As of 1 July 2026, road freight vehicles weighing 2.5–3.5 tonnes engaged in cross-border EU services must be equipped with the latest version of the G2V2 smart tachograph. Installing a tachograph in such LCVs is mandatory, even if the vehicle is used only occasionally for cross-border EU transport. Furthermore, drivers must respect both the EU’s driving and rest time rules and the Lex specialis on the posting of drivers.
These new obligations come in addition to the requirement, in place since 2022, to have certified true copies of the Community licence on board and abide by EU market access rules, such as cabotage.
With the smart tachograph installed as a control instrument in these LCVs as of 1 July 2026, it is expected that controls will intensify and, if companies and drivers are not prepared on time, this could lead to a dramatic rise in fines and difficulties throughout the supply chain.
For reminder:
· According to the provisions of Article 10(2) of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006: “A transport undertaking shall organise the work of drivers referred to in paragraph 1 in such a way that the drivers are able to comply with Regulation (EEC) No 3821/85 [currently, Regulation (EC) No 561/2006] and Chapter II of this Regulation. The transport undertaking shall properly instruct the driver and shall make regular checks to ensure that Regulation (EEC) No 3821/85 [currently, Regulation (EC) No 561/2006] and Chapter II of this Regulation are complied with.”
· In addition, according to the first subparagraph of Article 33(1) of Regulation (EU) No 165/2014:“Transport undertakings shall be responsible for ensuring that their drivers are properly trained and instructed as regards the correct functioning of tachographs, whether digital or analogue, shall make regular checks to ensure that their drivers make correct use thereof, and shall not give to their drivers any direct or indirect incentives that could encourage the misuse of tachographs.”
The objective of this survey of fleet operators – members of IRU member associations – that will be subject to these new obligations is to assess their preparedness, with a particular focus on two aspects:
a) Readiness to equip their LCVs falling within the scope of the new legislation with the latest version of smart G2V2 tachographs by 1 July 2026
b) Company managers and drivers’ level of knowledge about these new rules, including the correct use of tachographs
