With effect from this week, light commercial vehicles used in international operations will be required to run with tachographs.
The new requirement, from July 1, 2026, applies to vehicles and vehicle combinations with a permissible gross vehicle weight of over 2.5 tons and up to 3.5 tons when they are used for commercial international transport of goods or cabotage. Vans that fall under the rules must be equipped with second-generation smart tachographs, with installation and calibration carried out by a certified workshop. Drivers operating vans will also be required to adhere to the same working-hours protocol as heavy goods vehicle drivers.
Penalties for not having the required tachograph vary by country and include heavy fines for the driver and the company. For example, in Belgium there is a fixed fine of €2,640 and €4,400 in the Netherlands. France has one of the strictest penalties, with a fine of up to €30,000, up to one year in prison, and immediate seizure of the vehicle.
IAM Member Impact: Professional movers who are already tachograph-compliant on their heavy goods vehicle fleet will gain competitive parity with van operations. Members in markets where man-and-van operations have been undercutting the professional industry may see pricing pressure ease as informal operators are forced to comply or exit intra-European activities.
Source: trans.iNFO