New Tachograph Rules for European Vans from 1 July 2026 — What It Means for Your Business
From 1 July 2026, vans between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes operating on European routes must carry a smart tachograph and comply with full EU drivers' hours rules. Here's what the new rules mean and how to protect your supply chain.
What Has Changed?
A significant regulatory change came into force on 1 July 2026 that affects any business moving freight across Europe in light commercial vehicles. Under EU Regulation 2020/1054, the tachograph requirement has been extended to light commercial vehicles (LCVs) in the 2.5–3.5 tonne gross vehicle weight category. Previously, this category was exempt from tachograph legislation — operators could run vans on European routes without recording drivers' hours digitally.
From 1 July 2026, any LCV in this weight range that is used for the commercial transport of goods on international routes — including cabotage operations within EU member states — must be fitted with a Version 2 Smart Tachograph and comply fully with EU drivers' hours rules.
The Key Requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Smart Tachograph V2 | Must be factory-fitted or retrofitted to all qualifying vehicles |
| Drivers' hours | Maximum 9 hours driving per day (extendable to 10 hours twice per week) |
| Weekly driving limit | 56 hours per week, 90 hours per fortnight |
| Rest periods | Minimum 11 hours daily rest; 45-hour weekly rest |
| CPC requirement | Drivers must hold a valid Driver Certificate of Professional Competence |
| Record keeping | Digital records must be maintained and available for roadside inspection |
Who Is Affected?
The rules apply to any operator — UK or EU-based — running vehicles in the 2.5–3.5t category on international routes for hire or reward. This includes dedicated European van services carrying goods for customers, groupage and part-load van operations crossing EU borders, and cabotage operations (domestic deliveries within an EU country by a foreign operator).
Purely domestic operations within the UK are not affected by this specific regulation, though UK domestic rules continue to apply to vehicles over 3.5 tonnes as before.
The Compliance Challenge for Smaller Operators
The retrofit cost of a compliant Version 2 Smart Tachograph runs to approximately £1,500–£2,500 per vehicle, before installation. Operators also need to ensure their drivers hold a valid CPC, which requires periodic training and renewal. For smaller van operators who have built their business model around the flexibility and lower overhead of running sub-3.5t vehicles on European routes, this represents a material cost increase and compliance burden.
The reality is that not all operators will have completed the necessary retrofits by the enforcement date. Vehicles without a compliant tachograph can be prohibited at the border, fined, and in some EU member states, liability can extend to the shipper — the business that booked the freight — as well as the carrier.
What This Means for Your Business
If you currently use a van operator for European dedicated freight, the most important question to ask right now is: are they compliant?
A non-compliant carrier puts your freight at risk of delays or refusal at EU border crossings, vehicle prohibition leaving your goods stranded, fines and enforcement action in EU member states, and reputational damage if time-critical deliveries fail. The disruption to supply chains from non-compliant operators is not theoretical — enforcement is active and border checks are routine.
How G&T Express Can Help
At G&T Express, all of our European freight operations are handled through fully compliant carriers. Our vehicles and logistics partners meet the new requirements — smart tachographs fitted, CPC-qualified drivers, and full EU drivers' hours compliance in place.
We have been monitoring this regulatory change and ensuring our network is ready. If you are currently using a van operator for European runs and have concerns about their compliance, or if you simply need a reliable, compliant alternative, we are here to help.
Our European freight services cover road freight across the EU, with full customs clearance support for post-Brexit shipments. Whether you need a dedicated van service, full or part loads, or time-critical European delivery, we can provide a compliant, reliable solution.
Get in touch today:
📞 01942 884881
🌐 www.gandtexpress.co.uk
📧 info@gandtexpress.co.uk