EU Tachograph Regulation
The EU Tachograph Regulation requires most goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, and since July 2026 vans over 2.5 tonnes in international hire-or-reward transport, to record driving, rest and location data with an approved tachograph.
What it requires
First adopted as Regulation (EEC) No 1463/70 and now Regulation (EU) No 165/2014, it requires approved tachographs and personal driver cards. Digital units became mandatory in new vehicles in May 2006, smart tachographs in June 2019 and second-version smart tachographs in August 2023. Vehicles in international transport had to be retrofitted by December 31, 2024 or August 18, 2025, depending on the device. Since December 31, 2024 drivers must be able to show records for the current day and previous 56 days. Penalties are set nationally.
Why it matters
Tachograph rules enforce how many hours a truck driver can work in Europe, which decides how far a load can move overnight and what EU road transport costs. Operators must download driver cards at least every 28 days and vehicle units at least every 90 days, and keep the data for at least a year. For example, a 3PL shuttling client stock between a Dutch warehouse and a German cross-dock in 3-tonne vans must, since July 1, 2026, fit smart tachographs to those vans because the work is international hire or reward.
Related laws
Sources
- Regulation (EU) No 165/2014 on tachographs, EUR-Lex eur-lex.europa.eu
- Tachographs, European Commission transport.ec.europa.eu
Not legal advice.