The Government said today trucks are to be fitted with electronic tags from next week in a bid to clamp down on hauliers driving for excessive periods of time.
Drivers of HGVs and buses over a certain size will be strictly monitored on a digital tachograph to keep a close eye on the number of hours they are behind the wheel, the distance travelled and rest breaks taken.
The tag records all the drivers' activities electronically and stores them in digital memory rather than on paper, the system currently used.
Minister of State at the Department of Transport Ivor Callely, junior transport minister, said it was part of new rules under a European Union directive limiting the length of time drivers are on the roads and enforcing them to observe minimum rest and break periods.
Mr Callely said the system would be in place by next week but drivers had until the end of the year to switch from the old paper record.
"Haulage and bus operators may use digital tachographs after August 5th, if they choose to do so. We will be issuing the smart cards for use with digital tachographs to drivers, companies, workshops and enforcement officers," he said.
"This will enable enforcement staff to continue to check drivers' hours whether vehicles are fitted with the old analogue tachographs or the new digital tachograph devices."
Mr Callely will be having further discussions with hauliers later in the year regarding the roll out of smart cards to all commercial drivers.