Fleet operators are being reminded that vans undertaking international journeys for hire and reward work must have tachographs fitted from July.
Under the new rules LCVs with a gross vehicle weight above 2.5 tonnes that are engaged in international transport of goods or cabotage operations must be fitted with a second-generation smart tachograph.
And with the deadline just two months away, Logistics UK is urging companies to ensure they are compliant with the new rules.
Since August 2025, HGVs exceeding 3.5-tonnes on international journeys have had to use second-generation smart tachographs and from 1 July 2026, vans over 2.5-tonnes must follow the same requirements.
Logistics UK said the newer ST2 technology is designed to meet the increased demand for accuracy and reporting under EU Regulations and also has improved fraud protection to prevent tampering.
Martin Candish, head of compliance information at Logistics UK said: “To ensure compliance, all operators that conduct international journeys should carry out a review of journeys, vehicles and drivers to check and see if they fall under the regulations.
“This also includes operators in Northern Ireland with vehicles over 2.5-tonnes entering the Republic of Ireland, as they will also need to have a ST2 installed.”
The trade association encouraged firms to train drivers on using the new tachographs, to reduce disruption and stress during roadside inspections.
The changes mean that operators will also be required to capture, download and present tachograph data during inspections, including driver card data and up to 56 days of records. Failure to comply could lead to significant penalties and enforcement action by authorities.
Matt Abrams, commercial director at fleet compliance specialist AssetGo, said: “The introduction of tachograph requirements for vans over 2.5-tonnes involved in international transport represents a major regulatory change for many operators who have never previously had to manage drivers’ hours compliance.
“With the July 2026 deadline approaching, now is a good time for fleets to review their operations and ensure they have the systems in place to manage tachograph data effectively.”
