EU Extends Second‑Generation Smart Tachograph Rule to Light Commercial Vehicles

From 1 July, new European Union regulations require all light commercial vehicles and vans with a maximum authorised mass of 2.5‑3.5 tonnes, together with a trailer, that operate cross‑border freight transport to be fitted with second‑generation (G2) smart tachographs. The devices automatically record border crossings, loading and unloading points, and driver activity throughout the journey.

Exemptions include vehicles transporting materials to construction sites within 100 km of their base, certain non‑commercial trips and the carriage of hand‑crafted products. The rule applies not only across EU member states but also in Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and the United Kingdom, expanding the scope of electronic driver‑time monitoring to smaller trucks that were previously excluded.