EU mandates tachographs for light commercial vehicles over 2.5 tonnes in cross‑border transport

Effective 1 July, the European Union’s Mobility Package extends the obligation to install digital tachographs to light commercial vehicles (VUL) with a maximum authorised mass between 2.5 t and 3.5 t that are used for international haulage or cabotage within the EU.

Drivers will have to fit smart tachographs, use driver cards and follow the same driving‑time and rest‑period rules that apply to heavy‑truck drivers. Non‑compliance can lead to significant fines—for example, penalties in Romania range from 9 000 to 12 000 lei depending on the breach.

The measure is intended to close a “grey zone” where some operators, particularly from Eastern Europe, employed vans to avoid stricter truck regulations, creating economic and social dumping. By harmonising the rules, Brussels seeks to improve road safety and ensure fair competition across the European logistics chain.