Step by step: changing the local time on the SE5000 Smart 2
- Open the main menu. Press OK.
- Go to Settings. Use the arrow buttons to scroll to "Settings" and press OK.
- Select Local time. Scroll to "Local time" and press OK.
- Change the time. The arrow buttons change the time in 30-minute steps. For 1 hour, press twice: up when the clocks go forward, down when they go back.
- Confirm. Press OK. The display shows "Changes saved".
- Return to the standard screen. Press the back button twice.
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SE5000 Smart 2 tachograph
The SE5000 Smart 2 is Stoneridge's second-generation smart tachograph. It meets the requirements of the EU Mobility Package I and helps drivers and fleet managers record driving and rest times easily and correctly.
When do the clocks change?
Europe and North America both change their clocks twice a year, but not on the same dates. Check the rules for the region you drive in.
Europe
Across the EU and in the UK, the clocks change at the same moment: on the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October, at 01:00 UTC.
- 2026: clocks go forward Sunday, March 29; clocks go back Sunday, October 25
- 2027: clocks go forward Sunday, March 28; clocks go back Sunday, October 31
- 2028: clocks go forward Sunday, March 26; clocks go back Sunday, October 29
Because the change happens at 01:00 UTC everywhere, the local clock time differs per time zone:
- Western European Time (United Kingdom, Ireland, Portugal): 01:00 becomes 02:00 in spring, 02:00 becomes 01:00 in fall
- Central European Time (including the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Poland, Sweden): 02:00 becomes 03:00 in spring, 03:00 becomes 02:00 in fall
- Eastern European Time (including Finland, the Baltic states, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece): 03:00 becomes 04:00 in spring, 04:00 becomes 03:00 in fall
United States and Canada
In North America, the clocks change on the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November, at 2:00 a.m. local time in each time zone.
- 2026: clocks go forward Sunday, March 8; clocks go back Sunday, November 1
- 2027: clocks go forward Sunday, March 14; clocks go back Sunday, November 7
- 2028: clocks go forward Sunday, March 12; clocks go back Sunday, November 5
In spring, 2:00 a.m. becomes 3:00 a.m.; in fall, 2:00 a.m. becomes 1:00 a.m. Hawaii, most of Arizona and most of Saskatchewan don't change their clocks. Mexico has stopped changing its clocks, except in some areas along the US border.
When should you adjust your tachograph? At the start of your first trip after the clock change, before you drive off. If you're driving in another time zone, set the local time of the country or region you're in.
Tip: Spring forward, fall back. In spring the clocks go forward, in fall they go back.
UTC time and local time: what do you change?
- Local time is the time shown on your tachograph display. It's there for convenience and doesn't affect your recorded driving times. When the clocks change, you only adjust the local time.
- UTC time is the tachograph's internal clock. All driving and rest times and speed data are stored in UTC. It never changes when the clocks change, and as a driver you don't adjust it; any correction is limited to 1 minute per week.
- UTC time off by more than 20 minutes? Then the tachograph must be calibrated by an authorized workshop. This is a legal requirement.
When the clocks go back: the hour that happens twice
On the night the clocks go back, one local hour happens twice in a row. In Central Europe, that is the hour between 02:00 and 03:00; in the US and Canada, the hour between 1:00 and 2:00 a.m.
- Your driving data is still correct. The tachograph records everything in UTC. No hour is repeated in UTC, so no activities overlap or go missing.
- Printouts or the display may look confusing. If you're driving or resting that night, a local time can appear twice. When in doubt, check the UTC time.
- Making manual entries? If you enter activities manually after the clock change, double-check which time you're entering.
In spring, it works the other way around: one local hour is skipped. Recording in UTC carries on as normal.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the SE5000 Smart 2 change to summer or winter time automatically?
No. You set the local time on the Stoneridge SE5000 Smart 2 yourself. Some tachographs show a "New time?" message after the clock change as a reminder; confirm it with OK. Always check the local time after every clock change. - Does changing the local time affect my driving times?
No. Your driving and rest times are stored in UTC. Local time only changes what the display shows. - How many times do I press the arrow for 1 hour?
Twice. The SE5000 Smart 2 changes the local time in 30-minute steps: up when the clocks go forward, down when they go back. - What if the UTC time is off by more than 20 minutes?
The tachograph must be calibrated by an authorized workshop. You can't do this yourself, and it's a legal requirement. - Do I need to change the time when I cross a border?
Only if you enter a different time zone, for example from the Netherlands to the United Kingdom. UTC time stays the same.
- Does this also apply to the Smart Tachograph version 2?
Yes. The SE5000 Smart 2 is a Smart Tachograph version 2. It records border crossings automatically using GNSS, but you still set the local time yourself when the clocks change.
