From 1 July 2026, EU drivers’ hours rules will extend to drivers of light commercial vehicles over 2.5 tonnes used for international freight transport or cabotage. Affected fleets will need second-generation smart tachographs, new driver workflows and tighter operational planning.

New tachograph rules and rising admin pressure can leave unprepared fleets exposed. Vehicle retrofits, workshop availability, driving and rest limits, record-keeping and infringement follow-up all need to be considered before the mandate takes effect.

This practical guide explains how to reduce tachograph compliance risk, replace disconnected, paper-based follow-up with more connected digital processes, and gain clearer visibility across affected operations.

What the guide covers

• Understand who is affected: identify LCVs over 2.5 tonnes and the international freight or cabotage journeys that fall within the new scope.
• Prepare vehicles in time: audit tachograph slots, assess retrofit and adaptor requirements, and engage an appropriately certified workshop before installation demand rises.
• Update driver workflows: train drivers on smart cards, manual entries, driving limits, mandatory breaks, rest periods and the records they must be ready to produce.
• Protect routes and service levels: review delivery schedules and SLAs against the new limits, then plan alternatives where existing commitments may no longer be viable.
• Reduce administrative friction: learn how proactive alerts, digital infringement follow-up and cloud-based audit trails can help teams act earlier and manage compliance day to day.

Download the guide to assess your fleet’s readiness and prepare affected vehicles, drivers and operating processes before the mandate takes effect.

This guide is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or regulatory advice. Requirements may vary by jurisdiction and specific operations.