On July 1, 2026, a new era begins for many small and medium-sized enterprises in European road freight. Because from that date the tachograph requirement also applies to light commercial vehicles with a permissible total mass over 2.5 tonnes (including trailers or semi-trailers), provided they are used commercially in cross-border goods transport or in cabotage. The obligation to digitally record driving and rest times, previously limited to the classic truck fleet over 3.5 tonnes, thus expands to a vehicle segment that had not been covered before.
Tachograph requirement as part of the EU Mobility Package I
The new regulation is part of the so-called EU Mobility Package I, which was adopted at the level of the European Union in 2020. The aim is to improve working conditions for the driving personnel in goods transport, strengthen fair competition within the European logistics sector, and increase road safety. Since August 2023, newly registered trucks must be equipped with intelligent tachographs of the second version (G2V2). In two steps, the vehicles currently in the European fleet stock over 3.5 tonnes were subsequently retrofitted with the new tachograph generation by August 2025. Now follows the final phase of implementation: Also light commercial vehicles between 2.5
and 3.5 tonnes in cross-border freight transport, for example delivery vans or panel vans, are subject to tachograph requirements from summer 2026.Important: Not the vehicle class itself determines the obligation, but the commercial use and the type of transport. Those who regularly transport goods across borders or operate domestically within the framework of cabotage fall under the new regulation. Exempt are:
- Purely domestic transports without posting
- Trips for the company's own operational purposes in in-plant traffic, as long as driving is not the main activity
- Non-commercial operations
What fleet operators should pay attention to
With the new requirement, affected companies are for the first time subject to comprehensive documentation and equipment obligations. Light commercial vehicles must be retrofitted by July 1, 2026 at the latest with an intelligent tachograph of the second version, for example the “VDO DTCO 4.1a” or higher. The installation may only be carried out by certified specialist workshops, which also calibrate the system initially and provide it with a so-called enterprise lock to ensure data integrity.In parallel, fleet operators must adjust their internal processes: route planning, personnel management and data archiving must in the future take into account the provisions of Regulation (EC) No. 561/2006 as well
as other rules of the EU Mobility Package I. Companies are obliged to regularly download driver and vehicle data from the tachograph and store them for at least twelve months in an appropriate archiving system. The proper instruction of the driving personnel is also legally required and the responsibility of the fleet operator.
On the driver side, new obligations also arise. Drivers must, among other things, carry a valid driver card to consistently record driving and rest times and, if necessary, record manual corrections. They must present the data during inspections on request and support their employer with the regular download of tachograph and driver card data. In many companies this involves additional training – especially where there has previously been no contact with tachographs.
Suitable hardware and software
The intelligent tachograph of the second version is a digital system that does much more than simply count driving hours. It automatically detects border crossings using the OSNMA-authenticated data of the European satellite navigation system Galileo, enables remote queries by control authorities via DSRC radio module, and documents both disturbances and tampering attempts in a legally secure manner. A Bluetooth interface also allows mobile control via smartphone or tablet – for example
with the VDO Fleet App.
In addition to the hardware, fleets need the right IT infrastructure to fully exploit the potential of digital fleet management based on reliable tachograph data, also called Trusted Data. With the cloud-based platform VDO Fleet, all tachograph and driver data can be automatically evaluated, stored and exported if needed. This saves time and reduces the administrative effort for compliance. The system becomes particularly convenient when used in combination with VDO Link: The small plug-and-play telematics solution is simply plugged into the front interface of the tachograph and transmits all data in real time – without an additional workshop visit.
For many fleet operators, the organizational effort is initially substantial: devices must be procured, vehicles retrofitted, employees trained. At the same time, penalties for non-compliance threaten – up to €1,500 in Germany, up to €3,328 in Italy. The appointments at certified workshops are also limited, especially shortly before the deadline. Therefore AUMOVIO recommends planning the retrofit well in advance. Those who begin technical and organizational preparations as early as 2025 avoid bottlenecks and lay the groundwork for a smooth transition. The driving personnel should also be involved and trained early to avoid uncertainties in day-to-day operations. (Source:
