soon as possible and can then drive for up to 15 calendar days by taking printouts, however, in this driver’s case, they do not meet any of the criteria for driving on printouts, as their card is not lost, stolen, damaged, or malfunctioning.

Therefore, they should be stood down until they retrieve their digital tachograph card.

Trailer clash?
Q) Several of the trailers in our fleet are approaching 12 years old. As our fleet does a low yearly mileage, it has always been on an eight‑weekly safety inspection cycle. We have now heard that vehicles and trailers aged 12 years and older should be on a six‑weekly inspection frequency. Can you advise?

A) The six‑weekly inspection frequency comes from ‘The Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness.’ Within the guide, it states that if a vehicle or trailer is 12 years or older, then the safety inspection interval should be no more than six weeks. National statistics show that vehicles and trailers of this age are more likely to experience increases in annual MOT failures and in‑service roadworthiness defects than newer vehicles.

Therefore, the guidance for older vehicles and trailers is that they require more frequent maintenance, with a recommended maximum interval of six weeks between safety inspections. You can justify a longer interval, but you must be able to evidence it.